章 51: Chapter 51: Serendipity
After resolving the New York Metropolitan Museum assignment, Geon Kim arrived at Sharon Isbin's office, gearing up for his first major professor's lesson.
Nervously, he knocked on the door, having received a text from Professor Sharon Isbin the previous night, summoning him to her office instead of the practice room.
"Knock, knock."
"Come in."
As Geon entered, he found Professor Sharon Isbin's office markedly different from the typical stern atmosphere of other faculty rooms. The warm orange lighting and antique furnishings created an overall cozy ambiance. Professor Isbin sat at her desk, noticing Geon's arrival, she rose from her seat and gestured him to the couch.
Seated, Geon was met with a smiling Professor Sharon Isbin.
"I've heard about the museum incident. Seems Daniel Weiss made quite an impression on you," she said with a chuckle.
Geon, slightly embarrassed, replied, "I suppose luck was on my side, Professor."
Tapping her index finger thoughtfully, Professor Sharon Isbin continued, "If success were purely luck, neither Corigliano nor I would ever fail. It's not about false modesty. I understand it's customary in Eastern cultures to speak this way in such situations. However, as someone aspiring to be a musician, you should refrain from such statements. Understood?"
Geon, a bit tense, nodded. "Yes, Professor. I understand. But it's just that... I was so caught up in the moment..."
Smiling, Professor Sharon Isbin interjected, "A little humility is a virtue. But let that virtue not result in belittling oneself or others. Simply attributing success to luck implies that Corigliano and I failed due to our lack of luck."
As Geon hesitated, gauging Professor Sharon Isbin's response, she smiled and continued, "No need to worry or feel scrutinized. What I hoped for was for you to take pride in your skill fittingly. It's a common trait among most Eastern students. Let me ask again: Coffee or tea?"
Scratching his head, Geon replied tentatively, "Um, anything's fine."
Looking at Geon, Professor Sharon Isbin advised, "During your time here, you'll need to practice expressing your thoughts clearly. That's a characteristic of many Eastern students. So, coffee or tea?"
Geon, scratching the back of his head, said, "Oh, tea, please."
With a warm smile, Professor Sharon Isbin poured tea and set a cup in front of Geon, alongside her coffee and another cup.
"By the way, this incident was quite surprising. Professor Price is also quite curious about you," Geon said, surprised.
"Professor Price? Oh, what an honor," Geon added.
Smiling, Professor Sharon Isbin remarked, "We'll meet Professor Price later. But today, I've invited someone to introduce to you. They'll be here soon."
"Another professor from a different department?" Geon inquired.
Sharon glanced at her watch. "No, they're an active professional musician, commemorating their 48th debut anniversary with a new album, not just a remaster but re-recorded performances."
Geon, amazed, asked, "48th debut anniversary? They must be incredibly famous."
Sharon chuckled. "Interested in getting an autograph?"
"Of course. Autographs and photos make for great memories," Geon replied.
Sharon placed her coffee cup down and said, "I'll make sure you get that chance. It won't be a problem. Today, the request isn't from me, it's from them."
"Request? Are they asking for a performance?" Geon asked.
"Yes, they've requested a classical guitar performance for their 48th-anniversary album," Sharon confirmed.
"With your skills, Professor Isbin, it's more than fitting for them to ask. I'm envious," Geon complimented.
Chuckling, Sharon replied, "Envious after knowing who it is? Hehe."
Geon, slightly taken aback, said, "Oh, I mean, I'm curious! Who is it? A Spanish musician?"
Sharon nodded towards the door. "They're here."
Upon Sharon's gesture, Geon turned and hastily stood up as someone entered through the open door. Professor Sharon Isbin also rose, welcoming the newcomer with a smile.
"Welcome! It's been a while, Juliet. How long has it been? Four years since the European tour? Exactly four years since we last met?"
