I was just recently watching a video i downloaded of Weather Report, They're playing Black Market in Stadthall Offenbach. Where that is. And there's a part where Zawinul is doing a run on the keyboards, but growing up playing piano, I realized. He's going left and the notes are getting higher, what the hell? Is there anyone else who has noticed this? Oh wait sorry, He has 3 keyboards infront of him. He plays the chords on the lower keyboard, and it's the middle one that he is playing...backwards. Can anyone help me on this?
Zawinul wired the keyboard on an Arp 2600 backwards at one point to change his mindset about technique. No joke!!!
I don't know if it is the same video, but I saw this too. Thought I was seeing things at first! I read in an interview that he likes to wire the one keyboard backwards sometimes because it helps him come up with new ideas. I get the idea, but what a freak! Heheh
I can see the point of this - so in Jazz classes it has often been mentioned how you don't want to fall into the trap of playing "visual" patterns that you see on a fretboard or keyboard. So - this would make sure that he was playing what he heard, rather than a keyboard pattern.
Pete Cosey, while with Miles, would re-string his guitar in various configurations....& would reek havoc with the guitarists in the audience. Matt- Some bass book I have suggests re-stringing &/or playing left-handed to get outta ruts. I have never tried either(thought about them)...another 'trick' is reading music from "right-to-left" or "upside down"...the book is flipped over(not you).
