Metro Concerto
The Washington Metro (Underground to those not in the know) is beginning to show its age. It’s just a little faded, a little scuffed, a little down at heel. But still roomy, and clean, and not often uncomfortably overcrowded.
But there’s a little musical gem not many folk appreciate. Out in the NW suburbs, right on the edge of the District, nearly into Maryland, there’s a station called Friendship Heights (might be interesting to know why, one day). Now, as you go down the first escalator, there’s the first hints of something unusual – a little rising run of notes, followed maybe by a deeper tone, or a soprano twirl. Once you start down the next escalator, a long one, the metro is deep, deep, you catch the full band, bass, tenor, soprano sax, whooping and whispering, circling each other, calling and answering. It’s so contemporary ! No long-haired blonde casual Scandinavians could make more up to date sounds.
Metro, stay faded, leave those escalators alone, leave the oil can on the shelf.