The man who entered appeared to be around 70, with reddish skin indicating Hispanic descent. Despite his age, he wore a Hawaiian shirt adorned with flowers and birds under a brown coat, donning leather pants and boots that made him look much younger. With a black curly hair cascading down to his neck, he wore a hood comprised of red and white, an ensemble that made him look in his thirties from behind.
Sharon Isbin gently embraced the man extending his arms before leading him by hand to the sofa. Geon stood nearby, adjusting to their assistance. As the man attempted to sit down, he cast a fleeting glance at Geon, then directed a quizzical look at Professor Sharon Isbin.
Pointing at Geon, Professor Sharon Isbin spoke, "This is my student, named Geon Kim."
The man extended his hand toward Geon, saying, "Ah, I see. Nice to meet you, young man. You're lucky to learn from Sharon."
Geon smiled as they shook hands. "Yes, I consider it an honor."
Seating himself with a smile, the man reached for the coffee placed in front of him. "Oh, quite thoughtful. Did I arrive on time? Seeing something warm is nice."
Sharon chuckled, replying, "You've always been punctual like clockwork. Never been late."
Taking a sip of coffee, the man chuckled, holding the cup after speaking, "Have you thought about what I mentioned?"
Sharon nodded with a smile. "Yes, I will. But when is the recording?"
The man initially seemed pleased with Sharon's consent but soon wore a serious expression, lowering the coffee cup. "Hmm... There's a bit of a problem. You know Andy, right? Andy Burgess."
As Sharon nodded, the man continued, "Andy injured his throat. Being older, recovery isn't easy. Seems like we might need a replacement for this album."
Sharon, surprised, asked, "What? Andy? Why?"
Leaning back on the sofa, the man raised his arm on the chair's backrest. "Some time ago, there was a shooting at the BPM Festival in Cancun, you know?"
Startled, Sharon grabbed the man's arm. "Yes? Don't tell me he got hurt there? How bad? Is Andy okay?"
Chuckling lightly, the man said, "He wasn't shot, don't worry. Being an old man, I don't know what he was doing at an EDM DJ festival popular with young ones, but when the shooting happened, he dodged and ended up hitting his chin and neck on the bar edge while rolling on the ground. Probably not easy at his age. Anyway, after rolling, he hit his chin and neck and ended up in the hospital."
Sharon sighed in relief. "Oh, he didn't damage his vocal cords then? Is he okay?"
Nodding, the man replied, "Yeah, saw him before coming here. He's fine. Still, seeing him fuss over nurses' backsides shows he's not fully recovered mentally."
Remembering Andy's character, Sharon chuckled and covered her mouth with her hand. "Haha, that's a relief. So, have you found a vocalist?"
Shaking his head, the man sighed. "No, not yet. There might be many willing, but finding the right one is the issue."
Suddenly noticing Geon listening intently, Sharon glanced at him mischievously. Geon, unsure of Sharon's amusement, felt a bit puzzled.
"Would you like to audition? There are many good students here," the man said, raising his eyebrows and looking at Sharon.
"It's not just for students from Juilliard, for opera or vocal majors," Sharon pointed at Geon, saying, "He's here. He's not that kind of student."
Looking at Geon again, the man ran his gaze up and down. "Hmm, definitely a look that female fans would like... If you're Sharon's student, are you in the guitar department? Can you sing well?"
Putting her arm around the man's, Sharon said, "Try it out. Just give it a shot without feeling burdened. If it doesn't work, then it's fine. Opportunities like this are rare."
After momentarily looking at Sharon, Geon nodded decisively. "Yes, I'll think of it as a challenge and give it a try, Professor."
Smiling, Sharon stood up. "Shall we head to our studio? There should be an empty one at this hour."
As Sharon rose, the man and Geon stood up too. The man, realizing he hadn't properly introduced himself despite hearing the other's name, apologized, "Oh, I forgot my manners. Sorry for not introducing myself. I'm Carlos Santana."
Geon, with widened eyes, shook Carlos Santana's hand. "Really? Carlos Santana? The leader of Santana?"
