Practice for tomorrow's gig

Using someone else's amp:

May 31, 2013

Got some great new learning materials for learning Gypsy Jazz. Will soon post learning plan. Suffice it for now to say that the book "Gypsy Picking" by Michael Horowitz will probably be the core. Off to play a rock and roll gig! Amp is for sale; looking to get a smaller amp and an acoustic solid body. I'm liking the Recording King guitars.

May 27, 2013

Looks like yesterday was perhaps my last day of playing with the current band. By all accounts, we did a great job. Feels weird saying goodbye to that venture. Not satisfied with the electric guitar stuff I do. Felt lacking in skills. Feel like perhaps "bagging" playing in an electric band and focus just on Gypsy Jazz and writing/composing.

May 18, 2013

Will probably be buying Gypsy Picking book. Then will try to divide available practice time into three segments using:

1) Gypsy Picking book

2) Gypsy Improv DVD

3) Getting into Gypsy Jazz book

May 16, 2013

Lots of logs in the fire:

1) Playing a benefit soon with the band. This will be my last gig with them.

2) Will be playing a rock and roll gig soon with a very temporary band. 

3) Still to learn Gypsy Jazz

4) Starting 50's / 60's band soon

5) Would like to get back somehow into songwriting and music creation

6) Would like to learn more Robert Conti "Assembly Line" material.

May 9, 2013

Forgot to have mentioned that I'm still reading the Django biography, and it is quite good. Practiced some more stuff taken from the DVD today. Talked to our keyboard/saxophone/bass player about an idea that we will probably be pursuing: just a duet of me on guitar and him on keyboard (playing standards) at restaurant gigs for $. Still to pursue Gypsy Jazz band, but this would be a little side thing for cash. The 50's / 60's band is still in the mix too.

May 8, 2013

Practiced a bit this morning; started listening to my new Django CD set.

May 7, 2013

Received my new Django CDs... Gave my daughter a guitar lesson.... Practiced Django DVD and tried my hand at transcription (difficult!).... Listened to the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" with my son (an important event!)... Listened to some of a CD my son wanted me to hear (Atoms for Peace), but it was too electronic for me. Son is now into Radiohead and Nick Drake! Listened to a CD about the meaning of life made by a Catholic priest....it was excellent, convicting, and thought provoking...emphasizes the importance that Jesus should have in my life, but there is so much more on the CD.

Django, Louis, me, and melodies and improvisations

His name means "I awake." Ahhh, to be able to improvise music like Django did...and seeming effortlessly. The ability to translate emotions, the spirit of God, and one's very soul into an improvised musical statement is to me such a worthwhile goal. That ability to improvise, or compose and play immediately has for such a long time been a desire of mine. For a while there, i was interested in playing ballad piano
melodies using the Sudnow voicings. But now, having the ability to communicate that which can never quite be communicated verbally in such a way as in utilizing that transcendent and spiritual vehicle called musical
improvisation is such a goal
of mine. Speed of play as well as technical prowess never really impressed me. What gets to me is the power of a beautiful melody. Louis Armstrong, for example. And Django did it with just two fingers. The beauty of the playing for me outshines technical prowess or speed. I could care less how high a note someone can hit or how fast he or she might play. But the ability to improvise a melody is just amazing.

May 3, 2013

Fun(ny) practice tonight! Had some laughs with the band while rehearsing. Looks like only two more rehearsals and then I'll be playing my last gig with them. Our keyboard/bassist/saxophone player could not make it tonight so I had fun singing the Johnny Rivers song "Memphis" in his place. Ordered some more Django CDs tonight (the London and Paris stuff; I believe its the the second set of the chronological series). I already have the first set. Enjoying his biography very much.

May 2, 2013

A good day of learning Gypsy Jazz but didn't pick up the guitar. Going through the first DVD; got thru about 1/2 hr or so of it...learning...