Feb. 22, 2007 9:24am
Morning Music
I’m watching my DVD of pianist Chick Corea, one of my all time favorite musicians. I purchased it at a discount when we were doing an in-store appearance in Australia last month, at a store that specialized in concert videos. Everyone else in the band was picking up Rainbow Live, Judas Priest Live etc…I felt like such an oddball with my ten DVD box set of Chick Corea live at the Blue Note in NYC.
I probably could have gone to those Chick Corea shows last year (there were ten, each with different musicians) but as usual, I was away. It drives me crazy that when I’m away so much, I miss so many good things, like these concerts. Then again, when I’m home I flake on so many things like this and don’t go. I'm not home much these days and when I am, I’m often exhausted, recovering from tour. I probably need to find more of a balance. At least I have this video.
So as I listen to the elegant cascades of fluid notes from Chick's grand piano interweaving with those of Gary Burton’s vibraphone (his duet partner on Disc 4), I’m thinking of the fact that it’s morning and this is perfect music for the morning. I guess it’s a bit ironic that the music was performed and captured at a jazz club in the evening. Had I been there, it would be dark outside and I'd have a martini with Kettle One vodka and extra olives in a tall chilled glass with a thin stem. I'd probably be wearing a shiny button down shirt and if I was with a companion, she'd be wearing a slinky evening dress and we'd blend in with other jazz lovers at the Blue Note. This scene would blend perfectly with the very same music I'm hearing now to form the epitome of late night noir sophistication.
But right now, this music is all about the fact that it’s fresh daylight outside, things are beginning, energy is rising.
Chick has another tune ‘Morning Sprite’ the title of which strikes me as evidence that I may not be the only one who sees a connection between jazz piano and the morning. To me, the morning is about gaining focus and great piano music, be it jazz or classical, really inspires the me for the rest of the day for some reason.
Evening Music
Don't get me wrong. I love my metal, but it doesn't usually work for me in the morning.
For years I would wake up to a tour bus engulfed in a cloud of pot smoke, a porn video on the TV screen and a Slayer's "South Of Heaven" blaring from the stereo. The few who were awake hadn't gone to bed yet and were obnoxiously intoxicated. All the focus, quiet and inner peace I'd gained through a night of sleep seemed to jump out the bus door and onto the highway. There was nowhere else to go. The album cover artwork pretty much captures how I felt. It was like I was one of those poor, tortured souls, drowning in a sea of blood and debauchery.
I'm really glad our tours aren't like that anymore. No one blasts music in the morning anymore and there is more respect for the space of others.
Is it just me, or are certain activities, such as drinking, smoking and extreme metal, just more cut out for the evening? Hearing Slayer very early just feels weird, like starting the day with a cigar or a shot of whiskey. If it works for you, great. I'll join in once it gets dark.
28 comments:
It's really funny the way you "work". I'm fully awake and ready for anything from the moment I wake up. I'm sort of a quite person, I love Metal and my perfect day-off would be to wake up early at around 08:00 and lie down on the floor or bed and put on a Metal record. Sometimes I fall asleep because I have this ability of falling asleep while listening to heavy music (go figure). I once fell asleep on an Iron Maiden Concert (shame on me)!!!
From what you said you seem to be just half awake in the morning or at least not "working" full speed. It just goes to show that every human being is different but that's ok. Whatever works for you is fine and don't give in to peer pressure. Be yourself, always!
Hi alex
The portuguese people have a popular saying that is....
Evrything that´s to much,can makes you sick...so.
i´m glad that you know what works for you and dont have any problem saying it...Is it bying a jazz Cd when evrybody is picking metal or going in a Jazz live show when all your budies go to a metal one...I work the same way....AND I DONT CARE LESS WHAT EVRYBODY SAY ABOUT IT...I´M NOT A FOLLOWER.
I do what I want,when I want with who I want.
Big hugs from the sunshining land of Portugal
Nuno Guerreiro
Portugal
for me, Metal is only enjoyable when im in an enthusiastic mood,
morning or night.
im 17
my daily life takes place in an area full of jazz,reggae,alternative, blues,etc
lets just say im the only one in my class wearing a dissection t shirt, heavy metal combat boots and corpsepaint(yes corpsepaint)
most of the timewhen our teacher lets us play through his speakers i usually beaten over there, theyll play the beatles(alot). and the rest would range from AC DC,HENDRIX. and the sexpistols.
when i DO get the chance i pump the X RAY SPEX(british chick singing with a SAX doing leads is awesome)
and THE DOORS(theyre to me like the beatles gone metal?)
thats just the weekdays
IM LISTENING to spanish caravan right now
but come concert time< such as TESTAMENT LAST JUNE IN SAN DIEGO
im one little aggressive pest
hehe
btw kudos to the new trio resord
i findit helpful to unwind at night with that record
"if it aint too much to ask
i know your portion of the solo "more than meets the eye"
do you by any chance know the scale pattern for erics part?
along with "for the glory of?
