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INSPIRATION FROM MARC DUBY |
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Every now and again we all need to see, hear or experience something that inspires, something that reminds us, to take time and to reach for the music that is inside of each of us. This is one of the hardest things (for me) to accomplish on the bass. I am talking about finding those notes and musical ideas that convey what we are and who we are as people. For me, I search for those few notes that say something meaningful. After playing 12 bar blues, 37 bar reggae (some drummers!) rock at a tempo of 193/197/190 bpm (some drummers!) and covers that range in various styles (some that there are no categories for) etc., it is a challenge to get into the right headspace and to find those notes that resonate with something deeper. Stan Getz used to amaze fellow musicians with his approach to a solo. After the other band members had their time blowing ferocious solos he would solo using far fewer notes but say so much more. Charlie Hayden is another player that can solo so economically and so meaningful that I feel that 2 bars of a Charlie Hayden solo says more than I can say in 200 bars. (2000?) Marc Duby's talk on the music of Eberhard Weber was so concise and informative that I, and many others, feel inspired to reach for something deeper in our music. The importance of composition, the importance of finding, or starting to search for, our own voices was reinforced by Marc's insights into the historical significance of Weber’s first album "Colours of Chloe". So find some space, forget about whether you play a 3,4,5,6 or 7 string through a 967-watt amp driving a 15X10 cabinet, and look for those notes that resonate with you and that reflect something of yourself. As a side benefit you will probably find you will groove deeper and fatter than you ever have before. Thanks Marc! Steve |
