I've been thinking about this for a while: A solo record.
I don't think of myself as a soloist really, but I am definitely a person who faces a challenge: "why am I NOT a solo player?" I ask myself....
I dug in a bit last spring in Prince George, BC at The Casse Tete Festival where I had a chance to play 2 sets alone. It was a challenge and one I liked a lot. I found a deep well that held my material, I felt quite calm and I really enjoyed building something in real time. It was a very personal intimate sharing. And I like that too.
So, a solo improvised music recording: An improvised music recording.....why would you do that?? Recording of improvised music is one of the many controversies we deal with. So I've thought about it, a lot actually. I think of improvisation as a reflection of a moment: it's a snapshot of that instant, the mood, the place, the time of day, the starting point of the piece, and more. So why capture it? Well maybe a live performance works, sure, but it's just one moment, why keep just that one? All good questions. I have managed to avoid and/or confront all of those questions and potential pitfalls by creating a concept! Read on!
Why record one instant? Okay, I'll record something every day for a month. Isn't improvised music supposed to reflect the world, not be created in a vacuum? Yes, I'll record each day, where ever I happen to be! (I have a pretty busy month too!) How are you going to pay for these 30 days of recording? I'll do it myself! Won't it sound weird? It might, but that's what it is. This sounds a little like a routine, even a practice. Yes I hope it'll become a practice. I'm going to record, listen and write each day for 31 days. In the end I'll listen to all I've gathered, and pick my favourite pieces to release.
I'm hoping to emerge with some music that I really like. I'm hoping that I'll grow as a musici
an as I practice each day, I'm hoping you'll follow me as I write on this blog, a little each day, about my experiences and discoveries.
It all starts May 1, 2016. Stay tuned
Norm
Apr 26, 2016 at 22:22
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