"I resolve to be the best man I can be."
Happy New Year!
M
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Why I Play Guitar
People have asked me over the years, and some of you reading this may have wondered, what got me started playing guitar?
I can answer in 2 words: Joe Negri
Joe Negri is a genius...but he's too polite and too humble to ever admit it. Or even acknowledge it. He just plays. And plays. And plays. And plays rings around almost any guitarist you've ever heard.
I first heard him play when I was a kid. Maybe 5 years old. He used to be on Paul Shannon's Adventure Time TV show. Little did I know at the time, he was also the music director for the station. When I was about 8, my Cub Scout troupe was part of the audience, and I got to hear him play live and got to meet the man. He amazed me. He made it look so simple and so fun. Joe has always been great with kids and has inspired countless "kids" of all ages to start playing guitar.
Somewhere at my dad's house, is a photo of my mom and some of her friends with Joe at a show. I've told Joe about this photo many times and if I can ever find it again, I'll be giving him a copy. The original will be framed and hung in my den/music room!
When I moved back to Pittsburgh in 1990, I was thrilled to find that Joe was still performing regularly. I used to go see him play these happy hour shows at the Westin William Penn Hotel downtown. I would badger him with requests for songs like "Moonlight In Vermont" and the original Johnny Smith version of "Walk Don't Run" (yes kids, it was originally a jazz song!). Joe would laugh and ask how I know all of these old songs! Then he would play them and just leave my jaw swinging!
Back then, I was still playing bass a bit and was mostly playing upright bass. Joe asked me once to join his band. Needless to say, I declined on grounds of incompetence! I was honest with him that I felt that my playing (mostly rockabilly/blues based) was far too rudimentary for backing him. He asked me to reconsider but I held firm. In short, I was chickenshit. When I think back on how much I could have learned from that man! JEEZ!!!!!!!
I've gotten to hear and often times befriend some of the best players in the biz. Joe is no exception but I'll tell ya...he outplays them all. Is he as fast as the late Danny Gatton? Maybe not. Is he as inventive as the late Les Paul? Maybe not...but his playing is best likened thusly: his music is like making love. All others are just masturbating.
Joe is 85 now. He's still playing although sadly not as often. I'm lucky enough to hear from him maybe once a year and let me tell you, to me thats akin to getting a call or email from God himself! I've been trying to talk him into letting me produce a solo guitar CD for him. He's so humble, he feels he needs a band with him. I, for one, would love to hear him do a record of just him and his guitar. Just sit him in the studio and let him just play for 4-5 hours. I bet it would be AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Anyhoo, Joe Negri is, and always will be, THE MAN when it comes to playing guitar. If I could play like him, I'd forget rock, blues, rockabilly, country, etc. But if it hasn't happened in the past 34 years, its not likely to happen any time soon! I guess I'll just keep on rockin' and wishing I could jam like Joe.
If you ever get the chance to go see him perform, GO! Well into his 80s, his playing is still amazing! Google him if you get the chance. He's had an amazing career!
God bless you Joe Negri. You inspired me (and countless others) to pick up the guitar and make countless hours of music. And that, friends, is the greatest gift I've ever had.
I can answer in 2 words: Joe Negri
Joe Negri is a genius...but he's too polite and too humble to ever admit it. Or even acknowledge it. He just plays. And plays. And plays. And plays rings around almost any guitarist you've ever heard.
I first heard him play when I was a kid. Maybe 5 years old. He used to be on Paul Shannon's Adventure Time TV show. Little did I know at the time, he was also the music director for the station. When I was about 8, my Cub Scout troupe was part of the audience, and I got to hear him play live and got to meet the man. He amazed me. He made it look so simple and so fun. Joe has always been great with kids and has inspired countless "kids" of all ages to start playing guitar.
Somewhere at my dad's house, is a photo of my mom and some of her friends with Joe at a show. I've told Joe about this photo many times and if I can ever find it again, I'll be giving him a copy. The original will be framed and hung in my den/music room!
When I moved back to Pittsburgh in 1990, I was thrilled to find that Joe was still performing regularly. I used to go see him play these happy hour shows at the Westin William Penn Hotel downtown. I would badger him with requests for songs like "Moonlight In Vermont" and the original Johnny Smith version of "Walk Don't Run" (yes kids, it was originally a jazz song!). Joe would laugh and ask how I know all of these old songs! Then he would play them and just leave my jaw swinging!
Back then, I was still playing bass a bit and was mostly playing upright bass. Joe asked me once to join his band. Needless to say, I declined on grounds of incompetence! I was honest with him that I felt that my playing (mostly rockabilly/blues based) was far too rudimentary for backing him. He asked me to reconsider but I held firm. In short, I was chickenshit. When I think back on how much I could have learned from that man! JEEZ!!!!!!!
