My latest guest on Q&A is a musician, whom I first encountered at the Oslo Freedom Forum last June. I wrote the following, in an online journal:
Joshua Roman is a cellist from Oklahoma, born in 1983. For the Freedom Forum, he plays maybe the most basic cello piece there is — and by “basic” I mean “pure,” “fundamental,” “foundational”: the prelude from Bach’s G-major suite. He then talks to the audience about his — well, struggles. He has had “long COVID.” It made it very hard for him to carry on. To continue his career. To get out of bed. His message: Don’t give up. Maybe I am oversimplifying. But that is a very good message.
Yes.
Some more, from that journal:
He then starts to play something else. I think, “Oh, damn — it’s ‘Hallelujah.’” I am not keen on this famous, much-loved song. But Roman has clearly made a good arrangement of it. He is playing nimbly, inventively, underneath.
Underneath what? Well, the thing is: He sings. And he sings very, very well. Naturally. In tune. Better than a great many full-time singers sing. Accompanying himself on the cello, all the while.
I have never heard “Hallelujah” better, and probably never will. What an artist, this fellow, and an inspiration.
I wanted to podcast with him, and now I have. Joshua is engaged in what he calls “the Immunity Project,” and he has a new album, Immunity — music of various types. He is an eclectic musician. At age 22, he was the principal cello in the Seattle Symphony. Ultimately, however, orchestral life was not for him. He puts it this way, in our podcast: “I’ve got this kind of melodic inclination that doesn’t work in a cello section, where you’re generally playing the bass line.”
On tour this fall, he has played in long-Covid clinics. What he says about this experience is offbeat and moving. You will enjoy getting to know Joshua Roman. Again, our Q&A is here.