As a writer, and especially one that enjoys writing about the arts, I have always found my time at Loyola eye-opening, but this week has surprised me with its force of creativity. Not only have I seen the talent of Loyola’s alumni and the progression of my friends and current students, but I have also been amazed by, undoubtedly, Loyola’s future students.
My journey started with a showing of two seniors’ artwork. I interviewed the artists to understand their approaches in their pieces, and their statements were both so distinct and definitive of their approaching lives. Later that night I attended a concert by the Thelonious Monk Institute Ensemble that depicted the spirit of music to me, and the musicians’ inspiration especially impressed me. The next evening, I sat down to hear a faculty member’s loyal rendition to one of the most influential albums in history, Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue,” and stood up after being taken on a real spiritual journey. The songs of Brian Blade, A’90, and the Fellowship Band (which includes more Loyola alumni) were some of the most captivating performances I have ever witnessed. There was a story in each song, and the entire performance lifted the audience by the end, which then applauded until the band returned to the stage for an encore performance. Expecting to receive several, less arousing songs for the encore was met with an almost tear-drawing rebuttal. Later that night, while still on a high of jazz music, I attended the New Orleans Indie Rock Collective, where a friend’s band (of two Loyola students), Caddywhompus, played. It was my first time seeing the band, though necessary socializing distracted my excitement. When they began to play however, I immediately started exploring the intricate rhythms and spastic guitar playing of the new, experimental band until the very end.
The next two days brought a festival of high school jazz bands, both New Orleans-based and from far away, that, though gems in the rough, showcased young talent. All I could see while they played was the process every music student here went through. These talented pupils will soon be applying to college, and some will apply and audition here; many will be accepted, attend and graduate; and several might go on to become as renowned as Blade. Though young, these students are the future of music, and the Loyola Jazz Festival has given me hope that the future lies in the good hands of educators.
My whirlwind through the stages in creative fields has opened my mind to ask questions about my own future. I am only a sophomore, but as I look back on my own life, I try to think like those seniors who are nearing graduation. What will come next? How will my own creativity affect my future? How will my art inspire others like I have been inspired this past week?
