| "The real communicating artists seek
| |
| | listening. However, way too many
|
| unique expression. They are not
| |
| | 'artists' cannot get passed this stage.
|
| interested anymore in sounding like their
| |
| | They need to have peer approval, have to
|
| heroes, they are searching constantly,
| |
| | know that other respected musicians
|
| developing and refining their own unique
| |
| | around them recognize them and applaud
|
| voice."There are musicians who are more
| |
| | their abilities. Often all this takes
|
| than comfortable remaining anonymous. You
| |
| | place subconsciously.This 'peer approval'
|
| know, happy to hide behind their guitars
| |
| | is a stage of development that is also
|
| or keyboards and be sidemen to the stars
| |
| | important. Every musician goes through it
|
| of today or tomorrow. Then there are
| |
| | at some point. It is absolutely natural,
|
| those that have grandiose aspirations of
| |
| | but I firmly believe that to become a
|
| stardom, adoration and limelight. And
| |
| | great artist, you have to move beyond
|
| then there are those who have a driving
| |
| | that stage and look inward. I always
|
| desire and need to say something original
| |
| | liken it those wedding band singers, who
|
| artistically, to express themselves and
| |
| | despite having an honorable and
|
| to communicate that expression to an
| |
| | justifiable (and in some cases envious)
|
| audience, be it a small niche market or
| |
| | career, they are all too often the
|
| wider demographic.Those falling into the
| |
| | 'performing monkeys'. They are often fine
|
| first category can make a living, albeit
| |
| | vocalists but at the end of the day they
|
| fairly modest as a general rule. Those
| |
| | are seeking approval and applause and not
|
| falling into the second category often
| |
| | communicating or expressing anything
|
| live in a little bit of a dream world
| |
| | artistic. They certainly know how to
|
| and, depending on their tenacity and
| |
| | entertain but do they know how to
|
| 'smart' skills, usually end up
| |
| | intrigue? It's a huge gap. Nothing
|
| disappointed because the focus is set on
| |
| | remotely subtle about it as far as I am
|
| the destination rather than the journey.
| |
| | concerned.The real communicating artists
|
| The third category usually reap the
| |
| | seek unique expression. They are not
|
| rewards of the second category gaining
| |
| | interested anymore in sounding like their
|
| all the success and limelight, but as a
| |
| | heroes. They have moved past that, now
|
| result of focusing on their art rather
| |
| | searching constantly, developing and
|
| than the shallow and flighty end of the
| |
| | refining their own unique voice. Look at
|
| musician's world. These are usually the
| |
| | any of the true giants of yesterday and
|
| most fascinating people too, because they
| |
| | today. Yes you can hear their references,
|
| generally have a little mystery about
| |
| | but they also have their own strong
|
| them and because they actually possess
| |
| | identity. At some point during their
|
| what most entertainers really want;
| |
| | development something bigger than them
|
| sincere and dedicated talent!But there
| |
| | took over. The chances are they knew it
|
| are also those that are in the early
| |
| | at the time and took advantage of it and
|
| stages of artistic development who are
| |
| | made an extra effort to really hone that
|
| still learning their craft, and open to
| |
| | uniqueness.Finding that unique inner
|
| influences. Possibly they will become
| |
| | voice might not be as easy for some. I
|
| great artists in the future, possibly
| |
| | think it starts by recognizing your
|
| not. It will be a question of choices and
| |
| | technical weaknesses. It is often those
|
| consequences, and doors opened and
| |
| | weaknesses that ultimately end up
|
| opportunities taken advantage of - or
| |
| | becoming your artistic strengths. Let's
|
| not. Life certainly will take you
| |
| | face it, if you were able to play the
|
| places.But for those that do have
| |
| | guitar technically perfect, at all
|
| aspirations of artistry and expression,
| |
| | speeds, meticulously so every note that
|
| then I firmly believe you must have
| |
| | came out was totally clean and audible,
|
| qualities that others do not have. As an
