And a damn shame for all of us. It's nothing new to be discouraged by our collective dread at what's to come. But when you hear a tune that hints at a prior era's sense of wide-eyed (or stony-eyed) wonder at future possibilities, it just brings into relief the sadness of our time. Meanwhile, a thumbs-up to Madlib for re-imagining this groove; the sample is culled from Donald Byrd's track of the same name.
Madlib - Stepping Into Tomorrow
Let me brighten your outlook, Ely: Byrd's tomorrow was incredible - while producing albums like this in the '70s he earned a law degree, and then a doctorate at Columbia. Today he's an artist in residence at University of Delaware. This song makes no comment on our collective future destiny, only Byrd's very bright one - which is virtually unheard of in jazz musicians of his time. I'm gonna argue that we have collectively progressed to a better future because of the inspirational power of artists like Byrd.
ReplyDeleteGo forth, untethered by the yoke of bad eggs. I think Socrates said that.
Outlook brightened! Many thanks for that.
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