Category Archives: Minimalism

Steve Reich minimalist music related stuffs

psst: I’m a leader! (shhh)

Today I asked someone trusted, the question of the week:

“Why is it that so very often, what normal/other/average/many people consider to be a reasonable way of doing things… is so VERY “out of phase” with how I would do them?

this has troubled me for DECADES.

Their answer?

“Because you are a Leader.”

speechless.

very nice indeed.

 

 

 

 

this is tagged almost EVERYTHING, cause it IS almost everything.

sigh…I’m glad that I don’t really care about being famous-

sigh… reading some friends’s posts (none of you who are seeing this in particular (I hid the people who it “really” applies to)

I’m glad that I don’t really care about being famous, or perceived in a certain way, and that what really matters (hopefully I’m “not” kidding myself (I might indeed be, the mind is sneaky like that (I’d be lying if I said I “didn’t” “somewhat enjoy” people’s admiration (but it doesn’t have to be millions of average people)
um… yeah…
I‘m glad, if it’s true, that being in the moment, of drumming, and dance on occasion (usually drumming, since Alfred Ladzekpo retired) (he was a teacher of African (from Ghana) Music and Dance, at CalArts for 41 years, for those of you not in-the-know.)

yeah, I‘m glad, if it’s true, that being in the moment, of drumming, and dance on occasion (usually drumming, since Alfred Ladzekpo retired) is SO “IT.” it’s never about being admired, or being payed a lot, even anything, or about being FAMOUS or adored by millions (yeah, millions of nobody’s who have nothing vested in me, and who don’t understand my art.)

no, no.

it’s about momentary interaction, coming together with a few people, drummers, dancers, perhaps singers or other things too….
or simply listening to music.

now, here, music you love so much you couldn’t care less about anything else, and could die at the end of the night, or song.

I’m sorry, but all lifeforms will die, and it can’t be about living forever (though maybe that changes?:)
it can’t be about passing on legacies, or one’s children. they shall have to fend for themselves, and that is simply the way of things.
attachment, don’t do too much of it.

just be here now, ok?

and if you don’t LOVE the performance to the endth degree of ecstasy, my friends, then I really cannot advise you other than keep seeking, for all I know is what I’ve said.

Love my Artist Friends

oh MAN, yes….
one thing, that’s “SO” true….

about my creative artist and crazy and CalArts friends…

such people…
NEVER

belittle you, mock you, tease you, or otherwise judge your or put you down, because of WHO YOU ARE, your tastes, interests, or ways of expressing yourself.

they (we) may do it over creAtive matters, but that’s entirely different. (person A likes this, person B likes that, and it’s all okay.)

such people NEVER do it in the juvenile, “jock” immature insecure ways that average people (ahem, mostly men) do. (sorry ladies, but I’m not as familiar with how women “tend” to do this.)

and this, friends…

is VERY nice, very nice indeed, nothing but wonderful.

this is the good way.

me happy.

 

#CalArtsLove

into the moment, and moment music

things that bring you into the moment, such as eve Pilates, not just yoga and such…

out of one’s head, perhaps.

after doing pilates, assuming I manage to get on with my day (often I don’t)

life seems real nice, for some reason.

and the thought of the day shall be—|

“Perhaps I am happy, already.”

there being no “there” there, indeed.

one thing leads to another and

I Might be mistook (cool word!)
about one of these details, but
wonders never cease:

1. I was playing Music and Dance with CalArts and Alfred Ladzekpo and company, in 2002, and 4, and 7 8 9 10 11….
2. I once analyzed this riff (the one at 1:07
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
spent HOURS.
3. due to that, I ended up getting in a nifty afro-beat band called SOGO TAKEOVER.
4. due to that, I taught some afro-beat music at ACE in 2013.
5. due to THAT, a might a nice clarinet player and due to that
6. We Made Music for 18 again in 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
7. ALSO due to WORKING at ACE, I saved some money and could go to Burningman 2014.
8. while there, I met some nice new friends and now I am blessed to play African music with them.
9. and due that, I was able to go to burningman again this year.

far out, man.

dude, coffee and fun music. what’s not to like

dude, coffee and fun music.

what’s not to like.

when I’m 70, 80, 90, 100, 110,

still gonna be music.

love.

enjoy it.

sing dance.

this is life.

(especially if it’s repetitive and is awesome once and is therefore awesome 1000 times in a row, until you’re exhausted, and if you have friends who will do it with you.)


guess life ain’t so bad after all.

thanks, CalArts.

#CalArtsLove

thought of the day, and advice to those who seek to do cool collaborations of the awesomest, HIGHEST calibur, MOST PERFECT-EST…

thought of the day, and advice to those who seek to do cool collaborations of the awesomest, HIGHEST calibur, MOST PERFECT-EST…
to those who have HIGH standards, and want SPECIFIC THINGS that are perchance highly un-
-usual
-reasonable or
IM-
practical
“don’t expect people to be cool, because almost all of them aren’t.”
addendum:
1. cool is defined as being the right ones for the above job.
2. I know TONS of such people. you are my friends (some of them.)
meaning: take heart, and know what you look for, and look REAL HARD high and low for it. and collect a ton of it. but start by realizing that if you’re like me, a high-standarded perfectionist with tall orders like this, know that almost everyone isn’t what you’re looking for.
then find the exceptions and find as many as possible.

man, cool music really DOES

man, cool music really DOES make me not give a fuck!
a wonderful thing, who needs drugs. I got beats and the blues and dominant sharp 9 chords, bitches.

changing the pre-planned order of a song is awesome

changing the pre-planned order of a song, in live performance, keeps things lively but also keeps them (the band) rather nervous.”
so said DON ELLIS, (paraphrased here.)
“but also keeps them rather nervous.”
a new piece I am playing does exactly that.
I am feeling that more music should, it’s just too fun.
in one gig of this piece (2nd ever, I think)
there were some sexy dancers dancing along with us, and in THIS tune, I HAD to “not look at them”, lest I miss a cue and louse it up

Tagged AFRICAN because this technique sorta comes from African (West) Drumming.

“!somebody help me! I’M BEING SPONTANEOUS!!!”

-the truman show