Photo: Joni Sarkki
Just got the hideous news.
Don't have details. Don't need any
Just ... fuck
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Maybe it’s just me. But when a human vanishes, trying to acknowledge it with mere words feels like the ultimate fools errand.
Still, I know it counts for something to express our most sincere compassion for all those who loved the vanished one. And we do. But mostly, we acknowledge to them that such unfathomable loss resides in a wordless, silent void — and that we will just sit with them there for a while
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Jim had a stunningly prolific musical life. In fact he was perhaps the prototypic ‘SD collaborator Iceberg’. The education, experience, achievement, and artistry of most everyone who played with Donald and Walter rendered the label of “sideman” a hilarious, inside joke. Many saw but tiny tips of the mighty, massive talents mooring those few hours of magic on stereo or stage
And shameless fan-girl that I truly am of all SD collaborators, I will still share my humble opinion that when Jim joined the band, the final tumbler clicked into place; the secrets to presenting SDs music in its fullest flower were finally click-click-click-unlocked. And fan-girl nerd that I am, I could tediously dronesplain for hours on the particular whys, the picayune wherefores, whereby I imagine that locked was picked — how a particular individual contribution synergized into a band’s Group Mind.
I could also share how Walter understood, with the deepest gratitude, the centrality of Jim’s sensitive contribution to the heart and intention of Circus Money, and how only Jim could have inspired a loony idea (unrealized, alas, because of lack of time) that Walter and Larry had for those last few hours in Avatar; an idea inspired solely by their faith in Jim’s ability to leap tall, ‘impossible’ musical challenges in a single, fluent, beautiful bound.
All perhaps for another time.
For now … just a silent void in which unfathomable loss resides
{'Jim Beard Jam' Update Sept 2024]
Did anyone else watch the livestream of a Brooklyn gathering in honor of Jim on June 19? I learned of this just 2 hrs b4 the event (via an email from….my lawyer! [a big Dan fan]).
Added Sept 2024:
I managed to look in on the live stream when my glitching connection allowed.
It was very nice, of course. And so clear how Jim and his talents are profoundly missed.
But I was particularly moved — although not surprised —that virtually every member of the SD touring band was in attendance. including those who must have traveled far to be there. As they all crammed onto that tiny Brooklyn “stage” for Pretzel Logic (Larry Goldings on keys), I was startled by a thought: could this be the last time I’ll see these dear and talented people gathered to perform SD's music? Only the Magic Eightball knows for sure.
But if it is to be so, gathering in tribute to their comrade and friend is a pretty good way to go out.