I believe the year was 1968 when Ben E. King and The Drifters released their classic single, “This Magic Moment.”
Magic moments in music still happen, but because nearly everything is instantly accessible online, it can feel more difficult to find live experiences that are truly unique and special. That being said, NAMM and Jacob Collier certainly provided a magic moment at the NAMM Grand Rally for Music Education.
I was first introduced to Jacob Collier – deemed “The Colorful Mozart of Gen Z” by The New York Times – when I stumbled across a live version of his cover of The Beach Boys classic “In My Room.” In that video, Collier delivers a synth heavy vocoder version of the classic song that is as otherworldly as it sounds. And just when you think he might only be about gadgetry, he shifts to piano and melts you with a beautiful solo.
If you are a musician yourself, you have to appreciate that Collier plays upwards of ten different instruments. To his credit, he simply emotes music. Even knowing that, what I find most interesting about him is his passion for the arts and the human condition, which he put on full display at his NAMM performance. His secret power is his ability to evoke true emotion in his audience.
One of Collier’s most effective tools is his ability to transform his audiences into unrehearsed choirs. Though I had previously seen videos of him doing this, to experience it live was something else entirely. The energy in the room was transformative, and the reason for that is a secret most musicians know. The Beach Boys shared it with the world in 1967 – it’s Good Vibrations!
It took Collier mere minutes to own the room. The first point of entry was his deep conversation with NAMM president John Mlynczak about the importance of music and arts education. As many readers will know, Mlynczak is a world class musician himself, so there was a very natural chemistry between the two of them, and the conversation flowed easily.
When Collier spoke, he reflected on several powerful truths. Below are some quotes of his, to the best of my recollection:
“I don’t believe there’s ever been a more important time for music. For all the things to stand for, music is the thing.”
“When we learn music, we learn all there is to know… We learn mathematics, we learn physics, we learn history, and geography. We learn about the human body and how it works, and we learn about the heart. We learn about leadership, community, and connection, because everything begins with listening.”
“I am one to believe that music education is not only important, but that its value to society is immeasurable.”
It was this final quote from Collier that put everything into perspective for me.
After his conversation with Mlynczak, the audience was gifted a live Jacob Collier performance. If anyone in the audience had doubts of his genius, that was quickly put to rest. He didn’t just play music… he was music!
There was no separation between Collier and his instruments. His grace on the piano gave the illusion of ease, similar to the natural movement of a waterfall. Its beauty left you breathless, and he was just getting started. As if mastery of the piano wasn’t enough, he paused, walked over to his guitar, played for a bit, then found his way back to the piano… continuing to sing and play masterfully, but now with a humorous twist. He began playing piano left-handed, and punching chords on his acoustic with his right, all the while continuing to sing a beautiful melody.
It was at that moment that I realized that Collier is not of this world. I was actually relieved, because once I realized he wasn’t human, I could relax.
For his finale, Collier is known to play his crowd as an instrument. He has the audience sing a starting pitch, then he begins conducting chord changes as he himself sings along. Participating in this as a part of the room, being tuned into different chords, is a truly unique experience.
It is the perfect example of why music is so important.
Kudos to NAMM for having the vision to select the perfect musician to bring home the message that music matters. Jacob Collier brought the receipts, and made Ben E. King and The Drifters proud, as he created a very Magical Moment!
