Kurt Elling...be still my foolish heart!

Nothing can be better than a summer Sunday evening experience that consists of a nice, cool, dark NY jazz club (re: Birdland), a crab cake sandwich, some bubbly black cherry soda, and the smooth sultriness of Kurt Elling's voice. He is the ideal to a developing musician (re: ME!). He walks on to the stage with a mischievous smirk as he plans to seduce all of his listeners into a love that will end up being unrequited because well folks... he's married and has a kid (I know...I cried too).
It was my pleasure to hear my absolute favorite Kurt Elling piece which consists of questions that can only be answered by the wonders of God....How did smoke learn how to fly? Where to birds go off to die? Why does coal sleep in darkness? Do dreams live in apart-ness? Is a number forever? Where's the soul of the water? How old is Old November? No one here can remember. If I die, where does time go? Do the bees feel vertigo? To get love is there potion? Or is love only motion?

Really? Really? Be still my foolish heart! Kurt Elling is the reason why I still listen to jazz. He embodies all that I have ever wanted in a male voice. His range is ridiculous, his timbre is stone cold rugged (yet clear), his lyrics make you dream, and his presence is that of your favorite/coolest uncle.

I can only dream to be that great. Too bad he didn't remember me when I went up to him and tried to jog his memory of having sung for him a little more than a year ago in a masterclass he conducted at Dartmouth. Honestly, I was a little disappointed, but then I remembered: He's Kurt Elling! Everyone who hears his voice falls in love with him and that is why it took me like 15 minutes to get a chance to speak to him. He's not going to remember little ole me...but one day he may. And on that day, my foolish heart will stand still.