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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
no tabs here and I think I am alien
no tabs here and I think I am alien
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waltertore
1589 posts
Oct 27, 2011
5:54 PM
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Last week I had Omar Colman, Sean Carney, and their band out to my studio for a recording session. They are a wonderful group of talented musicians. It was a huge learning experience for me. Now that I am a week away from it and done mixing the session, reflecting on the experience has hit me. I realized how different my approach to music is from most everyone elses. I am use to the words and music spontaneously flowing out of me. I have no plans of what I will play. I sit down, and somehow the words and music appear each time I play.
This is basically the complete opposite of what happened with Omar and Sean's session. They discussed each song, demonstrated the beats, what leads would be done, did retakes, etc. Basically, from my perspective, it was a highly scripted affair. I am not judging it in anyway but sitting behind the recording desk for this really was confusing to me. I felt like an alien. I play music, but nothing like this and it hit me how alone my concept is in the musicial world. I felt out of sorts all this week with music and when I sat down to play, had no real inspiratation going-like what is the point of it all.
All humans want to be a part of a community. It is in our genetic make up. I realized from the recording session that in order to be a part of a musical community(band/scene) compromise is probably the biggest component. I just can't compromise with my music because I don't control it. It comes out as it likes and if I try to control it, it leaves instantly. I felt no kinship to any community. A loner with no reason to play anything to nobody. I talked to Nigel Price in England last night. He is writing a book on my life. He is a true gift to me. He helps me process much of my musical confusions. I left our conversation realizing that when I play in my studio I feel the energy that I felt in great gigs where the audience and band were totally interactive. This is a wonderful community that comes in to my sessions and I am not alone. I leave my sessions feeling more connected with the world than before I started it. What more could I ask for?
I am a part of a musical communtity that just hasn't been explored by many. It is a great one I must say. When playing with bands/solo in clubs, one is lucky if 30% of the gigs are really great ones. In my studio about 98% of my sessions are as good as those great gigs plus I don't need to move any gear, drive, sleep in forgien beds and lands. There are no distractors or troubles. Just the good energy that rarely all comes together at live gigs. This level of conciousness or an alternate plane (or whatever one calls this stuff) is well worth exploring. Tonight I feel like I came back to my comfort zone with my ever supportive audience in my studio. Here are some songs from today. Many are solo harp/vocal songs. Walter
link to t he songs
a country boy dreams of the blues
have faith in your wishes
most people avoid the sad man
up you go down you go
my dogs
I got use to it
can you tab out this song
people like to talk about the good old days
31 years ago today
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Oct 27, 2011 6:09 PM
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JInx
108 posts
Oct 27, 2011
7:44 PM
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um, OK
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nacoran
4812 posts
Oct 27, 2011
9:29 PM
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I used to go listen at an open mic every week. We'd see a lot of the same acts again and again. It was only the 2nd or 3rd time we'd get to hear a song that it would start to get stuck in our head.
If what you are doing is making you happy that's great, but sometimes you rail against people who do it differently. Remember, that may be what makes them happy. I like rush of creating something new, but I also get a big rush from finding that little thing I didn't like about the way I performed something the last time and fixing it. Sometimes I don't want to work on a particular song, but I make myself, and I find that that self disciplining makes me sharper. I like your songs, so don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes I listen to them and say, hey, that's a good song, but here or there is a line that might need some polishing that would take that good line and make it great. You have lot's of great lines too, I just sometimes wonder if maybe you've thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Don't get me wrong, you are very good at what you do; amazing in fact, but sometimes I wonder if you went back and took the best of what you do and polished it if you might get the stuff that get's you a larger community of followers. You talk about compromise, and not wanting to compromise, but I think that wanting to never compromise sometimes is the less creative way to do things. When you compromise with someone else you have to find all sorts of creative ways to express yourself. If you are driving the car and making all the decisions about what roads you are going to take you'll only go down the familiar roads. If you let the passenger decide a turn or two, suddenly you are on all sorts of unfamiliar roads. You get to make turns onto streets you didn't even know were there.
At least that's what I've found. Like I said, you are really talented, and you are following your bliss. Just remember, sometimes, when you find yourself on those side streets you hadn't planned on going down to take a look around and see what's out there.
