Spalding, you're the luckiest guy alive.....and so are those kids. I really, really envy you. You are giving those kids a gift that will never, ever, leave them. They will always remember these times fondly. When I look at those videos and see the feeling (soul?), the rhythm, the natural synchopation, I always wonder if it's aquired or just inborn. I know (believe me) how dangerous it is to suggest that it's inborn, which is how stereotypes are born (and fed). For instance, I have it (soul) but my kids don't (I assume they're mine
). They grew up in an environment where the dominant music was Rock and their taste ran to groups like Journey, Joan Jett, etc., regardless to what I played (live and radio) in the house. The influence of school friends is powerful at that age. Not being a religious family (although lifelong Unitarian/Universalist) they also never had the 'church' experience, especially the Gospel-type churches. Of course my only regret there, is their missing out on the music, which I've always felt was one of the most powerful things in Black culture. My kids don't even like Jazz (maybe they just don't like ME).
Anyhow, if you need an organist, just send a two-way ticket, and I'll pack up the old Nord C1 and be on the next plane
.
Great Vids. Keep it up.
chas