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Looper's Delight
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Matt Davignon wrote... > I do completely improvised stuff with media sources. I guess I could be >called a DJ these days. (I do jockey discs, but my equipment is a far cry >from the standard DJ table.) I'm personally very happy to play with >others in an occasional, improvisational setting. I'm not very interested >in becoming a regular member of a "band" though. The reasons are: One big reason is that you're uslally stuck with ONE terrible band name... I played a couple weeks back with a very young dj... it was two guitarists, keys and him spinning... I just took his signal into my mixer (and messed with it a bit with my sound tweakers as well... I could see reversing the arrangement and having him mix us dj style). First it was a good learning experience for all of us. Second: the dj seemed really stoked and was excited about expanding his vinyl library in search of more 'appropriate' sounds... (whatever that may be). I'd wager that revisiting this grouping (or a smaller one) from time to time would produce some great music. (So I guess I better email him!) > -I have way too many projects and ideas to fulfill (including >non-Dj-esque ones) to commit to spending a large amount of time doing the >same thing with the same musicians. This is how it's working for me as well... If I want any chance of realizing some of my personal esthetic, I need some isolation and time to work on it. At the same time I try to play with a variety of people in rotation so I'm getting new perspectives as well and avoiding that plateaued feeling. > -Patterns I've noticed with local musicians (LD'ers who I've met are >much better than these guys) : Guitarists (not often willing to let other >instruments occasionally be the "lead" instrument), Drummers (always want >to be loud and rockin' - don't seem to have an appreciation for dynamics >or quieter moments), Singers (want to be the centerpiece of a band), and >other DJ's (often want the rest of the band to just 'play along' with >their pre-recorded techno grooves). You get the same problem with a big group of loopers though as well. The stereotypical thing being overly dense and repetitive. It takes a lot of discipline to interact in a groupthink-balanced way and inject variety into the landscape. It's nice to cover a broad dynamic spectrum as well... More discipline. Just relaxing and actually taking a break to listen and enjoy the other players seems lost at times. (Myself included here.) DISCIPLINE... > -I'm kind of a control freak when it comes to actual songs. Yep... why have other people screw them up when you can screw it up better yourself! 8-) > -I'm not crazy about the idea of "Play this progression of notes 4 >times, then this progression 8 times, then play the chorus." A problem for me as well... I like goal oriented situations like pit orchestra/theater stuff, or upcoming sessions where you learn something quickly, get a vibe, do the show, and it's over baby! No ongoing band-like misery requiring constant baby-sitting to keep things moving forward. > -I simply haven't met the right musicians yet. It would be really nice >to meet some musicians who play instruments outside of the standard >guitar/bass/drums/keys, or who would be interested in trying really >adventurous things (like trading instruments with other musicians in >mid-set). A good rule for trading instruments is having the throw-and-catch them... A sure crowd pleaser! I'm a little more stuck in my guitar playing persona, but striving to be a good listener. > Sure, sure I know. I'm being nitpicky. I guess I'm kind of stuck between >musical phenomenae. On one hand, I'm not particularly interested in rock >and roll or dance music. On the other hand, I really don't identify too >much with the academic "new music" community. This has been a concern for me as well... I think there's this huge gap between noisemaker rock types, and the more jazz and classical influenced academics. Seems such a shame to have that polarity... Good food for thought! Have a good weekend all... -Miko