Patron Of The Arts

When Peter Gabriel played this part of the world a few years ago (for what I think was the first, and so far only, time) Vicki and I decided to take some of my bonus money for that year and buy a bunch of tickets to the show that we could give away to friends and co-workers. Considering how long I'd personally been a big fan of his - over twenty years, at that time - this seemed like a natural and logical thing for us to do. However, it definitely got some weird responses from people, and in some cases seemed to prompt people to think that it couldn't possibly be even worth their time to accept the tickets being offered. After all, if you're giving them away, they mustn't be worth anything, right? Astonishingly, of the 20 extra tickets we bought, we ended up with a pair that had to be given to the parents of someone we barely knew, as otherwise they would've gone unused! Such is life. Those who took the free tickets, though, and made it to the show, seemed to have a great time, and at the very least got to see an actual 'art rock' concert, complete with theatrics as only PG can deliver!

Today we experienced something similar, but on the receiving end of the generosity. PeterJ arranged a small, intimate concert by his friend and favourite performer, Lenni Jabour. This was apparently something that he'd been thinking about, and organizing, for quite some time. He mentioned vaguely, months ago, that he had plans for his 2006 performance bonus, but wouldn't reveal what. As it turns out, he'd made it possible for Lenni, along with one of her Third Floor bandmates, cellist Alex McMaster, to visit our fair town, and grace a select few of us with an eighty-minute (or so) private concert! Both musicians were fabulous, Jabour in terms of her keyboard playing and vocal range, and McMaster for some lovely accompaniment on the cello.

It was clear from the get-go that Peter has a special relationship with these women, and that it runs much deeper than simply following their exploits from afar (stalker-fan, was how I'd once referred to him!) He's put his money where his mouth is, and made an obviously-heartfelt attempt to both support them, and expand their fan base, which is what patrons of the arts are supposed to do! Kudos to him for his generosity and devotion, and to Miss Jabour and Miss McMaster for a wonderful show! And Vicki and I look forward to listening to the two Third Floor CDs we bought, and possibly even seeing the entire band in concert sometime... as paying customers!