Tommy is the real deal, a working and practicing musician who does not put on any airs and ready to play along with *anyone* at any level, sharing knowledge freely and teaching anyone at the same time. I feel that this exemplifies and separates the real from the posers, or in other words, here we have someone who is completely and utterly so well-adjusted and secure in his life that he carries absolutely none of the kind of fear that seems to prevent far too many from what our craft is ultimately supposed to be all about. IMHO

If nothing else at all, he should serve as proof to any aspiring musician that the ability to hold Tempo and keep it exact, except for when it is time to stretch or compress time for the occasional dramatic sequence, is what makes people draw in that kind of deep startling breath, the inhale of reality, when enjoying particularly virtuoso performance. I once told a good friend of mine who is also is rather the compleat drummer that if it takes starting *every* kid out on drums first in order to get that, so be it!

With all of the fame, fortune and other trappings that go along with superstardom, he manages to remain not only accessible but helpful, appreciative, encouraging and approaches complete strangers with the kind of agape that instantly makes the stranger feel not like just a friend, but a long lost brother.

And, if he always takes special time for the children, as I personally witnessed when he played in concert after holding special classes and forums all day down here in Virginia, not only teaching without reservation but making it all happen almost invisibly as it were, while just plain having real fun and playing along with the kid, well. Suffer little children indeed.

Like the great jazz singer, Kurt Elling, Tommy Emmanuel is much more than just a fine entertainer, skilled musician - VERY skilled musician -- he is a Christian Mission Field who actually practices The Way and the Life. I wish that more of us did it in this fashion.

Thanks for posting that, Scott. Went well with the morning coffee here. (Strong Columbian coffee this morning, as today is going to be another woodshedding day for me. And we are out of Kona... Again.)


--Mac

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