Music that inspires thought or motion. (I'm also a pianist.) Dancing, Hiking in Shenandoah National Park, Running in August, Convincing strangers to let me play with their dogs, Convincing bartenders that they want to give me alcohol.
Spontaneous people. People who think I'm funny. Artists, musicians, people who can make animals out of pipe cleaners or balloons, not including clowns. Although that could be cool too.
Solid bass line, melodic & harmonized vocals, rhythmic groove, irregular meters, triple meters, polymeter. 9ths, 13ths, good complex harmony. Schooled instrumental artists, either raw or sophisticated vocals. Orchestral thinking in popular music. Found sounds & authentic instruments.
The Jerk, In the Mood for Love, The Age of Innocence, What's Up Doc?, Lost in Translation, Manchurian Candidate (old version), Orlando, French Kiss, Nashville, Wes Anderson: The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic
"Best American" series, anything Hemingway, Rumi poems, Dave Eggers, The Rum Diary