I've gotten to hear and often times befriend some of the best players in the biz. Joe is no exception but I'll tell ya...he outplays them all. Is he as fast as the late Danny Gatton? Maybe not. Is he as inventive as the late Les Paul? Maybe not...but his playing is best likened thusly: his music is like making love. All others are just masturbating.
Joe is 85 now. He's still playing although sadly not as often. I'm lucky enough to hear from him maybe once a year and let me tell you, to me thats akin to getting a call or email from God himself! I've been trying to talk him into letting me produce a solo guitar CD for him. He's so humble, he feels he needs a band with him. I, for one, would love to hear him do a record of just him and his guitar. Just sit him in the studio and let him just play for 4-5 hours. I bet it would be AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Anyhoo, Joe Negri is, and always will be, THE MAN when it comes to playing guitar. If I could play like him, I'd forget rock, blues, rockabilly, country, etc. But if it hasn't happened in the past 34 years, its not likely to happen any time soon! I guess I'll just keep on rockin' and wishing I could jam like Joe.
If you ever get the chance to go see him perform, GO! Well into his 80s, his playing is still amazing! Google him if you get the chance. He's had an amazing career!
God bless you Joe Negri. You inspired me (and countless others) to pick up the guitar and make countless hours of music. And that, friends, is the greatest gift I've ever had.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Do They Know Its Kwanzaa?
I have a problem with Kwanzaa. Its only as old as I am (45 years now). I DO NOT have a problem with the ideas it celebrates but I do have a problem with the fact that it was created as a seperatist holiday. And I have a problem with it's creator refering to Jesus Christ as "psychotic". See below:
(from Wikipedia...I know, not always 100% accurate...but close enough for jazz)
"Maulana Karenga of the US Organization created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African American holiday . Karenga said his goal was to "give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest. The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s.
Kwanzaa is a celebration that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy".
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, that Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun. However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so that practicing Christians would not be alienated, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday."
Many Christian African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas."
OK,so there you have it. My other problem is, do we really deserve another holiday? We've become a lazy bunch. Another reason to WORK is what we really need! But with the global economic crisis, I guess we already have that.
Anyhoo, Happy Whatever-You-Celebrate. Be good to YOU and to those you care about. Be good to those that you don't. And be good to those that you don't know. We're all on this planet together.
And yes Bobby Stoeckle, there IS a video!
(from Wikipedia...I know, not always 100% accurate...but close enough for jazz)
"Maulana Karenga of the US Organization created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African American holiday . Karenga said his goal was to "give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest. The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s.
Kwanzaa is a celebration that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy".
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, that Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun. However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so that practicing Christians would not be alienated, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday."
Many Christian African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas."
OK,so there you have it. My other problem is, do we really deserve another holiday? We've become a lazy bunch. Another reason to WORK is what we really need! But with the global economic crisis, I guess we already have that.
Anyhoo, Happy Whatever-You-Celebrate. Be good to YOU and to those you care about. Be good to those that you don't. And be good to those that you don't know. We're all on this planet together.
And yes Bobby Stoeckle, there IS a video!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Something to think about...
Its getting to where I hate to watch the news or read the paper (or online news). I keep hearing about so much bad stuff...and sadly, a lot of bad stuff here in the US.
I've spent the last two years working the night shift at a mental health facility. If its a quiet night, I often listen to the radio and have recently found that one of the NPR stations plays BBC World News all night. If you really want some idea of how the world views us Americans, check out the news from another country. It might be an eye opener.
That said, it breaks my heart to hear that 1 in 5 American women are victims of sexual violence. It breaks my heart that we can no longer trust our politicians, bankers, clergy or even athletic coaches. It seems like everyone is out for themselves and their own desires. What ever happened to responsibility?
Maybe I'm just getting old. Maybe my looking back on the past is merely tinted through my own memories...but was the world always this evil? Growing up, I knew there were bad people out there. My parents always taught me to beware of them. My parents taught me well. They taught me that there are good people too. They taught me to figure out who was who. Do parents even bother with that anymore?
And speaking of parents, GROW UP! Your job is NOT to be your child's best friend. Your job is to be your child's parent! Letting little Johnny or Suzy have their way all of the time is not helping them. Case in point: I was driving home from work yesterday morning and I saw a kid in my neighborhood waiting for the school bus. It was 23 degrees out. It was COLD! And this kid was wearing shorts! Its not cute. Its not "cool". It shows that the kid is an idiot and that his parents are even bigger idiots. If I had tried that, my mom would've smacked some sense into my head!
Here's something we can all try: How about we try to be what we're supposed to be? How about we try to be the way that we want others to view us? How about we all try to do the right thing, at least most of the time? Is that too much to ask?
