A small disclaimer before you start reading: this is not an album review. At first I was a bit hesitant to post it on FS as “Triumphant Hearts” is far from being a metal album, but as soon as I started to type these words, I felt I had to finish it. These are a few thoughts and an anecdote spawned by some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard, my small tribute to JASON BECKER if you please. Enjoy.
Everything in life, no matter how big or small it might be, has a story that resonates differently with each person. Can you tell why? Well, it’s because everything comes down to communication and no one communicates in the exact same manner with someone else. Take this story of mine for example, .
The other day I was having a rough time at work. You see, being a software engineer means that you often have to deal with code that people just “had to ship” in order to “get things done” and move on. Everytime someone does something like this, is like he’s trying to cut communication with the rest of the “pack”, and despite what most people think, programmers need to excel in communication and usually spend more time reading code than writing it. Every piece of code tells a story and when that story is told in a bad way, trust me, nobody wants to hear it. Then it’s when you have a breach in communication.
After hitting a wall for nearly a couple of hours it was more than obvious that I desperately needed a break. I closed my terminal and pulled up my music player app; I have a playlist of instrumental songs I put on shuffle mode as it helps me to unwind at times. Then a beautiful song kicked in, JASON BECKER‘s “Throat Hole”, and a whole new story began to unravel.
It amazes me – it always had and always will – how good some people are in telling so much with little or no words at all. And “Throat Hole”, an instrumental song that runs for less than two minutes, outlines this in the best possible way: it captivates the listener by encapsulating emotions and feelings like few other guitarists have or ever will. At the same time it does something that’s far more important than that; it tells a story. A powerful and an inspiring one. It was that story that spawned the idea behind this article and I’m sure that Jason’s music has spawn many more ideas and stories throughout the years.
Jason’s music has always been more than just music. Jason’s music is a narrative. A narrative on how humility and greatness can move Heaven and Earth, a narrative on keeping your faith when little hope is left and how to turn a losing battle into a triumph. It’s glorifying.
Do not expect me to write a review about “Triumphant Hearts” and start dropping names of people involved in the album. You don’t need me to tell you about the stylistic diversity, technical fluency and expressiveness of everyone that plays on it. Reviews of the album are already out and if you’re still reading this I’m sure you’ve already done your homework. You and I know who JASON BECKER is and what he, his story and music stand for. And despite his story reflecting differently on each one of us, it surely manages to pull out one thing that’s the same for everyone: beauty. So, let’s celebrate his life and be humbled by his triumph. Play “Triumphant Hearts” and play it loud.
Thank you for everything, Jason.
