Everybody has to be somewhere

Here is our home for the next week. It's a comfortable cabin near Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks of northern New York. I have loved that part of the world ever since I backpacked the high peaks as a Boy Scout.

Our friends Carl and Claire have owned it for many years. Carl has written some books there, so the place is friendly to the creative muse. There is no internet service, no cable TV, and shaky phone service. No distractions apart from those that are rolling around in my head. They have offered it to me at a bargain price, and I am grateful.

About twenty years ago, I stayed here for a week with my daughters. They thought it was a bit remote until they discovered it's just around the bend from Santa's Workshop. We climbed to the summit of Whiteface together, explored the Olympic ski jump and ice arena at Lake Placid, and had a sighting of Bill and Hillary. Everybody has to be somewhere!

A highlight from that week was stumbling upon a small sign outside a hotel that announced, "Jazz Tonight: $10." The music was provided by luminaries in the musical world: Bob Mintzer on saxophone, Kenny Werner on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Everybody has to be somewhere!

It was an unbelievable evening. The first set was "Autumn Leaves." A single tune, played for an hour. The musicians kept inventing. The second set was "On Green Dolphin Street." One tune, for an hour.

I think that was the night I discovered that jazz creates a lot from a little. The unmentioned assumption is, "There must be more." Under the right conditions, when skills are sharpened and ears open, the good stuff can be discovered and shared.

My hope is to write each morning and afternoon, and knock off for quiet evenings. I'm hoping to write a number of chapters through the week. There is good stuff to get out of my noggin.