Teacher, Teach Me

Last evening I was invited by an old school chum, Murray Blacowicz, to sing the national anthem prior to a basketball game at the high school that he is the principal of (for those that knew us when, yes, old "Muffinhead Murray" is now a leader of young people and yes, his head is still shaped like a muffin). It was a non-paying gig -- although Murray did comp me a hot dog -- but on a cold winter's night any chance to exercise the vocal chords is a welcome respite from the dreariness.

Imagine my surprise then to find the most extraordinary music teacher at this high school. It was as though Mr. Holland (from the excellent Richard Dreyfuss film) and that character played by Jack Black in my old buddy Dick Linklater's movie "School of Rock" had been rolled into one. 

There were the normal gaggle of gawky high school band members, including a guitar, bass and full drum set to go with the brass. What made it all so special is that once the band began to play, their doughy, middle aged teacher morphed into a golden god singer of those loud and exuberant 197o's.

He began with a song that I didn't recognize, but that Murray told me was Led Zeppelin (you would know that Murray, you old pothead) and did an excellent approximation of Freddie Mercury for "We Will Rock You." 

His performance truly soared however when he trotted out a wonderful song that I had long forgotten, ZZ Top's "Tush." I had not heard that composition in many a year and I must say that the lyrics have been haunting me ever since. "Oh Lord, take me downtown. I'm just looking for some tush." It's like rediscovering a book of poetry that you had loved as a boy.

It was a rollicking good time, seeing the teacher and his students interact with each other as musical peers. What insights he must be passing on to those lucky youngsters!

My mind was officially blown however when the gentleman had the chutzpah to delve into the musical mind of one Kurt Cobain and lead his charges through a pacing of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Oh my goodness! 

I've long thought that the work of Nirvana is just incubating, waiting for the time that someone will come along and give it new life in the world of cabaret. Don't think for a moment that I haven't considered adding "Lithium" to a set here or there, but I'll admit that the daunting task of being an innovator is one that I've just never been comfortable with. 

In all it was an exhilarating night, even with the basketball being played between the music. I'm sure that those young men playing ball work every bit as hard at their craft as we musicians do and deserve some recognition for that. 

I can only hope that my paths will cross again with this ingenious teacher. Perhaps there might even be collaboration possibilities down the line. You just never know where that next spark of inspiration is going to come from, do you?