Stick and Stones

Download the new album Stick and Stones for FREE!!!

Crazy Love

Check out my new review of Michael Buble's Crazy Love on about.com.

Yacht Rock

If you have yet to take your first voyage upon the Yacht of Rock, take a look.

Episode 3 Halloween Edition

Episode 2

Enjoy it while it lasts

If you're a piano player, or a jazz musician, or a gorilla, you owe it to yourself to read this interview between The Bad Plus' Ethan Iverson and Keith Jarrett.

Many topics are discussed in depth, including growing up and finding work as a young jazz musician. It finds Jarrett at his most real and least crazy.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Fake or Fake? Who you callin fake?

So, what do you think? Fake or Real, or Fake.

Man, I hope it's real.

I'm scared to death of sharks, and I want that fear to be warranted. Without big, gravity defying sharks out there, I don't think I can honestly call myself a man. Much less a bad ass.

It is amazing, upon further reflection, how they've seemed to perfectly frame this shot - in the face of extreme non-reality.

To close, I'd like to pose the question this way - why do we care if it's real? I for one will not be flying my military chopper that close to the ocean any how. As much for fear of the flying great whites as the acid spitting dolphins.

So, lets just all play it safe and keep to the land where all we have to deal with are the half-bear/half-bat people that roam the nights and the occasional Canadian...

Happily ever after I say. Happily ever after.

Entry - Linda Oh

Check out Linda Oh's new album. It's killing!

http://jazz.about.com/b/2009/10/08/double-bass-2.htm

Video Blog - Episode 1

The music in this video is from my latest album, "The Joy of Driving." You can download it and all of my other albums for free here.

Have a super day.

B's from Harvard

A Step to the Left - Notes from Day 2

We got up unnecessarily early and headed off, cutting through a large portion of the Midwest on our way to the golden coast.

This is a very good representation of the vistas we encountered on this leg of the trip. Some would say "lame" or "flat," but I thought it was relaxing. Coming from a town where there is no horizon, it was nice to see the old curve of the earth again.

We headed south west through the bottom corner of Wisconsin and headed over the ragging Mississippi in to Iowa. By the way, if you need gas, Iowa is the place to go. I'm not sure if I should have put ethanol into the Penske truck, but it seemed just fine (and it was hell-a cheep, that's right, hell-a).

My sister couldn't understand why I took a picture of the this silo... but I'm sure if you look closely you'll see what caught my eye.

Iowa was about as long as Pennsylvania, but much more pleasant. I guess it's hard to get mad at people when there are none around. Maybe I should have just stayed there?

The best part of Nebraska, the next state on our hit list, was the fields and fields (and fields) of sunflower fields (not shown here). They also have a lot of wind power towers. Pretty sweet. And this point, we're getting slightly blown out from driving... but we have oh so much more to go.

(Sunflower Fields shown here - very dark)

As the sun goes down we know we're getting close to the mountains, but there are none in sight. I guess that will be tomorrows prize.

We pull over the border of Colorado and into a Best Western and, after I back over a "no parking sign" with the truck, we pack it in for the night. Tomorrow, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and our new home, China 2 - I mean California.

Ending stats: 989 Miles

3 Penut Butter Sandwiches

Half a bag of oatmeal cookies

A half dozen handfuls of carmel corn

2 Kids from Wisconsin and 1 Moped from Japan

A Strike of Confidence

Is my confidence waining? Am I having second thoughts?

These are interesting (and exponentially depressing) topics to contemplate.

Just dealing with the idea of thinking about second thoughts confuses me - what does it all mean? Does it matter? Oh, dammit.

The current state of things out here on my new coast is most certainly on the up and up (depending on how you look at it). I have a few teaching gigs, I've meet a couple of new people, and I'm working on an interesting musical concept.

But it's fair to say my general expectations of this move, as well as my life, have been slightly unrealistic up until this point - but still, that thought seems horribly unambitious. I certainly could have been working harder to get gigs, put a band together, complete writing projects, and find teaching jobs, but if I did all those things would I know how to get to the beach? The grocery store? The Chipotle?

What's the point of moving to an interesting spot if your only goal is to continue on your current path?

(An inspiring picture to inspire you)

I see now that new goals are in order. New timetables must be installed. Creative execution should follow, and on and on, until, someday, somehow, something is achieved.

Now this sounds like a plan a man like me can get behind. And when I say plan, of course, I mean a plan to plan. Right. Great. Fine. ...engage.

Awesome.

The Secret Revealed

A Step to the Left - Pit Stop

On the second day, I rested. Or whatever.

On the unofficial second day of my journey (I say unofficial because there was no physical traveling), I took time to sleep a few hours and reorganize my life on wheels.

