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04.06.2006 -
Hello boys and
girls, I have been playing with the Brio train set in Pablo's room. I
like to do this whenever I can. I think this is an ingenious invention
because it is such a simple idea. Even a two year old can connect the
tracks together and the trains are easy to place on them allowing them
to move around freely. I have come up with some very creative
formations recently which have looked almost perfect but for one
missing part. If only I had one more curved piece I would have a
masterpiece worthy of making me a town planner in a big German city. I
can imagine this is probably the sort of task they might give
potential recruits to somewhere like Microsoft. Give them a certain
amount of parts and see what they come up with. The last one I came up
with had all the right ingredients. The tracks weaved in and out of
each-other, through each-other, sometimes running parallel with
each-other, under and over bridges etc. But the problem was the
missing piece. The result: It was useless because the trains would
never be able to make use of my creation without becoming derailed.
Pablo didn't like that concept. I tried to convince him it was still
brilliant but he wasn't having it. He picked the thing up and
destroyed it. To me this was comparable to a natural disaster like the
ones we hear about in third world countries (or California). He then
proceeded to start all over and construct a new formation which was
actually much better than mine. It was simple and logical. It was
beautiful. It was a plain oval track. He didn't use all the pieces
because he didn't need them. The trains moved freely and happily. I
was stunned like I haven't been for a long time. My point? Simple is
always best. Simple works and simple is beautiful. I wonder if those
Microsoft examiners would agree with me. The parallels here are so
close to making music. It is no use constructing a complex piece of
music unless you can find the missing piece of the puzzle. In musical
terms this might mean starting in one key, going around the houses,
and then finding yourself unable to return to your original key
without faking or manipulating it. I have been guilty of this many
times. I like the way he didn't feel the need to use all the
ingredients. When making music we sometimes try too hard by saying
everything to the point we are saying nothing. The other lesson here
is to let people express themselves without imposing your ego on them.
It was his train set after all. What I came up with didn't impress
him. It only confused him. He then showed me how it is done and I was
humbled.
Eva seems to have grown out of the baby sick phase. For a while every
item of clothing I wore had her dry sick on my shoulders. I could be
seen walking down the King's Road in Chelsea proudly showing off these
stains occasionally giving other fathers a knowing look of "hey dude,
you know what this is". The back of her head is so perfect. She is
just starting to grow normal hair which looks like the formation of a
hurricane on CNN's weather chart. I am tempted to draw the Florida
coast line North West of this hurricane and draw little dots (the
Caribbean) right on her crown. She is six months old now and
developing fast. If I could describe the smell of her head I would
surely win literary awards. If I could bottle it I would be a
billionaire. She is so cute. I remember Misty at this age. Little
girls are the best. They seem smarter or have more wisdom about them
because they (or in Misty and Eva's case) are much quieter. They are
taking it all in and can seduce me to the point they will get whatever
they want (clothes, jewelry and cash mostly) later on. They will get
it from me because they deserve it. I'll do anything to get that look
of approval from them. Eva and Misty have blue eyes which is curious
because I have green/grey (the colour of the Thames river on a rainy
day).
I love looking after her although it isn't easy. It's actually very
challenging sometimes because I can't for the life of me work out how
to do anything else while holding the baby. It's really difficult to
make a cup of coffee with one arm. How do you unscrew the lid? How can
mothers do anything? But they do, miraculously, while we fathers
totally take this for granted as we do something really important like
the crossword puzzle. I had the idea of developing a cookery book
using only one arm. "Dom's one arm delights". (Suggestions for titles
are welcome). Maybe I could approach Martha Stewart or Oprah (while
promoting my album of course. I'll do whatever it takes to sell my
album in America) with this idea. Hey, I recorded an album holding the
baby. It might have been only a few times but time goes by slowly with
a baby in your arm.
I have had an interesting six months (I think that's how long it's
been since my last newsletter). I have been to India with my band,
done a few shows with Sting in Las Vegas, others in Central America
and the Caribbean, done a few master-classes in music colleges,
recorded a few albums with other artists around Europe and beyond, and
recorded my own album, "Fourth Wall". As I write I am in Portugal
about to start a two month European tour with Sting. My son Harley is
with me which is great for both of us because we get on really well
and are actually quite similar in many ways. We are sharing a room and
I am keeping him in my pocket at all times. He's coming to rehearsals
with me, sound-checks, out for dinner and tonight he will be side of
stage for our first show here in Lisbon. I believe we are playing to
65,000 people. Having any members of my family with me always makes it
easier. I think it gives them a chance to understand better what it is
I am doing while I am away.
I must say I feel relieved to have completed Fourth Wall. It took a
lot out of me and has left me somewhat emotionally drained. This is
why I am have been happy to immerse myself in other peoples' projects.
I am very fortunate in that respect because people still want me to
play with them (particularly my main "client"). I still get incredibly
excited when I work with others because I am mostly going into the
unknown, playing on tunes they have worked on for months or longer. I
can come in with a fresh approach which is exactly what is required of
me. Their expectations are high which puts some pressure on me but not
as much pressure as I impose on myself with my own expectations of my
own ability to deliver. I don't arrive at these sessions all cocky,
wearing a cloak or anything like that. If I am hired I treat all
equally and with respect. I am a perfectionist which can be like a
curse. Someone described perfectionism very clearly recently:
"Perfectionism is the pursuit of failure". Wow! That's pretty deep.
