Yesterday Chris Speed and his Endangered Blood Quartet visited CalArts before their gig at the Blue Whale. Chris, along with drummer Jim Black, bassist Trevor Dunn, and bass clarinetist Oscar Noriega played two tunes, and spent the rest of the time answering questions. The tunes, first a modal jam in 11/8 and then a groovy uptempo number with blistering horn lines, represented the pinacle of a style of jazz cultivated by Speed and co. in the decades they have played together in NYC. The talking, while it rambled on a bit, was sincere and articulate from each member of the band.
Much of what was said seemed aimed at young students struggling to find their way with music. What I got most out of it was Black’s approach to preparation, which is badly paraphrased below:
The only preparation I really do is when I have to overcome some physical limitation in order to play a piece of music. And even then, it might only be five minutes before downbeat here or there. For the most part I try to stay away from the instrument unless I’m making music with other people. I stopped practicing that way 15 years ago, because you play what you hear. You play what you are. I have gone months without touching the drums, and the next time I sit down and I’ll have improved just through listening and living and experiencing things away from my instrument.
In other news, I’m participating in a fairly good discussion in the comments section of this article over at A Blog Supreme. The subject is a new study that aims to uncover how jazz musicians get paid. I have been wondering the same thing for years. I’ll take this opportunity to once again declare my belief that taking free gigs undercuts everyone who attempts to play music professionally, even though I am guilty of it myself. Increasingly, players seem to have adopted an attitude of resignation, as if playing free gigs was the only way to play at all.
I am having a short article published in the November issue of Percussive Notes on how to put together an electronic press kit. I am working on a piece for Aaron’s nonet, and it’s driving me bonkers. Speaking of bonkers, I spent the weekend without my computer, but now have an adapter cable again. I think the worst is over. It was dark times. I wrote about my experience at #occupyLA here. I’ll be posting a photo essay within the hour on good meals I’ve eaten recently, if you’re into that kind of thing. Later this week I’ll be posting an interesting practice concept for drummers/nerds on this blog. Excuse me, I have to drink a lot of coffee now.
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