Jazzical

Next week November 12 I am participating in a roundtable discussion about the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania, in Carlisle PA, sponsored by Keystones Oral History Series and producer Bryan Wade.

I will also witness the screening of the film documentary about this interesting subject of which I created music for. Oh yes, I am also playing a Jazzical/UR set for the opening.🎹🎶

Here is the interesting part of this story: I met Bryan only once, at a Jazzical concert in Harrisburg PA last year for maybe two minutes. Weeks later we connected on the phone and FB, and a few months later we became friends. When he asked me if I would be interested in creating the soundtrack for this documentary I said without any hesitation “YES”.

You see, he read about my years-long work and collaboration with MET opera legend Kathleen Battle in “The Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey” which truly enlightened me on the history of Black America, and the powerful struggles our people have had to endure for centuries, some of which persist to this very day.

This experience has created a deeper friendship with Mr. Wade because of a simple conversation and a chance to do something with real impact. I cannot wait to meet him in person again!!😀

It is interesting that this event comes right on the heals of the national election. And of course, we are all feeling the effects of the results, positive and negative, no matter which position you take.

My position is this: we need more music, more information, more knowledge, more research, more talking with people from all walks of life, more humanity, more careful consideration of opposing thoughts, more thoughtful discernment on positions dear to ourselves. More music. More Jazzical Komitas.

More healing within our communities.

We need more of these things, and more!

I look forward to seeing you in Harrisburg/Carlyle if you are in the area. The conversation continues.

I am always rolling rolling rolling. Trying to do good. Forget the trying part, I AM Doing Good. Preparing for a mammoth 2025 season of concerts and special events with real impact on the country and the world.

I love women who work in business. In fact I am married to a corporate woman. Yesterday I finally got to see where she works….first time in 4+ years!

First day in Bennington for Sonatina Piano Camps consisted of a beautiful 3 hour drive, lunch with the pianists, then 4.5 hours of teaching (wonderful students👍), scrumptious dinner, and an hour long Jazzical Komitas concert solo piano with the Bentley!! Yes, I will definitely share some of this concert with you, it was 🔥!

Now it is time to sleep, one more day left, gotta make it count!!!

Rolling with the Bentley!!

Bennington VT!!
You know what time it is…
Piano time!

Happy Jazzical Birthday to my Z! 14 years old today!!🎉🎉🎉

Don’t ask me “How did the time fly by?” I was there for all 14 years, and I look forward to being there for her the next 14 years , and then 14 years after that, and so on, and so on…😀

I love you my sweet adult in the making. So proud of you! The light shines on you, the light shines in you. Always remember that!

❤️🌟❤️🌟❤️

https://keystonesoralhistories.com/about/collaborations/
More than happy to be a part of this important project! You will be hearing more about this soon! Thank you Bryan Wade!

Collaborations - Keystones Oral Histories Collaborations The Need For An African American Curriculum Lincoln Charter School Help To Tell A More Inclusive Version Of History York College Of Pennsylvania Joel A. Martin Musician

I am truly a stay at home dad. Half my day will be spent shuttling everyone around. And I will get to practice piano to!

Today my daughter and some of her dear friends became members of the National Honor Society! So proud of her!

Today was a morning of doctor visits. Monthly reminders that I must remain vigilant about my own health. And the prognosis is: everything is in pretty good shape and holding steady. That is good enough for the Bentley!

I decided two months ago to do a once every two months regimen of Rituxen because we thought at the time that it would have any tangible benefit of keeping that dreaded C word from coming back. However, this morning my oncologist thought I did not need it anymore so that course of action is hereby suspended. Sounds great to me!

Otherwise I would have not been able to see my daughter’s volleyball game today. 😀😀

Priorities folks, priorities!!❤️

All is great in the world.

Have fun everyone! Much love to you from me!

Meetings all afternoon long, breakfast with our Japanese student, and now it is time to go to NYC for a few hours of coolness (wait til you see this)!

Rolling with the Bentley