077: Gold, Beauty and Jazz

1 Drawing - 1 Music - 1 Letter

Raphy Mendoza

Jul 30, 2023

Drawing on Mind — drawings by Georgie St. Clair

From the Community

What really catches me with

Georgie St Clair

’s drawings is this sense of romance, elegance, and innocence. It evokes the same "vibe" (I want to say "emotion", but it isn't really one…) that I get from things like rose gold, marble arches, water fountains, velvet dresses, and jazz.

Is it just me?

There's something understated and effortless about how the flowers simply are, the gold unabashedly bold, and the feminine figure holding them almost like a mother, whole in a perfect circle.

Somewhat in contrast to this romantic vibe, Georgie's writing often reflects on the day-to-day mundane struggle to honour our creative spirit. She talks about the frustration of not being able to create time for her creative practices, the having to will oneself to put pencil to paper, and the paralysing analysis of whether or not taking time for creative ‘hobbies’ is acceptable.

All of which are relatable to me, and perhaps to you as well. I hope you enjoy the simple beauty of these drawings as much as I did :).

2. I've Got You Under My Skin — a duet by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

From Current Events

Speaking of elegance, beauty, and jazz...

Tony Bennett died on 21st July 2023 at 96 years old, a little over a week ago.

I remembered the beautiful album that he produced with Lady Gaga (👇🏽), and then I came across this beautiful video. The way lady gaga looked at him while they sang was so full of appreciation and gratitude, and he looked so content and happy to be simply singing.

I didn't know a great deal about Tony Bennett. I don't follow jazz particularly closely, and I only really picked him up on my radar through the duets he did with the likes of Amy Winehouse and George Michael.

But in writing this post, I read about how he nearly died in a bathtub while on cocaine, in his 50s during a 'down' period of his career. His wife found him, rescued him, and shortly after that he called his son who proceeded to be a close partner in resurrecting his career and sorting out his financial life. He lived to 96.

As far as I can tell, he left this world having wholly and fully emptied himself. He took his second chance and had music, love, and life use him up completely.

🎷 🎶 🖤

3. On 'The Creative Urge' — a letter from John Coltrane

From the Substack World

June 2, 1962
Dear Don,
Many thanks for sending Aaron Copland’s fine book, “Music and Imagination.” I found it historically revealing and on the whole, quite informative. However, I do not feel that all of his tenets are entirely essential or applicable to the “jazz” musician. This book seems to be written more for the American classical or semi-classical composer who has the problem, as Copland sees it, of not finding himself an integral part of the musical community, or having difficulty in finding a positive philosophy or justification for his art. The “jazz” musician does not have this problem at all.
We have absolutely no reason to worry about lack of positive and affirmative philosophy. It’s built in us. The phrasing, the sound of the music attest this fact. We are naturally endowed with it. You can believe all of us would have perished long ago if this were not so. As to community, the whole face of the globe is our community. You see, it is really easy for us to create. We are born with this feeling that just comes out no matter what conditions exist. Otherwise, how could our founding fathers have produced this music in the first place when they surely found themselves (as many of us do today) existing in hostile communities when there was everything to fear and damn few to trust. Any music which could grow and propagate itself as our music has, must have a hell of an affirmative belief inherent in it. Any person who claims to doubt this, or claims to believe that the exponents of our music of freedom are not guided by this same entity, is either prejudiced, musically sterile, just plain stupid or scheming. Believe me, Don, we all know that this word which so many seem to fear today, “Freedom,” has a hell of a lot to do with this music.
You know, Don, I was reading a book on the life of Van Gogh today, and I had to pause and think of that wonderful and persistent force—the creative urge. The creative urge was in this man who found himself so much at odds with the world he lived in, and in spite of all the adversity, frustrations, rejections and so forth—beautiful and living art came forth abundantly... if only he could be here today. Truth is indestructible. It seems history shows (and it’s the same way today) that the innovator is more often than not met with some degree of condemnation; usually according to the degree of his departure from the prevailing modes of expression or what have you. Change is always so hard to accept. We also see that these innovators always seek to revitalize, extend and reconstruct the status quo in their given fields, wherever it is needed. Quite often they are the rejects, outcasts, sub-citizens, etc. of the very societies to which they bring so much sustenance. Often they are people who endure great personal tragedy in their lives. Whatever the case, whether accepted or rejected, rich or poor, they are forever guided by that great and eternal constant—the creative urge. Let us cherish it and give all praise to God. Thank you and best wishes to all.
Sincerely,
John Coltrane

And speaking of jazz... reading up on Tony Bennet reminded me of this letter from John Coltrane in 1962, published by

Letters of Note

Perhaps this 'creative urge' is simply the guiding voice of life itself, and the invitation is to listen and follow where it takes you.

📚 DAILY RITUALS 📚

Tony Bennett collaborated with so many artists, and reading up on him took me down so many interesting rabbit holes. I'd like to share with you guys

Mason Currey

‘s book - Daily Rituals: How Artists Work

And I wanted some recommendations of what biographies you would recommend (in book and documentary form) of your favourite creatives. Let me know in the comments!