Buddha
1518 posts
Mar 23, 2010
9:19 PM
|
I brought Buckweed out to jam with the boys.
100% improvisational awesomeness.
http://www.harmonicapros.com/chris_music/weed/weedjam3.mp3
----------
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
|
Kyzer Sosa
233 posts
Mar 23, 2010
9:27 PM
|
I whipped out my A harp and played right along... good stuff Chris!!
----------
Kyzer's Travels
|
wallyns10
151 posts
Mar 24, 2010
12:03 AM
|
Man that was pretty cool, like transient but still movin' for sure. Buckweed (on the bass, on the bass Buckweed) can CERTAINLY throw down! 'Twas a good fit. What kind of tremolo pedal did you use in the beginning if you don't mind my asking...and would you suggest it over say...a dynamic wah or an octave pedal? I'm trying to budget myself here and I have to front the cash for a new PA cus everyone else in my band is a BUM. I figure with your experience you could point me in the most practical direction, oh enlightened one.
|
Buddha
1520 posts
Mar 24, 2010
12:26 AM
|
there are two bass players. Buckweed was playing his six string so the chordal stuff is him most of the groove bass is my bassist.
I was using a line 6 modulation modeler on the vibrato setting which I speed up to it's highest speed. The octave pedal I used in the clip is the BOSS OC2 - it doesn't work very well and I usually use a HOG but Buckweed left it on the bus.
----------
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
|
wallyns10
153 posts
Mar 24, 2010
1:33 AM
|
Well in that case tell your bass player that he sounds good. Thanks!
|
walterharp
273 posts
Mar 24, 2010
9:39 AM
|
word on why he is not with new blood now?
nice stuff...
|
bluemoose
143 posts
Mar 24, 2010
10:00 AM
|
The NB site shows them off from the 21 - 25th.
Buckweed stopped off at Buddha's to do the laundry, shopping and cooking for the week so Chris can work on my Buddha harp. Right!? :)
|
OzarkRich
163 posts
Mar 24, 2010
10:19 AM
|
I went to the site but all I got was the quicktime symbol with a question mark on top of it. Is it my computer or the site?
----------
Ozark Rich
YouTube: OzarkRich
Facebook: php?ref=profile&id=100000279894342
|
toddlgreene
1085 posts
Mar 24, 2010
10:44 AM
|
Nice one, Buddha. What position are you playing in?
----------
Todd L Greene. V.P.
|
fabf
1 post
Mar 24, 2010
11:39 AM
|
Very boring musician stuff and a ridiculous donald duck sound. .
|
Gwood420
109 posts
Mar 24, 2010
11:48 AM
|
hey fadf, what are you talking about??
for some reason i couldnt open any of your files in explorer.. switched to firefox, and all is good.. sounds great chris..
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2010 11:49 AM
|
OzarkRich
164 posts
Mar 24, 2010
12:04 PM
|
It's working for me now.
----------
Ozark Rich
YouTube: OzarkRich
Facebook: php?ref=profile&id=100000279894342
|
Buddha
1521 posts
Mar 24, 2010
12:23 PM
|
I posted this the other day but some of you may have missed it. There some hit or miss moments but it was complete improvised and we were heavily baked. But its one of the ideas that we're working to expand upon for our CD.
http://www.harmonicapros.com/chris_music/weed/gushing%20green.mp3
----------
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
|
hvyj
225 posts
Mar 24, 2010
3:11 PM
|
The jam w/ Weed and the band is super sophisticated sounding stuff and the drummer is absolutely kick ass!
|
Kyzer Sosa
238 posts
Mar 24, 2010
9:15 PM
|
ive GOT to come visit you sometime Buddha...
----------
Kyzer's Travels
|
MP
104 posts
Mar 24, 2010
10:29 PM
|
simply put, that harp had nothing goin' on. no interesting motif, nothing. you can play those licks on a cheap casio keyboard. not exactly weather report.
|
Johnster
46 posts
Mar 25, 2010
11:03 AM
|
Didn't do anything for me, sorry but not my cup of tea at all.
|
Ev630
192 posts
Mar 26, 2010
2:49 AM
|
Have to say I agree.
