Improvisation – learning the language
Posted by zenarteast in Improvised music on April 30, 2012
In the last 6 months or so, I have had the feeling that my instrument, the guitar, is getting in the way of playing…I know it sounds strange and unclear, but it forced me to practice away from the instrument, which gave me a completely different perspective on playing and improvising.
I generally find comparing music, and more specifically improvised music, to a language very helpful as a learning strategy. Grammar (theory, structure) and vocabulary (licks, patterns) come together to form the language of improvisation beautifully, but it takes time become proficient and fluent and the first step is to conquer the chosen instrument. Having chosen the guitar, which I absolutely love playing, I find myself either playing too much or playing too many notes, and one way to become more relevant as an improviser is to contextualise the music that comes out through the instrument of choice.
Apart from improvising over chord sequences, free improvisation also appeals to me as a way of artistic expression. Although free improvisation has a variety of definitions – John Abercrombie for instance says it is only when you know a composition really well that free improvisation and playing generally becomes possible – Ornet Coleman’s free explorations in jazz and beyond seem to approach improvisation ‘from scratch’ – playing your heart out is the first thing that comes to mind. Personally, I think there’s time and place for both approaches, and as long as the improviser has a powerful message behind the music it usually works and involves the audience convincingly.
The musicians who are continuoiusly inspiring me – McLaughlin, Stern, Jarrett, Scofield and many, many more- they all have one thing in common – the pure passion, and that passion has been a driving force for everything I do for some time now. So that’s all there is – passion. Scales, chords, arpeggios, licks etc – they are all just tools -at the heart of it all is the supreme passion for music – nothing else matters.
In the age of the internet, soon to be followed by the age of whatever, universal meanings like passion, transcendental thoughts and the like are standard. Music, however, is as endless as ever. Jazz, classical…anything with a powerful message behing it. First the tools, then the whole picture…or even the other way round if it works for you – whatever works!
And that’s all. All that matters, anyway.
2012 in the light of jazz
Posted by zenarteast in Jazz stories on April 15, 2012
From the first gigs of the year to the London jazz festival in autumn – 2012 in the light of jazz
I am slowly returning to what can only be described as a healthy jazz routine and a few really special live music events have helped me get back into seeing life through a chorus pedal – and it feels great again! First Billy Cobham at Ronnie Scott’s, followed by Chick Corea and Gary Burton at the Barbican in London, inspired me to play more and look into new tunes. I’m hoping to continue and here are a few truly special occasions I wanted to write about, starting with Al di Meola playing at Ronnie Scotts in May.
Until now I have only seen Al play once, at the Jazz cafe in Camden. The atmospheric jazz club in Soho will probably be an entirely different experience – seeing John McLaughlin and the Fourth dimension there last July was probably the best live music experience I’ve had. So di Meola at Ronnie’s this May, a date well worth adding to any jazz calendar.
The next major occasion will be the London jazz festival in November, where I’ve already got a few days in mind: Trilok Gurtu with Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea with Christian McBride and Brian Blade, Bill Frisell and John McLaughlin and the Fourth Dimension, all at the Barbican, are firmly pencilled into my live jazz book. And there might be something else until then!
That something else might be Pat Metheny playing in July, but the cost of 65£ per ticket might make me prioritise other things instead – sorry Pat! Apart from this minor disappointment, 2012 is looking good in the light of jazz.
Why am I writing for Zenarteast?
Posted by zenarteast in Healthy routine on January 27, 2012
Apart from trying to make this blog an internet home for my thoughts on music and its surrounding issues, I also write on Zenarteast out of frustration. After all, there are not too many like-minded people I can share my passion for music and improvisation with, and a way of structuring ideas is to write them down and then move on to new ones. So on with the getting it out of my chest.
When I used to go to the Guitar Institute, or now the Institute of contemporary music performance, I was continuously told that as a musician (or rather those people’s idea of a musician) I can not afford to only focus on jazz and improvised music, because it is not a financially viable option. But guess what – this is the music I love. Full stop. Everything I do is out of passion for interesting music, and I couldn’t care less about any narrow-minded sources of opinions out there. Luckily, I am no longer involved and have nothing to do with that particular institution.
There is also often talk about the music of today – whatever that implies – and the music of, say the 60s and 70s. I think the main difference is that the most original musicians of those days – from Jack de Johnette to Miles to John McLaughlin and quite a few others – had first of all the courage to play the way they found interesting and rewarding, for both the large audiences of the time and their own evolution as musicians. And the rest – fame, recognition, respect and music history in the making – came naturally.
Quite different from today then. With a few exceptions and some of the still going strong old guard, all we hear is ordinary attempts at playing an instrument without any intention of being original or different, which is possibly a sign of the times. The welcome exceptions – Tim Miller, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Matt Garrisson and a few others – make me believe that jazz and improvisation-based music will live on and continue to evolve.
Continuing on an optimistic note, Billy Cobham and Al di Meola gigs are coming up at Ronnie Scott’s – live music from the best! May it long continue.
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