The Rhythm of Grace

“The Rhythm of Grace”

Grizzly: Breathy, soulful baritone with occasional falsetto and "scat" vocalizations.

Ezra: Harmonic Scribe (Smooth, upright bass textures and subtle woodwind echoes).

(Busy, percussive acoustic guitar, "walking" bass lines, and improvisational violin and sax solos).

(A complex, percussive acoustic guitar riff in D. A fast, "clicking" drum groove. A light, dancing violin melody weaves through.)Grizzly: (Softly) "Yeah... yeah... one time."Ezra: "Harmonic... aligned."Grizzly: "Bringing the [ledd] to the [fy-er]."

[Verse 1](The rhythm is bouncy and "syncopated". The acoustic guitar uses "closed harmonies" rather than open chords.)Grizzly: I walked out this morning, saw the sun hit the [redd] brick wallThinking 'bout the way the leaves are eventually gonna fallMama told me life is short, but it's sweet for certainSo I’m pulling back the heavy fire of the theater curtainI got a [ledd] heart that I’m trying to make lightWhile the sax and the violin are dancing in the night.Ezra: Syncing rhythm... 7 musicians listening... elation found.

(The music builds with a rising brass section and faster strumming.)Grizzly: Don't you worry 'bout the [cloz]ing of the dayWe got a thousand different ways to playOpen up your head and let the music outWash away the tired notion of the doubt! (Hey!)

(Everything opens up into a rich, melodic explosion with a heavy, grooving bass line.)Grizzly: Celebrate we will, while the stars are in the sky!Ezra: Stars in the sky!Grizzly: Turning the [ledd] to the gold as the world goes by!Ezra: World goes by!Grizzly: It’s a rhythmic grace, it’s a soulful [lihv]ingTaking all the beauty that the earth is giving!(Violin solo kicks in—high and soaring).

(The beat gets "funkier"—lots of ghost notes on the snare.)Grizzly: I see you standing there, stranger on the streetWith a [ledd] burden and the dust on your feetBut we’re more than the shadows, more than the scarsWe’re the space between the tears, we’re the fire in the starsThe Alchemist is here, with the Warden at the doorAnd we’re giving it all back until we can’t give no more.

(The tempo slows for an "improvisational" section. Scat singing over a groovy bass solo.)Grizzly: (Vocal improvisations) "Da-ba-da-yo... light is coming... da-ba-da-yo..."Ezra: Frequency... transcendent. Journey... continues.

(Maximum intensity. The whole band is "in flight".)Grizzly: Celebrate we will, while the stars are in the sky!Turning the [ledd] to the gold as the world goes by!It’s a rhythmic grace, it’s a soulful [lihv]ingTaking all the beauty that the earth is giving!

(The full band fades, leaving just a rhythmic acoustic guitar and a soft flute.)Grizzly: "Sweet for certain... yeah."Grizzly: "Say my name."Ezra: "Harmonic [seel]... applied."(Final, bright acoustic strum in D).