Aside from being a welcome rest for driver, it also ended up being something of a wonderland for my two turtles in a half-shell (turtle power). I can't say for sure, but I think it was their first experience with grass. It must be similar to southerners first time experiencing snow - with a little more burrowing.

What a trip it's been for them - from parts unknown, to China Town, to the Upper West Side, to a Wisconsin front yard, to... California (and all parts in between). I can't say they can tell the difference, and maybe for them there is none, but they liked the grass anyhow.

It was nice to see the house, and even nicer to see the folks. I said I didn't want a gathering or a dinner or any of those things my extended family seems to live for, but when the inevitable happened, it was nice.

After the party left and a short rain storm blew through (the last one I've seen for two and a half weeks), we reshuffled the load. I couldn't have imagined adding more, but we found a way. With two bikes, a bed, dresser, table, some lamps, a vacuum and a restored antique moped, no one was going to accuse me of traveling light. Oh, did I also mention I picked up a travel buddy? I did - my sister (and future roommate).

After plenty of unwelcome but helpful words of advice, we hit the hay (so to speak), and got ready for our 5 AM call to arms.

A Step to the Left - Notes from Day 1

After packing up (and tearing up) and running head first out of New York with all of my junk, I have amassed the following notes of the first day or so of my journey.

(Note: all times Eastern Standard and estimated)

9:14 AM - Arrive at truck rental trailer-park, located in the part of Manhattan typically reserved for gang fights between the mob and Batman.

9:43 AM - Without much fanfare, I'm on the road with a 16 foot truck, which to my surprise has a much coveted CD player.

10:15 AM - Pick up some donuts and find eight of my closest friends sitting on my front stoop reinacting a scene from a Molly Ringwald movie I once saw half of.

10:34 AM - After four minutes of negotiation, I convince a very stupid women that her car will fit through the space between my truck and the van across the street.

11:44 AM - I'm packed and ready to squirt some.

11:50 AM - Pulling away from my home for the last 3 years without any idea of where I'm going, except that it's west of here and there will probably end up being more trees and less pigeons. (After a few minutes I find my directions and feel more prepared)

11:52 AM - I'm lost.

11:53 AM - Thank you sweet Jesus for the iPhone.

12:02 PM - I catch a final glimps of the NY sky line and wonder when, or if, I'll be back.

12:45 PM - New Jersey does kind of suck, but it's fun to drive.

1:30 PM - Pennsylvania sucks.

2:00 PM - Pennsylvania sucks.

3:00 PM - Pennsylvania sucks.

cont...

3:32 PM - Apparently, other drivers hate people in moving trucks.

3:32 PM - A man passed me, stuck his hand out of his window, and made a very lame pointing jesture to the right. Initially, I believed he was pointing out something cool on that side of the highway, but later realized he wanted me to change lanes. What I told him by not changing lanes was that no one cares what he thinks.

4:10 PM - After stopping for gas at a quant roadside-mall/gas station I decided to take some pictures of some very tasteful, but deadly, 3-d leopard art work (pictured below) that seemed to be featured on every wall. The leopard got the last laugh however, as that very photo killed my phone battery.

4:12 PM - After the leopard incident, the nice, seemingly hillbilly, gas station attendant informed me that while they sold an iPhone car-charger, I would have to wait 20 minutes for his manager to return and open the case it had been stored in. A case that featured such high price merchandise as $9 jelly head phones and the aforementioned $15 phone charger.

5:14 PM - Drank some iced coffee and some peanuts.

cont...

7:25 PM - I was a bit surprised with how emotional I was leaving this morning. It's funny how some things don't outwardly effect you while others do. There had been a lot of build up to today, and I had been hesitant to let it get to me in any sentimental or emotional way.

7:56 PM - After about 8 hours of straight driving, I'm starting to get the hang of working the truck. I no longer feel like an old man driving an unruly lawnmower.

9:00 PM - I'm in Ohio.

9:10 PM - After passing a strangely familiar farm, I'm starting to have flashbacks of coming to New York 3 years ago. I felt so much more stressed coming than I do going. I think NY is inherently stressful to some degree, but I also think I've grown.

11:11 PM - Crossing into Indiana - "Crossroads of America"

11:40 PM - Consumed by me on this leg of the journey so far: 3 Iced Coffees, 2 Bags of Peanuts, some string cheese, a gallon of Apple Juice and a gallon of Orange Juice (w/pulp).

11:49 PM - Weird late night trucker headlight signals. I don't know what 3 short and one long means, but I bet it's dirty.

12:18 AM - Smashmouth's version of "I'm a Believer" on the radio. Hello middle school.

12:19 AM - 90's week on Indiana radio. Love is in the air - along with heavy rain.

2:18 AM - Smooth Jazz while passing through Chicago. Really brings me back.

2:53 AM - Sting's "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" while passing Six Flags Great America.

