Fanatics!!

We had a long discussion today with our teacher (the same free jazz sax player I told you about) and he told us a bit about his life story. It all began when one of the students posed one question that many of us have faced at some point - how do you discipline yourself to practice? Ah. He said many valuable things but one thing is very clear - if that's what you really wanna do, there is no doubt you WILL discipline yourself. You have to ask yourself what you want out it, what your priorities are and then see what you need to do to achieve your goals. Set your goals, challenge yourself and it's always good to have competition because it makes you work harder and be better. It makes you more motivated, although the motivation should come from within. Big cats like Parker or Coltrane practiced around 12-16 hours a day! So, it's no surprise they kicked ass! This is what happens when you work hard. You might have talent but if you don't work it won't do you any good. You know that saying - practice makes perfect? Well, it's true. :) 

So why is the title - fanatics? Many great musicians had to make a commitment to their music to become the masters that they were. If you practice 12-16 hours a day you don't have much time for anything else! There's no time to hang around with your friends, watch TV, have a life! Your life is your music. Or your music becomes your life. Same thing. If you have certain ambitions you have to dedicate yourself to it. This guy, the teacher, said to himself one day he will try to live from music no matter what it takes. And he lived on the streets, had ups and downs and it was hard. It cost him to lose his family. It was a big sacrifice. But he made it. After all the hardships he got a record deal and today he does it for a living and has achieved his goals. In the end, it was worth it. He said - I am a fanatic. Maybe you are just born this way, I don't know. But it's about dedicating your life to something and doing everything to make it happen, no matter what the sacrifice is. It might make you miserable at some point and you may lose plenty, but if you know WHY you are doing it, it makes perfect sense. Once you reach that point when you succeed, you know why you had to go through all that you did. He said, I didn't have roof over my had, I was freezing to death, almost died! But I had my horn. And that was all that mattered. 

Well, this is an extreme example. There are many people who had similar stories, maybe less drastic. But many great musicians lost plenty along the way, but they knew why they did it and it was worth it. So it's important to set your priorities and see what you are willing to do to get what you want. Then you can be sure you will be disciplined and motivated, and nothing else will matter. I think this is a good way, but I would personally prefer to have a good balance. Make time for everything. Well, everything that matters to you. I think it's possible to be dedicated to one thing and still have the time to stop and smell the roses. So to speak. It might be hard, maybe even too idealistic, but I have done it. And I know that many have done it too. It's just the matter of good organization, tolerance and compromise. There is always a way. Well, I guess each one of us can choose their own way and try to make it work. Improvise as you go along, cause you never know what life may bring you. Things change, you change with time, the world changes...it all influences your decisions. Nothing is really certain. But you have to know one thing - there is always a choice! And you have to make it. At some point anyway...and that will define you, as well as your path. 

To be or not to be FREE - is this the question?

I admit, I had some lack of inspiration lately...but I have been inspired by certain individuals that entered my life recently and changed my point of view. Therefore, I feel the need to share some of my experiences. I've been so preoccupied with learning how to do jazz better than I already do, always learning new things, experimenting with different grooves, different musicians, sounds, etc. Some say, you need to learn this, others say do it like this. But what is most important is - try to find your own voice and make it personal, no matter what you do. It's so hard to be original these days. There isn't much you can do that will be fresh and new, never heard before. So many influences, so many renewed sounds, music rearranged, re-harmonized, remixed, or completely changed yet familiar. It seems to me that the most original thing I have is my own sound. I mean, as a vocalist I have the voice I was born with and its color, so I guess nobody can take that away from me. There isn't much I can do with it. I can play with it a bit, change the dynamics, the expression, the interpretation, but I will always sound like me. I could copy someone else's sound, but what's the point? It will never be as good as the original. So, a question came to my mind - how can I free myself from all the influences and just be myself - true and unspoiled? Ah...a tough one! I guess many musicians came to a certain point when they realized they are repeating themselves or not moving forward and started to wonder - what can I do more? How can I be better? How can I change and still remain the same? How to be myself, new and improved. Updated. Old-fashioned, true to my style, yet somehow different? Is it really possible to be free of constrictions? How to ignore all the influences I had for years, all the information coming to my mind that formed me as the person that I am today? Should I ignore all that or can I use it to make a new sound? Many questions started appearing out of nowhere and a big confusion was created in my mind. A BIG MESS! I thought I knew what I wanted and where I was heading, then suddenly I realized there was so much more I could do! Now what? New ideas come to my mind and change my perspective. 

