Surfing and music

I know what you're thinking. What's with the long silence? Did I regress again and become too discouraged to post?

First, let me say there have really been no waves for over a week (as far as I know) and second, anyway, I have been out of town. I can state with certainty that there were no waves anywhere near Washington, DC. Here's where I was: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Labor_Arts_Exchange
an event very near and dear to my heart and one I heartily recommend. I had an absolute blast.
In between events at the conference, I had the chance to try out a couple of these, which can't be found in New York at the moment: http://fazioli.com/eng/modello_f228.php#f228
Playing Keith Jarrett on one of these is nothing short of a religious experience.

I played the end of the first movement of his (transcribed) Koln concert, which is entirely fitting because this is the piece of music that was playing in my head the entire first summer I started trying to learn to surf (2004). I love that piece to death---especially the rockin' parts. Some time after that summer, I can't say when but it might have been as long as a year later, I discovered the transcription and began learning it. I have to say it is one of the most difficult pieces I have ever attempted. It has taken me until now, summer 2008, to learn to play it properly. And I've only learned the first of the three movements---but that in itself is 35 pages. I got the end down not long ago, and it's the best, most joyous part of the entire concert. It sounds good on any piano, but on a Fazioli it is transcendent.

And finally: No. I did not regress. I had planned to take it easy today, recuperating and reorienting after the trip, but the waves were just too good. I had to go out. Yes, I did it again. If there's anything better than catching a perfect wave, it's having that ride witnessed and complimented by D., senior surfer, former surf teacher, friend and all around good guy. And other people did, too. "I saw the barrel of the wave right behind your board," is what D. said. And he congratulated me for not quitting given all the shit I've had to put up with, amply documented on this blog. I've been waiting a long time to hear that.

D. is also a musician. Would he rather play music or surf, I've asked him. No hesitation: play music. Which is more of a religious experience, Jarrett on Fazioli or riding a barreling wave? Well, that's a more difficult question to answer. Maybe if I were surfing big waves and getting long rides surfing would win. But I don't think so.

One more thing: No wetsuit today, Woohooo! This day deserves to be a national holiday like Turnaround Day.