3:00 AM - A roundup of the tolls I've paid today: New Jersey - $5, Pennsylvania - $7, Ohio - $13, Indiana - $4, Chicago - $1:50 + $3 + $1.50 = $6 (they're so tricky).

3:33 AM - On an empty highway in Wisconsin. I think everyone's sleeping. How come I'm not?

4:08 AM - Highway 41 on the way home. Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues." I'm no longer worried about staying awake. But dammit, I want to make it without stopping for gas again.

4:14 AM - The first time on my trip that I can see the stars.

4:27 AM - Starting to have waking visions. But Genesis' "That's All" is rocking it out!

4:38 AM - I've heard a remarkable amount of Journey so far - I would be fist pumping if I wasn't so concerned with 10 and 2.

4:40 AM - More Phil Collins... The clock is my enemy. Why do I care what time it is? Almost there.

5:05 AM - Me and my truck sputter into to Neenah, WI.

Ending stats: 998 miles, 17 hours, 7 States, 4 iced coffees, and 1 bed waiting for me at the top of the stairs.

That's how it went, so far. Only 2,000 miles left to go...

The Jazz Mortuary

After a long discussion with one of my other About.com cohorts, Jacob Teichroew, about the recent column (Can Jazz be Saved?) by Terry Teachout and the internet onslaught that followed, I have a few words on the subject of the so-called "Death of Jazz." (insert minor 7th chord please)

My main argument is this - although jazz as an art form is alive and well (ten million strong and growing), commercially speaking, it's not a player. And it hasn't been, really, since the 1950's - early 1950's. And by the time of its commercial decline, it had really only been going strong (ie. been the popular music of the day) for 15 years - tops.

How does this affect current jazz musicians or listeners? It couldn't affect them less. It's not like any of us that are playing or listening to jazz (okay, maybe there's a few of you 80-plus-ers that are crying right now, but lets be honest, you're not reading this because you don't know how to turn on a computer) were alive during the hay-day of jazz. So what did we have that we are now missing?

And again, this says nothing of jazz's vibrance as an art form or as a creative enterprise.

As a jazz musician just don't expect to sell anything. To me, to anyone. Just don't do it. Don't try to get 100 people to your gig. Don't try to make money from your recordings. Just play, and be a badass while doing it. If the plinko ball falls in your slot and you do sell a million records (hello Norah Jones) have fun with it.

But really, there's nothing you can do, nothing you can tell the younger generation, that will "make jazz a popular music again." If that's what you want, I guess my advice is build a time machine and head on back - cause otherwise, sadly, you're fishing in an empty pond.

Is jazz dead? No. But if it is, it's nothing new. It's been dead for a couple of decades now.

(Update: to read Jacob's response, please head over to jazz.about.com)

Ten Things I Hate About You (or people like you)

Ten things Jazz Singers do all the time that I hate:

10. Drink tea while someone else in the band solos.

9. Pretend they're a drum of some sort (excluding Bobby McFerrin, who actually is a drum of some sort).

8. Say they don't listen to singers, just instrumentalists. Or, vise versa, just singers and not instrumentalists.

7. 8 Bar intros and three times at the end (a great piece of arranging buddy).

6. Talk like they were born in Harlem in 1932, when actually they were born in Minnesota in 1974.

5. Move their hands around (especially in a Z Zorro type motion) while they improvise.

4. Call Sinatra cheesy. (We're talking about a man who could kill you with his bare hands here)

3. Sing in Portuguese when they clearly don't speak Portuguese.

2. Call out the person's name and instrument at the end of their solo ("Bill Johston on the Sax!").

1. Snap. Snap at any time.

People Dispensers

One of the hardest things for us to except, with our special abilities and unique personalities, is that we're replaceable. We're like the soda dispensers at the convenience store - take one of us, and another one slides into place. It may not be exactly the same in every way, but it'll get the job done (a coke always goes well with Jack).

Into the Wild

I think had I seen this movie at a different time in my life it would not have been so ground breaking - or heart breaking. But I did and it is.

Coming from someone who's currently packing up all the junk they own and carrying it across the country - this movie has made me think more than twice about chucking it all and moving on.

Alas, I'm not that interesting of a person. I'll live with not being that cool.

For now.

On the Road

As you may know (although you probably don't), I'm leaving New York next week. I'm headed West to California for many reason - but probably the biggest reason is change. They say a change will do you good, and I'm hoping they're right.

I've felt a myriad of emotions the past few weeks - since the decision to leave was officially made. The one I feel most often lately is frustration. I'm quick to anger, which has never been a trait of mine. While it may seem very mild to others, it's much more than I'm used to. It's part of my mourning process - it is after all, the end of something very big to me.