I've heard better from Booder. I suspect this is a troll and we will soon see some ironic clarifying statement designed to teach the grasshopper's the art of goong phew on the mowf horgan.
|
phogi
359 posts
Mar 26, 2010
4:06 AM
|
Did you all actually listen to the whole thing? About halfway through it gets cool as hell.
|
Ev630
193 posts
Mar 26, 2010
4:47 AM
|
Yes, I did.
No it didn't.
|
Tuckster
448 posts
Mar 26, 2010
10:16 AM
|
Buddha-you really DO hate the sound of harp. I liked it much more after you switched off all those effects. Why don't you just play a synth if you want to sound like that? I want to hear the harp's unique timbre. And where do you find those wonderful drummers you play with?
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2010 10:16 AM
|
ZackPomerleau
844 posts
Mar 26, 2010
1:26 PM
|
I have that octave pedal, it is REALLY good I think, but you have the one with all of the cool settings which is cooler.
|
ZackPomerleau
845 posts
Mar 26, 2010
1:26 PM
|
I have that octave pedal, it is REALLY good I think, but you have the one with all of the cool settings which is cooler.
|
ZackPomerleau
846 posts
Mar 26, 2010
1:27 PM
|
I want to hear others play this, why must people bash it?
|
eharp
585 posts
Mar 26, 2010
2:40 PM
|
what's the bash, zack.
folks just saying it aint what they groove to.
i just see it as folk's opinions- nay or yea.
as buddha has stated when critiquing others posts, if opinions werent wanted it should maybe not have been posted.
|
eharp
586 posts
Mar 26, 2010
2:41 PM
|
btw- i thought it was different. definitely appreciated the artistry, but i wouldnt buy the cd.
|
MichaelAndrewLo
255 posts
Mar 26, 2010
3:38 PM
|
My opinion is there is a big difference between expressing oneself freely and creating art.
|
Buddha
1530 posts
Mar 26, 2010
3:38 PM
|
It doesn't matter to us what you guys say. We enjoyed the musical moment and thought to share it with you.
Yeah what I played on the harmonica is technically easy to play but that's not the point. It's being in the moment and having no clue what others are going to do next and then playing over that... that's not easy. Creating music on the spot is where true artistry and mastery of one's instrument is displayed.
The 100% improv is the highest form of music and not many can do it especially as you add more players to the mix.
Listen again but with different ears, understand that nothing was discussed, from a harmonica standpoint, I had no idea on what I was going to play. I just started playing and kept the idea in the back of my head that whatever I started playing had to be repeated at sometime in the future. I created different sections and then went back to the original idea to tie everything together. Also listen to how we all interact and inspire each others' lines. That's communication on a completely different level.
Is it a good melody? Not by my standards but I wasn't trying to create a great melody, I was simply just playing and trying to keep everything together with an arcing motiff.
Try it yourself sometime and please report back as to how easy or hard it was for you.
----------
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2010 3:42 PM
|
MichaelAndrewLo
256 posts
Mar 26, 2010
3:42 PM
|
I have some of my own free "weed" jams that I'd like to post. How do we put itunes files on here?
|
waltertore
320 posts
Mar 26, 2010
6:10 PM
|
Everything I do on my instruments (harp, guitar, drums, keys, vocal, all at once) is total improv- thus the name spontobeat. I record about a cd a day in my studio. I find it the easiest kind of music to play and wonder why others don't do it. Having no rules to follow makes it pure joy. I am able to leave my body and travel to different times and lives. Words never cease to come unless I start thinking. Then I go blank. Letting go of worldly concerns and blindly just playing, is what makes it work. For me it is a high that the conventional approach to music can't come near. I have been doing this for almost 50 years and my dabbles in conventional music never did last long before I came back to spontobeat. My time playing with many of the blues greats was wonderful. I treasure those days. It worked for me then, but when I got off the stage, I would hit the streets all day and do spontobeat. Eventually I faded out of the blues scene and did spontobeat full time on and off the stage because it was calling my name nonstop. I had some great musicians backing me then. I did a trio (me on harp/guitar vocals, bass, drums). A few you might reconize from my trio dayse were - Jimmy carl black (frank zappa and TMI drummer was with me on and off for 8 years. Bobby Keys the horn player for the stones since the sticky fingers album sat in while I lived in austin. Speedy sparks - doug sahm, texas tornados was on bass, dave sanger - asleep at the wheel drummer, uncle john turner- johnny winter drummer, charlie sexton - dylan's guitarist. These guys could follow me anywhere. Jimmy and John have passed. I miss them alot especially knowing we will never get to play together again on this earth in the flesh. But they come to me in spirit with my 1 man band and have helped teach me how to play the drums with my feet.
