Brent, your right listening is the key...I've been playing guitar for
sometime and I have toured with some of best Jazz Katz living.....I grew up
in Spfld, MA. I've played with Fat Man, Sheldon Lasenter, Marion Brown, Elroy
Jones, Archie Sheppe, Stanley Jordan, Mark Whitfield, Kevin Eubanks, Clyde
Criner, Carl Locket, Calvin Keys, Jusif Lateef, Avery Sharpe, Tony McAlpine
and the list go on and on...What I've found out from some of these
masters....Every body is trying to sound like everybody, you have to sound
like you, how many ways can you play a scale, who say's that the scale your
playing is wrong, who saids that you have to play the song just like the
record. Just because there are books being published, what makes the
instructor right or the record? The name of the game is to learn and keep
learning and learning and take from your life experiences. Learn how to
punctuate a musical phrase, just like writing a story on a piece of paper or
holding an intelligent conversation with a friend or acquantance. You know,
commas, period, exclamation, questions..Learn to play songs at slow speed if
you can't play it fast because everybody is doing it..Learn different time
signatures not from just a book.. But from different culturals, latin, ragga,
blue, funk, jazz, classical...don't be afraid to talk to these player's that
you look up to...don't talk about technique, they couldn't explain it to you
even if they wanted too, talk about life...hangaround the doers not the one's
that don't...Music is a training that will take a life time to master if you
continue on being a student. It helps develop your left side and right side
of thinking...and if you not sure what that is and you start to get a
headache...then your making progress..It hard to teach someone who doesn't
want to understand just want to learn the lick, you have learn where the lick
came from...that can be a spiritual vibe that happen for that momemt...How
can you document that unless it been recorded and if so can you do it
again............If you can. Not all will take the challenge, I have and it
has paid off for me...I've work for many years not making a dime but making a
name for myself.. ...I've played with some the best katz around and learning
from doing not from talking...Once you understand how to make everything
happen then you just kick back and play your ass off....Play from the heart
not from substance you know what I mean..
Note: The secret is, your already there...Just need to understand who you are!
Flex