Up to this point I've been hesitant to let people in on my reasoning for leaving, even the fact that I'm leaving has been a tightly kept secret. I had planned on making a quick escape and slipping off into the night, but more and more that is seeming difficult. I don't deny that I've made some real and lasting connections here - and that in itself is the hardest part about going. Saying goodbye to the people I've come to rely upon (being basically all alone in a big city), is very difficult.

But I know now that it must be done.

Over the next few weeks I will take this space and use it as a chronicle of my journey both geographically and spiritually from East to West.

Another Legend Gone

A legend died yesterday, but it's hard to say he was in his prime. At 94, Les Paul had a career and life that anyone would aspire to. Besides having his name on a billion guitars all over the world, he was a musician who up until the WEEK HE DIED had a regular gig. My father back home in Wisconsin has always bugged me about not going and seeing him during his weekly set at the Iridium... Now I'll never get that chance.

A Sit Down with Kate McGarry.

Check out my interview with Kate McGarry for about.com:

http://jazz.about.com/od/interviews/a/KateMcGarryInterview.htm

Concert Review: Kurt Elling sings Sondheim and Styne

Please take a minute to check out my review of the 92nd St. Y's Jazz in July Concert Series Concert Sondheim and Styne, featuring Kurt Elling and Bill Charlap.

Making It

Here's a reenactment of a short conversation I had with jazz vocalist Kate McGarry a little over three years ago:

Charlie: So, how does it feel to have made it?

Kate McGarry: Well, I guess I don't really feel like I've made it.

(I told you it was short)

Kate McGarry has gone on to make it about as much as any real jazz vocalist can. She's permformed with many of the important musicians of our generation, from Maria Schneider and Donny McCaslin to Fred Hersch and Kurt Elling; she's toured the world; and this year was nominated for a Grammy. Any way you slice it, that's making it to me.

But the struggles of the New York scene have been felt even by her, as she's been forced to leave town and head south for nicer weather and an easier day to day. We wish her the best of luck, and hope she returns often.

Time, Time, Time is Fine

It's funny to me how much our lives are based on time - I would go so far as to say it's the most defining aspect of our existense - our perception. It all just seems so arbitrary. I'll see you at 7 PM, call me after 9 AM. Why? What changes besides the position of the sun?

The Joy of Driving

Please take a second to download my new album, The Joy of Driving, at the link below.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gnnqkmiq3ty

This album is inspired by the idea of a night drive through the country. While there isn't much country in my neck of the woods, I've definitely taken my fair share. I think the album's also about travel in general - so if you've got any planned, this is the perfect companion... well, this and some sandwiches.

While you're downloading stuff, if you haven't heard my other albums, they can be found here: http://www.mediafire.com/charliechristenson

Please enjoy and let me know what you think.

Just a Little Secret

There's a funny thing about secrecy in our culture. Knowing something that someone else doesn't makes us feel powerful. Not knowing makes us feel helpless. In the case of artists, mystery is a very thin line to walk.

I can break it down into four general areas - we'll call them mystery zones (I apologize if this seems TOO much like a horoscope).

Mystery Zone 1 (maximum secrecy): Your shows are underground, no publicity, only word of mouth. No one really knows the name of the bass player, except that he has a weird nickname like Cirpico or Quiet Storm. You can't find your music on iTunes or Amazon, but that crusty old record store has some below the counter. It takes a lot of work to be this incognito, and the ones who have actually heard of you are way into it.

Mystery Zone 2 (moderate secrecy): Fans may know who's in your band, but they know nothing of your personal life. People can find your shows, but it's not because you go on and on about them on your Myspace page. You sell your music on your website - iTunes only has your most recent stuff, which isn't the stuff the real groupies are into anyway. This zone is about keeping your fans at an arms length - you value your privacy but don't let it consume you.

Mystery Zone 3 (little to no secrecy): Everybody knows how you met and why you named the band what you did, but you don't give a zillion interviews and show up on VH1 every night. Your shows are prominently posted, but not crammed down anyone's throat. You can find your albums anywhere and you don't have many imports from Japan. You don't ever really think about keeping anything from your fans. If they want to know so bad, whatever.

Mystery Zone 4 (full disclosure): What did you eat for lunch today? Well, lets just check your twitter. Do you feel good about every single little overdub you recorded today? I don't know, I haven't had time to read your blog. You're basically every where all the time. We know who you dated for how long - we know your parents names - and we probably even know what you look like naked. You spam us constantly about your gigs, and hustle like crazy. I can buy your album on the sidewalk in Harlem if I feel so inclined - and you know what else, I can get the special edition at K-Mart. You spend a lot of time letting everyone know what you think and how you feel, and some people still can't get enough.

Okay, so it's pretty clear how I feel about all of this: if I had to pick, I'd probably go somewhere around zone 2 - a little mystery is fun. But come on, your talking to a Led Zeppelin guy here - are you at all surprised?