Once I quit playing full time, the recreational players, I met although technically great, couldn't groove like those guys, so I went to the 1 man band. Thinking while playing is no fun at all for me. I think my music differs from most "jam bands" because it sounds more like conventional playing?? I also can't find anyone else doing total spontaneous music with an american roots root. Anyone know of anyone else? I hear guys say they do it here and there, but none say they do it exclusively. I also do it totally straight. Getting high or drunk chases it off like there was a cocked 12 gauge on its tail. When I was younger I got wasted all the time trying to "hit that high note". I use to think I did, but the few recordings while wasted, were not really that good. Getting wasted makes you sound great in your own mind but musically you usually sound worse than when straight and relaxed. Walter
----------
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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2010 4:54 AM
|
Joch230
50 posts
Mar 26, 2010
6:36 PM
|
I love the improv part of music. It's the most interesting part of it for me. I used to jam with a group of guys that all were in cover bands. The last thing they wanted to play when we got together was a standard song. The thing is... is that quite often, it's a blast for the musicians but not always fun for most people to listen to. Stretching out and playing stuff you never played before and never will play again. Totally for the moment.
John
|
waltertore
321 posts
Mar 26, 2010
6:42 PM
|
jamming and improv have gotten a bad name from too many stoned, drunk, mediocore/bad players, just making noise for hours on end. Most think you have to play at least 5 minute solos to improv or jam and be loaded on top of it. Doing it like that is boring to just about everyone but the guys blowing their own horns. It is a lot more powerful to say alot with a little. Anyone can play a million notes for hours on end. For me, to hit the right ones at the right time, naturally, is the highest level of playing- No thinking allowed if you want to get there and just when you do, if you think "wow I'm here" you are ejected out of it. A professional level improv jam will never be known to most audiences to not be rehearsed. When I had the above mentioned guys backing me, the crowd never knew it was total improv. Most that come to my gigs never know it. It got to the point I had a 2'x3' sign saying everything I do is totally improvised and I don't know any songs, not even the ones I am doing. Still people would come up on break and ask for a cover song. What most listeners equate to a improv jam is endless noodling. People need nice little boxes to put everything in and even improv jams have thier box! Walter
----------
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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2010 7:05 PM
|
Ev630
196 posts
Mar 26, 2010
7:00 PM
|
Buddha, there's nothing wrong with posting an excerpt from a jam. I don't think anyone cares how hard or easy it is. But when you describe it as:
"100% improvisational awesomeness."
It kind of doesn't match what we're hearing, which just sounds like a 1000 jams I've been to. No better nor worse. So I assumed you were having a laugh.
|
The Gloth
323 posts
Mar 26, 2010
7:20 PM
|
"To hit the right ones at the right time, naturally, is the highest level of playing- No thinking allowed if you want to get there and just when you do, if think "wow I'm here" you are ejected out of it."
That's basically what I'm thinking, having just listened to What Buddha posted and read his explanation of what he was doing - structure, repetitions etc.- maybe the harp patterns are "overthought", and it doesn't harmonize with the ensemble. I don't hear no "letting go" there...
The effect is interesting, but could sound better (to my ear). Then I really don't like how the harp sounds without the effect, to my ear it's the contrary of a good tone, but maybe it's the purpose...
I like the two basses, they make some really cool motives together even if they loose it a few times. I've seen Buckweed twice with JR & New Blood, his playing was awesome, even if listening to 10 minutes bass soli is not exactly my cup of tea.
The drumming is what I like the best, really kickass.
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2010 7:28 PM
|
waltertore
322 posts
Mar 27, 2010
5:07 AM
|
I have to admitt, seeing a post about totally improvised music hits me big because it is what I do all the time, and it gets pretty lonesome to see so much musical stuff posted everyday, but rarely a thing about this.
For me, this journey has been a great one. The more I do it, the more natural it becomes. I think most ventures in improv include endless noddling because it is not natural for most players. 99%+ of what they do is pre thought out, rehearsed, repeated over and over. Then to try and forget all that and just flow takes long songs to find the relaxed space to let it flow. I am pretty much at the point where it flows right from jump and what needs to come out does so right up. There is no need for 10 minute solos to find that 30 second burst of pure no thought expression.
