2010 was a good year for me. I had several amazing moments, and clearly can’t itemize them all. Here are the major stand outs:<\/p>\n
CAREER<\/span> FAMILY<\/span> FRIEND<\/span> BRAIN<\/span> HEART<\/span> BEST BOOK<\/span><\/p>\n Poems That Will Save Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n A friend gave me this book for my birthday and I love it! It’s a collection that includes some of my all time favorite poems, and is my source of achieving my life long dream of being a person who can easily recite poetry a la Dr. Huxtable. : ><\/p>\n BEST SONG<\/span><\/p>\n This song was released in 2009, but I learned it in 2010. Hands down my favorite song of the year. Every time, and I mean, every time, it gets to the D sus chord at 8:31, I weep tears of joy. It’s one of the most amazingly beautiful, well conceived, brilliantly re-harmonized moments I’ve ever experienced in music. After a particular chord progression is repeated over a gradual crescendo, the band introduces the new chord after a descending C aeolian scale and it strikes my spirit me like daylight after a heavy storm. Spectacular!<\/p>\n Sovereign God<\/a><\/p>\n BEST CD<\/p>\n I’m a fan of great pop music, and my favorite pop record of the year was Bruno Mars’ “Doo-Wops & Hooligans”<\/a>. Favorite song “Grenade”, but I love many of them. I LOOOOOOVE Bruno Mars!<\/p>\n My favorite jazz record was Esperanza Spalding’s<\/a> “Chamber Music Society”. The project didn’t catch me as swiftly as her previous work, but it’s definitely grown on me. Favorite tune: run-off between “Little Fly”, with it’s very singable melody which evokes the Viennese classical music of William Blake’s era (the poet responsible for the lyric, “What A Friend” with its metamorphosis from sensual ballad into funky modern jazz groove, and “Inutil Paisagem”, featuring the beautiful voice of Gretchen Parlato<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Meeting Quincy Jones<\/a> and performing at Fisk University<\/a><\/p>\n
Participating in Naomi’s wish<\/a> from the Make-A-Wish Foundation<\/p>\n
On a day when I was feeling kind of lonely and needed a connection to home, I ran into a good friend in a piano store in Copenhagen. One of these days, I’ll write at length about that magical day.<\/p>\n
A friend too me to a lecture by Dr. Cornel West<\/a>. I was spellbound. I love brilliance and Dr. West offers his brilliance to an audience in ample measure. I left the lecture inspired, enthralled and determined to reach my highest level of expression in life, music, art, beauty, intellect, humanity, kindness, empathy, responsibility and love.<\/p>\n
Love continues to surround and support me, in ways that are beyond explanation in a simple blog. I am so grateful…<\/p>\n