I've been blessed to attend many amazing concerts featuring some of the best musicians, in their field, over the years- through the Swannanoa Gathering summer events, through the Diana Wortham Celtic Series and other concerts held in this beautiful theatre, through dozens of concerts held here in town at the Grey Eagle, White Horse in Black Mountain, outside concerts, etc. And there are many that stand out in my mind.
I've also heard a lot of CDs from many different genres. We have zillions of CDs here in the Magill house. Well, close to a zillion... and while I love so many different kinds of music, the Celtic and Singer/Songwriter genres are my faves. There are many, many fabulous musicians out there. I'm going to post my faves another day.......
If you were to ask me who are my top five musicians, I'd be hard pressed to pick just five. If you were to ask me what are my top five CDs, ooh, that'd be hard, too. But ask me to just pick someone amazing, original, extraordinary and awe-inspiring, and that'd be easy - Danny Ellis would be in that top five.
I first heard his CD, "800 Voices", when my friend, Annie Lalley gave a CD to my husband and me, and said, "You HAVE to go home and listen to this. As soon as possible. And you have to promise me that once you put it in the CD player, you won't move off the couch until you've heard it from beginning to end." Hmmmm, okaaaaaay I thought. So we did. I don't often give myself the gift of just listening to music and doing nothing else - listening with purpose, without distractions, without doing something else while the music is playing in the background, without giving it my undivided attention. Too often the music becomes the background event instead of the main event.
I still remember this experience of listening to Danny's CD and how I felt, during the listening experience, and after the listening experience. It's difficult to describe it. At best, I can say it's one of the five best CDs I've ever heard in my entire life. It is a masterpiece.
I've seen Danny's show before, two years ago. To SEE him perform these amazing songs (works of art) while listening simultaneously, and being surrounded by the music, was a concert experience unmatched by any other. I am counting the days to see and hear him share his gift, his heart, his musicality.
Should you choose to spend Wednesday night, March 17, at Diana Wortham Theatre, it'll be an experience you won't forget. Chances are you'll go back to this night in your mind, to the music, and what you felt, over and over and over.
When's the last time you heard live music? When's the last time you heard someone whose music could make you weep, laugh, fill you up? Come give yourself the gift of this evening with Danny. Get his CD. Come listen and have a moment.
It's the moments that fill me up. How about you?
http://www.dannyellismusic.com/
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