I don't fit in the conventional musical approach. the blues world has been the most receptive, but still I am way on the outskirts. This thread inspired me to check out improv scenes if there are any??? I am totally ignorant to it. The only encounter I have had with it would be the grateful dead? These scenes I have been around. Bob Weir owned the sleeping lady cafe in fairfax, ca and I played there every monday night with mark naftlins blues review back in the late 70's early 80's. I had friends way back with a band called The Abstract Brain. they did total improv but it was more or less incomprehensible noise. I wonder if the improv scene is still like that? I wonder how my music would be taken? If anyone knows of any improv forums please let me know. thanks. Walter
----------
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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
|
7LimitJI
60 posts
Mar 27, 2010
6:45 AM
|
Got to agree with Tuckster.
Why not learn the keyboard if you want to sound like Herbie Hancock?
Never have liked that style of "modern" jazz.
Prefer the more melodic stuff like Peterson or Basie.
Regarding improvisation. Thats one of the reasons I love the blues,the freedom of expression the basic structure allows.
----------
The Harpist formerly known as Doggycam
Those Dangerous Gentlemens Myspace
|
Buddha
1531 posts
Mar 27, 2010
11:59 AM
|
"And where do you find those wonderful drummers you play with?"
I only play with world class players. Once you're in that circle then it's easy to always have top notch band members. All I have to do is tell one friend that I am looking for xxx and people start calling. The other side to finding good players is that I am one of the best in the world at my instrument. It's hard to play with one of the best guitarists, keyboardists, saxaphonists etc... but in the harmonica world everybody pretty much sucks at the form of music I'm into so that makes it that much easier.
In general, I let the bassist deal with the drummer, because the connection between those two is more important than the connection between me and a drummer.
When I form groups, I always start with a great bassist and then we find a drummer and then add a fourth member if he/she is good. I'll play as a duo or trio if I can't find the right members.
All of my groups are highly improvisational so I require that all players have big ears, they must have chops and be able to take direction. It's my band and it's a complete dictatorship.
If you're going to be in a band, then you need to find the best players you can possibly find. Your goal should be to be the weakest member of the band so you can learn from them, as a band leader, that will keep your ego in check.
Playing with poor musicians is a waste of time so if at all possible stay away from that. There are exceptions of course but I'm mostly speaking of when you're forming a band or playing with a band on a regular basis.
----------
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
|
eharp
587 posts
Mar 27, 2010
12:05 PM
|
"The other side to finding good players is that I am one of the best in the world at my instrument."
"Your goal should be to be the weakest member of the band so you can learn from them, as a band leader, that will keep your ego in check."
sort of says it all right there.
go find the best to play with, buddha, so you can deflate your ego a tad.
lol
|
hvyj
239 posts
Mar 27, 2010
1:13 PM
|
"Your goal should be to be the weakest member of the band so you can learn from them..." True wisdom. This is the best way to develop as a musician--always play with musicians who are better than you if you can. And, besides learning from them, they'll also make you sound better when you play with them. It's a no lose situation.
|
MP
112 posts
Mar 27, 2010
2:20 PM
|
howard levy could have fixed that jam right up. joe zawinul too.
|
oda
248 posts
Mar 27, 2010
3:03 PM
|
"Yeah what I played on the harmonica is technically easy to play but that's not the point. It's being in the moment and having no clue what others are going to do next and then playing over that... that's not easy. Creating music on the spot is where true artistry and mastery of one's instrument is displayed."
That was some wisdom in there.
I was inspired to take out my slightly out of tune C harmonica and my friend played on the out of tune piano ... we got a little high and bam:
First Acoustic Improv
Second Acoustic Improv
Teehee.
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2010 3:04 PM
|
Ev630
201 posts
Mar 27, 2010
4:21 PM
|
Well it just sounded like a prog rock jam to me.
Horses for courses.
|
Joch230
54 posts
Mar 27, 2010
4:42 PM
|
When everything gets so structured and so "tight", like a lot of classical music, the players turn into human "player pianos". Sucks all the fun out of it for me. The improv part of blues and boogie is what I like as well.
John
|