Carlos smirked and gestured towards the door.
In the studio, Carlos arrived and spoke upon seeing Sharon.
"That student. Can they sing? Do they have the talent worth my time? Honestly, if it weren't for Sharon's words, I wouldn't bother with the student's audition."
Sharon inflated her cheeks, looking at Carlos.
"Am I trying to waste your time? Seems like you've forgotten who I am, Mr. Santana. I'm Sharon Isbin."
Carlos raised both hands.
"No, no. Of course, I trust Sharon. But the thing is, a student, right? Even though our band mainly uses guest vocals, using an unknown vocalist is quite an adventure. And if it's a student who isn't established yet, it's natural to be skeptical, right?"
Sharon gestured, smiling.
"Don't worry, set up your guitar. We've separately called in students for drums and bass. They've had a session with Geon Kim before, so they'll do well."
Carlos raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? Set up what? It's just an audition, isn't it enough to play along with an MR?"
Sharon revealed a grin.
"Yeah, starting like that is fine, but wouldn't it be good to set up the guitar? It's a suggestion for Mr. Santana."
Carlos stared at Sharon for a moment, then shrugged, taking out his guitar and connecting it to the amp.
From his bag emerged his symbolic guitar, the PRS Santana Signature. The custom 25-inch scale model, adorned in gold, perfectly complemented the passion of Latin rock, oozing a sense of completeness.
Soon after, Tindra and Samuel, called by Sharon, arrived and froze in their tracks upon seeing Carlos Santana. While the two cheered and got his autograph, Geon was sprinting from the library, printing out scores of Santana's classic tunes.
As Geon ran, he glanced at the music sheets, thinking.
"Rob Thomas' vocals might be tough to replicate. If it's the 48th-anniversary best album, he'll surely participate. So, 'Smooth' and 'Maria, Maria,' the most famous songs, wouldn't be worth trying. Among the songs I like, 'You Are My Kind' might be doable for recording, considering Seal contributed to the vocals. But it might be hard as he's living in Paris now."
Geon swiftly entered the studio where Samuel and Tindra were already settling their instruments. Samuel nodded with a bright face upon meeting Geon, and Tindra waved her hand with drumsticks. Geon exchanged a glance with the two before eyeing Carlos Santana.
He was setting up his guitar while seated. The amp was off, so one couldn't hear what he was going to play, but just witnessing his presence exuded an immense pressure on Geon.
Sharon, noticing Geon's tension, pointed to the microphone stand she had set up.
"You're here. You can sing from that stand over there."
Before going to the stand, Geon handed the printed scores to Tindra and Samuel. Familiar with the songs, the two nodded casually and glanced at the scores again. With one stack of music left, Geon stood in front of the microphone stand, and Carlos Santana smiled.
"So, what song shall we try? Just an audition, no need to stress. Usually, we'd use MR, but Sharon wanted live music, even calling in the students. Quite pressuring for auditionees, right?"
Geon seemed oblivious to Carlos Santana's words, busy flipping through the music sheets. It was a sudden situation, catching him off guard.
"All the musical notes on the sheets are highlighted in purple. Chagall called it the 'color of fervent love.' It must be the emotions of a man ardently seeking love. How should I sing it? How can I infuse the emotions into it?"
As Sharon noticed Geon engrossed in his world, she tapped his back.
"Hey, Kim?"
Startled, Geon looked back and forth between Sharon and Carlos Santana. Carlos chuckled, seeing Geon's reaction.
"Ahaha, this student. Seems nervous. We should give some time to relax. But wait, your name is Kim? Geon? The pronunciation's a bit tricky. How about giving you a nickname since Geon sounds a bit stern?"
With a somewhat awkward expression, Geon nodded, and Carlos Santana laughed.
"Alright then. Since K is the initial in Kim, how about Kay? There's a name like that in reality."
Sharon smiled in approval.
"Oh, that's nice. Kay! How do you feel about it, Geon?"
Slightly nervous, Geon scratched his thigh.