You know, I was never a fan of free jazz, or whatever you wanna call it. It simply didn't make any sense! I thought, they are not respecting the tradition, they reject the rules that were put there for a reason, they don't even need to know how to play to do that! Honestly, I thought that was bullshit. And even now, I can't listen to all free music. Only sometimes, depending on the sounds and musicians. One day I went to one master class on free improvised music and the musicians explained that it was all about creating new sounds, experimenting with their instruments and getting the most out of them, making their instruments sound different than expected, interacting with other musicians, reacting to what they are doing - communicating with sound. Once I knew that, what I was supposed to pay attention to, it became interesting and I found it rather amusing! Wow. That's cool. Not something I would personally do, but interesting to listen to. I continued to do my repertoire, expanding my interpretation, but still I felt so limited. Limited by the harmony, the chords, the melody, the words...how much can I do within those restrictions? Then I started to improvise and play a bit with the notes. Go out a bit, go back to the tune, interact with other band members, react to what they do...still, not free enough. I am still limited. Mostly because of the many fears I have. Fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of embarrassing myself, free of hitting the wrong note, etc. Normal fears we all have.

Then one day, I got the information that one free jazz sax player will hold a workshop. I said to myself - this is my chance to explore the possibilities of freeing myself as a musician. And I don't mean that I wanted to do free jazz but simply to step out of the restrictions, and try something different. A friend of mine told me - Don't worry, you're still old-fashioned. Free jazz exists for 50 years now, so it's not something new. GOOD, I thought. I never considered myself a modern musician anyway, and that's not even the point. The point is to try to develop my style in a new direction. A new direction for me, anyway. And this guy is, some might say, a freak! All of our conversations are somewhat philosophical and nothing is trivial. Everything we talk about is meaningful. I love such conversations. People waste words on things that don't matter. Material things, passing things, negative things... Well, to get to the point, we are preparing a "concert" or better said - a performance. God knows how that will sound. Probably weird, as free normally sounds. But I know it will be MY interpretation and every time it will be different. It would be wonderful, for example, to do something within the set boundaries and then suddenly explore another dimension and set yourself free. My first improvisation felt truly liberating! I am a bit addicted to that now. Or at least becoming addicted to it. I love it! Being free, if that's at all possible, is a special feeling. You can do whatever you like, and not be judged. Or be judged, but simply don't care. Because you let your inner voice speak and open yourself to sounds that you never thought would come out. Even if it's confusing, strange, scary and wonderful at the same time, it's something that would be helpful to anyone, no matter if you do it at home where nobody can hear you or in front of an audience. 

Well, I don't have a big answer to this question, but I can tell you my experience. If I managed to be free for even a second, I'm happy. Music is creation and expression. Improvisation is creating music in a moment without preparation. An instant art form. Composing without thinking. Free as a child. Something we all forgot to be and have blocked it in our minds. A forgotten skill. Pure and unique.