I'll never begrudge anyone making an honest buck. If you become rich through hard work and perserverence, God bless you! But...if you make a fortune by ruining the lives of others, you've done wrong. If your living depends on destroying the world around you, you've done wrong. I'm not saying that I'm better than you. I am, however, taking the time to make choices that I feel are ethical and positive in their nature.
I don't know how or why the world has become what is has. All I know is, I don't like it. And neither should you. Of course, no one can effect immediate, wide spread change. But...we can each change our own lives day by day. Take the time to think things through before you act. "Look before you leap" as the old saying goes. In this 'instant' society, that may be harder than you think...but good things never come easy.
Just something to think about....
I've spent the last two years working the night shift at a mental health facility. If its a quiet night, I often listen to the radio and have recently found that one of the NPR stations plays BBC World News all night. If you really want some idea of how the world views us Americans, check out the news from another country. It might be an eye opener.
That said, it breaks my heart to hear that 1 in 5 American women are victims of sexual violence. It breaks my heart that we can no longer trust our politicians, bankers, clergy or even athletic coaches. It seems like everyone is out for themselves and their own desires. What ever happened to responsibility?
Maybe I'm just getting old. Maybe my looking back on the past is merely tinted through my own memories...but was the world always this evil? Growing up, I knew there were bad people out there. My parents always taught me to beware of them. My parents taught me well. They taught me that there are good people too. They taught me to figure out who was who. Do parents even bother with that anymore?
And speaking of parents, GROW UP! Your job is NOT to be your child's best friend. Your job is to be your child's parent! Letting little Johnny or Suzy have their way all of the time is not helping them. Case in point: I was driving home from work yesterday morning and I saw a kid in my neighborhood waiting for the school bus. It was 23 degrees out. It was COLD! And this kid was wearing shorts! Its not cute. Its not "cool". It shows that the kid is an idiot and that his parents are even bigger idiots. If I had tried that, my mom would've smacked some sense into my head!
Here's something we can all try: How about we try to be what we're supposed to be? How about we try to be the way that we want others to view us? How about we all try to do the right thing, at least most of the time? Is that too much to ask?
I'll never begrudge anyone making an honest buck. If you become rich through hard work and perserverence, God bless you! But...if you make a fortune by ruining the lives of others, you've done wrong. If your living depends on destroying the world around you, you've done wrong. I'm not saying that I'm better than you. I am, however, taking the time to make choices that I feel are ethical and positive in their nature.
I don't know how or why the world has become what is has. All I know is, I don't like it. And neither should you. Of course, no one can effect immediate, wide spread change. But...we can each change our own lives day by day. Take the time to think things through before you act. "Look before you leap" as the old saying goes. In this 'instant' society, that may be harder than you think...but good things never come easy.
Just something to think about....
Friday, December 9, 2011
Drummers
Being a musician, I have worked with many, many, many drummers. Drummers are an essential part of my music. A bad drummer can ruin a song quicker than anything. A good drummer can make a mediocre piece of music sound brilliant.
That said, drummers are the bane of my existence. They are, by and large, my favorite people in the world to drink with. They are usually a blast to hang out with. They often even have great production ideas in the studio! But then comes actually working with them.
While a drummer's job is to keep time, they don't understand the concept of clocks. If you tell them that load-in time is 6pm, they might be there by 8pm. Hence the concept of DST (Drummer Standard Time). If you want the drummer to be someplace on time, tell him to be there at least two hours before he/she needs to be there. This should mean they'll only be 20 minutes late.
And now, my favorite drummer jokes:
Q: What does it mean when a drummer is drooling out of both sides of his/her mouth?
A: It means the stage is level.
Q: What do you call those people who hang out with musicians?
A: Drummers.
I really do love drummers. Almost as much as I love having fun at their expense.
Merry Christmas to all of my drummer friends!
That said, drummers are the bane of my existence. They are, by and large, my favorite people in the world to drink with. They are usually a blast to hang out with. They often even have great production ideas in the studio! But then comes actually working with them.
While a drummer's job is to keep time, they don't understand the concept of clocks. If you tell them that load-in time is 6pm, they might be there by 8pm. Hence the concept of DST (Drummer Standard Time). If you want the drummer to be someplace on time, tell him to be there at least two hours before he/she needs to be there. This should mean they'll only be 20 minutes late.
And now, my favorite drummer jokes:
Q: What does it mean when a drummer is drooling out of both sides of his/her mouth?
A: It means the stage is level.
Q: What do you call those people who hang out with musicians?
A: Drummers.
I really do love drummers. Almost as much as I love having fun at their expense.
Merry Christmas to all of my drummer friends!
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