The vicious cycle o' success!

Or really, the gentle cycle of success though I'm American so we have this INTENSE thingy. Kinda jive but the title is more dramatic so now you're reading this.....

Had a wonderful gig last night at my favorite spot called Troost in Greenpoint. 2 sets, the first being mellow, at times unfocused and a bit lackluster but we got there, the second set we were on fire. One of the wonderful things about making music is what  nobody sees, all the work you don't get paid for, all the rehearsals, practicing, that's part of the great mystery. De-mystified: even genius means raw talent with a tremendous amount of work that is unseen, thousands of hours spent alone working on little boring 4 note patterns.

I noticed something last night. I didn't get to the place of losing myself which is a bit disappointing. I used to under the influence of booze or whatever, but sober it's more difficult. I hear stories of older jazz players getting all into dope to slow down time and lose fear. You can do this without artificial stuff, by practicing and meditation, yoga, going on nice long walks, good conversation where you LISTEN. So I may not have lost myself but the little triumph of last night was I played better than ever, a lot of things I've been working on came through and even at 250 beats per minute, I could hear the melody coming out of my horn, the ideas coming from the universe. I felt time slow down. I felt connection halfway through the 1st set. Heck, even the 1st song I realized "this is an awesome band and we make really fucking good music!"

The self conscious stuff will melt away the more we get in front of people. This I know....

So Jef, what's up with the title? It's kinda like this: (straight outta Tony Robbins I admit, but I find this to be true!)

You have this potential. You take action on that potential (practice, book a gig). You get a result (ideas flowing! God speaking through your instrument! Time slowing down at 256 bpm!). You have just knocked out a limiting belief or attitude and automatically raised your standard (I must out play myself every time I play, I must keep reaching for expansion and keep expanding and I realize how much more potential I have!) And REPEAT! It's actually quite gentle. What I go for in music even if it's confrontational and intense is that state of peace and relaxation. Now that I seeing it is possible, I want more so I can share more with our lovely audience. Sharing a peaceful state? Now that is a beautiful thing.....

Working with Kim Deal

On July 16th 2010 I had the honor of being hired to work with Kim Deal in a sweaty studio in Los Angeles. The job was just to be a mirror and help her with some new material. Studio work I enjoy. It's a great chance to dis-appear and be someone else, but of course you can never be anyone else but you. If I brought my ego with me I probably would not have been able to do the session, it required me to go places that were shaky and uncomfortable. And you know, when you are given a job it's merely cause the universe says you are ready for it so you best leave your stuff at the door and show up.

It was really freaky to have that voice 3 feet away. The room was candle lit and her voice resonated like a ghost of a child. Everything she picked up, be it a guitar or bass or drumstick, it simply sounded like her, or Pixies, that music I am so familiar with.

What was the most important lesson for me that day? For all the schooling, practicing and learning, all the chops etc, that simply doesn't make up for just showing up every day for 30 years doing your thing. The energy was scattered, kinda un-predictable until she would sit down and get to work then it was focused majic. A real inspiration. I got to feel like what it is to be a channel. Sometimes I had trouble tuning in, I wanted my own station, but when I did tune in.... now that's where it's at right? Working with others.

I want more. Thank you.