February 11, 2005

• The Blues
  and the
  Abstract Truth

  An obituary of jazz artist Jimmy Smith, who died on Mardi Gras, leads, via his album Got My Mojo Workin’, to a 1961 album of Oliver Nelson that in turn suggests the following quotation:

  “After
  this it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth
  was taken with a summons by the same post as the other,
  and had this for a token that the summons was true,
  ‘That his pitcher was broken at the fountain.’
  (Eccles. 12:6) When he understood it, he called for
  his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, I
  am going to my Father’s; and though with great
  difficulty I have got hither, yet now I do not repent
  me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where
  I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me
  in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him
  that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me,
  to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles
  who will now be my rewarder. When the day that he
  must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the
  river-side, into which as he went, he said, ‘Death,
  where is thy sting?’ And as he went down deeper,
  he said, ‘Grave, where is thy victory?’
  (1 Cor. 15:55) So he passed over, and all the trumpets
  sounded for him on the other side.”

  – John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

  “And all the trumpets sounded…”

  For example:
  

  	Windows Media	Real Player
  Yearnin’	Listen	Listen
  Stolen Moments	Listen	Listen
  Cascades	Listen	Listen

  These clips are from
  the Amazon.com page

  for the Oliver Nelson album

  The Blues and the Abstract Truth.

  • 2:09 am
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