Inspiring People
Some people work magic for us. They make our hearts dance, get our juices going, make us move, think and . . . let us enjoy. When I listen to Bach I want to compose, when I listen to Glenn Gould, I want to play piano. Likewise when I listen to Tony Williams I want to get behind the drum set and play. And indeed I feel so motivated that I do compose, play, improvise, invent, write or what have you. Some people had an inspiring effect for a moment but it’s the ones that keep inspiring me again and again that make my list.
Countless drummers, pianoplayers of all sorts, composers, painters etc inspired me. Actually, all kinds of adventurers and freedom seekers water my soul. Some I forget after a while which doesn’t say anything about their quality. But to some I feel connected through the heart immediately and repeatedly. They don’t come all from artistic fields but in general are very creative, humble and believe in human beings and their potential. They may be dead or alive, famous or below the historical radar, men or women, that is not what counts. For me they are all present, they are like intimate friends. I feel closely connected to them.
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It would seem logically that at least some of the motivational speakers that are ever so present should make my personal list. Well, there aren’t any. Or some teacher of the past. Well, no. Or, at least, somebody from my family? I’m sorry, no.
But that’s just me.
I have no particular explanation for my choice other than the one above: they continue to touch and inspire me. I don’t admire them in a ‘fan’ like way, I would like to play with them. Now.
Who’s on your list?
Here is my – naturally incomplete – short list:
J.S. Bach
Miles Davis
Matisse
Nicolas de Stael
Cheng Man Ching
Glenn Gould
Zhaozhou (Joshu)
Linji
Ikkyu
Tony Williams
Sir Ken Robinson
Gerhard Richter
Gurdjieff
Ricardo Semler
Joe Zawinul . . .
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