Our world is loud.
Our phones don’t stop ringing, dinging, or vibrating.
Our apps’ algorithms are mathematically engineered to manipulate and capture our attention.
The heads of companies sit on panels and shamelessly bait each other into outrage for more attention.
Politicians disingenuously shout out memes that resonate with their respective constituents to reinforce their power.
So-called “leaders” of industry sue each other over ego under the guise of helping the consumer.
The volume on the dial is at 10.
And on and on and on it goes...
But through the noise, if we pay attention and really listen, there exists some peace.
I find this peace through artists. And if you subscribe to Rick Rubin’s philosophy, everyone is an artist.
Art is the one thing that truly drives our evolution as a species forward and the main reason I have little fear of AI destroying us (before we try to destroy ourselves).
This past week, the world lost one of its greatest human spirits and artists.
Sonny Rollins, to me, exemplified what it means to be human.
The irony was that Sonny’s sound on the horn was so enormous it could fill a stadium. But when that sound and spirit washed over you, it brought a sense of peace.
I got to see Sonny in person a few times in my life. Most memorably, in the late ’80s at a relatively small venue in the Village. That show has stayed with me my entire life. The room was packed. Sonny walked on stage while Bob Cranshaw was playing a bass line and the place erupted. Sonny’s huge sound washed over us and it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.
Sonny’s story inspired me to base my 2019 TEDx talk, The Art of Learning How to Improvise, on the idea that we need to schedule time in our days and lives for unstructured thought.
One of the best books I’ve read was Sonny Rollins’ biography, Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins. Required reading for musicians and a worthwhile read for everyone else.
His life story is inspiring because of its humanness. It is a history lesson about the United States, an inspiration to artists, and, most powerfully, a lesson in the resilience of the human spirit.
The gift of Sonny was his ability to cut through the noise and leave you with a sense of peace and possibility.
In a world that seems determined to get louder every day, that feels like a gift worth holding on to.
Side Bar:
There are too many incredible Sonny Rollins albums to single out a favorite. But I’ll be listening to this one this weekend, and it’s a good place to start:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4lZ0JM0RUD4jddNbD63O7b?si=1LcdaehhTcimLwU1Ki3fQQ
