BC Opening Act

Pat Metheny once said, “Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments.  It is much more poetic than that.”  For music lovers and musicians, music had filled the void in each persons life that describes the emotions they feel every day.  To be a true music lover, you almost need to have felt a moving experience through either listening to a famous player or playing a song on your own instrument that hits that right note and sooths your ears.   For me it’s both.

I have been a musician for many years.  However, I do not believe I am anywhere close to being finished.  As I exit college and enter a new stage of my life, the so called “real world,” I plan to keep “my world” of music filled with many of my days.  My music lifestyle began exactly like most peoples, just by listening.  I was surrounded by many different styles, but mostly oldies.  I learned the basics of music from bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to John Coltrane and Miles Davis.  All of which seem to connect in some way, even if they are totally different genres. 

In high school and college I have played and written music with several instruments.  So far my record stands at guitar, tenor sax, bari sax, piano and vocals.  I have tried my way at other instruments, but have not yet reached a level to include them in my overall arsenal.  In college I played in the Winona State University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Rich MacDonald.  I played tenor sax 2 for half a semester, bari sax for 2 years (Including my Honk years, my past sax section will understand that one) and finally tenor 1 for my senior year.  I also play in a few jazz combos including the Dixie Midnight Runners (DMR) dixieland combo.  I have played many genres in my career, however, my prime love comes in jazz.  The genre itself is so complex that even the most experienced player can get stumped by it’s unpredictable licks and power.  It won’t take long for me to start grooving to a solo from Micheal Brecker, even if he has no rhythm section behind him. 

Anyways, I wanted to set my background a bit so you can start to understand where I’m coming from and maybe where I’m going.  In my coming blogs, I plan to introduce musicians and bands that I have grown up with and that have influenced my ability to play.  I’m also willing to learn from you.  So if you would like to comment on one of my posts and tell me of a new band you heard or some musician you’ve listened to since your prime and want to introduce them to me, please post.  I am more than willing to check out other bands and musicians.  After all, the only way to grow as a musician is to learn from others.  And the more I know, the more I’ll learn.  I may even go out on the town to see some local bands and pass on the word about their strengths.  You can see that as a promotional tool for local bands to get noticed, but if they’re not introduced to anyone, their fan base will never grow. 

I know this post wasn’t as powerful as Some Skunk Funk by the Brecker Brothers, but if I were that good, I wouldn’t need to post blogs.  All I would have to do is have you listen to my album to understand where I’m coming from.  But this route won’t be too bad either, look for my next post to be the first of many to come.

Rock,
BC