I'm a freelance bass player who likes to compose, produce and conduct musical workshops.
What is music to me? Since I was about 5 I have been fascinated by music and the sounds around me and inspired to find out why beats develop when you hum a tone very close to the pitch of the washing machine and why a passing plane will flange through overtones when you are between two buildings. Since then all my decisions in life have hinged on music: my education; my marriage; my livelihood; my pastimes; my choice of vehicle (double bass transport). Since those early days of music lessons and school band and countless jazz camps I have continued a quest to understand, make and improvise music. Music gives me life!
I'm living the dream (or was before the pandemic)! Retired from my public school music teacher gig, I'm playing bass in numerous bands of various instrumental configurations from trio jazz to tribute show bands. I also play guitar, brasses and percussion including trap set. With these skills I enjoy making my own one-man-band recordings and sharing them.
I would abolish the Neo Liberalist notion of perpetual growth and criminalize short selling, stock buybacks and zombie companies. Capitalism is The Problem (off topic but, you did ask).
Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock. I would always hear it and wonder what it was . . .
The usual: Miles, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Allan Holdsworth. Currently I really dig what Imogen Heap and Jacob Collier are doing.
I literally can't NOT make music. I am a chronic solfege and harmonic analyst including environmental sounds as well as radio music. I practise several instruments most days.
Music is vital. As part of education and wellness. I'm privileged to play in an extended care facility on a regular basis at which many of the residents suffer from various degrees of dementia. Our music from the middle part of the last century is familiar to them and unlocks their sensibilities to the point of singing along. The transformation never ceases to amaze me. Music is Life!
It's normal for me to perform several times a week in various groups and genres so mostly I'm comfortable unless it's hard reading with lots of crucial given parts that others depend on. I get energy and pleasure from an enthusiastic listening audience. I love the feedback enjoyment/encouragement loop that occurs when this happens.
Back to capitalism, the problem is money. I've heard old pros muse about the pay being the same amount as the seventies and eighties but in today's currency values (dollars). Some folks even pay to play or play for "exposure", yet we all have expenses to just break even. I am lucky in that I have a pension to keep going but for people seeking to support themselves it's a pretty tough row to hoe. Musicians and other artists would be better off with a guaranteed income so they could concentrate on their art with integrity, instead of with a view to making a buck.
So far so good! Is this the last question? ;-P
Trying to play with other folks who are not listening to the music they are making and how it fits in. Some drummers are guilty of this. Also keyboard players who play bass notes really loud causing interference with my bass notes. Peeps who play way too loud or out of time. Singers who force you to jump to a different place in the form. That's probably too many, sorry to rant.
I should do more of this. I'm part of an amazing community of musicians (Comox Valley on Vancouver Island BC Canada) who come together in various configurations, mixing and matching, subbing for each other, it's quite remarkable cooperation with very little consternation among players. I try to go hear them when they are playing in their other groups (if I don't have a gig ?).
Integrity, perseverance, skill and good taste.
Singer: Cecile McLorin Salvant Oud player: Rabih Abou-Khalil Pianist: Renee Rosnes Bass Player: Jimmy Johnson Vocal group: Rajaton Guitarist: Lionel Loueke Violinist: Jenny Scheinman Pianist: Gonzalo Rubalcaba Drummer: Ari Hoenig Of course I cannot guarantee you've never heard of these folks . . .