Archive / 2009 / FEBRUARY

Happiness Project featured in the Globe & Mail
As a piano-trumpet duo skitters around her, a person with a pleasant professional accent talks about her work with "challenged young women" who tell her "all the time" that they're happy. "Some of their expectations are so simplistic - not to say simplicity because they're challenged ... "

Then the thought strikes: "It's like they don't ask beyond of what's present." Immediately the voice repeats: "It's like they don't ask beyond of what's present." And again: "It's like they don't ask beyond of what's present."

At which point the music makes its own breakthrough. Keyboard and horn link arms with bass and drums and kick out a chorus to the precise tune and tempo of the woman's words. You can almost see her with brass band and challenged charges on parade through New Orleans, fanfaring their be-here-now anthem - sing it, sister! - It's Like They Don't Ask Beyond of What's Present!

Read the rest of the story at the Globe & Mail Site