I have a new respect for some of the great studio musicians out there - the cats who are involved with several projects and manages to kick butt in ALL OF THEM!
In short order, I have rehearsals with the Gail Storm Blues Band with all kinds of material to learn for a concert next week, rehearsals with the other sax player and then the full ensemble of the "rock and soul" artist Christina Guadet, material I need to have together for a private function, and then there's always the material in my quartet that I really need to work on. I'm still haunted by the mental lasp I had when we last performed "Always", one of my own compositions, and I forgot how to play the B section!
The fact of the matter is that it's a blessing to be this busy. There are plenty of cats out there that wish they had some extra things going on, so I'm certainly grateful.
Gail Storm's stuff is great and very musical - lots of dynamics, lots of using your ears, and not to mention playing with her, Joe Vicino the guitarist, and Bernice the drummer is a blast beyond a blast. We'll be performing at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center next week and I know we will bring the house down!
Christina Guadet's material is very fun to play and I have to be careful because my part is arranged and there is another sax player as well. Him and I need to be well in sinc with things because there are some timely hits and parts that don't repeat themselves too much. In short, it's a lot to have to memorize. We'll be at The Bitter End in Manhattan next week, a day after Gail's gig.
What I love about this is that I can try and achieve my goal of being able to play in any genre of music that I'm asked to play in, and sound like I belong in that genre and yet can still sound like it's me.
Michael Brecker was my hero when it came to that. He could play in any genre of music and sound like he belonged to it, but you could still tell it was Michael Brecker's playing from a mile away!
I think the endeavor of any musician should be to understand the "language" of the genre of music that he or she is asked or hired to perform in, but to still find a way to let their personality shine through.
This is a tough challenge to be sure, but one that I know I'm looking forward to meeting in my two gigs next week!
