Stress is unavoidable when you travel by plane these days. Even if you have no problem being airborne, traffic to the airport and long delays at the terminal and on the runway can send anxiety levels soaring.
Anticipating the challenge of traveling back and forth to Boston yesterday, I tried an experiment. My goal was to find a music mix that would transport my mind back to the mid-1960s, when airports and the skies were much less crowded and flying, like color TV, was a futuristic experience.
I figured that if my mind thought it was being pampered on a 1960s Boeing 707, it would ignore the pushing and shoving and lines and late departures.
I'm happy tor report it worked. When the high-strung woman with acne on her neck angrily pushed ahead of me at the ticket counter in Boston to get on an earlier flight, I wasn't even bothered. I even helped her check her heavy bag with the counter person. When a guy loudly chewed out his assistant on his cell phone, I just phased him out. Little by little, my mind gave up caring about transit nuisances and nudniks—as if closing the lid on a human garbage pail.
In fact, thanks to the tranquilizing mix on my iPod, I found that nothing much mattered at all en route to my client's office—or when heading home at day's end. It was 1966 in there, baby. In my transported mind, the plane's seats were bright orange, everyone was served champaign in crystal glasses, and every passenger was civil and had a broad smile.
So, the next time you plan on traveling by plane, I highly recommend burning or downloading the following CDs—in the order listed. If you're like me, the mix will make your trip more than relaxing:
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays
Sylvia Telles: It Might As Well Be Spring
Wax note: By the way, on that second CD (Wave), that's Urbie Green on trombone. Man, Urbie had some tone, didn't he? More on Urbie down the road. I only wish Wave were remastered—or at least available as a Japanese import. Claus Ogerman's arrangements on this album deserve better.
Wax clip: Since we're deep into Brazil today, take a look at this clip of the stunning Elis Regina singing Aguas de Marco (The Waters of March). Listen how powdery soft she gets at the end. Just beautiful.
Have a good flight!
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