John's Music: Down Memory Lane & a Promise to Myself
|
 |
Tuesday, 12 June 07 - 07:45 PM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Music |
| ||
As some of you may be aware, I have always enjoyed playing music. In the past year however I had not touched a guitar, that was until my sister in law came on by and asked if I could accompany her for a little performance on a get together of her choir.
Being a little insecure about what would be left of the abilities I hesitated Small settings, in this case a duo, always cal upon your technical abilities on your instrument. But on the other hand, it would only be one song and it would really help her out. I ended up saying yes.
Getting my guitar out of a dusty corner I went over the song and it was immediately when I started going over the song that realised how much I loved playing guitar still. Trying to work out an arrangement that would sound good. As the only accompanying instrumentalist and not having the range of a piano, playing guitar is hard work (You have to be at least be the guitar and the Bass at the same time and get a groove going without a drummer). The song was God Bless The Child, by Billy Holiday. It all worked out great and the performance was very well received.
That weekend, I went through some old recordings, having enjoyed the playing so much I needed to remind myself that I should pick up my guitar more often and experience the joy of creativity and music. Besides that I always enjoyed playing the smaller settings. As far as musical preferences go, I have never been able to chose for a particular style, I enjoyed it all.
I hope you enjoy the following selection of my recordings.
Jazz
John on his own
I particularly like playing away on my own, whether on or off stage. The challenge of doing it all yourself and being extra vulnerable is such a fantastic experience. This love I can attribute to one man only: Joe Pass, one of the most important influences in my jazz history. So here some solo jazz guitar.
- All of Me, first take, a standard
- Autumn Leaves , already shared in a previous blog, even though played dead almost I love this song
- Lonely Evening, a song written by one of the great masters of chord melody of the Netherlands, Klaus Flenter
- What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life, a fantastic standard that I can not hear to often. I hope you like my solo guitar version and arrangement.
Henk de Ligt & John Dierckx
Just before leaving the Netherlands I recorded some songs with Henk de Ligt, one of Europe's finest bass players and a (musical) friend for many many years. While we had been playing in a band together for about years, we realised that we never recorded any jazz music together. On a few freezing cold days in January, my stuff already packed to go, we managed to get together and record some music in a freezing cold study. That was one very loving and emotional ways of two friends saying goodbye.
- We Will Meet Again, probably the most suitable song title one could imagine for this occasion
- Don't Catch Me, a catchy tune by Klaus Flenter
- What's This Thing Called Love, another great jazz standard
The Christchurch Jazz Connection
Upon arrival and in the period after that I had a chance to work and play with several talented young players from the Jazz School of the Christchurch Polytech. We called it CJC: the Christchurch Jazz Connection. Steve Swanson Drums, Jamie LinfootZach Beard Piano and me, John Dierckx Guitar, Arrangements and Musical Director. Enjoy these great young lions.
Double Bass,
- In a Mellow Tone, in a nice old fashioned groove, trio without drums
- You don't know what Love Is, one of my favorite ballads
Other Styles
Blues
I grew up hearing jazz and blues, real old acoustic blues. In a later stage of my life, I was introduced to Ry Cooder, I loved that Southern touch in his music, the texmex and zydeco. This original I recorded with a copper slide on an acoustic guitar, the umphs are my hand bumping on the body of the guitar for extra low rhythm.
Pop & Rock Internet Collaborations
I have had the joy to have been recording via the internet with two persons I regrettably never met in person. Thinking about social networking, they have been friends ever since we met on the internet. We were one of the first to try this out, and did we have a great time. It was not always hard and it requires a change in attitude compared to playing with a band where you are all together. I am proud to introduce you to John Castellain and Robbi Spencer, two very gifted and dedicated musicians, producers and songwiters.
- John Castellain & John Dierckx, Cosmic Explosion. A song I wrote as technical etude for students that wanted to learn how to play so called various tapping techniques, a very demanding guitar technique. Upon recording it initially, John Castellain came up with some brilliant production and arrangement ideas. This is the result.
- Robbi Spencer & John Dierckx, In Time. A beautiful song written by Robi Spencer, I had the privilege and joy to add the acoustic guitars, all other instruments are Robbi, including the vocals.It is one of my favorite recordings.
No Instruments Needed: John's Sample Experiment
In 2003 I bought my first Audio Studio software, Magix Audio and Mid Studio de Luxe 2003. With it came a whole bunch of royalty free samples that could be used to make your own music. It took me some time before I tried it but upon doing that a new world opened. These are two of these recordings, short songs of just under two minutes, no instruments used, all samples. From nothing to this in a few hours.
- Ooh Lalala, my first hip hop experiment with the samples, which included the raps
- It's hip hop, same experiment
The Promise To Myself
After this weekend, playing feeling the joy and listening back to these old recordings hearing the love and joy I felt when playing, I promised myself I would pick up my guitar more regularly again. It is placed strategically in sight and already played on it since last weekend. WHAT A JOY!!!
I hope you enjoyed listening to this music as I did playing it.
Your support would be appreciated
|
|
|
Thursday, 31 May 07 - 10:32 AM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Music |
| ||
A message from Anders Anderson, my good friend in Sweden
DJ Anders on MTV Selected
As you might know: Music is my premier media and language to transfer what has emerged as the "core" of my "sustainopreneurial message": Joy of Life.
Thus, I want to transfer this joy as far as it can get, and primarily by "be the change I want to see" - in the DJ booth spreading love vibes! A significant step in this direction I did following my intuition yesterday, when I finally decided to participate in MTV Selected - a Scandinavian hunt for DJ Talents, running on a new social media platform (competitor to MySpace) called Trig. (Worth a peek in itself, in fact).
So - If you want to help my musical mission and cause, please consider to use either 30 seconds - or maybe maximum 15 minutes of your valuable time to digest the following!
Here is the deal - DEADLINE IS TOMORROW:
1. Go to http://www.mtv.se/selected - there you find a list of mixes in the competition, now in total up to 300 from Scandinavia - Sweden (around 200 of them), Norway and Denmark
2. You see my mix 15-minute mix contribution @ PuLSating Beats: MTV Selected - DJ Anders at the front page list
3. If you want to explore my musical mission and a description of the mix together with the tracklist - see my profile at http://trig.com/djanders ( that is also linked from the spot where my mix is currently at the moment of writing - on the front page)
4. If you listen to parts of it, or the whole (or just blindly want to support my mission in a 30-second blink ;), just click "Trig!", and the vote lifts the mix a bit up the "recognition list", thus increasing the Jury Attention to the mix
5. The Jury has the final word on who the 6 will be joining the Semifinals in Gothenburg from Swedish DJ's 7th of June, and which two (2) to go to Finals with all Scandinavian participants 20th of June in Stockholm!
Thanks!
Anders Abrahamsson
... More items are available in my News Archive
