Hello all that view this page,
I first must apologize for my lack of updates within the last month or so. Much has happened musically and with life. So now, as I'm taking a break from a rehearsal, I'm going to update this site with an entry
I've recently been bogged down with rehearsals with my jazz sextet (of which a name will decided shortly), playing gigs, practicing, and working on a big band chart!
News regarding my sextet: We are 3 weeks into rehearsals now, rehearsing 2-3 times a week now and we just finished our first show at a local jazz club here in Macomb, IL! The first show was a success completely filling out the club with a variety of locals and students! I've noticed the audience's demographics are appealing more to college kids, which is always a pleasant surprise to see people relatively close to my age enjoying bebop and modal jazz! As of now we are currently deciding on a name that expresses the groups artistic and personal nature. Additionally within the next two weeks we will be playing at other venues for a much larger crowd! As the group expands it's taste in music, we're taking a little bit of an avant-garde / dark fusion direction for an edgier sound!
The Big Band Chart: I've currently been writing a big band chart for my old high school jazz band to play! I'm struggling with some of the voicings in the brass, keeping in mind the players I'm writing this for. I hope it's a good learning experience for them as much as it is an opportunity for them to play something with a hip modern sound (not to boast)!
The Practice Routine: I've been logging 5-to 6 1/2 hour days running a variety of exercises, etudes, tunes, etc. In my jazz studies I have been playing anywhere from 3-6 tunes a day in The Real Books Vol:1 and 2! My bass professor encourages me to memorize chord changes and the melody to expand my musicianship, I have to confess, it's grueling but it has made me a better player! My classical bass studies have been revolving around my change in bow grips from German to French. As I'm becoming more familiar with the mechanics of each bow and their uses for specific situations, I find myself having a soft spot in my heart for both grips! I'm currently working out of Sturm's 110 Exercises for Double bass and running the odd-ball scales (Db maj, Bb min, F#maj) 3 octaves with a bow! It truly tests your intonation, your left hand technique, and your persistence with such a demanding discipline. With Electric bass, I'm running every scale you can think of in all 12 keys, even some interesting altered scales such as: Diminished whole-tone, lydian augmented, lydian minor, phrygian dominant, whole-tone, in-sen pentatonic, etc.
Self development: I've been taking the time to make sure that my personal life is just as much intact as my music life is. Going out of my way to spend time with friends, family, loved ones, reading books, watching movies, etc. All things that truly do affect your creativity.
Studio: I will be returning to Omaha, NE during my spring break March 16th to see if any young student from middle school to college would like to take bass lessons. My emails are at-bowers@wiu.edu, and abowers56@cox.net. Either one of these accounts are checked multiple times daily, and I would be more than happy to discuss rates and times with anyone interested.
Anyway, with all of that being said, it's time for me to get back to my rehearsing and work!
Drop a line on any of my email accounts, write a response to what you think of this entry, mainly... just keeping listening and exploring who you are as musician, but most importantly, who you are as a person!
Swing out!
Andy