I’m not a musician, but I have been married to one for 39 years. I have raised a few. People ask me what instrument I play and I say, “the radio”. I have learned a few things along the way. Musicians hear differently than non-musicians. I hear the whole, they hear the parts. My musicians are eclectic listeners. They get that from their dad. I like pop rock and oldies. I have to work to hear music like they hear it naturally. 

When Bill discovered Jacob Collier years ago, he was exuberant. He was glued to the YouTube channel for hours at a time. His first album, In My Room was all played, recorded and mixed in his room…when he was 16. I think he won his first Grammy at 16, too. Bill would say come look at this guy and what he does. I admit I listened, but wasn’t nearly as caught up in the music as Bill was. Jacob doesn’t write sing alongs really. His music is much more complex, and even his covers of familiar songs have a Jacob spin on them so they are not as familiar. However, I have learned a respect for all things musical. I know it is more than natural talent; it requires years of hard work to be excellent. And even if I don’t understand the intricacies of a song I can still appreciate the effort of the artist. 

I was impressed when I saw videos of him conducting the audience like a choir. And then again when he did the same thing with an orchestra. Improvising with a full orchestra seems a bold move. But, Bill sees much more than that. I know nothing of music theory, but evidently this guy is a master beyond believing. Bill regularly says, “How does he do that? That shouldn’t be a harmony, but it works. He blows my mind.”

Seeing Bill was obsessing, I decided to get tickets to a show for Bill’s birthday. When I looked there were only 3 dates in the States. I bought tickets for the Washington D.C. show and thought we could take a mini vacation for a few days. Then Bill found out there was an added show in Nashville…with an orchestra…in October…outside. We changed our tickets and got row CC thinking that would be after the single alphabet letters. Come to find out the double letters are first, so we were on the third row. Spitting range, I call it. 

People all around us were all musicians talking in amazed voices. As the concert progressed many were nodding and staring with dropped jaws. I have to admit being that close and seeing him play the piano, drums, and guitars up close, was impressive. His mother conducted the orchestra and she was as fun to watch as he was. Chris Thile, the mandolin player was every bit as enthusiastic as Jacob was. The genres were varied. There were covers and originals and lots of improvisation which was probably the most amazing thing of all of it. We sang in his audience choir, we watched him create an orchestra piece off the top of his head. 

I must say, I am now as enthusiastic as Bill. If you don’t know Jacob’s work check out his YouTube channel, and if you get the chance to see him in person…do it.