Quote:
Originally posted by cgiles:
Donny, I'm going to respond (sincerely) although it will probably raise a storm of protest (or maybe just plain hatred).

It will NEVER end as long as one waits for SOMEONE ELSE'S creativity to provide the satisfaction they're looking for. What you're describing is classic boredom; boredom with the styles that just don't seem to spark the same excitement and enthusiasm that they used to. It's going to sound hugely annoying for me to say "that's why I play organ", still, I'm not bored, I'm not sitting around waiting for the next great set of sounds and styles to delude me into thinking that I'm putting out a better product on stage. I get the same kick out of sitting down to my organ now as I did 30-40 years ago. I love just having to learn the changes and then playing the tune exactly as I want to hear it. I have fun recording BS in my 'studio' and playing with all the incredible new electronics that have developed since I first sat down at a B3 so many years ago (before that, I drove my parents crazy with banging away for hours on the beautiful Chickering grand in our living room) but for me it was always the playing and I always enjoyed playing for and by myself as much as for other people. Bored? Really bored? Learn a couple of new tunes but learn them first on an acoustic piano (or synth in manual piano mode) and work out the arrangement on the piano and in your head before you ever crank up the old arranger. At least at some point in the process, the tune, the arrangement, the performance, was all yours. Plus, it allows you into the 'guts' of the song.

Now I'm not saying "sell your arranger and go back to actually playing". That would not be economically feasible for a lot of the working pro's here. I'm just saying, make it more about the music than about sitting around waiting on the next new (or rehashed) batch of technology to get your (musical) juices flowing again. JMO.

chas
PS: Pleas don't post an angry reply. As I said, it's JUST MY OPINION.
[This message has been edited by cgiles (edited 04-07-2010).]


Chas......believe me Ive been playing professionally since I was 14 years old....For so many years playing keyboard, bass, guitar, drums, sax..was all I knew and being part of many band, doing thousands of shows with so many groups, which I always loved the camaraderie, creation process of arranging songs, and developing a certain sound, playing off each others talents on stage is unparalleled for 25 years on the road and something I really miss since due to economic times for the last 17 years that I've been a single act in order to survive in this wacky business. I understand your feeling and I can feel it in your writing that you are very passionate about playing music, your instrument, organ & keyboard playing & in many ways I wish times were different again like it was in the past. With all the choices out there it's easy to become a lazy musician. Man I remember sitting down at my B3 an throwing those toggle switches to start er' up and listening to the motors rotate would give me a major adrenalin boost rush my body. Watching a monster player like Tony Monaco or Joey D, or Mark Stein "Vanilla Fudge" play makes me go nuts also!!! WOW!! One instrument ....One man.... playing and making it an extension of his soul is what playing is all about, and I get that feeling no matter what instrument I hear someone playing being it a Acoustic Guitar, Flute, Oboe, Fiddle, Cornet, or a Tuba, if the love is put in to it, the love will flow thru it and out the other side!!. What's also sad is that audiences are starting to get a very apathetic attitude and couldn't care less how or why its happening due to the saturation of DJ's,KJ's, and every other kind of fake music there is out there and that's sad. So we curl up in our own slice of the pie and enjoy what WE like as WE still have that ability thank the lord...we can also share our feeling as we are doing here and share our music playing in ways unheard of 20 years ago via computer....
I used to be a buying gear nutcase but in the last few years I have really settled down and before I buy something I ask myself "DO I REALLY NEED THIS?" which most time, money no object, the answer is a resounding NO!! ....so where are we?.......what I need to earn on stage is one kind of gear.....what I love to play record etc in my home is a totally other scenario and gear but more toward what you have divulged in your post above ..I appreciate your passion and it hasn't gone unnoticed its very contagious and I caught some of it when I was reading your reply.
hang in there buddy...lock yourself in your studio crank up your C1 organ and let er rip!!!! We'll talk more......i hope others chime in also here.

d.