Looks like Larry Anderson?

HOLLA Pierrot! So nice to have you back. ♥♥♥

That whole passage certainly does bring to mind the mourning and despair of the families. I love the promise of the comfort, beauty and joy they can be replaced with….let’s hope that happens soon for them.

I would be careful not to pet any African lions, as much as I’d be tempted to! I love your thought of nuzzling with Aslan! 🙂

Yes, it is, which I always say is like a poem. I heard it after I started researching scientology, and just seeing the families destroyed broke my heart. Beauty for ashes is such a powerful idea. I felt like it encompassed how I felt and what I wanted to say.
Also I thought selfishly how nice of a nickname would Beauty be? I wouldn’t mind if people referred to me as that!
I have always wanted to live a year in Africa too. Meet the people see the customs and culture, and of course the animals. Now I don’t think the lions there would be as kind as Aslan, who like you said would allow you stroke your fingers through his mane. and maybe even nuzzle his nose. How cute would that be?

Agreed. He was a HUGE loss, one of those “once in a lifetime” musicians.

It definitely is a tough life. Few make a living from it, and few of those make it big. Some professionals never turn the page, playing Same Old Shit, or they learn to cover excellent musicians, but have no spark of their own. Others choose partners who push them to try new things.

I was lucky enough to see Stevie Ray Vaughan drop in on a pretty good band, and take them to a level I’d never seen from them before. The good ones push everyone, including themselves, to do better. When he walked in, I didn’t know who he was. When he walked out, I couldn’t forget him.

Happy One, MT! Great song.

Absolutely. It’s a dog eat dog environment from all accounts I’ve heard. Robert Fripp (who I consider to be one of the most intelligent musicians out there) said the following when someone asked for his advice on becoming a professional musician:

“Don’t” LOL. That made a lasting impression on me as being extremely sound advice 😉

Joey is now a phenom, but I wouldn’t look at him as jazz’s last hope. The life of any entertainer is tough, but musicians seem to have it even tougher than others.