Photo by Christine Passarella
What a special privilege it was to experience the music of the supernatural talent of jazz saxophonist Mr. Sonny Rollins. On December 6, 2009 Sonny shared his amazing gift to support Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Project. He is an outstanding talent…and spiritual human being. I will never forget this afternoon in Tarrytown, New York. Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane were close friends. John wrote a song for him entitled Like Sonny. The two men spoke of each others talent with reverence. Sonny reminded the audience on this occasion that taking care of the environment is the responsibility of each individual. Mr. Rollins is one of the greatest musicians of our time…and I had the extreme pleasure of hearing his brilliance live….Smiles, Christine
READ ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTING THIS SPECIAL EVENT
Sonny Rollins in Tarrytown, December 6, 2009
By Janis Seminara
Yesterday, the sleepy-hollow town of Tarrytown came alive with the blissful, most magical sounds of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. The beautiful Tarrytown Music Hall with its historic charm swayed homage as ambiance to this Jazz legend whose presence enchanted all on a late, wintry afternoon. This was a benefit concert for Clearwater, an environmental organization founded by folk singer Pete Seeger. According to the poughkeepsiejournal.com, this benefit was apparently, “the first benefit Sonny Rollins has ever played and to the smallest venue he has ever played in over a decade.” The concert was hosted by actors, Deborah Winger and Arliss Howard who are both great fans of Sonny Rollins and couldn’t wait to finish their introductions so that they could enjoy (paraphrasing Debra Winger), “a few extra minutes of Sonny’s performance.”
Christine Passarella, founder of The Kids for Coltrane project ( https://kidsforcoltrane.com/) asked me to accompany her on this spur of the moment trek to Tarrytown because she had just discovered that Sonny was playing. She filled me in on the history between Sonny and John Coltrane, and that John Coltrane even wrote a song called, “Like Sonny” to pay homage to Sonny Rollins. I believe this piece captures the spirit of this prominent and important performer.
Christine had also sent me plenty of links to listen to so that I could prepare myself for the concert. After an hour or so of preparation, I couldn’t wait to see, hear and experience the magnanimous, soulful and celebratory energy of this generous human being. I was to be gifted beyond my expectations.
Sonny Rollins emerged in a red shirt, briefly addressing the Clearwater initiative and applauding their mission. He quickly delved into his music, moving with his saxophone across the stage, and parlaying with each of the other musicians. This is an aspect of Jazz that I particularly love, watching the band compliment each other with their own play on each song, their own style and voice. The entire concert was a complete joy, and while I won’t pretend that I knew each song by heart or title, I did recognize “Global Warming” and the Duke Ellington pieces. Sonny’s energy transcended age, and illustrates for all that when you live your bliss, age is just a recording of digits floating somewhere in time, and time transcended any modicum of measure for the entire performance until Sonny finally left the stage with yet another standing ovation.
As I write this article, I can still hear Sonny Rollin’s saxophone amidst flashes of red and gold on the Tarrytown Music Hall stage. This recollection will forever change my own vision of ‘holiday spirit’. For me, a quintessential and contemporary gift would be a miniature gold saxophone, embellished with a red satin bow and it would play “Global Warming” at the clap of one’s hands. It would memorialize Sonny Rollins’ spirit of generosity, this unforgettable concert and the purpose of Clearwater’s project, which should be on everyone’s holiday ‘wish list’.
There are many Sonny Rollins recordings to be enjoyed on You Tube, including “Global Warming” and interviews with Sonny. I particularly enjoyed the Freedom-Suite interview, which will give you a bit of history regarding this incredible man.
I also found a New York Times article online about this benefit concert which speaks about Sonny Rollin’s concern regarding environmental issues.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/nyregion/29musicwe.html?_r=1
Thank You and God Bless you Sonny Rollins, and keep on playing!
Vodpod videos no longer available.
The Coltrane Legacy
Posted on: October 4, 2009
On September 28, 2009 I had the extreme honor of being invited into John Coltrane’s New York home. It is not open to the public yet. I walked through the rooms and on the grounds of this sacred place. My dream is to see John’s home become a place of learning for children. I know John’s beloved Alice Coltane wanted this too. It is a historical home that needs much TLC. I am determined to continue to help raise funds for this effort. Please continue to check my blog as this mission continues to move forward. I want to thank Steve Fulgoni, President of the non profit Friends of the Coltrane Home for allowing this inspirational moment in time to happen for me. Steve told me that the restoration of the beautiful white wrought iron fence and the garden surrounding it was paid for with the funds my Kids for Coltrane students raised in their philanthropic effort. In this photo I am standing in the room John Coltrane wrote the masterpiece A Love Supreme.