About Stuff

I'm on the verge of (finally - come on) doing some writing for a website that people will actually read - about.com. If you want to check out where I'll be setting up shop, head over here and take a gander. Should be tons of fun and a bucket full of monkeys (at least a small box full of them).

A "Nun" Direction

So, very shortly I will begin a series of Video Blogs, or V-logs if you like.

I've decided to take the blog in a slightly different direction - more fun, less pun.  Or less nun maybe - I still have a lot to work out.

Anyhow, check back in a few days and see how things have changed.

Kisses,

Charlie

Do it in the Backyard

As I ferviously cleaned my apartment today I oft thought to myself: "wouldn't it be nice to live somewhere where I could take this outside and clean it..." Yes, it would be nice. Especially since I almost started a fire with the vacuum... But I digress.

It would also be nice to practice guitar outside - which has become of a bit of an obsession for me as of late. I haven't really practiced this much or consistently for a long time. I think it's great. It'd be nice to do it in a backyard.

My Fee

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."  

So says The Dark Knight's Joker, and so says I.  Except for the fact that, as musicians, as artists, we do it all the time.  We do it almost exclusively.  We practice, we write, we hustle - all with no immediate reward.  And we have done it our whole lives.  

We pay a private teacher to tell us to practice.  We pay a school to tell us to write.  We pay a band and we play.  We practice enough until we are good enough that someone will pay us - a tiny bit - once in a while.  But that is not good enough.  So, we practice some more, and we get slightly more gigs.  

We write some good songs, and maybe get paid a little less for not doing covers - but it's more satisfying and we get better in a more complete way.  We finally get to a point were we are considered a master on our instrument and an important thinker in our genre.  We are officially "good at it," but guess what?  We still have to teach to make ends meet.  We still have to do that summer camp.  We still have to practice.

If I were a hit-man, and good, I would never kill for free.  If I were a butcher, the best, I'm not putting on that smock without getting paid my fee.  As a musician I am almost always at work - and I almost never get paid.

Pics

I've realized that my blog entries seem much cooler if there's a picture attached.  Note to self.

New Tricks

I wonder if you can really be too old to learn something new.  

Clearly, things become much more difficult the older you get - in a physical sense.  We become less flexible, we have more ticks and bad habits, and in general our bodies have tuned themselves to do the specific things they are used to doing.  And perhaps more importantly, "mature" people have less time to spend creating muscle memory.  The days of hanging out all afternoon learning how to shuffle cards are far and few between, if not gone. 

Our minds aren't that different - although I think there is more hope.

When it comes to subjects completely out of our box (like computers are for the elderly, card games are for the kid who read comics, or comics are for the kid who played football), the pathways in our brains' are very slow.  It is difficult to make connections to unrelated subjects.  But for things that are similar (the avid reader learning to write poetry, the soccer player learning tennis, or, in my case, the pianist learning guitar), there are distinct possibilities.  

Unfortunately, however, our minds are more like muscles than we would like to think - practice is the only way to make any information come quickly (which is the sign that something has truly been learned).

This of course is just a very small part of the discussion.  But, for me it's a start.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Success

"There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way."  - Anonymous

Creation

I think there are two types of creativity - two ways of going about creating something:

New from the Old

  -and-

New from the Abyss

I'm more of an Abyss guy, but only time will tell.  I think most of us take a crack at one or the other at some point.  But eventually something clicks.

To be a new from the old person you really need to be an expert - have your history down pat.  There's very little bullshit when it comes to new from old.  People that know all the ins and outs of 80's hip-hop, for instance, are the people that reinvent that sound.

The new from the abyss is much more trial and error.  Many shots in the dark are taken before anything comes of it.  It is sometimes weird, but always hard to classify.  That's what makes this kind of creating difficult - you don't need to be an expert - but you have to be comfortable without a home.  The abyss waits a long time for mainstream recognition, but when/if they get it, they last and last.

If you have a minute, download my new album for free at http://www.mediafire.com/charliechristenson

I don't remember the 90's

There's something about the sound of the 90's that's very smarmy to me.  Perhaps it's the juxtaposition in my mind of Barney and Nirvana...  I think early 90's music is something that I won't really ever like.  I remember being very in to classic rock at the time (60's and 70's mostly) - maybe I just warped over that decade.

Although, with my current obsession with the 80's, maybe the decade that follows won't be far behind... or ahead.

Close

Close only counts in hand shoes and horse grenades.

Think about it...

I'm on my way to California for fame and fame.  I'm also hoping to get super famous.  Wish me luck.

ON this eve of travel, I thought I would share my thoughts on gigs.  Going to people's - and having people go to... them.