Return to forever...ahhhhhhhh
Are you turning back time, and retelling stories?, or just trying to confuse me? I am easily confused -but, if I could turn back time, ( no cher pun intended--eww)I would do so many things differently--
Like learn piano from my perfect-pitched mother, and guitar from my-jazzy- brother, and stayed in Flute classes, and never moved from B town.
Where the hell is Redding?
thanks for the glimpse into your time...
I have this problem, but with TV. I do not understand why, one needs to watch TV before 9 AM. You say: but, and news, traffic? Go to hell and reports of traffic! lol, the traffic is slow? GREAT!, I sleep on the bus!
The father of my ex-husband had a bad habit. He got up 7.am to watch TV ... My God ... I want to make my breakfast, with peace, think about what I do during the day ... and the TV there, clutching my thinking with their noise. It´s hard think before 9 ... with television is even more difficult.
Another thing: people talking on the bus ... they are talking, talking, talking ... Flirting, but pls, the silence on the bus, subway, the morning you need to have a good day.
There should be a board within the bus: Please make silence before 8 AM. lol.
Hello,
Interesting how peoples' habits are so diverse! I love mornings, the earlier the better.
As a student, my colleagues at college used to think that I was insane. College started at 8.00 AM, I would get up at 5.30 AM, walk the dog, watch the news, read a bit of book/magazine, prepare my lunch, and then I would get the bus to college.
I still do it to this day, but now to teach at the very same college.
As for music, I can listen any kind of music at any time, provided it's not too late (anything after 10.00 PM). So, sometimes going to metal concerts is kind of an extra effort for me, but one that is worth. I can' say the same when the show is one I don't particularly like: My mom once took me to the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC to watch "Il Trovattore" and I fell asleep. Well, I had an excuse: the opera was on the very day that we arrived in NYC and I was suffering from jet lag. My mom, an opera fan, stayed wide awake and couldn't understand how could I ever had fallen asleep with such a great performance by a wonderful cast.
This just shows that we should always do what we like, but sometimes we have to keep company to our friends and family, and we can only do our very best.....
"South Of Heaven" was a landmark for Thrash Metal and for Slayer, it was when they started focusing on riffs and metal grooves rather than insane speed. I really like the next Slayer cd better, but this was really a landmark.
I remember when a friend bought that cd, it was a time that if one of us bought a cd all the other friends would tape it, as we could not afford LPs easily.
To me the best songs to get off the bed will be always things like Ray Conniff, because I remember when I was that grandfather's house and he listened to that all the day. Whenever I visited them I used to go to a LP store to buy some metal. That memory plus many more fond memories of my grandfather are just what is on my mind when I think of listening to music while getting awake.
Metal works great for me in the morning on my drive to work. Being someone who is absolutely NOT a morning person and also NOT a coffee drinker, I've always equated a good, loud, blast of metal with other people's morning cup of coffee.....it gets my blood pumping!
Interesting blog Mr. S. I never paid much attention to what I listen to and when. I guess I just listen to whatever I want, whenever I want. But I have to admit that when I turn on the radio in the morning and the first thing I hear is "Don't Stop Believin'", I just know I'm going to have a splendid day ;)
Hi Alex, I find that my moods and how I am feeling at the moment really determine what type of music I listen to. Sometimes when all I wnt to do is relax I will put on some Bethoven or Mozart. Chopin is really cool to. But when I am pissed off I will put on something a little harder and faster such as Destruction. If I want to think of the good ole days I will listen to the Eagles. But when I want inspiration I always lean toward Iron Maiden and Testament.
More recently I have began studying bass guitar and have had my eyes opened to different genres such as Funk and Jass Bass. Artist such as Victor Wooten, and Christian McBride
and guitarist Pat Methany(thanks to you Alex),not to mention A.S.T. have given me a fresh outlook on Jazz and Funk. I will admit also that I do get into Van Morrison, and have for years, who I think is in a class all by himself.
So my hat comes off to you Alex because to me there is nothing more metal than being able to tell someone that this is who I am so deal with it.
With that I will leave you with much respect and admiration.
