Curious about your thoughts...

[johncg]

Hey Janek,

I am a huge, huge fan of bassist Josh Werner. Best known as bassist, co-writer, and musical director of Matisyahu, I know he has been living and playing in NYC for roughly the last ten years.

I was just wondering if you've ever run across him in your listening/being around New York, and if you had any thoughts about his playing.

I really can't figure out exactly what it is that I love so much about him. I've never heard him play incredibly sophisticated or technically demanding music, and he doesn't seem to be hugely innovative or revolutionary. But he's just very solid and has a unique voice.

I guess I'm just amazed that he impresses me so much with doing so little. Also, I think it says something about the way I think of music that I can't easily reconcile why one of my favorite players isn't a trailblazer of modern music or a totally killin' improvisor (though while I've never heard him improvise, he may very well be great at that, too).

I've certainly already discussed similar thoughts in this forum so I apologize if I am being too redundant.

Either way, thanks again for the forum and for being an inspiration!

peace,

jg

[janekbass]

I'm not familiar with Josh's work personally, although I've heard a lot of matisyahu stuff and I think it's killing.

It's really interesting how we are moved by music, and how it doesn't have to some blazing thing full of chops and energy to really touch you.

I'm most moved by singer/songwriters right now, and some of that is the most simple harmonic and melodic music in the modern era. It's really a matter of taste, and a question of where your mind is at when you're listening to something. It's something that changes, evolves, and, if you're lucky, continues to inspire you. Long may that last.

Easy,

Janek

[Snarf]

I feel this too, man. I play a lot of jazz and I've worked on my chops a lot, reading notation, charts, everything I can find. And though I love listening to cats like Eldar, Brecker, hell basically everyone, I always can come back to the music that moves me the most . . . the music of Rush and Blue Oyster Cult. There's so many others too, but those two bands hold a mystique for me that everything else that I love doesn't.

[Sorax]

Nick Drake does it to me.

[johncg]

It's amazing the different things we can be inspired by.

I read Mike Stern saying in an interview that you would be hanging out with Miles and he would start talking about playing with Bird, and then two hours later he would be describing the first time he heard Hendrix and be just as excited.

It's good to be open...