Jeff Parker Confuses Me

I intended to write about the tree-lighting ceremony last night, which really is its own thing in a small town (700 people). We knew everyone in the parking lot (about 30 people) and one of the funnier moments was when someone said, "Richard, plug the tree in." Then Richard plugged the tree in. But I'm not writing about that as I've spent too much time writing the numbers below.

Notice point # 6 below, which will in turn explain the numbered section of this post (which appears nearly verbatim on what has become blog #2)

Yes, as you will notice in point #1 the weather continues its onslaught. The above photos from the past week. (note: originally, there were some photos of the snow above, but after posting the drawing on The Sunday Sessions site, I decided that it was a much more compelling image. Therefore, I post here (above) the companion image if you will, an actual photo of my pedalboard. See Sunday Sessions site for other image)

#7 does not apply here, only on The Sunday Sessions. I know this is all likely a bit confusing, and is perhaps intentional. Perhaps.

The title of the post (this one, not the one on The Sunday Sessions) refers to both #'s 5 and 9. I do not yet know what I will title the other.

Regarding #1 in particular, it will really only make sense if you go to The Sunday Sessions. That said, it would really make just as much sense to go there now, as the rest of the post is identical. Or read it here. Whatever.

1. Snow. I felt that as it is still snowing, I should somehow record something that had something to do with snow. We have only had one day of sun this month (I know it sounds impossible) so I felt I should express that. I know this is oblique, but one can try. My first few passes were decidedly chaotic, frenzied, Derek Bailey (sort of) meets Merzbow (sort of) collisions. Partly inspired also by the fact that I watched some youtube videos of the British punk band Crass this morning, as they were one of my favorites at the age of sixteen. I suppose these things find a way in. But then I did something else.

2. I spent some time this week listening to both Jeff Parker (most notably from the band Tortoise) and Nels Cline, an activity which at times made me feel great, and inspired, and excited to be playing guitar. At other times of course, this exercise made me feel like putting mine away forever. My god those guys can play. A great place to hear them both together is on Scott Amendola's record titled Believe, which incidentally is just magnificent.

3. Hint: When I first heard Sigur Ros I found the bowed electric guitar to be one of the greatest sounds I had ever heard. I still cannot verbalize why, and I still feel the exact same way about it. It moves something deep in me. Sometime, I will tell you all the story of the first time I saw Sigur Ros play at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, and had what I would define as a deeply spiritual experience. I know that may sound lame, but trust me; it was otherworldly. The first time I heard them recorded, I was driving the California Central Valley roads, sometime after midnight in a late sumer storm. Windows down, rain hitting my arm as I bumped into the eye in the old blue toyota pickup, the music periodically interrupted by explosions.

4. Keri and I listenened to Morton Feldman's Rothko Chapel numerous times last week, which may be the most beautiful thing I have ever heard in my life.

5. Jazz confuses me.

6. How is it that I have come to have two blogs, when I'm not even sure If I want one?

7. Above is a photo of my current pedalboard and a drawing I did of my signal chain. The pitchshifting at the end of this one is a delay pedal. I know, I broke the rules, but you know what they say about rules.

8. I'm not sure what to say about this one. I wanted to just bow some simple note changes, but then I felt compelled to play with my hands. Sometimes, I want to play with my hands so much more than using a plectrum (pick). Sometimes, it feel like the pick puts an ocean of distance between me and the guitar.

9. In reading about Jeff Parker I came across this from an interview:

"How do approach the guitar when you practice?
When I look at the neck of the guitar, I see points, and the points form shapes—like constellations. I can look at the guitar neck and see keys and arpeggios, but when I look at the big picture and consider the sound, it’s about the shapes the groups of notes make. The tension is at the peak. If two diagonal lines intersect, the point where they meet is the tension, and the resolution is where they retreat.

How does that lead to something you can use in a composition?
My doctrine is to find an idea, develop it, and expand on it. But there has to be something of relevance attached for the idea to make sense. I’ve also had this infatuation with repetition and stagnation the past couple of years. If you change the accents over time, certain polyrhythms are implied. Sometimes you can keep one thing the same, but change everything around it."

What? What the hell is he talking about? I wish I could say that makes sense to me, but it just doesn't. Philosophically, and theoretically it makes sense, but not practically.

I suppose it doesn't help that I'm not fond of this weeks improvisation. I noticed that they all start more or less the same, which I see as a problem. Safe. I must change that for next week. I also feel as though generally speaking I am being too cautious. How does one change that gracefully?

Posted by jeff pitcher at November 30, 2008 03:55 PM

....................................