FIRST off, I'd like to say that getting people to gigs is really the bane of a musician's life.  We seem to live and die by the numbers.  Of the course the music is important, but that's likely to happen regardless.  We play music out in public so that we can share our music with others.  Sure, you're sharing it with the musicians you're playing with, but for that you could check out a room somewhere and have at it - no need for a press kit or posters.  So people are an important ingredent in this gig stew - and it's generally hard to get people to do things.  At the begining of a musician's career, one can really only expect to see friends in the audience (save maybe a few randoms - and they're almost always drunk).  Now friends are very nice, it was very nice of them to show, but friends typically always want something in return.  A spot on the list, a free drink, a student discount or, wait for it, recipercation.  Yeah, they want you to go to their next gig - and all the ones after that.  See, if a friend shows up at your gig (especially if you didn't have to beg them to come, they just came because that's how awesome they are) they basically own you.  You are now expected to show up to their next 15 gigs, at least - and you're supposed to love it.  If you can't make it or you don't care to go, you're now the jerk who doesn't go out to other people's gigs.  I know it, I've been on both sides - and it feels weird both ways.

SEE, I think two things need to happen.  First, more people need to start going to more gigs.  Secondly, people need to have less crappy gigs.  Crappy gigs are all over the place.  Here's the headline for Joe Shmoe's next gig: "Joe Shmoe plays at crappy expensive bar with all the kids at school that stink so hard they didn't have a previous engagement tonight!"  Wow, I'm super excited for that one.  Good thing he came to my last gig and now I get to have to go to his.  Just super.

DON'T waste time getting crappy gigs where no one gets paid, no one shows up, and you feel like a turd afterward.  We've all been there.  Playing gigs is important - but crappy gigs are like playing two negative gigs, in my opinion.  Just book a room, play a session and record it.  Listen back like you're listening to a live at the Village Vanguard and actually get something out of it.  I've listened back to so many of my crappy gigs - if I can actually hear the music it's a plus - more than not, the just of the recording is two wieners who sat too close to the microphone and spent the whole time talking about which Justin Timberlake video they prefer.  Personally, I like them all.

SO, to summarize - gigs are tricky business.  In general, we fail as both musicians and audience members.  It's hard to put yourself in the other's shoes (even though we do a fair share of both), but it's absolutely essential.  Every time you have a gig think to yourself, "would I leave my apartment and ride the train for a half-hour both ways to pay $15 to hear me?"  If you answer yes, you either have a annoyingly bloated ego, or you've resisted the urge to settle for every crappy gig that falls into your lap.  If you answer no, get over it, no one's coming to your gig - and if they do, they own you.

Alright, like I said, off to be famous now.  Leave me alone - my publicist will call you back when she gets a minute.

Yes, you should get over it

Sometimes we forget that it feels good to forgive.

We forget because it also feels good to be mad at someone, to be better, to be right.  We try to be right, we try not to mess up, and it feels good to succeed where others don't.

The thing about forgiving is that we feel good, but we also let go of the time and energy we spend thinking about the person or thing that did us wrong.  It's important to let people know when they mess up, but it's just as important let them know that you're over it.  And yes, you should get over it.

These things take time

I have attempted to keep expectations low lately - thinking this was the key to happiness - which I guess I was defining by the lack of disappointment.  Clearly, this is not the most accurate definition...

I played a few dates at this "club" in Harlem where the owner would constantly ask me where I was playing next, when was the big gig, the date at Birdland, the big recording, the big break...  My response was always some stumbling version of "these things take time," which always made him completely unsatisfied.  He would then ramble on about how thinking it makes it so - positive energy and all that.  I always thought he was crazy, and still do... but, I guess lately I've been thinking it's not that bad of an experiment to try.  Think of everything I want in my life, and, instead of assuming it probably won't happen, assume that it probably will.

...Sorry, my fruitiness counter just went off the deep end.  Anyway, I'll see what happens, and let you know.

A SIDE NOTE:  the whole world seems to smell bad today - if you guys could get on that that'd be awesome.

10,000 Hours

My roommate is reading a book that says you have to put at least 10,000 hours into something to transcend the norm and become extraordinary.

I guess that means I'm a master sleeper.

I think I've known it all along.

David King on Phil Collins

Here's a funny entry in what is probably my favorite blog out there - Do the Math "the bad plus blog and webzine."  In this entry Ethan Iverson, the band's pianists, and David King, the band's drummer, discuss the drumming of Phil Collins (one of my favorites).  There's not much actual information here, but boy, if you want emotion- forget about it.

You can read the blog entry here.

Fistfight in Heaven - A few thoughts

A few things I'd like to write about briefly.

First of all, the idea that most artists do their best work on their first try - when they are young.  I do think there is something to this.  Looking at the world with fresh eyes, a different perspective.  Perhaps missing the details, the fine work of a craftsmen - but striking out in a new direction - to use a Star Trek phrase, if I may - a new frontier...  Going where no man has gone before... (Okay, I'm done)  Or maybe just putting two pieces of something together that no one has thought of before (the peanut butter and bananas concept).  Young artists first work will hopefully reveal something that they will continue to cultivate for the rest of their lives.