Peace, and Keep Rockin'
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Nate
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waltertore
1590 posts
Oct 28, 2011
3:20 AM
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nacoran: Thanks for the thoughtful response! I think you misunderstand and or I misrepresnt the word compromise. With my music compromise means to think. That may explain it better. When I think, all the energy that fuels my spontaneous thing vanishes instantly. I mean no put down of how others do music. You described how you enjoy the process of rehersal and rebuilding. This how the majority of musicians create music and to discuss the details of this process is an accepted practice and an intrigal part of the process. When I describe my process I see how it can be taken wrong because the nature of it goes against the process most follow. I don't intend to alienate, it just seems to be a byproduct of my process. One thing I do see in common with most musicians is how excited they become when a spontaneous moment occurs with their music. I see it all the time in print and tv when an artist talks about a spontaneous moment in a film, music, writing, or painting. Historically, new ideas are generally dismissed and or ridiculed. It seems to be the way humans process things that challenge their definitions of the world. This is one reason I share here. The more people share their differences the more accepting we all become of those differences.
For me to go back and buff up a song results in a loss of the energy that fuels me. I have tried it many times but if the process of going back over a song takes me over I will be there in a second! The feeling I get from music is what I follow. How it comes, via the approach, is a byproduct. I write my thought and this journey for others to read but mainly it helps me process being pretty much on an island. Realizing I have a community each time I play is wonderful. I need no more. Still, I reach out here in hopes that maybe there will be another on this journey. Human nature I reckon! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Oct 28, 2011 3:39 AM
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Jim Rumbaugh
583 posts
Oct 28, 2011
5:36 AM
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Walter
Your songs are like dreams.
There is a story, but the story does not always follow a predictable structure. There is emotion that can be felt. It flows freely with the ability to change in an instant to some unforseen point.
But just like a person that just awoke, once you are awake, you cannot continue the story of the dream nor re-create the emotions felt.
You have a gift. Yes, your aproach is different from most, but that is what makes it precious.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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waltertore
1591 posts
Oct 28, 2011
6:32 AM
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Hi Jim: Thanks for your support and take on Spontobeat. That describes it very well! This is the only forum I am staying active on because its mantra is about modern and I feel my approach is definetely a new one. I didn't pick this road, it picked me. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Oct 28, 2011 6:33 AM
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Chickenthief
158 posts
Oct 28, 2011
8:30 AM
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Jim -
Well said, yeah that's about the way I hear it too.
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harpdude61
1139 posts
Oct 28, 2011
8:38 AM
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I really appreciate what Walter does. Sorry I do not comment more. It is a gift. You are a pool player rather than a bowler. The balls never break the same way twice.
I played trumpet in high school and never really knew what ad-lib was. If I didn't see the notes in front of me I didn't play.
Fast forward 31 years and it is a different story. I'm playing in my first band, thebacktalkers.com and on songs like Caldonia the bands wants me to play the same harp part in places. I don't have Walter's gift, but like many of you I never play a solo the same way twice. I don't even know what hole i'm going to start on 5 seconds before a solo starts. Just put the harp in and play.
Many may think what Walter does is best suited for a one man band, but I bet with the right mix of musicians his style could be done by a group.
The world needs more Walter Tores!
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JInx
109 posts
Oct 28, 2011
8:51 AM
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Repetition is the hallmark of the blues, it gets the job done.
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waltertore
1592 posts
Oct 28, 2011
9:37 AM
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thanks for the responses! I did spontobeat in a 3-5 piece band context for 25 years (bass, drums, me on harp/vocals/guitar, occassional 2nd guitarist and keys). James "rock bottom" dupree was my bassist for much of that time. He was able to flow with me anywhere. We were blessed to have some of the greatest drummers of the day and the other musicians that would sit in, or do short stints were also world reknowned players. What drew them to my band was Spontobeat. At that time I was still developing my sound (unconciously because I always have thought I have a sound :-) ). James quit me and music, back in austin around 1992. I kept going with a band format but never was able to get to that dream state like with him. So I quit too and during that time rediscovered my 1 man roots that I learned as a teenager from wilbert harrison. From here my ability to get to this state has become almost like breathing, increased in depth, and in reflection see how I struggled with getting there with many band set ups I used.
