In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones.
Touchstones don’t have to have been with you since your artistic formative years. The Questions by Kurt Elling was release March 23, 2018. I was lucky enough to hear him that weekend live in Grand Rapids. The concert, and later the album, became a touchstone that is a mainstay of our listening – all of our kids can sing along with the vocaleses, the instrumental solos, and of course the melodies of the tunes.
I’ve been listening to Elling, of course, since shortly after his first album was released in the mid-’90s. I saw him first at the IAJE Conference in 1996, and later heard him many memorable times in venues both large and intimate. He is a powerful presence onstage, he is a masterful singer and interpreter, as well as a lyricist and composer.
All of these skills come into play in The Questions, which is a potent reflection on the difficult times we are going through as a society. He has clearly given much thought to the big questions: life and death, love, human connection, politics, and more. And the collection of songs he’s selected reward multiple listenings. He has interpolated texts from Wallace Stevens, Sara Teasdale, and Rumi alongside music from Bob Dylan, Jaco Pastorius, Carla Bley, and the song that I think is the core of the record, Paul Simon’s “American Tune.”
The Questions is, for me, the highlight of Elling’s career to date, and I’ll listen for as long as I am listening. It’s potent music, superbly performed, that asks the big questions and comes, even, to some uneasy answers. It’s only two years old, but it’s already timeless.
Touchstones is an ongoing series of posts I’ll be writing during the COVID-19 season, reflecting on the works of art that support me in times of upheaval. I encourage you to make a list of your own “touchstones” and if you like, share them with me to publish here.