Episode 5: Entry Date – 09/27/02

Musical Tastes and Experience

After some deliberation I have decided that this section of the Shadow Box website can be used to inform people how the bass chair and to some extent the drums’ unique perspective on music finds expression in the band’s overall sound.

I include the drums because Will and I first had a band in high school. It was mostly a jam band with aspirations of becoming like Tony Williams lifetime. A band that is a must listen to anybody interested in jazz and jazz rock fusion. Certainly a good place to start in an effort to understand where we are "coming from", as a bass player and drummer.

The band started as a trio with Tony Williams on drums, the more well known John McLaughlin on guitar and Larry Young on Hammond organ. The next member to join was Jack Bruce a very influential bass player. Check out the album "Turn it over" it says it all.

Not all my listening was in jazz + fusion. One of my favorite bands from the late sixties to early seventies was Procol Harum. A brilliant blend of Classical, blues rock (Robin Towner guitar) and superb lyrics thanks to Keith Reid. I saw this band 3 or 4 times deliver blistering rock with the skill of a world class symphony.

Check out "Broken Barracudas" – you’ll get the drift. Enough listening pleasure to last a while. Let it soak in. Like many pieces of music, it takes more than one listen to get the picture.

Till next time.

Patrick

P.S. remember: you are what you eat.