Inspiration

      As i've said in previous posts, music is a huge passion of mine. It's literally a way of life for me now. I began playing saxophone and piano when I was in 5th grade, but really, it goes before that. I can remember my favorite toy being my Fischer Price boombox cassette player that had a microphone attached to it. It would amplify your voice without interrupting the tape. I would take it everywhere with me. I remember nights staying up later than I was supposed to so I could listen to my tapes. It gave me such incredible joy to be doing anything involved with music. That sense of joy in music is just as strong with me today. Perhaps even stronger.

     Playing music has taught me many things. I have learned self-discipline through focused practice, overcome shyness in order to perform, learned to work harmoniously with others through rehearsal. I have learned humility playing with others more advanced than myself. I have learned not to fear failure as it is a necessary step for musical, intellectual, and emotional growth. In my opinion, studying music is one of the most effective and fulfilling vehicles for growth in one's life. 

      Naturally, I want to create what has given me purpose, growth, and joy in my life. Below, i've linked one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite groups right now; Knower. They embody everything I love about music. You can tell that they are always pushing forward. They are not afraid to show their influences, (they do lots of covers) but they are not trying to be them. They surprise me. musically with their rhythm, harmony, and timbre. The lyrics are evocative and resonate with me. Every element (visual, harmonic, rhythm, lyric) enhances the others. I want to embody their philosophy in my playing and music. 

     I watched a video interview featuring guitarist Wayne Krantz (amazing) recently. He said that he was not concerned with being a great jazz, bebop, cool jazz etc. player. Others have already done music masterfully already. While it is fun and inspiring to listen to that music, it's been done. What person wants to photocopy other's accomplishments? The goal should be to realize the truest projection of yourself. Imitation is a means to an end for me. Becoming a great improviser is not enough for me even though it is a personal creative endeavor where you are forced to find your own sound and find ways to play through the changes. You are playing on someone else's landscape when improvising on a tune. I want to create the backdrop and the focus. It is relatively new territory for me and I am finding my way slowly, but surely.

    Here is one of my idols on my instrument. His name is David Binney. His playing resonates with me because he is someone who desires to create and express as I do. I think that his music is a particularly beautiful and true realization of himself. He has dedicated himself to his instrument and artistic vision. He expresses himself without concern for commercial viability and the result is truly inspirational.