I do love a good concert. I love music. But most of the time, I’m performing the music, instead of listening to it.
And it’s different. As a performer, you are working to create this world of wonder and joy and beauty, to tell the story behind the notes. But as a listener, you can be drawn into this world, take your time to enjoy it, savour every moment.
Last year, I made a goal to go to more music concerts, as an audience member for once. So last summer, I went to loads of local concerts. My local town had a summer festival of music, through June and July, and I went to as many as I could. In fact, one of the first things I did after lockdown ended was to go to a jazz concert. And that one was my favourite, full of joy and laughter, free from all restrictions.
Tomorrow, I’m taking it one step further. I am going to the O2 Arena, for a music concert. And I’m so excited. It’s by Hans Zimmer, who is easily one of my favourite composers. His music is always wonderful, and a delight to play, and always makes me smile and improves my focus. I saw the adverts and went for it, in a courage I didn’t know I had. I know it will be excellent. And it will be wonderful, to listen to music instead of performing it for once.
I’ve been to more concerts since, many at Benslow, listening to all sorts. There’s a splendid Jazz Night concert they do every year, of instrument and improvisation, which gets better each time I go. I have attended clarinets and saxophones, jazz and swing events and even a string quartet recital. I must admit I didn’t enjoy the strings as much, but I still went and listened to live music. And a couple of times in last summer there was live music playing where I live, in the centre of town, which has been really fun to encounter, a surprise waiting for a lover of music to drop by. My favourite of these was while we were in Amsterdam. I didn’t expect to find a jazz concert on holiday. But I did, and they were incredible, a surprise present waiting for my arrival, with a drummer who was out of this world, and a saxophone to die for. But the best, by far, was my birthday this year, a live swing night with a clarinet who played Benny Goodman like a dream, and some stellar saxophones, and a trumpet and trombone who improvised and played off each other like twins, with some of the best cider I’ve ever tasted.
I must admit, I do love attending live concerts. And I always plan, to attend more.
