“Canela” Shows What it Means to “Work and Play Well With Others”
Last night I had the opportunity to hear the jazz quartet Canela in Santa Fe, NM. The group consists of pianist Patrice Rushen, saxophonist Justo Almario, bassist Abraham Laboriel, and drummer and percussionist Alex Acuna. Words fail me when it comes to describing how great this group was last night.
As I was listening and watching Canela, it occurred to me that this is a group that personifies the spirit behind working and playing well with others which is the central theme of this website. Each of these musicians possesses their own unique style. Yet, when the four come together the music they produce is magical. And they do it in a way that does not require them to give up pieces of themselves for the success of the group. Just seeing the sheer joy that exudes from each of their faces, and the supportive appreciation that each has for the other during the solo riffs speaks volumes about how it is possible to get the best of a group without losing one’s individualism that makes the group so special.
I think organizations can lose sight of the gifts that each individual brings to the table when people are required in subtle ways to fit in or conform in unnecessary ways. I hear often how organizations want employees at all levels to bring their “whole-selves to work, and yet when they do, they might get feedback that suggests that they leave a certain part of themselves at home. If you ever have a chance to see Canela, you’ll see the magic that can happen when individual talents are able to blend in such a profound way.