Archive for the '7 Questions' category

7 Questions with Jake Cinninger from Umphrey’s McGee

Sep 23 2009 Published by Jason Shadrick under 7 Questions, Twitter

Jake_Umphreys_NewOur next participant in the 7 Questions project is one of my favorite guitarists on the “jamband” scene.  Jake Cinninger is currently the guitarist in jamband via prog rock outfit Umphrey’s McGee.  They tour A LOT, so make sure to check out a show next time they are around.

An interesting side project for Jake has been OHMPHREY which pairs him up for an improv heavy album with Chris Poland (OHM, Megadeth).

Describe your first experience playing music.

The first real memory I have is when I was about four years I played with Tommy Shaw, from Styx.  He was living in my hometown of Niles, MI and my parents were friends with him.  There was a party at my parent’s place and Tommy was playing Beatles by the campfire and I dragged my whole drum set out from my bedroom and joined in.

What has been your most significant musical experience?

I have had a lot of significant experiences, but just this last summer, two late night shows at Rothbury Music Festival.  As far as the eye could see were little heads and Umphrey’s never sounded so tight and proud.  I remember walking off the stage at 5AM feeling like we had connected better than ever, it was great.
What was the best advice you pursuing a career in music you were ever given?

To create something new, you have to fall on your face once in awhile, get up, scape off the bad bits, and go back to the drawing board.  Great songs are like great stories, you need more than one draft.

What is your favorite sound?

My dog does a mean John Coltrane impersonation, she sounds just like a sax when she is happy to see me, it is my favorite sound.

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.

My parents and wife, the rest really are musical.

What is the most memorable concert you ever attended?

Todd Rundgren’s Adventures in Utopia Tour 1980 in South Bend, IN.
Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that appear.
She’s got Balls, AC/DC
Great King Rat, Queen
Nobody’s Fault but Mine, Led Zeppelin
Brand New Morning, Bob Seger
Burnin’ For You, Blue Oyster Cult.

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7 Questions with Mary Halvorson

Sep 17 2009 Published by Jason Shadrick under 7 Questions, Guitar

A big reason I wanted to start the 7 Questions project is to enlighten some of my readers to musicians who deserve wider
recognition.  Mary Halvorson is a guitarist who has recently gained some critical attention, but still unknown to a large audience.
Originally from Boston she gravitated to more avant garde jazz music at an early age. She then went to Wesleyan University where
she met an important mentor in Anthony Braxton.
Mary’s style is equal parts angular and melodic.This gives her music an interesting feel but it also doesn’t become repettitve. I
have yet to see Mary live, but hope to real soon.  Currently she is residing in Brooklyn and gigs all over.  Make sure to check her
website and pick up her latest disc, Dragon’s Head on Firehouse 12 Records.
Describe your first experience playing music.
Sad to say, I honestly don’t remember. I played classical violin from ages 7-11, so likely it was something to do with the violin.
The Violin Years are a blur. However, I do remember my first gig on guitar. It was at Berklee College of Music summer program when
I was probably fifteen. We were playing Little Sunflower by Freddie Hubbard. I was so nervous and my hands were sweating so much
that my pick slipped out of my fingers and fell on the floor.
What has been your most significant musical experience?
Meeting and playing music with Anthony Braxton.
What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?
Have low expectations.
What is your favorite sound?
Church bells.
Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.
Astrology and cities.
What was the most memorable concert you ever attended?
Probably the Art Ensemble of Chicago in Boston when I was a teenager. It was doubly memorable because I was with my father and it
was his most memorable concert as well. It opened up a whole world for both of us.
Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that appear
“Mean Old World” by Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers
“Are you Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley
“Divining a Hot Spot” by Gorge Trio
“A Night in Tunisia” by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
“Madness” by Miles Davis

A big reason I wanted to start the 7 Questions project is to enlighten some of my readers to musicians who deserve wider recognition.  Mary Halvorson is a guitarist who has recently gained some critical attention, but still unknown to a large audience. Originally from Boston she gravitated to more avant garde jazz music at an early age. She then went to Wesleyan University where she met an important mentor in Anthony Braxton.

Mary’s style is equal parts angular and melodic.This gives her music an interesting feel but it also doesn’t become repettitve. I have yet to see Mary live, but hope to real soon.  Currently she is rMaryHalvorsonesiding in Brooklyn and gigs all over.  Make sure to check her website and pick up her latest disc, Dragon’s Head on Firehouse 12 Records.

Describe your first experience playing music.

Sad to say, I honestly don’t remember. I played classical violin from ages 7-11, so likely it was something to do with the violin. The Violin Years are a blur. However, I do remember my first gig on guitar. It was at Berklee College of Music summer program when I was probably fifteen. We were playing Little Sunflower by Freddie Hubbard. I was so nervous and my hands were sweating so much that my pick slipped out of my fingers and fell on the floor.

What has been your most significant musical experience?

Meeting and playing music with Anthony Braxton.

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?

Have low expectations.

What is your favorite sound?

Church bells.

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.

Astrology and cities.

What was the most memorable concert you ever attended?

Probably the Art Ensemble of Chicago in Boston when I was a teenager. It was doubly memorable because I was with my father and it was his most memorable concert as well. It opened up a whole world for both of us.