Me and the morning are not a good combination. I don't drink as much coffee as I used too (gasp, I never thought I would tell anyone about that let alone all my fellow bloggers here :(). I do not like talking in the morning. I usually like starting the morning quietly drinking tea while reading the paper or watching some light news. Depending on my work schedule I have coffee at work when I have to open up the office, speaking to people in complete sentences that make sense requires extra thinking serum for me. I agree with Sherry that sometimes listening to something loud kicks the morning up a notch (like Maiden or Rollins or Testament) but I really like to listen to music that makes me slowly start to think in the morning such as my favorite Cat Stevens/Yusuf.
For me - as much as I love metal - I cant start my morning listening to it as I have a disposition towards depression. So I have to do some creative emotional management to start my day, like wake up to happy more upbeat music, like Gwen Stefani, Aerosmith, Elvis. Metal has a tendency to provoke a more stressed and aggressive mental state for me, in the same way that watching the news in the morning does, so I avoid it until I have put my mind is in a better position.
Love you and Testament Alex, Keep rockin!
I do have to agree with you. Being a musician I have realized i am more affected by the types of music I listen to throughout a typical day. I find that if I listen to anything close to metal early in the day, it can changes my entire outlook on the day. Sometimes for the better, others not so much. Personally, there are some classical pieces that I can't listen to first thing in the morning either, or my brain will go into overdrive. recently I woke up to man of the light by zbigniew seifert and unchosen by zach brock and the coffee achievers; i do have to say it was one of my best days musically.
I totally agree, even if I (for some reason) wake up way past the point of AM turning PM, I still need to eat breakfast and read the newspaper before I can really do anything mid-day-ish, like listen to certain music. Then again, it's never too early nor too late to throw on some Iron Maiden in my opinion, which I'm enjoying at the moment.
About the tourbus, gotta love the invention of MP3-players huh?
I mean, back in the day, there was walkman, portable cd-players and so on, but it's just...
Impractical, the cd'll skip, you have to rewind the tape and so on and of course carry a buttload of tapes/cds. With iPods and the like, just throw in all the stuff you can see yourself wanting and boom, music for all moods and events at the touch of a button.
Plus you don't have to pester your friends with the music unless they want to be woken up by "THIIS! IIISSS! THEEE! PAAAAAINKIIILLEEEER!" at 6am. :P
By preference, music has its place in our lives. The type selections yield to ones mood. I prefer none in the morning, only quiet and NPR on the radio. Music can set a tone for the moment and longer sending good or bad vibrations throughout the body and mind. What we want to hear and when varies for each of us. Music can be the focus or background to focus and allow for escape, evoke inspirations and many other feelings. It's a great part of our existence and I'm grateful for so many choices.
Glad I'm not the only one who's particular about what they hear in the morning. I may just be extra sensitive, I probably am in general. Even more so when the day is fresh.
Agreed about news and TV blasting in the morning. That doesn't work for me either. Makes me feel like I'm surrendering valuable brainspace and thoughts to broadcasters and advertisers. No thanks.
Alex,
I too absolutely love the music of Chick Corea. I was so happy to see him play with RTF last year. It was awesome and inspiring. I wish I could find that DVD. On my way to work, which is guaranteed to be a stressful event, I listen to sattelite radio channel 73 which is the spa channel. It is relaxing and sets my mind into a dreamy state of wonder sometimes. By the time I am ready to leave work however is a different story. It's Liquid Metal all the way home!
I definitely agree with you, yet I do have mixed feelings. There are some days I'd rather wake up to the sound of metal music and drunks, if I have somewhere to be, fast, it certainly gives me incentive to get going.
If I want a little more sane and peaceful morning, I agree, jazz works. (also works at night too!)
Typically though, for me anyway, metal music, smoking, drinking and other antics feel weird while the sun is out. Like at Gigantour (granted we had tornadoes all day that day) when Children of Bodom took the set it was sunny out and people were barely buzzed. I do love Children of Bodom but we sort of stood there staring for a moment confused.
A song I listened every day, before school a few years ago, is "Woman in Chains" by Tears for Fears: My mother called me to get up, I was running, closed the door, and listened this song in my room in darkness and in bed. After that I was "ok" to go to school.
Absolutely agree with everything that you wrote Alex. In the morning, the body is still not fully awake, and not everyone can listen to metal or other very energetic music. As for inspiration, I am sure that it comes when the human mind at rest – sleeping or in state of meditation, or just good mood. One of the best russian guitarists Igor Romanov, once in his interview said that during sleep he heard a beautiful melody. He immediately got up, picked up his guitar and recorded this melody. The result turned out beautiful music.
This story is beautiful and has deep meaning. Every time I reading the stories that happened in your life, I learn something new for me. I think others too. Thank you, Alex!
