After The Gig, The Internal Debriefing

You ask yourself, “How did it go?”.

After many years I have concluded that how it went is really a matter of perception, that is, one of three perceptions:

1. How the audience perceived your performance.

2. How you perceived your performance.

3. How you actually performed.

For me, it’s all about the audience. That is who I create for; if they are into it, I can at the very least keep punching, honing and evolving. It’s like looking in the mirror; you’ve got be able to look yourself in the eye and know that YOU are a SINCERE work in progress.

So when you do “that” gig that doesn’t pay very much, make sure you do it for the right reasons and make sure you are at peace with yourself and remember why you started on your musical path to begin with.

There have been many times when, at the end of my gig, I have thought, man, you were on fire tonight, you could do no wrong! And nobody pats me on the back or compliments me.

Other times when it’s like, what am I doing here, it feels like I have never done this before in my life! And as I try and shrink away at the end of the gig, people come up to me and say things like, you were amazing, can’t wait until the next one, great playing… It all just keeps evolving so, I guess will just keep evolving and go with it!

Sincere Performance Equals A Sincere Listen; Sincerely!

I have gone through this process SO many times over the years. I live to play and compose with a sincere interest in arranging. But I have come to certain conclusions based on my many live performances both as a player and a listener.

When something familiar, such as a standard is played, a point of reference is established; a kind of line is drawn in the sand. Comparisons are made where you win favor or lose favor. Comparison is easily perceived by example.

The same is true when you play original music BUT, comparison is vague at best with original music so, favour is more difficult to win.

I simply can’t offer a standard that I am not connected to; it’s impossible for me.

Making Sense Out Of A Dave Brubeck Tune Is Always A Challenge; The Gold Monster Says “Bring It On!”

It may be a tune by an artist I admire; it may be a tune I fell in love with when I analyzed it in my formative years; it may be a tune from a particularly memorable time in my life that gives me warm and fuzzies. The point is, there IS a connection!

That being said, I am however, MOST SINCERELY connected to any original music I could possibly offer; I believe the space between the standard and the original offering is a necessary proving ground for the audience and performer to meet face to face (ear to ear).

Bring it on!

T.O. Jazz Festival at Gate 403

I won’t soon forget my Toronto Jazz Festival gig at Gate 403. It was memorable not only for the music and musicians but as the Globe & Mail put it, “It Was The Day Toronto Grew Up.”

Sat. June 26,2010, will forever remain an infamous day in the city of Toronto, as G20 turmoil hit the streets.

But, at Gate 403, good times were had by all as a packed house at Gate 403 dug the sounds of Les Hoffman and his New Mynah Birds!

Vibraphone Is To Me, As Drums Were To Keith Moon

What I love most about Keith Moon is that he played with complete abandon. I could go into musical aspects but for me, his attitude, connected to his ability, gave him the persona that we actually saw/heard.

The nature of my instrument (the vibraphone) is much like singer Anne Murray’s voice. Once, during an interview, Anne Murray said that no matter how hard she tried, she always sounded like she was singing while laying down. SNL once made fun of singer Perry Como in a similar way as he had those similar velvet (for lack of a better word) qualities.

Well, the vibraphone is very much in the same category of the above. Its got a truly gorgeous sound that is very compatible with most other instruments when scored; its transparent qualities are really the challenge.

Creating expression of “consequence” has always been my major challenge on the instrument and I am constantly stretching the vibraphone’s sound qualities into new frontiers.

For me, it’s not about how I think it should sound; it’s not about what I think my audience would like– I really HOPE my audience likes what I’m offering ’cause this is me; this is what I’ve got for ya!

I have been captivated by this wonderful instrument for the last 45+ years and look forward to continuing until I can’t!