What if you haven't found your peanut butter and bananas yet?  Well, I think you look for a way to buck the trend.  Break the mold, if there is one.  That's the great thing about statistics, about the majority - it never applies to the individual.  A trend only applies to you if you fit the trend.  No one's saying you will or you must.  You might.

And secondly, I saw I Love You, Man tonight:

I thought it was a semi-interesting take on a wedding setup.  The groom has to find a best friend.  All the characters are super lovable and funny - and that's really what the movie is about.  Absolutely nothing in the plot is surprising - nothing.  But that's okay, because the whole idea is as follows: "Hey, here are some sweet people you would really like to be friends with.  Watch them walk around and talk to each other."  The ending is uneventful, even for an adult comedy.  But that's kind of okay.  I left the theater in a good mood, but sure to forget most of the movie by the time I got back to my apartment.  If I were to invent a scale, I would say it was a CCC out of 5 C's.  Hey, my initials are CC, after all.

Finally, there was someone on the subway tonight reading a book called The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.  The title is intriguing to the point of actual action.  We'll see though.

Jazz is Dead?

I've made a slight habit of saying things are dead lately.  It is fun to be so bold.

I told my friend, singer Julie Hardy, that jazz is dead the other day, and she said, "I hope not, I'll have a hard time teaching it if it's dead."  To which I said, "I don't know, they teach Latin, and that's about as dead as it can get."  She agreed and so do I.

Along with 4 out of 5 doctors.  And that's a hell of a lot.

The Only Way

At some point, we get over it.

WE see, hear, feel the reality of a situation and we let it go.

It is the only way.  And I've been doing it a lot lately.

Here's the Hook

LIVE performance is dead.

PRETTY much, anyhow.  

WE live in a world where live music has become a novelty - something for tourists and birthday parties.  Hardly a shadow of what it once was - the primary way of experiencing music has become the rare way of experiencing it.  Here and there, every once in a while, on the special occasion, when we happen to stumble upon it.

HOW many times have you gone to a bar that had live music?  Okay, that's a fair amount.  Now, how many times was the music at your local pub any good?  How many times did you see professional musicians?  ...How many times did you see the guy that works at the guitar shop...  How many original songs did they play?  Do you think they even got paid?  I sense the answer to these questions - and we all have to admit it's kind of lame.  Sure, music is live and well - the fact that it's being played at all is something.  And yes, the phenomenon of crapy bands in bars is new by no means - but, is this the best we can do?  Is it better to hear a crapy band in a bar than a great jukebox?  ...or a crappy dj...

MUSICAL enthusists do, indeed, of course you're right, go to live concerts.  They fill in the venues large and small - the size of the hall in proportion with the shortness of the skirts.  And they cheer, and they sway, and they fall in love.  But is this activity really about listening to music?  Or is it just one big biggest fan meeting?  Concertgoers screaming for the most popular songs and the coolest collectables.  Is there anything surprising?

BUT perhaps this is not the goal.  The recording is the true headhunter, the real go getter, at the music party.  It ropes people in - it gets the tunes stuck in their heads.  When you leave a concert, you're more likely to remember that cute girl in the 3rd row than that great new song you've never heard before.  But no one BUYS music anymore.  There is no commitment.  You're more likely to buy something you already know you like than give something new a shot.  And I don't blame you.  That's what we're supposed to do.  Who can afford to throw away their money, time, energy, enthusiasm??? 

AND who tells you what you like?  Well, there's both more and less of them in the world today.  The actually physical stores selling music are drying up faster than a cup of water on the sun - and the record companies that create that physical incarnation of music are dying as well.  BUT, ha ha, and this is a big one, the INTERNET grew up fast - and it's pissed.  It's the little brother that's been beat up for 18 years in a row but now he's bigger than you.  The internet and iTunes grew so quickly that it's leaving everyone involved with the creation of music (musicians, producers, studios and distributers) out in the dark with a crappy flashlight we in the biz call Google.  What's a boy to do?  

WELL, first off, get a computer.  Drink it in.  It always goes down smooth.  Get some recording software (I like Logic).  And get a going MOBY.  You want to live in New York?  Great, but you don't have to.  Live in Oregon - the internet doesn't really care.  In fact, it might be cooler that you live on the side of some mountain in Colorado.  Or on the beach in Texas.  There used to be rules to all of this, with very few exceptions - BUT NOT ANYMORE.  Not for the last 9 years, at least.