Jazz & Entertainment

Right. So, I've had several situations at my gigs when people expected me to entertain the guests by moving around, dancing and stuff like that. I'm not sure if this is common in every country, but it's a pretty common thing in Croatia where the majority of population diggs turbo folk. Hm. Well, how do I explain this? When I went into jazz, one of the reasons was that I liked the fact I could be myself on stage, without any fake ideas - just me. Simple as that. I think that entertaining the guests is more of a pop thing. Although if you look at those old school ladies, they had the fancy outfit, the ballroom, a sophisticated orchestra covering their back and they wiggled their hips a bit, winked and smiled. That's cute, but let's face it. I don't normally perform in ballrooms, nor do I have an orchestra behind me. In a small smoky club, with dimmed lights, all I can think of is a bar chair, a mic, my band and me. And of course, the MUSIC. That's what counts. Don't make me jump around and do a choreography, for God's sake! Go to a folk club where the singer will be barely dressed, her fake boobs will be coming out, she'll be smiling at ya with her collagen lips and will probably give you a lap dance! That's cool too, if that's what you're into. 

Just to make this clear, for me a jazz singer is a sophisticated lady, just as the tune says. 

Don't expect her to be cheap. 

Jazz with an attitude

Right. Do you think that if you are a jazz musician you need to have an attitude? I mean, many musicians do, no matter which genre they play, but is it an advantage or simply showing off? If you are damn good and you know it, is this a way to get respect from others? Just being damn good should be enough to be respected and showing off gives you admiration from others so you can fill your ego. Maybe people who have an attitude are just lonely, insecure people who are afraid to show their vulnerable side. Then they wouldn't be soooo cool. Why not?

When I first went to Ravi Coltrane's concert, he was playing with his band and they really kicked ass. Then I met him and he turned out to be a really normal and down-to-earth person. He wasn't looking down on others like he was a big shot. And he is one. Then on the other side, I met one guy (I will not name this one) who is somewhat important but has an ego bigger than life itself, and acts like an asshole to be honest when you talk to him. It's simply incredible how some people give themselves more significance than they should be receiving. Even if he deserves to be respected, acting the way he does is not the way. I've heard he treats everyone the same and shows no respect to others too. Believing he is god or something like that. Anyway, I'd sure like to bring this one to earth and say HELLO,WE are over HERE! :) Don't live in the clouds, man...it's cold out there. 

It's really funny how people react differently to the same situations. I believe that you do have to have a positive attitute. Respect others and you shall gain respect too. Be damn good and you will see what happens. And please don't act like an asshole, cause maybe just maybe people will like the little lovable inner you. :) 

Monkery's the blues you hear...

You voted for Thelonius Monk as the best piano player so here it is! A Blue Monk performance! :) 

As well as the video click on this link and you will find Blue Monk notes and chords too!

Although the voting was pretty tight and it is really difficult to pick just one person, he had the most votes. 

Every piano player has a different style, different voicings, touch, phrasing, and all that makes every individual unique.

What we can all do is watch and learn! And of course - PRACTICE!!!!

Jazzinty - 11th-16th August 2008

I would like to inform you about one great jazz seminar that I think you should attend if you are interested in learning a few things about jazz and if you live in Croatia (or around). Considering the poor fact that we don't have a proper jazz school in Croatia, nor any way to learn anything about jazz, the only way we could "save" ourselves is to attend workshops and seminars. Believe me, it will do you some good. :) I actually found out about this workshop from Judy Niemack, a lady I respect not only because of her wonderful voice and perfect vocal technique but also because of her pedagogical approach I think is really great! If you've never heard of her, shame on you! There is a great book for vocalists I think is worth looking into called "Hear it and Sing it! Exploring Modal Jazz" by Judy Niemack. So imagine that this lady is actually coming to do a workshop in Novo Mesto, Slovenia this summer! You'd be a fool to miss this! 

So anyway, here I am promoting this workshop for vocalists, but I have to mention that instrumentalists are more than welcome especially because great teachers will be there! So Joris Teepe coming from NYC will be teaching bass, an Italian viruoso Simone Zanchini will be teaching accordion, a Dutch jazz master Jasper Soffers will be working with the pianists, Ratko Zjaca will be teaching guitar, a US player and improviser Andy Middleton will be teaching sax, Austrian jazz virtuoso Daniel Noesig will be teaching trumpet, a German jazz violinist Max Grosch will be teaching violin and finally a Cuban percussionist Amel Serra will be teaching percussion. 