"Uh, yes? Oh, I'm, I'm okay with it."
Seated, Carlos chuckled.
"Great. So, confirmed as Kay. Sharon and other students will call you that now? Alright, Kay. Which song will it be?"
Ignoring Carlos Santana's words, Geon flipped through the sheets. Carlos seemed surprised.
"Oh, not 'Smooth' or 'Maria, Maria'? Unexpected. Although even if you wanted those songs, I couldn't allow it. Since Thomas is involved in the album. Alright, let's give it a shot. Oh, but I'll need to play the MR. There's no conga or timbales here."
Carlos Santana stood up, connected his phone to the amp, and operated it. Soon, the studio reverberated with the sound of a drum hi-hat signaling the start. Carlos settled back in his seat, holding his guitar, looking at Sharon. Sharon, starting with classical guitar, soon introduced the Latin rock vibes with timbales and conga sounds from the MR.
As Carlos Santana's guitar solo began, bass and drums joined in. Throughout the performance, Geon painted the image of a lady he'd have to observe from afar. Carlos Santana, eyes closed, ears open, continued his guitar solo, awaiting the moment for the vocals.
Finally, the time for the vocals arrived, and Geon's voice echoed through the mic.
"Stay with it baby, And that's all I ask of you
And I know that someday, You won't remember
The way that this moment feels to you"
In due time, this moment may not linger in your memory.
Carlos Santana's eyes widened as he watched Geon. Catching a glimpse of Sharon playing classical guitar, he turned his gaze away. Sharon, strumming the guitar, glanced at Carlos Santana, smiling with her eyes.
Blinking in surprise, Carlos Santana glanced back at Geon, only to find him already into the chorus.
"Because you are my kind, you're all that I want," the lyrics echoed.
Closing his eyes, Geon finished the first verse, and when he reopened them, he beheld Carlos Santana standing up, passionately strumming his guitar.
As Geon looked on, Carlos Santana fervently played the guitar, eyes closed, swaying it up and down. Glancing at Sharon, who seemed to have anticipated this, Geon sang the remaining verses with a newfound confidence.
Carlos Santana remained standing until the song's end. Persistently playing his guitar, he concluded the performance with an improvised solo, wiping the sweat off his forehead without opening his eyes. All eyes were on Carlos Santana as he did so.
With a nervous heart, Geon waited for his response.
After a moment of silence, deeply immersed in the aftermath of the music, Carlos Santana opened his eyes. He looked at Geon and then back at Sharon, chuckling at her continuing smile.
Tindra and Samuel, who had been watching nervously, cheered as Carlos Santana's tension seemed to break, and Geon raised both hands in relief.
Sharon smiled at Carlos Santana. "You didn't disappoint."
Shoulders shrugging, Carlos Santana admitted, "Honestly, I didn't expect much. I was pleasantly surprised."
With a persistent smile, Sharon asked, "So, are we recording together?"
Placing his PRS guitar beside the chair and crossing his legs, Carlos Santana pondered, "Um... what should we do..."
Geon fixed an intense gaze on him, waiting again with a tense expression. After scratching his chin and exchanging a glance with Sharon, Carlos Santana turned to her.
"Sharon, can you give me a few days off from classes? If it's up to the professor's discretion, it should be possible, right?"
Curious, Sharon glanced at him, "Possible, but... weren't we supposed to record in New York?"
Carlos Santana nodded, "Yeah, that's right. The recording is planned here."
Puzzled, Sharon asked, "But why skip classes for that?"
Crossing his arms, Carlos Santana explained, "Seems like I might have to go to Chicago with Geon."
Surprised, Sharon asked, "Chicago? Why there?"
Chuckling, Carlos Santana turned to Geon, "Lollapalooza Festival. Gotta go to Chicago for that, right?"
Momentarily silent, Geon blinked in surprise as Carlos Santana reached out a hand to him.
"Could I ask you for something? No, I beg you. Please join us on stage, K."
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