| |
| | would this be ultimately interesting to
|
| artist I believe one must stand out from
| |
| | an audience? Yes it might be very clever
|
| the heard in order to be heard. It is so
| |
| | and impressive, but for how long could
|
| easy to make a record these days. One no
| |
| | you listen to an album where every phrase
|
| longer needs to have the luxury of a
| |
| | felt like you were having your teeth
|
| recording contract in order to stand on a
| |
| | drilled!!?Wes Montgomery played with his
|
| pedestal and say "I am an artist - buy my
| |
| | thumb because he kept dropping his pick,
|
| record!" With home studios costing one
| |
| | ultimately enabling him to become the
|
| 16th of the price they did ten years ago
| |
| | greatest and most influential jazz
|
| and with software programs that do it
| |
| | guitarist of all time. BB King has about
|
| all, you can churn out albums by the
| |
| | three licks in his entire blues
|
| dozen if you put your mind to it. And
| |
| | repertoire. Does anyone NOT know BB King
|
| many do.However, just because you can,
| |
| | when they hear him? Thelonius Monk
|
| why would you? - is my question. Just for
| |
| | refused to conform to traditional piano
|
| fun? OK, valid I suppose. But Isn't it
| |
| | techniques and musical ideas. He simply
|
| better to spend that time and energy
| |
| | HAD to play music the way he heard it in
|
| searching relentlessly for something
| |
| | his head. He made such a bold musical
|
| unique and different? God knows record
| |
| | statement during his time that he is
|
| companies are releasing enough crap by
| |
| | emulated the world over and revered by
|
| the hour, even signed artists are now
| |
| | the greatest musicians living
|
| under the impression they have got
| |
| | today.Technical shortcomings can be the
|
| something to offer. Maybe they have, but
| |
| | very essence of your unique artistry.
|
| for the most part I don't think so (as
| |
| | Now, should those shortcomings get in the
|
| public reaction and their soundscans will
| |
| | way of what you need to say musically
|
| attest!)Perhaps I am being extremely
| |
| | then those weaknesses might need to be
|
| unfair, but I think too many artists do
| |
| | turned around so they don't restrict what
|
| not realize that they have a
| |
| | you hear in your head.Remember, the true
|
| responsibility to say something
| |
| | artist simply communicates from within.
|
| profoundly unique, certainly if they
| |
| | All other extraneous thoughts, influences
|
| expect any kind of career longevity. We
| |
| | and distractions need to fall by the
|
| live in a world where musicians spend
| |
| | wayside. The minute a lick or a phrase
|
| their lives emulating their heroes;
| |
| | that your hero played or sung (and made
|
| singers spend their lives emulating
| |
| | famous) ends up on your record - watch
|
| Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Stevie
| |
| | out! You might be in trouble. Absolutely
|
| Wonder, Frank Sinatra and so on. Rock
| |
| | steal from your heroes, but just remember
|
| guitarists spend their lives emulating
| |
| | that real artistry is about what YOU have
|
| Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Paige, Jeff Beck and
| |
| | to say, not what your heroes have already
|
| Eddie Van Halen. Jazz guitarists are
| |
| | said before, and have possibly said
|
| proud emulators of Pat Metheny, John
| |
| | better.Push yourself to the max and
|
| Scofield and Wes Montgomery. Saxophone
| |
| | search for that truly unique quality
|
| players worship Charlie Parker, John
| |
| | within. After all, that next great talent
|
| Coltrane and Michael Brecker. And so
| |
| | we are all so desperately waiting for
|
| on...Before I go on I have to say that
| |
| | might just be you!Chris Standring is a
|
| emulating heroes is absolutely imperative
| |
| | contemporary jazz recording artist who
|
| in your formative years as musicians. You
| |
| | performs throughout the USA and Europe
|
| simply MUST listen to the greats, past
| |
| | regularly. He has enjoyed much radio
|
| and present. One has to have a strong
| |
| | airplay with several albums, opening up a
|
| grounding and musical knowledge and one
| |
| | busy touring schedule. His music appears
|
| simply cannot get there without
| |
| | on many compilation CDs also.
|