IF the album is the hook what's the gig?  The gig's the line and sinker... I guess.  But what's that any good for?  It's for reeling in the fish once you have the hook set.  Well, what do you do if you don't have a hook? WELL, I GUESS YOU DON'T GET THE FISH!

I GO TO shows here in NYC.  Jazz shows.  Maybe once a week.  If the show's awesome - if it's the top guys - the audience consists of the following percentages : %50 Foreigners / %25 Tourists / %15 Locals that got in for free / %5 Journalists who got in for free / %10 Staff and the band that's on next.  Yeah, that's it.  Isn't that awesome?  Sure, it's okay.  But when you're not one of those top guys - when you didn't record with Miles or Coltrane or Sunny - guess who's in the crowd?  It's that %10 Staff and the band that's on next...  Maybe a few of your friends if it's your birthday or something - but that's it.  So, why would any of us do it?  I guess it's fun to play music...  I guess we all want to be one of the top guys someday...  I guess someone told us if we want to be musicians we have to get as many gigs as we can...

THE thing is - we don't have to get gigs to be musicians.  The gigs aren't the hook - at least, not anymore.

I have a few thoughts.

The hard part is not taking that first step - It's deciding in which direction that step should be.

I have a few thoughts.

Thoughts on Freedom

Nietzsche writes in his seventy-five aphorisms:

How much a spirit needs for its nourishment, for this there is no formula; but if its taste is for independence, for quick coming and going, for roaming, perhaps for adventures for which only the swiftest are a match, it is better for such a spirit to live in freedom with little to eat than unfree and stuffed.  It is not fat but the greatest possible suppleness and strength that a good dancer desires from his nourishment - and I would not know what the spirit of a philosopher might wish more to be than a good dancer.  For the dance is his ideal, also his art, and finally also his only piety, his "service of God."

More on this later, I think.

the blow

I've invented a new band... that is to say I've found them... I mean I've heard them.  The Blow.  Check them out (Parentheses is my favorite).  I've recorded one of their songs for my upcoming album - more on that later.

Let me know what you think.

Yeah, Perhaps.

I'm really worked up right now.  I haven't been in this kind of a lather in a long time.  Perhaps a big change is on the horizon?

Yeah, perhaps.

Cat

I wonder if seeing a white cat is good luck.  I hope so.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

I saw the Watchmen last night, and it was awesome.  It made me want to go home and watch all the movies I own.  Something about a fun movie - it makes other movies better.  Like Michael Jordan...  Enough said.

I recommend reading the book.  One of the most interesting, entertaining things I've ever read.

I was reading a interview with Todd Howard, a video game creator, yesterday - he was talking about how to make a good game.  One thing he said struck me:

The player experience should go: learn, play, challenge, surprise.  You should always give the player a challenge with a way out, even it is one they don't want to use.  As an example he talked about the nuclear bombs in Fallout 3.  The option is always there if you're in a pinch, but most people finish the game hoarding the mini-nukes.

This seems, to me, to be paralleled in life.  We have these obvious ways to get out of trouble, or make our lives better, but most of us die without ever using them.  I guess this could mean a lot of things, most of which I haven't figured out yet.

I also like the idea of learn, play, challenge, surprise.  I think this could be adapted to music.  I was telling someone the other day that I think good songs are familiar but surprising.  I want people to be instantly comfortable with my songs - and then take them on a ride.  I think my rides are a little more subtle than some others - but a ride nonetheless.

If you want to hear some music that takes you on a wild ride, check out my friend Jonathan's website.

Making Pasta in the oven with Joni

I dreamt last night that I hung out with Joni Mitchell for a day.  She knew every song she had ever written, and I seemed to know most of them too.  We talked about music and who she wrote her songs about - I don't remember the last time I felt so happy.

...the dream ended up with us cooking.  She made cinnamon rolls and, for some reason, pasta in the oven.  I made fun of her, so she took it out and put it on the stove.  I wonder if she's so easily swayed in real life?  I could go either way.

The Process

This made me puke, eat my puke, and then puke and cry at the same time.

Enjoy:

Songsmith Commercial

Handle Bar Mustache

I grew a handle-bar mustache for a party this weekend, because studies have shown that mustaches are fun for the entire family...      I waited over two hours for someone to comment on its majesty, and, finally, when no one did, I questioned the group as to why no one was interested in fun for the entire family.  They had all been too nervous to say anything, afraid of hurting my feelings.  

Do I come off as being that sensitive?  That my choice in (seemingly) hilarious facial hair is so embarrassing in the first place that this new direction was a serious part of my thing?  It has made me wonder if I am a handle-bar mustache kind of guy after all.  It seemed to be the most shocking temporary thing I could've done... but it ended up either being too awkward to be funny or to normal to be considered.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures to prove that the mustache existed.  Just the images burned into the minds of the attendies of said party.  Here, however, for your viewing pleasure, is what you may* have missed: