Lessons from Talent Magnets

July 17, 2023 - 28th Summer Jazz Festival Krakow: Marcus Miller European Tour 2023

Lesson 1: Everybody Counts

We each have an inner recognition system that can get activated in the presence of beauty.

In a sport like rugby, this is when we realize that the team, rather than a single player, is the star.

In music, a band like Marcus Miller's demonstrates that the invisible threads supporting the groove that brings everyone together - from the lucky few on stage to thousands in the audience - come from personal, human-to-human interaction, from different instruments and skill-sets that amplify each other in service of a common, higher purpose.

If you ever worked in an environment where people are unafraid to be vulnerable, to give the stage to each other without hogging the spotlight, and constantly re-align to serve a purpose higher than themselves, then you have experienced the strength of a star team.

Such force fields attract talent and take everyone's best to the next level. They are a great reserve of renewable energy. And they start with you and me.

Lesson 2: (Practise First, then) Master Your Improv

Whenever we persistently took the time to practice something to achieve mastery, we experienced the power of "prepare, prepare, prepare."

Preparation is one of the necessary, time-consuming stepping stones to excellence in execution.

There is a light layer that sits on top of consistent practice. It comes with committed rehearsing in music, and team work in business, over time. In one word: improvisation.

Improvisation is about looking at reality with fresh eyes, being in the moment, unlearning something known in order to re-live the joy of "first-time" discovery.

Allowing the serendipity of the present to take over without the need to control or overthink is what makes improv a delight to witness and experience.

On July 17, in the company of four on stage (Anwar Marshall - drums, Donald Hayes - saxophone, Xavier Gordon - piano, Russell Gunn - trumpet) and close to two thousand people in the audience, here is what letting go looked like for Marcus Miller:

During his solo sections, Marcus delighted everyone with his brilliance. His ability to solo - on a couple of instruments, no less - is astounding. Even more so, as it is backed by innate talent and over 45 years of practice as a musician.

During his band members' solos, Marcus became part of the audience, even though on stage. While the audience was seated, he grooved to his band members' solos, dancing to himself in a space of trust and vulnerability that was a privilege to take in.

The lesson in letting go is that it allows others into your world.

The side-effects of revealing your authentic self in the process are: proximity, trust, and gratitude.

Quite a lot of courage in that. As Susan David writes, courage is not the absence of fear; courage is fear walking. And what a walk this was - not to mention Marcus Miller's walking bass, which deserves every music community accolade.

Lesson 3: Take the Best with You

Concert about to start. Audience members are ushered in.

About ninety minutes later, standing ovations follow an amazing encore.

The audience can't get enough. Not quite ready to leave yet.

Someone comes out with a message from the band:

"Take with you, wherever you go, the best of what you experienced tonight.

Thank you for being a wonderful audience."