by Christine Bougie | June 8th, 2010
There was a time when I really wanted to play jazz. I studied it, practiced it, and occasionally performed it.
Up until I recorded my first album, I held onto that idea – that I might be a jazz musician. I guess it was during the process of recording my own music that I realized I was interested in something different. I moved away from jazz and toward some other kind of music that felt more genuine to me.
Occasionally I get called to play some background music jazz gig for some corporate event, and I always say yes. The pressure is low enough since no one is actually listening, and I get to shake the dust off my old fake book.
Bret Higgins and I were on one of these jazz gigs recently. When it was over we made plans to get together and play some jazz to, as Bret so eloquently put it, “keep that third layer of rust from fully forming” on us He’s been playing with The Great Lake Swimmers a lot lately, so we’re in very similar music scenes.
This afternoon Bret came over to play. We played some jazz standards, some Frisell tunes, and some originals. My reading chops are atrocious, I quickly discovered, and my jazz vocabulary is well into a fourth layer of rust.
I’d love to get together for sessions like this over the next couple months. Although I believe in focusing on strengths more than weaknesses, I’m also into the idea of breaking out of my comfort zone once in a while.
Want to join me?
How many layers of rust are you dealing with?
(photo by Graham Powell)
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I’m in, dammit. You know how rusty I am.
oh my GOODNESS. did you use the DeArmond today? xo
oo oo pick me pick me! I feel totally in the same boat. And I love your writing – I mean literarily, but I also love it musically. I would love to play some jazz again.
yay! ok – I’m going to call on you guys soon…
Rusty.
I’m currently living the life of a construction worker for a brief period of time. I’m loving the cash flow and the new experience, however it doesn’t leave me with much time to practice anything within the world of the arts. Only a few more months though.
And Jazz is the best, behind some good ‘ole folk music of course. Haha!
I spoke with Bret yesterday, since I’m moving into your hood we should all get uncomfortable as much as possible.