Thanks for this newsletter, Janek. At 58, I remain inspired by JP's body of work since I first heard him perform with the Elektric Band in 1986 at SUNY Buffalo, where I was a business student. Coming out of the Jaco era, I was floored by this as yet unknown 20-something, playing bass in a fresh way on a bass with "too many" strings. I still have the signed copy of the first CCEB release I bought at that show, after which I ran back to my dorm and stayed up late to write out Got A Match. Even though you are ten years my junior, you have also been a tremendous inspiration for me, with your playing, instructional approach and materials, many of which I have purchased and use every day. I went to Berklee later, in my early 30s, where you and I were in the same class for one day with instructor Paul Del Nero. I'll never forget the first-day assessment, when he asked each student to blow on a blues. When it got to you, everyone's jaw hit the floor. Paul asked you to stay after the class, and that was the last time I saw you, LOL! Great to see you succeed in your well-deserved career! Cheers!
Wow, that's a crazy blast from the past, and it might be the only time I went to that class... I was a pretty terrible student on paper in terms of actually showing up. I was always home practicing or in the practice rooms. Sometimes just a few feet away from the class I should probably have been in. 🤦♀️
Thank you for your time Janek. I’m eagerly await your ii V I, Altered Scales and the new book you’ve written. I’ve been listening to JP for over 40 years and have always been fascinated by his evolution as a musician and composer, kind of scratching my head as I wonder how this comes about for you guys. I’m an anesthesiologist and thus I’ve always grabbed a text book and grinded away at assimilating technical details and skills. I’ve just started my bass playing journey with bassist/instructor Matthew Rubano, and I’m learning that becoming a musician bassist is anything but just picking up a book. Thanks for your books, and hopefully I’ll see you next week at the Baked Potato with Mike and Dennis. Cheers. Dwain
Sincerest thanks, Janek, for (as always) this thoughtful response. I think one of the lifelong frustrations for me has been a departure from studying music as a kid and traveling the path of becoming an anesthesiologist. My dad was a prominent surgeon in south Florida, so that was that. There’s relevance here because I think most of my frustrations have come from trying to learn the instrument the same way I learned to practice anesthesiology, and that is the academic approach with textbooks and clinical application. I’ve yet to find an instructor with that approach. I’m in the Blueprint with Matthew Rubano and we have dialed everything back to the basics, starting with two octave major scales all over the entirety of the fretboard. I have always felt there were deficits in my knowledge without these fundamental skills. I have been listening to Miles and Weather Report since I was in fifth grade and played in a jazz trio with John Medeski and my bestie, a drummer who passed away a few years ago. That said, I can hear and sing a TON of parts in the songs from memory. This is where your books come in…just download the concepts over time, and dump them in the mixer we call the subconscious and I’ll be off and running. Hopefully I’ll get to meet you at the Baked Potato one of the days.
Janek. Quick question. With your vast library of instructional books and videos, do you think it’s possible to get through this material in several years without formal instruction? Of course, I realize that having command of it is the journey of a lifetime.
I think you can look at it a couple of different ways. There is stuff in all the books that you can literally start using on gigs within a few days or a week if you have the time to spend working on it enough hours a day. And then there are things that probably won't click the way you want them to for years. I know that's been the case for me with everything I've worked on in my career, and it's impossible to predict which things are going to work better for which people.
Like you said, it's really all about the journey, and I would encourage you to put as little pressure on yourself as possible.
Thanks! I'm using the Trickfish Minnow preamp and powered speakers now for a lot of my gigs and I am really liking the sound and versatility of set up options.
Thanks for this newsletter, Janek. At 58, I remain inspired by JP's body of work since I first heard him perform with the Elektric Band in 1986 at SUNY Buffalo, where I was a business student. Coming out of the Jaco era, I was floored by this as yet unknown 20-something, playing bass in a fresh way on a bass with "too many" strings. I still have the signed copy of the first CCEB release I bought at that show, after which I ran back to my dorm and stayed up late to write out Got A Match. Even though you are ten years my junior, you have also been a tremendous inspiration for me, with your playing, instructional approach and materials, many of which I have purchased and use every day. I went to Berklee later, in my early 30s, where you and I were in the same class for one day with instructor Paul Del Nero. I'll never forget the first-day assessment, when he asked each student to blow on a blues. When it got to you, everyone's jaw hit the floor. Paul asked you to stay after the class, and that was the last time I saw you, LOL! Great to see you succeed in your well-deserved career! Cheers!
Wow, that's a crazy blast from the past, and it might be the only time I went to that class... I was a pretty terrible student on paper in terms of actually showing up. I was always home practicing or in the practice rooms. Sometimes just a few feet away from the class I should probably have been in. 🤦♀️
Thank you for your time Janek. I’m eagerly await your ii V I, Altered Scales and the new book you’ve written. I’ve been listening to JP for over 40 years and have always been fascinated by his evolution as a musician and composer, kind of scratching my head as I wonder how this comes about for you guys. I’m an anesthesiologist and thus I’ve always grabbed a text book and grinded away at assimilating technical details and skills. I’ve just started my bass playing journey with bassist/instructor Matthew Rubano, and I’m learning that becoming a musician bassist is anything but just picking up a book. Thanks for your books, and hopefully I’ll see you next week at the Baked Potato with Mike and Dennis. Cheers. Dwain
Sincerest thanks, Janek, for (as always) this thoughtful response. I think one of the lifelong frustrations for me has been a departure from studying music as a kid and traveling the path of becoming an anesthesiologist. My dad was a prominent surgeon in south Florida, so that was that. There’s relevance here because I think most of my frustrations have come from trying to learn the instrument the same way I learned to practice anesthesiology, and that is the academic approach with textbooks and clinical application. I’ve yet to find an instructor with that approach. I’m in the Blueprint with Matthew Rubano and we have dialed everything back to the basics, starting with two octave major scales all over the entirety of the fretboard. I have always felt there were deficits in my knowledge without these fundamental skills. I have been listening to Miles and Weather Report since I was in fifth grade and played in a jazz trio with John Medeski and my bestie, a drummer who passed away a few years ago. That said, I can hear and sing a TON of parts in the songs from memory. This is where your books come in…just download the concepts over time, and dump them in the mixer we call the subconscious and I’ll be off and running. Hopefully I’ll get to meet you at the Baked Potato one of the days.
Cheers.
Dwain
Janek. Quick question. With your vast library of instructional books and videos, do you think it’s possible to get through this material in several years without formal instruction? Of course, I realize that having command of it is the journey of a lifetime.
Thanks.
Dwain Hamilton
I think you can look at it a couple of different ways. There is stuff in all the books that you can literally start using on gigs within a few days or a week if you have the time to spend working on it enough hours a day. And then there are things that probably won't click the way you want them to for years. I know that's been the case for me with everything I've worked on in my career, and it's impossible to predict which things are going to work better for which people.
Like you said, it's really all about the journey, and I would encourage you to put as little pressure on yourself as possible.
How was John Patitucci amplifying his electric bass at Zipper Hall concert? Thanks!!
Russ Rodgers
Through a monitor only. It was brutal for the low end, but the high register sang out as it always does.
Thanks! I'm using the Trickfish Minnow preamp and powered speakers now for a lot of my gigs and I am really liking the sound and versatility of set up options.