February stories tug at heartstrings

One of my favorite memories as a musician was playing the West Hartford Senior Center in Connecticut a few years ago with a straight-ahead jazz combo. The band performed for, and was mainly composed of, seniors. I sat in with the group to give the house drummer a break. It allowed him to dance with his wife, which he rarely got a chance to do, since he was normally a fixture behind the bandstand. The room was always jam-packed with dancers and the age of the crowd perfectly fit the age of the songs. "Take the A Train" and "Satin Doll" never felt like such a natural fit. It was a blast. The meaning of jazz music was being kept alive by listeners who grew up with those melodies. Fast-forward to this month's cover story about "Young at Heart," a group of seniors who are busy - not singing the hits of their own generation - but covering rock'n'roll. It might seem at first like a challenging fit. Many of these songs were ditties their children listened to on tapes, 8-tracks, and CDs. The people in the group were not among the generation that "tuned in, turned on, and dropped out" at Woodstock. But it's funny how your preconceptions can melt away in an instant, when the music starts. In the time it takes for a singer to open her mouth, a songstress who loved Ella Fizgerald proves that she is just as qualified to impersonate Lady Gaga-if she's so inclined. Groups like "Young at Heart" exist not only to provide us with great interpretations of musical classics, but to remind us that one's age is irrelevant to artistic and musical expression. It's not the age of your body, but the strength of your spirit, that is revealed onstage. It's fascinating to me that this month's PRIME cover story centers around music, specifically how the communal language of song is interpreted by each new generation. Clearly, tunes originally performed by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Lou Reed, being covered by songbirds over the age of 73, is a study in contrasts. Yet anyone who's seen the PBS Independent Lens television broadcast of the documentary film about "Young At Heart" knows it's a seamless transition. These performers live in the moment; they breathe new meaning into rock classics (and some of today's popular hits) without pandering to the audience. The groups' director, Bob Cilman, who's been at this for 28 years, has seen the cultural shift. "It's funny how the success of something blunts the critique of it," he said regarding the flack once aimed at rock-and-roll's message. Much like those West Hartford seniors who cheered and clapped for a much younger, so-called "Generation X" performer playing jazz music, I can't help but be a fan of the rock-n-rollers of "Young at Heart." I think you will be too. We hope you enjoy this heart-themed February edition of PRIME, including vital information about heart health. For example, when should one seek advice from a doctor about a troublesome ticker? We aim to answer that question on our health pages. Valentine's Day is here again and, of course, we're featuring a great travel destination with hundreds of years of romantic history. Thirty years after the marketing slogan was born, Virginia is still for lovers. Scenes from the historic Homestead in Virginia, overlooking the Allegheny Mountains should warm your heart. Sincerely, Mike Briotta, PRIME Editor, mikeb@thereminder.com