Front porch with wrought iron fence and surrounding garden
This is a picture of me in the backyard of the Coltrane Home. If you are interested in helping the non profit Friends of the Coltrane Home transform this precious historic Home into a place of learning, please go to my links section and click on The Coltrane Home site. Also click on my John Coltrane page above to hear the music of this brilliant artist.
Honoring Geraldine Ferraro
Posted on: October 1, 2009
On September 26th the National Organization of Italian American Women honored Geraldine Ferraro. It was the 25th Anniversary of her nomination for Vice President of the United States of America. We had a spectacular luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria. Gerry made a speech that had me holding back tears, but the tears won out! It was a powerful and important speech. She spoke with love and deep appreciation for her mother, a young widow, who made many sacrifices to educate her and her brother. Ms. Ferraro went on to be a stellar role model and a trail blazer. I have always held her in high esteem. This picture captures a special moment frozen in time for me. The photo was taken by my daughter Victoria. Here I am listening to Geraldine speak about the importance of education.~ I couldn’t agree more Gerry! Victoria and I stand on your shoulders. Women throughout the world are grateful to you for your achievements, dedication and courage.
Happy Birthday John Coltrane…Thank you for the Exquisite Music which Stirs the Soul!
Posted on: September 23, 2009
“I hear in John’s music a direct message to me as a teacher, and that is to go on teaching children in a way that respects their individuality. His music tells children to be who they want to be, that it is OK to be different, it is OK to feel, and that we all need to be able to express who we are in our own way to find what writer and philosopher Joseph Campbell called ‘following your bliss.'” Christine Termini Passarella, Educator
Kindly click on the In The News page to read more.
The Arts and Cognition
Posted on: September 20, 2009
Dr. Daniel Levitin author of This is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs posted this article on Facebook. It was written by Michael I. Posner PhD., and Brenda Patoine. Please check out Dr. Levitin’s books and enjoy this illuminating article.
This is great video created by Bret Primack explaining the special friendship of two jazz legends John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. On September 7th Sonny is celebrating his birthday. I would like to celebrate Sonny and his contribution to music and his love of humanity which he is expresses exquisitely. Explore the music and lives of the Jazz masters…you will hear brilliance…you will also learn moving and powerful American stories.
One of my favorite poems
The Soul’s Expression by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
With stammering lips and insufficient sound
I strive and struggle to deliver right
That music of my nature, day and night
With dream and thought and feeling interwound
And only answering all the senses round
With octaves of a mystic depth and height
Which step out grandly to the infinite
From the dark edges of the sensual ground.
This song of soul I struggle to outbear
Through portals of the sense, sublime and whole,
And utter all myself into the air:
But if I did it, – as the thunder – roll
Breaks its own cloud, my flesh would perish there,
Before that dread apocalypse of soul.
Frank McCourt: Teacher Man
Posted on: August 19, 2009
This is a touching video posted on You Tube by NYU in honor of teacher and Pulitzer Prize winner Frank McCourt. His books include Angela’s Ashes and Teacher Man where he documents his courageous journey.
Frank McCourt was a 30 year veteran New York City public high school teacher. The UFT honored him with the John Dewey Award for Excellence in Education in 2006. Although Frank died this July he will continue to hold the hands of teachers who enter the classroom each year. ” I wanted my students to think for themselves,” he stated. In this tribute film he talks about accepting an honorary doctorate from NYU. “….I am accepting this honorary doctorate not because I wrote 2 books , but because I was a teacher, that’s the main thing.” Frank McCourt did his undergraduate work at NYU and graduate work at Brooklyn College. He is an inspiration to educators and children all over the world. I am grateful to Frank McCourt for being an exemplary educator, and a man who followed his bliss.
THE FUTURE OF LEARNING
Posted on: August 9, 2009
I just returned from a most enriching summer professional development experience at Harvard University. This institute was designed to help educators prepare students for the future. We explored how globalization, the digital revolution, and advances in neuroscience are transforming education. I was privileged to be in this exploration with educators from all over our beautiful planet. It was exquisite to learn from world-renowned Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty and leading researchers and practitioners from around the world.
~ I am incredibly grateful to Veronica Boix Mansilla, Howard Gardner and David Perkins for leading this institute brilliantly. This was a breathtaking moment in time that I will truly treasure. The intellectual stimulation allowed for the participants to ponder these transformative statements as we learned…”I used to think….and now I think….” We filled in the blanks as we progressed together. What a wonderful way to learn…exploring thought provoking through lines. I returned home with clear answers, and with generative questions to explore as I move into the future of learning.
I am grateful to Mrs. Obama for her deep understanding of the importance of arts in education. My students have flourished using Artful Thinking. To learn about Artful Thinking, kindly read the research going on at Harvard University. Shari Tishman, Steve Seidel, Ellen Winner, Lois Hetland and other esteemed members of Project Zero are proving the importance of Artful Thinking with their brilliant research.
Kids for Coltrane 