Alex,
I agree with you. I prefer to hear classical or something soothing in the morning. Loud noise or music in the morning makes me just wanna go back to sleep. I prefer to listen metal when I'm cleaning or when it reflects how I'm feeling. I also prefer to listen to soothing music in the evening just before going to sleep.
When I was a child I would have to listen to Baroque or early classical music. Now I am driving to work and music makes me not want to go to my job so I listen to NPR to wake myself up while I am dealing with traffic Night is definitly for Metal. Jazz is for contemplation.
I think I understand the Chick Corea dilemma. I waited a while before I bought any Chick Corea. First, the name ain't exactly a strong one for a guy. Second, there was some affiliation with New Age music that wasn't exciting me. But that was just me being stupid. Cuz the first time I heard Chick Corea I learned that he can be as fierce as he can be elegant. But to others who haven't heard him, he's still a guy named Chick who's probably playing some New Age music.
Thanks for the comments. And please pardon the delay, I've had a busy trip to Japan. But the arsenal is getting reloaded and a new barage of posts is coming. Expect one today or tomorrow.
It is Chick Corea's acoustic piano music that I'm most fond of. His electric keyboard playing, while technically impressive doesn't always move me in same way, although the first RTF album is stellar.
My absolute favorite album of his is "Now He Sings: Now He Sobs." I never get tired of it. Like "Kind Of Blue" or "Abbey Road" it is one of those timeless albums that has a special energy which changes the atmosphere for the better when you put it on. If you're going to get one of his albums, get that one.
Have to agree with the sentiments expressed. Some music is better suited to the morning when our brains are transitioning from sleep to awake and gaining focus for the day ahead. Brain waves in the morning, trying to harmonize with metal music is akin to the immovable object meeting the perpetual force.
Fortunately, most of the time, I can set my mental compass fairly quickly. Once it’s set – I’m open to whatever directions or adventures the day may hold.
Speaking of morning music, I’ve been enjoying the new TSO songs as part of my commute to work. The songs are incredible! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album!
Alex, I’m just being inquisitive. The helicopter sound you hear at the end of Toccata – Carpimus Noctem. Is that a medevac chopper coming to rescue you? Because, at the end of this song, I imagine, the only thing remaining is a pile of debris where a castle and a man with a guitar once stood.
Happy Birthday Alex!
My wish for you is time. May you find time within your busy schedule to do something that is truly just for you! Time to savor the rewards of your hard work. Time to enjoy the simple pleasures you describe like “bare feet on hardwood floors” or unencumbered thoughts. And especially, time for an evening at the Blue Note as expressed in this posting. I hope you are able to have your “late night noir sophistication”. For within time wishes, dreams, and hopes can come true.
Enjoy your day!
The time of day reflects my moods regarding music too. In the morning, I like to listen to something not too heavy. Stuff like Testament and Slayer are obviously evening music too me. But late at night, I like to listen to a lot of progressive rock and jazz. Alex Skolnick Trio is awesome atmosphere music to fill the mystifying late night hours. When you wake up, I do not want to hear clitter-clattering noises that represent the slings and arrows I must bare later in the day. I like it as peaceful as I can before I am forced to go to school and study. While I enjoy school, you know it can be a pain in the ass to wake up so early in the morning to go. But what also does bring up something I would like to express...is homework music. I like to listen to Al Di Meola and a whole bunch of other jazz delights when I do my homework. I like to listen to music that stimulate the mind when I need it most. Some music you need to seep in and let it absorb, like jazz. One of the most spectacular songs I like to blast sometimes when I want to listen to something but not listen to anything at the same time is the song "Last Day In Paradise" by Alex Skolnick Trio. I do not know what is about that song, but I just love it and how it can fit anywhere at any time. I just love how that song is just perfect when you do not want to make music listening a chore. In the evening, metal is your thinking man's music. Listening to Metallica, Megadeth, and Testament is no easy task. Also, I am going to check out the music you recommended, Alex. Thank you again for another good post.
-Nick
-Nick
Dear Alex,
I like the way you think of morning music and evening music. I read this post a few weeks ago and the idea of it has stuck in my head ever since. I tend to categorize music with the seasons. With a harsh chicago winter ending I find myself listening to more jazzy smooth bands. It feels right while I walk home everyday with the sun shining and flowers budding. However my winter playlist was much different! I would find myslef listening to bands such as Metallica, Death, Slayer, Lamb of God, and of course the almighty testament! These bands fit the harsh winds and below freezing temperatures. It added to the overall darkness of the season. But with spring it just doesn't seem to fit. Just some thought, take care Alex.
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