|
Q: How has
your tone, technique and touch changed (if at all, including
equipment) from pre-Sting, then throughout your years with him, as
well as your solo records? - from Jonathan
A: I don't
think my sound has really changed that much from pre Sting to now.
It's more of an evolvement. I am still trying to alter it and
experiment. For instance now I am playing the Les Paul, not the Strat.
This makes the amps sound different which I am adapting to.
Q: I was
wondering if you liked Minimalist music at all. I finally took it upon
myself to listen to Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint for electric
guitar and tape, which I love. It occurred to me while listening that,
were you interested, this piece would sound good under your fingers. -
from Allison
A: For
some reason I don't get that kind of music. To me it feels ugly or
painful. I have trouble seeing the beauty in it but I know it's there.
I just can't feel it. I suppose my relationship to minimalism could be
comparable to listening to a poem recited in Japanese without
understanding the language. I will look into it more now you have
mentioned it.
Q: At the
moment I am writing about the connections and influences of Art and
Music. I talked briefly with Jazz musicians like Anthony Braxton, Uwe
Kropinski or Steve Lehman and get really nice meanings. You know the
art-music-thing is very old at this point:
Kandinsky-Schönberg-Libeskind, Picasso-Miles, Rothko-Feldman,
Boulez-Klee, Rodin-Maler, Warhol-VU... the examples could be
endless... My question: How did art (painting, architecture...) take
an influence on your music? - from Toni
A: Art and
Music? I think there is a strong connection with in the structure and
form. Colour contrast is like chord contrast. Picasso was the master
at this. Unexpected variations with colour. A colour is only as
interesting as the one next to it. Then there are the Dutch masters
who focus on detail. Listening to great arrangers like Ravel or
Stravinski achieve this. There are a lot of similarities with art and
music. As many as you want there to be.
Q: I am a
big Jobim fan as I know you are. I love the way he can take an often
simple melody, and then harmonize it with some unexpected chords that
give the piece fabulous colours. I find this same type of...I don't
know...excitement, in Steely Dan tunes as well. Their voice leading
reminds me of Jobim. Both composed in part on guitar maybe? Anyways,
I'm not very familiar with Bach, but having read some of your comments
on his music, I was wondering if you find any compositional parallels
between these artists? - from John
A: I am in
total agreement with you. Bach's music can be found in anyone who is
serious. It's hard to ignore. He was the first real modern user of
chords. I hear a lot of Chopin in Jobim. Check out the piano preludes.
Steely Dan are incredible. I love Aja!
Q: What do
you think about Miles Davis, F.Moreno Torroba and John Scofield? -
from Nicole
A: I love
Miles Davis. Torroba I am not very familiar with and Scofield is, of
course, an incredible guitarist. I will never be able to play like
that.
Q: Do you
follow many acoustic artists like Pierre Bensusan or Michael Hedges?
Unfortunately, Hedges died a few years back, but I was lucky enough to
have seen him in concert a few months before. He created some
fascinating works, and was an interesting fellow. I'll have to
investigate Egberto Gismonti - I love the feeling of Brazilian music.
Any suggestions on a first CD to buy? - from Sandy
A: I like
Michael Hedges too. There are other guitarists who play like that (who
Michael would have been influenced by): John Abercrombie, Ralf Towner,
Bert Jansch and a lot of Celtic folk singer songwriters like Dick
Gaughan. A good introduction to Egberto Gismonti's music would be
"Solo" on the ECM label.
Q: Who are
the artists you aspire to? (Besides J.S. Bach, of course!) - from
Sandy
A: When I
was younger I had huge aspirations to Stevie Wonder. He had the full
package (songwriter, instrumentalist, singer, star, cool dude etc). I
love the musician Egberto Gismonti from Brazil. His compositions have
been and still are an enormous influence on my harmonic growth. The
guitarist Jeff Beck is the living daddy of electric guitar. Jimi
Hendrix would be if he were alive. I love Earth Wind & Fire. Just love
funky American music. They were the best! And many more. How long have
you got?
Q: Have
you been thinking about what style you'll be playing on the next
album? Are you going to continue putting new life into Bach or focus
more on creating new material? - From Trish
A: I will
be playing more Bach on the next album, for sure. I also want to delve
into Chopin, Villa Lobos and Ravel.
Q: Coming
from such a varied musical background as you do, are there any
artists/bands that your fans would be surprised to hear that you're
into? I'm on a blues kick right now...which blues players have
influenced your playing besides Hendrix? - From Kevin
A: I think
there are two types of blues players. Those who only play the blues
(BB King, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters etc) and those who incorporate
blues in their playing. I am more interested in the latter. Players
like Jimi Hendrix of course but also, Jeff Beck, Jimi Page, Robin
Trower, Eddie Van Halen, Mark Knopfler and even some Jazz players like
John Mclaughlin and Pat Metheny.
Q: I
started playing the guitar at 7 as my dad taught me how to play Apache
by The Shadows. How do you rate Hank Marvin as a guitarist and who was
your main influence? - From Chik
A: I do
rate Hank Marvin as a guitarist with a unique voice. My main
influences are Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John Mclaughlin
and Eddie Van Halen. There are others too.
Q: I find
it very interesting the way you play because you seem to play every
song as if it were the first time even though you may have played it
many times already. How can you do that? I would like you to tell me
what inspired you to write Shape of my Heart because it is one of my
favourite songs. - from Myriam
A: I try
to imagine I am playing every song for the first time. That's what
keeps it fresh for me. 'Shape of my Heart' is inspired by the chord
sequences of Chopin. The difference is adding a Latin beat.
Q: I just
wanted to tell you how much I love the video for Adagio in G Minor. I love that song... beautifully written. I wonder
sometimes what gives you the inspiration for a new song. People,
places, things. - from Laura
A: That is
the only solo video I have done. I hope to do more. The things that
inspire me to play and write music are not music itself. It's people,
places, feelings, experiences and emotions. I study music always which
helps me to translate the above to music. I hope this makes sense.
Q: I
wanted to know about the inspiration in your works. Does it arrive in
some kind of casual way or is it the result of the discipline. - from
Kristina
A: What
inspires me to write music is not music, but experiences with family,
friends or just day to day stuff. My role is to interpret these
experiences into music or a sequence of notes. Music is a language
that most people understand. Using words is not my forte. I hope I see
you soon!
Q: I was
wondering if you have you ever been curious as to what Andy Summers
thinks of your interpretations of the guitar parts for Police songs?
Have the two of you ever discussed playing those songs? The other
thing is that I noticed your Space Your Face Sticker on your guitar
during the 'Ten Summoners Tales' era. I pretty much worship the Dead,
and always thought it looked awesome, so I stole your idea and put one
on my guitar. - from Megan
A: I think
Andy Summers is a very influential guitarist who I admire a lot. When
doing Police songs I like to play them as much as possible the way he
did not only as a tribute to his role in the Police but because the
really work. Plus I want the audience to know that I appreciate his
playing. I put the Dead sticker on my guitar during a show in front of
Dead fans while we were on tour with them in '94. The fans went nuts.
I have kept it on there ever since. I too am a fan so it was a dream
come true to be jamming with Gerry Garcia!
More on influences and inspiration >>
More questions >> |