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that appear

“Mean Old World” by Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers

“Are you Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley

“Divining a Hot Spot” by Gorge Trio

“A Night in Tunisia” by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers

“Madness” by Miles Davis

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7 Questions with Stu Hamm

Sep 15 2009 Published by Jason Shadrick under 7 Questions, Guitar

I wanted to get Stu in on the 7 Questions project from the beginning because he is such a great guy to work with and his playing is beyond comprehension.  In between tours with guys like Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale and his incredibly busy clinic schedule, he was gracious enough to participate.

Describe your first experience playing music.
I got a drumset from Sears for Xmas when I was maybe 4…a bass drum with sailboats on it, a snare, triangle and woodblock.My parents woke me up to play at the stroke of midnight at their new Years Eve Party

Stu
What has been your most significant musical experience?
Playing at the Oaklawn Illinois State Jazz Band competition with the Edison Middle School Stage band…a band director from another school came up to me after we played an told me that I had a special gift for the bass and to stick with it,,,that meant so much to me when I was 14 years old…

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?
Practice a lot and be original

What is your favorite sound?
The sound of my wife and daughter laughing

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.
Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, Buddha, Larry Bird

What is the most memorable concert you ever attended?
When I heard Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) play when i lived in Germany in 1981….it activated something in my genes, and i realized that we all came from Africa long ago, and I remembered it.

Put your iPod on shuffle and name the first 5 songs that come up.
prelude 8 in D sharp..Glen Gould plays the well tempered clavier book 2
no9s Vamos Juntos by Jaguares
I get a kick out of you…Clifford Brown Fortune teller…the who live at Leeds
bass blues…Carole Kaye..the first lady on bass

Keep up with Stu at stuarthamm.net

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7 Questions with Pete Huttlinger

Sep 10 2009 Published by Jason Shadrick under 7 Questions

There are musicians out there who really get to the heart of what it means to make music.  It seems to just flow through them no matter what the setting.  Several months ago I had the chance to finally see one of my all time guitar heroes up close.  Pete Huttlinger is a National Champion Fingerstyle guitarist who just released a collection of Stevie Paul Schatzkin photoWonder songs arranged for solo guitar.

Pete was gracious enough to participate after just returning home from a tour of Germany.

Describe your first experience playing music.

The first place I played was Shakey’s Pizza in Walnut Creek, Ca. My mom would take me there and I’d sit in and play banjo on a few tunes. The first place I made money was playing square dances in Danville, Ca. Both gigs were on banjo. The square dances were great fun because it was all about community. The caller, the dancers, the band. We were all in it together. Even though I mostly play solo these days, my favorite thing is to play music with other people.

What has been your most significant musical experience?

There have been many but the biggest has to be playing solo at Carnegie Hall. I was opening for 1964 – The Tribute ( a Beatles tribute band). I had lots and lots of family and friends in the audience. It went well, I hit it out of the ball park, and now I’m returning on January 9, 2010 to do it again!

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?

My mom grew up in the post-depression era and when I was 15 years old she said, “Pete, play music because when times are good people want it. And when times are bad, they need it. She’s been 100% right.

What is your favorite sound?

Two actually – water and birds.

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.

My brothers, my mom, my brother-in-law and anyone one who has taken the time to show me the right way to do something. The new testament is pretty amazing too. I’m not deeply religious but when you read it, it’s really a no-brainer. It’s all good information.

What was the most memorable concert you ever attended?

That would probably be one of Bill Graham’s famous Day On The Green concerts in Oakland, Ca. I won 3 pair of tickets from the radio. My brother and his girlfriend drove me and three friends to see Steve Miller, Heart, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, The Eagles & Foreigner. All the groups were all over the radio at the time so it was an amazing day for a 15 year-old kid.

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that appear

The theme to Alfred Hitchcock Presents (From Television’s Greatest Hits), Mean Old Man (James Taylor), Just Friends (Amy Winehouse), Blues For TJ ( Larry Carlton), Sweet Lorraine (Joe Pass)

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7 Questions with Albert Lee

Sep 07 2009 Published by Jason Shadrick under 7 Questions

As one of the most influential guitarists in country music, Albert Lee needs no introduction.  From his early years in Emmylou Harris’ band (replacing his hero James Burton, who left to play with Elvis Presley) to his time with Eric Clapton, Albert has spent time playing with some of the most well respected musicans around.  Currently he is spending his time working on solo material and playing in Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings.Albert against wall

Describe your first experience playing music.

That would be thumping away at the piano at the age of 9, I took lessons shortly after but dropped them because I rarely practiced.

What has been your most significant musical experience?

Some memorable concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London playing with The Everly Bros, Concert for George and Spinal Tap.

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?

That everyone has something to offer no matter how good a player they are.

What is your favorite sound?

50s/60s V12 Ferrari.

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.

Mum and Dad.

What was the most memorable concert you ever attended?

Many, but a recent solo concert by Bruce Hornsby in Malibu springs to mind.

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first five songs that appear.

Handel’s Messiah: The People that walked in darkness. Trevor Pinnock

Chopin Etude #2 Pollini

Brandenburg Concerto #3 Allessandrini.

Glory: Lonnie Donegan

Don’t like goodbyes: Frank Sinatra

To find out more about Albert, visit www.albertleeandhogansheroes.com.

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