Now that I have pretty much been 1 man band since getting on the internet, most people think that is all I have done. My soundclick site has over 3,000 songs and amoung them are probably a few dozen with real bands behind me. I realize now that playing with other musicians is a dicey deal. I have a drummer, bassist, and keyboard player, that I can drift sometimes into my dreams as Jim puts it. Maybe 50% of the time. The 1 man band is closer to 100% of the time. That is why I stick to it.
harpdude: thanks and keep playing what turns you on. If everyone played what turned them on it would be a completely different musical landscape than what we have today. I often played in the wrong key with bands and people dug it enough to keep having us back and the places were packed. Neither I or the band understood music theory enough to figure out all the proper keys and stuff. It was about the energy. I was labeled pre punk after punk came out. I experienced this completely wrong way of playing music and when each player is flowing free of thoughts, it makes some sort of music rarely heard in our society.
My music is very repetitive and I spent the majority of my life playing in blues bars, with the old bluesmen. The Mississippi sound, junior kimbrough and such, is as repetitive as what I do. We just come at it from differnt angles. When I was based out of austin I was the slowest, simplest player in town. I find the simple beats allow for the most dreams to appear so I stick with them because each song sounds totally new and fresh. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Oct 28, 2011 9:55 AM
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waltertore
1593 posts
Oct 28, 2011
1:33 PM
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FYI: Jim was by my studio and we did a session together with him on bass. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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gene
964 posts
Oct 28, 2011
4:35 PM
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Even though I can't create nuthin', I can fully understand the thrill/joy of creating something that expresses what's in you. But what about the other side? Expressing one's self is one side, but what about the pleasure of LISTENING? If I hear a song that moves me, or that I like, I want to hear it again.
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waltertore
1594 posts
Oct 28, 2011
6:06 PM
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gene: I listen to my favorites songs by other artists regularly. Guys like jimmy reed, slim harpo, lightning hopkins, sbwII, earl hooker, hound dog taylor, have been playing on my music machines for 40 years. I am simply saying there is room for more than 1 way do music and the only rules are the ones we put onto ourselves.
Here are some from tonight. Walter
link to the songs
» knock these blues outa sight
» scared sad people say mean things
» trainwreck tongiht
» simplified and funky all my life
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Oct 28, 2011 6:07 PM
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harpdude61
1142 posts
Oct 29, 2011
4:42 AM
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Jlnx.....WTF?
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waltertore
1595 posts
Oct 30, 2011
3:07 PM
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I am working with a couple of new plugins that emulate tape recorders. There is a lot to learn with them but I definetly hear more tape sound going on. Here are some from todays session. Walter
click to hear the songs
» stuck on the outside
» mister death and today
» mister death and today with new studer plugin
» feral cat winter blues
» everybody uptight but me and girl tonight
» white castle and dark chocolate
» better to change now than on your dying bed
» gonna lay all my money down
» reach out when you are blue
» tougher than cigarettes
» who ever thought Walter Tore would go to college
» most people only do this on LSD
» driving and mighty stoned
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
3,000+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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nacoran
4829 posts
Oct 30, 2011
3:12 PM
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Jinx, keep it nice.
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Nate
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waltertore
1597 posts
Oct 30, 2011
6:01 PM
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Hi nacoran: My music irritates certain types. I am use to it. Thanks for the support. Walter
Here are some from this evening. I got into blowing my 14 hole marine band in C, a marine band in G, in solo mode. I love the space playing just a harp and vocals allows. The studer 800 and ampex atr 102 tape emulators are pretty incredible. Since I have been recording digital I have been trying to capture that analog tape warmth tha I experienced in studios back when they all were tape driven. These plugins can get me there! Hurray for technology...... sort of..... Walter
link to the songs
*home cooking on the horizon- solo harp vocal (marine band G)
*one happy day- solo harp./vocal 14 hole MB in C
*I sing what your soul fears-the truth
*steve mcgarret, perry mason, joe friday
*the legacy of the needle and spoon
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Oct 30, 2011 6:02 PM
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