It was cold November-something in the duster fairytale town of Bremen. The Christmas markets had just opened and the unseasonable cold cut through my too-thin fall jacket. Thinking back, I should have spent some damn euros to buy a puff jacket and some gloves. I was running hard with a deficit of sleep. Some kind of non-music virus snuck in and weighed me down.
I was excited for the activation session with some of my favorite Bremen town musicians and soulful friends. I picked a full moon because, well, one never knows does one? Kai is a local wunderkind guitarist with a class studio in an old ship factory admin building near the Weser river. If this building could talk it would breathe smoke from unfiltered old Eckstein cigarettes with breath like oil. More concrete than flowers, more ghostly caverns with pulleys and an old elevator that moves only because you believe it will.
The gathering was one-of-kind group of musicians and spiritual folks with the biggest hearts south of the North Sea. Kai, Tom, Lennert, Luka, Tim, Judith and me making music. Heike, Jen and Elke casting full moon dances across the room. The energy was kinetic, much laughing at the prospect of what was to come. There was Becks beer and some kind of pilsner and soft drinks. We settled in with a sound check. With these things, it’s like horses, champing and stamping, ready to run. Drums, synths, bass, guitars and voices. Even a bit of flute for good measure. It is like learning to walk with new legs. The collective mind always synchs up in a pure dance.
Tim was a wild man from the forest on hand drums. Rhythm always precedes melody, melody precedes harmony. Life precedes true art. I always start these Harmonic Activation sessions with a short prelude of instructions and expectations. That we are all notes in one chord, with authentic voices to share. There are no wrong notes and no expectations. Play what you feel! Then a group hug, arms encircled, and the first notes, always soft, always building to a crescendo and another and another. Up and down, in and out. Blissful. We look through eyes to musical souls. We take a break. Smokes and jokes. We saddle up again.
After 3 or so hours, I am running on empty, fueled only by the musical energy. The dancers, with eyes closed. The musicians, so into their music that it is them and they are it.
Every one of these is vastly different from the next. This one feels tribal to me with Tim and Tom on drums and the vocals of Judith carry us into the ether at times. Kai’s guitar cuts with remembrances of greatness. I mostly just stick to chords and chimey bits, more paddle than boat. If I could capture any moment, it is the laughter smiles and whoops at the end of each piece. I would string them together and climb to the moon.
When I listen back, I am there again, swimming in the cosmic energy of 432 hz and 528 hz and whatever else we played. Listening to it is an active meditation. Come along for the ride and you’ll see.
Be the first to know about upcoming performances, jam sessions, and yoga events.
