i n f l u e n c e s
As a guitarist
Bill Frisell, Brent Mason, Ed Bickert, Jeff Beck, Jim Hall, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Robben Ford, Wayne Krantz, Wes Montgomery
Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis who said "the notes you don't play are as important as the one's you do play". Melody and space are such a huge part of my musical identity as a player. Also creating your own sound on your instrument is everything for me. I have blended
country bends into my jazz lines but also making it bluesy and melodic... I hope.
More About The Instrument
I love the guitar because it's really the portable orchestra and is in every genre of music except maybe opera. It's the full deal, harmony, melody and rhythm. I also love the fact that you can bend strings, which is a huge part of my playing, and create the in between notes
that no other can do. Bending strings really creates a vocal quality that I love.
That's what I have been working on for a long time. When I hear myself, for better or worse, I know it's me and that's very satisfying. Phew, one piece of the huge musical puzzle kind of taken care of. I also feel that there is so much to learn about music, how I fit into that
and the endless untapped potential that music and guitar has to offer, that I need to constantly be practising, researching, listening, collaborating with other and defining who I am as a musician that I need to practice all the time. I'm still in the woodshed and will be
until I'm not able to be. Music and the guitar is a very intriguing and satisfying journey of constant discovery.
f a v o u r i t e s
Favourite Concert
"Pat Metheny Group" at Massey Hall in Toronto. Wow, what can you say about Pat that hasn't already been said but he is one of my favourite musicians of all time.
Honourable mentions? More than a few. "Tedeschi Trucks Band" is another very memorable performance. I actually have seen them twice, once at Massey Hall in Toronto and once at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver and both times they were so in the moment and not the least
bit choreographed. Derek Trucks is such a force to be reckoned with on guitar plus Susan Tedeschi is such an incredible singer. The Michael Brecker Band w/Mike Stern really influenced me at an important part of my musical journey. I saw them a few times. Twice in Edmonton and
once at the Commodore in Vancouver. Mike Stern was a big influence on my, along with Scofield, Metheny, Robben Ford, Wayne Krantz (who I studied with) Bill Frisell, John Abercrombie (who I also studied with), Brent Mason, Ed Bickert, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck....
Favourite Music DVDs
Also Pat Metheny "Nothing Persona" Michael Brecker's first record.
Favourite Solo
David Gilmour Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd)
Honourable mentions? Larry Carleton "Kid Charlemagne" (Steely Dan), Wayne Krantz "The Great Pagoda of Funn" (Donald Fagen) Mark Knopfler "Sultans of Swing" (Dire Straits) Keith Jarrett "All the Things You Are" (Standards Vol. 1) come to mind.