This means failure is actually the payoff in some sort of ****ed up or
kinky way. I can identify with this concept. I am sure some of you
will join me with this feeling (or insecurity). I had one such
experience last week in Serbia. I was invited to play on two albums by
two separate artists (Vinnie Colaiuta was also on the sessions). One
was Kristina Kovac and the other was Vlado Giorgijev. They are both
very popular in Serbia, particularly Vlado who is the biggest star
there. He is a total perfectionist and I must say it was very hard
working with him. But it was also very rewarding because he is an
artist who knows exactly what he wants and I like working with people
like that. His expectations of me were high and as usual I treated him
with respect. I remember after the first tune, I did what I thought
was one of my finer performances which I was actually quite proud of.
After the take, I rather smugly expected him to say "wow, that's the
best thing I ever heard. You are the master". Instead there was an
eerie silence which seemed uncomfortably long (perhaps only two
seconds) and through the talk-back mic he said "come in Dominic, I
want to explain this track to you". He proceeded to explain how I
needed to play this song with more feeling and conviction. Part of me
thought "don't you know who you are talking to" but I listened and
tried again with his suggestion. He was right. I played it better. The
point here is I can always improve. I shouldn't expect to get away
with what I think is enough and I must be prepared to take criticism
if I want to move forward. He is an incredibly talented artist who I
am proud to be associated with.
The other artist was Kristina. I thought this would be easier. It
actually was but she is equally a brilliant musician who knows exactly
what she wants. She is an amazing pianist and has super sharp ears.
She wasn't afraid to ask me to raise the bar and play with more gusto.
She would occasionally challenge me on my choice of chord voicings. I
don't get that much. The result? a better performance than I would
have come up with left to my own devices. Serbia is a fascinating
place. The people seem of higher intelligence than anywhere else I
have been. Everyone appears to be musically educated. I would walk the
streets and hear someone practicing Bach partitas through a window.
The next street I would hear someone practicing the cello or the
violin. I might have head a pianist in the distance playing Chopin
sonatas perfectly. These may well have been children for all I know.
There is something very beautiful about the sound of people practicing
in the distance. It's almost like listening to an affirmation of
faith. I remember being in Cairo a few years ago and hearing the sound
of Islamic chanting echoing through the streets early in the mornings.
Whatever the prayer was it made me want to be a believer. The sound of
Belgrade will have a lasting impression on me. Everyone speaks perfect
English and can converse in most modern languages (Italian, French,
Spanish, German not to mention their own dialects). The people are
friendly and warm. Serbia is a jewel. Serbia is also a region that has
suffered in war as have Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia Hercegovina,
Slovenia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Vojvodina. These countries make up
the former Yugoslavia but the struggle was mainly between the Serbs
and the Croats. I am baffled at how anyone who hasn't been there can
comment or have an opinion on the state of affairs without seeing nor
meeting the people. Unfortunately our prime minister and the American
president suffered in this ignorance or naivete to the point they took
sides. I don't want to get into politics here as I am only a musician.
But I urge you to investigate or better still go there. You won't
regret it. You might not want to leave. I didn't.
Back to music. I want to mention what it was like working with Vinnie
Colaiuta. He considered to be the best session drummer in the world
and I agree. But I think he is perhaps the best session player in the
world. Period. Here is a musician who knows exactly how to deliver and
when. Many people want to become session musicians. I wish these
people could watch Vinnie in action because this would be the ultimate
master-class. I watch him and I learn every time. It was different
when he was in the Sting band with me because I might have taken his
prowess for granted. Being able to play your instrument and be
versatile is of course crucial but there is so much more involved. You
have to be an extremely astute mind reader and have natural instincts
in human nature and psychology. Session players work with musicians,
artists and producers who I dare say are a complicated bunch. Knowing
how to interact with creative people is a challenge in itself and
takes a tremendous amount of concentration and patience. Vinnie is THE
master and I will leave it at that because I could write (and probably
will one day) a thesis on the subject. The only other person who comes
close is the bass player, Pino Palladino. I am so fortunate to be
working at this level because not only am I friends with these people
but they are like my mentors or teachers. I am not as cool as they are
and maybe show my emotions and vulnerable side too much but people
still invite me on their records so I must be doing something right.
If I tried to act as cool as them in the studio it probably wouldn't
work. It certainly wouldn't be me.
I could go on but I have things to do. I need to sit by the pool here
in Lisbon with Harley and relax. I need to work on my complexion
because I have developed a studio tan. (To session musicians this
means looking pale). Freckles are ready to join up again. The legs are
frighteningly white which might take some work but I have to start
somewhere.
I would like to thank all of you for being a part of this website. The
further our journey together the more I feel I know you. The more I
know you the more I like you. I had a fantastic time in Las Vegas with
some of the Mi Fe girls. You all made me feel at ease (thanks for all
the wonderful gifts). You all make me proud to know you. I love you
all.
Love,
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