pianist, portland, july 2005

[zyzyly]

Arlina and I spent a few days in Portland Oregon on our first trip together back in 1990. One day our friends took us to the Saturday Market, a giant flea market at the edge of downtown. We came across a pianist tucked away in a corner, playing a beat-up old piano. His name was Paul Immanuel Owens. We liked his music and bought a cassette, which we listened to almost all the way down the coast.

When I was back in Portland at the beginning of my trip this summer, I headed back to the Saturday Market on my way out of town. Paul Owens was still there, tucked away in a corner, playing a beat-up old piano. There was something about him still being there, still playing after all these years, that moved me in a way I can't articulate.

"I'm back," I said.

I bought a CD of his music and listened to it as I crossed the prairie.


edit: i found this article about him after I posted this. The article was published yesterday!

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/portland_news/113471070272940.xml&coll=7

Comments

[blues-dream.livejournal.com]

I love this story. I shall look for him.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

be sure to look for saturday market elvis too--he's my other favorite.

[skippers.livejournal.com]

--There was something about him still being there, still playing after all these years, that moved me in a way I can't articulate.

"I'm back," I said.--

Constancy is a very good thing. I appreciate it, too - to leave a place and return with a same person or thing there -still-; how amazing!

It isn't the mere fact of them being there though. It's what it can mean for them to remain, too. If it means something good, then it's a very joyous thing.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I think I can understand how it moved you, at least I got a good shiver down my spine when I read your post. Lovely photo.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

that's wonderful. he has roses or something on top of his piano? i'm so glad you took his picture and showed us.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I think they are silk roses.

After I posted this, I did a web search so I could send him an email, and found a newspaper article about him, posted just yesterday(!), that says he has been playing there for over 20 years.

[purple7luv.livejournal.com]

i can only imagine how this felt to you.
(i would love to hear him)