Music Across the Years
It always amazes me how music can connect people and families across generations. Last night was no exception. I performed as part of a songwriters circle with Justin Levinson and Mike Clifford at Higher Ground. Each musician played one song at a time while the others watched on stage. We all played well and were well received, even joining forces for the last song, a cover of Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones.
When I played my song, Phantom Compositions, I told a little more of a story then usual. "It's a song that was inspired by a dream about my Uncle", I explained. "He died when I was just one, so I don't remember him. But he was a talented pianist and actually played keyboards on Billy Idol's Rebel Yell and toured extensively with Robert Palmer in the early 80's."
Later in the set, while Justin was playing, I looked down and saw that his phone had lit up with a text message from his father: "Ask Ethan if his uncle's name was Jack". The rest of the set, my head was spinning, excited to talk to someone who knew my uncle.
It turns out, Justin's father had played in a band, The Photons(?), with Jack for almost two years. They were very close to a record deal with Columbia when the guitar player broke things up. He didn't socialize with Jack much outside of the band, but said he was a talented pianist, and a great guy to work with.
So, here I am 30 years later and 400 miles away in Burlington, VT, on stage with the son of a guy who played music with my uncle. It's a small world.
A couple of years ago I discovered that there was a bunch of concert footage from one of Robert Palmer's European tours that had Jack in it. Here's Robert Palmer performing Johnny & Mary. Look for a shot of Jack right around 0:59.