The workshop will include jazz improvisation masterclasses, ethno improvisation, improvisation and jazz for both instrumentalists and vocalists,  basic jazz harmony and composition, combos and jam sessions. During the whole time there will be a Jazz Festival going on so the whole event is quite outstanding! 

For more information go to - http://www.jazzinty.com/english/workshop.htm

Flirting with jazz

I don't know about you, but I am quite allergic to pop singers flirting with jazz. What I mean by this is that some people, in my country that is, have a built their careers in pop music and suddenly call themselves jazz singers. Just because they gave a few concerts singing tunes like Summertime or Fly me to the Moon doesn't make you a jazz singer. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against pop singers. That's where the money is and why not? If you don't have a problem singing that, do it! But why do you build your career and your whole image on one thing and then claim to be something else?! Like jazz is so easy to be doing that. The biggest problem is that then people think that what they do is really jazz and people who have spend years building a jazz career and studying that music have to struggle to be recognized because the pop singers get all the spotlight. And the main reason why they're doing that is because jazz is IN at the moment so...you have to be IN, right? Gosh...it's a pain in the ass. 

I will be honest, pop is really the easiest thing to start with if you wanna sing at all. These tunes are popular, easy to sing to, people will surely love it. It's a safe way and it brings money. I know. I too started singing pop and even rock tunes, but I also know that it took me years to get the pop-ish sound out of my voice. I had to eliminate everything else and focus on jazz solely to be able to sing it right. And my motto is, if you want to do something - do it right! Or don't do it at all. Anyway, it's ridiculous. 

I am mostly concerned about people who really don't know what jazz is because they will get the wrong image and will never learn. Of course, we could start a whole new discussion about what jazz is, but I'm sure we can agree that some things simply are not. So it's wrong to mislead people and teach them things that are not true. Anyway, I sincerely hope to change this trend...otherwise we'll have a whole nation thinking that pop is jazz and real jazz is something else. That would be tragic.

Another jazz legend is gone...

Just before Christmas, on 23rd December 2007, legendary pianist Oscar Peterson has passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 82.

Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, (15 August 1925 – 23 December 2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist, singer and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, and was therefore a member of jazz royalty. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honors over the course of his career. He is considered to have been one of the greatest pianists of all time, who played thousands of live concerts to audiences worldwide in a career lasting more than 65 years.

He began his career in small jazz clubs in Montreal, but thanks to his talent he was soon invited to perform in the biggest concert halls all over the world. During his career he played with the greatest jazz musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Count Bassie, Dizzy Gillespie and many more.

It is a great loss and we can say that the world will miss this incredible musician.

Find out more about Oscar Peterson on his official website:
www.oscarpeterson.com

and in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Peterson

Oscar - we will miss you and it's been a pleasure! :)

The New Year has begun!!!

Imagine that! We are now officially in the New Year - 2008! Seems to me this could be a cool year for new projects, ideas, inspirations and plenty of great music! I wish you all the best and hope you achieve all that you planned! I have entered the new year on stage, luckily and this means for me that I will probably have more successes. At least that's what I'm hoping for! You know that superstition that says how you enter the new year is symbolic for the year that is coming? I think there's something to it! I hope you had a great time!

Looking at our last poll I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of you didn't wish for anything this Christmas and you only hoped to spend it with the people you love. That's remarkable and I honestly hope that's how you did it! Although a little something as a token of appreciation under the tree would also be nice, no? Some of you wished to go on a trip to a special destination, some wanted to hear a good concert and some hoped to get a cool gadget for their instrument. Anyway, hope you've got what you wished for! :)

This year, I've got many things planned for you and I hope you will enjoy reading this year's posts. Keep on visiting and reading!

And thank for your support!