This is the last episode of my series on resilient musicians who thrived (at least for awhile) despite mental and/or physical challenges.
The podcast starts with something fun....a Bud Freeman and Katie Lee project called Songs of Couch and Consultation, satirizing psychoanalysis and psychiatric jargon.
Then we get serious, moving right to Charlie Mingus and an album that was inspired by his time in a psychiatric ward.
And speaking of psychiatric wards, the great pianist, Phineas Newborn ended up spending some time in one.
Neurodivergence is no longer thought of as being a psychiatric disorder.....and some people, such as broken beat/P Funk/spiritual jazz/hip-hop artist Emma-Jean Thackray embraces the challenge of ADHD and being on the autidm spectrum. The album is called "Weirdo".
Drummer Phil Haynes almost retired due to a regenerative joint malady, COVID, and depression---but instead re-committed himself to compiling his music of five decades and even putting together some new ones,
Then there is Canadian singer Shannon Butcher who refuses to allow epilepsy to stymy her career---despite once having a seizure in the middle of a live concert.
Chris Gage from Vancouver may have been one of the world's best unknown jazz pianists---revered by Oscar Peterson. He only made one commercial recording.....and I play it for you here.
Saxophonist and prolific composer Allen Lowe made it through the depression that came with his struggle with cancer by writing a series of great compositions called "I Should Have Stayed Dead". Here I play one of them. And if its possible for a banjo to be depressing....
Billie Holiday when she was at her worst health, near the end of her life, made an album called Lady In Satin that some say was the best thing she ever did. I play the opening track.
Then there's Edmonton based P.J. Perry who was on a quest to show that you do NOT play better on drugs. The tune I play by him is called agoraphobia.
And last but certainly not least, I revisit the feature jazz guitarist from last week's episode: Pat Martino. He made it into a 2014 case study reported in 'World Neurosurgery'. It was believed to have been "the first clinical observation of a patient who exhibited complete recovery from a profound amnesia and regained his previous virtuoso status". To celebrate I play one of my favourite Pat Martino recordings.
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.