Songs For Show With Mark O'Connor & John Patitucci

Next week I begin rehearsals for a run of three nights at the Blue Note with Mark O'Connor and John Patitucci. I am thrilled about the idea of this group and I'm so excited to see what we come up with in the rehearsals, as we haven't played together as a unit before. So my job right now is to write out and arrange any of my songs that I'd like to bring to the table.

Here are my thoughts so far:

1. Motor Minder

2. Ode To Elvin

3. Songlines (new song that I haven't yet finished but might be great for this configuration)

4. Clarity (old version or new?)

5. Greylighting (my new/first fiddle tune!)

6. Move (from the Red Norvo songbook)

This is only my preliminary list but I'll keep working on it. What kind of songs do you think would sound good for violin, bass, and guitar? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!

I Want To Get Better At Playing Solo Guitar...Part 1

As I prepare music for the group's upcoming tour, I am facing an idea that I've been thinking about for a while: solo guitar. I don't have very much experience playing solo guitar and to be honest, the thought of it makes me kind of anxious and concerned, "what do a play?" "will it sound complete enough?" or "will it sound cluttered?". But in my heart I know it's the direction for me to focus on right now, even if I'm also focusing on the group. To be honest, I've always had a kind of funny thought process about being a solo instrumentalist, fearing that if I did too much, it would impede my group playing skills. And in some cases, there are solo players who don't quite sound comfortable in a group scenario. But I'm starting to realize that it's not mutually exclusive. You can do both, and you SHOULD both!

Chris Thile is a wonderful example of a great solo performer as well as a masterful group player. Gary Burton too....well all the masters do both.

I saw Roy Haynes last week in New York play the most ridiculous solo piece in the middle of the set and it gave me such a new appreciation for his group playing. Because I could see how much he owned his musicality.....If he was playing by himeslf, cool. If there were other people playing too, cool. Maybe in reality there is no such thing as solo....It's always you playing in relation to your environment. And sometimes that includes other players, and sometimes it's just you, your instrument, and your surroundings....

Cool stuff to think about.

"Showing Up" by Tommy Thompson

This was article was on my mind when I woke up this morning...one of my favorite writings by my Alexander teacher, Tommy Thompson.

Showing Up

( a way of meeting yourself being yourself in the process of change)

I ask myself this question…

Have I shown up this morning certain of who I am, fully satisfied and comfortable in my knowledge, insight and understanding?

OR

Have I shown up with horizon all around, my heart and mind a blank page to write that which I have never thought,

or anticipated I could perceive or understand,

allowing myself to be informed by,

and redefined by my experiences I will surely have.

For change to actualize,

I need to experience that moment of highest tension

between what I hold to be true,

and at that moment, let go of all I feel the need to hold onto,

and merge, meld, fall

and enter completely into the moment surfacing.

For me,

Change takes place when I see things for what they truly are,

or seem to be,

and not what I need for them to be.

then I let myself be moved by what I see,

and I am changed.

And I become the man,

and I become the woman

I become.

And, when I introduce myself to the next person I meet,

I will introduce myself to them, from who I have become

and not who I used to be.

For who I have become is now who I am.

I am present

For now, anyway,

Until I show up again with horizon all around,

eager for the blank page

© Tommy Thompson, Cambridge, MA 2007

Rehearsal With Dan Blake in SF

I'm extremely excited to play with my friend Dan Blake tomorrow. Dan is joining the group for our upcoming tours in 2010 and we are working away at getting all the new music ready for our first run of gigs, which are scheduled to take place in Germany from January 21-February 7, 2010.

I've been really eager to re-examine some of the songs we've been playing in the group with the hope of clarifying each songs purpose. You know, it's that feeling of looking back at your songs and thinking "oh man, i could have really developed that section or this melody, if only I wasn't in a rush to finish the song!" And fortunately, I've been able to spend some time over the holidays deconstructing the pieces and trying to figure out to put them back together in a more integrative and focused way. At the moment, I've got all the pieces spread out on my desk, in the form of music paper fragments, but hopefully rehearsing with Dan will help to bring some clarity to the direction and I'll be able to put them back together.

I'll report back soon!

Here is my hypothetical schedule for tomorrow's rehearsal:

Rehearsal Plan of Attack:

1. Play old songs:

All Purpose Beginning

Motor Minder

Clarity

Bluegrass Underscore

Peterborough

Greylighting

2. Explore new storylines for:

Listening Walk

Gladwell

Circle Limit

Working Title (For Us To Sing)

The Nest

3. New Songs:

What's Mine by Dan Blake

Move by Miles

1932 Gibson L-5 Part Two

1932 Gibson L-5 Part One

This guitar is blowing my mind....

My First Post

Hello All!

Welcome to my first blog! I'm really excited to start using this site as a way of documenting my musical daily life. There are a lot of musical and Alexander Technique related concepts that I've been playing with lately and I'd love to share them with you and hear your thoughts about them as well.

For now, I'm off to bed but I will be back soon.

Warmly,

Jules