IN CONCERT

It had been some 30 years.

Joseph Martin played piano for my Youth Choir at Parkway Baptist Church of Plantation, Florida.

As I said in my former post, I knew him to be an extraordinary musician, who, if he wanted to, would go far.

He wanted to.

Yesterday, after a series of emails and phone calls, we were able to see each other.

He was in concert at the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Florida.

We were able to spend the afternoon together, remembering old times and people who had been in our lives.

Joe is one of the most personable people on earth, even more so now than I had remembered him to have been.

And then the concert.

WOW!

Joe has a stage presence that rivals that of any performer I have ever seen. He was witty, well paced and so very talented.

As I had told him earlier, the difference between being a good, or even above average performer is threefold: 1) talent - which is God given; 2) confidence - which comes with knowledge of one's craft; and 3) energy - not to be confused with loudness.

Joe excelled in all three.

The first thing that caused my heart to jump and my attention to be grabbed was his very unique use of the glissando (the sliding of the finger or fingers up or down the keyboard)

Joe's glissando was dynamic, meaning that it could change in volume or speed as it was being played.

For many pianists, the glissando is nothing more than an embellishment for the purpose of showing off. Quite often, the artist does not time it out well enough, and has to either change the rhythmic pattern of the song or simply "jump" to where he is going without finishing the glissando.

For Joe Martin, however, the glissando itself became a part of the structure of the piece.

Once he had my attention, I began to focus on his various other techniques.

Whether he was playing an expressive adagio (slow and emotional) or an il più presto (as fast as possible), he was superlative in its treatment.

Joe's enthusiam for his work was evident on both the traditional "high-church" selections and the gospel and hymn treatment pieces.

In one song, "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," one could hear the trumpets as the Israelites marched around the city, even though there were no trumpeters hiding in the piano (as far as I could tell). And when the "walls came-a-tumblin down," you could feel them fall, crashing to the earth.

Enough, already!

Suffice to say it was a joyous day.

As I told his lovely wife, Sue, even if nothing else of significance happen this year, it is already the best year of my life.

Thank you, Lord, for having allowed me to have had a part in Joe's life, and for the honor he brings me by having reached for, and acheived his ever expanding potential.