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Why Is Music Important? by B.A. Johnson
When I was first asked by my friend Jake Kot to write a piece about the importance of music, I wasn’t sure how to go about the task. So, I began a period of “free-style rambling” that slowly coalesced into a stream of thought that seemed viable enough to share with our readers at Bass Musician Magazine! I also thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to create a new series for the magazine in which I would ask the same questions to members of the writing team and other notable bassists in our community – in order to compare answers from influential players, across the spectrum of genre, and over a period of time! HMMM… This might be more fun that I bargained for! That said the daunting task of interviewing myself remained. So, here are my thoughts on the subject…
Who are your primary musical influences?
Wow. Uh… do you mean today?! (Laughter) As far as bassists are concerned, I would like to site Michel Alibo, Jaco Pastorius, John Patitucci, Jimmy Haslip, Richard Bona, Otiel Burbridge, MeShell NdegeOcello, Matthew Garrison, Tony Grey and Janek Gwizdala as the bassist I find myself listening to most often this past decade. Wayne Krantz, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Sphere Monk, Steve Khan, and a bunch of others round out my “favorite musicians” list.
Having said that… I have to say my earliest favorite tunes were “All Right Now” by Free, and “Turn Down Day” by The Cyrkle! I love RUSH, Yes, and a lot of rock in addition to Sly & The Family Stone, EW&F, Mandrill and what became the fallout music of black society in the 1960’s through the mid-1970’s. I really dig MeShell because her approach reminds me most of that time in musical history. Another favorite group that reminds me of that time-period would be Aquarium Rescue Unit. I’ve always really dug that fusion of American musical genres that produces its own genre! Living Colour struck a chord with me… But, it also reminded me to re-listen to the Bus Boys, Mother’s Finest, and Rare Earth!
Americans have a memory problem, it appears… America is the home of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, bluegrass, R&B, soul, funk… and jazz!
The “British Invasion” of the 1960’s handed “race music” back to white teenagers who weren’t being allowed to listen to it due to societal stigma and racism. Now, we have groups like Sixun handing American “jazz fusion” back to us – because in the US there’s no place to play, nor hardly a means to make a living as a musician in this country! America has never felt the need to cherish its contribution to the world’s musical lexicon. Very sad.
Music, American music, is a cultural facet we simply cannot afford to lose! What happens after there’s nothing to see but big-screen TV’s and pool tables? Jazz Clubs are nearly non-existent, and the Blues Bar is swiftly following suit. American Idol is how the average American understands music and musicianship.
How does your personal musical voice directly relate to the function of the basses? Also, what are your main instruments?
Man, I love to sing via the structure and function of the basses! In my dreams I sound like a great singer – like ARU’s Paul Henson with Michael McDonald’s range! (Laughter) I also love the sound of Anita Baker’s voice! Anita, Tony Bennett, and Bobby McFerrin (talk about range and depth!) are those singers I find myself most typically attempting to emulate when soloing!
Bobby McFerrin’s “BangZoom” CD changed my life! I sat with that disc for an entire summer and learned every vocal phrase and bass line. Jimmy Haslip kills on that disc!
I still play my weathered, old Fender J bass on sessions! But, I’ve been blessed to play my fretted and fretless Vinciguerra Custom Shop “BAJ Signature” 6-string basses for the past several months! I also have a beautiful Status Graphite S2 fretted 6-string. All the 6’s are tuned from low F# to high G, omitting the high C string of the typical contrabass guitar format. I converted to that tuning a couple years ago, and I’m very happy with how that’s affected my approach to the bass guitars. I also truly love my Sturnal acoustic contrabass. So much so, that I’ve named her, “Hattie Belle”.
Learning basic music theory, studying piano, and spending time with some of the music I’ve studied, over the years, has helped me in every aspect of my life! Like most people, I am comprised of guilt, debilitating failures, and embarrassment! (Laughter) Music has helped me cope with how difficult life can be! Along the way, the study and practice of music has deeply shaped the way I see the world, politics, the arts, and people in general.
Music also provides me with a great deal of hope, and I would be a complete wreck without the loudly playing musical soundtrack of my life that accompanies me on a daily basis! Humorously, each of my closest friends has also confessed to having a “life soundtrack”! I’ll often stop and ask them, “what’s playing right now?” as we chat about random topics. It’s very telling to learn what someone else is thinking, musically!
Composition, for me, usually begins with a melody line – about 80% of the time. Other times, it begins with a completely random sound, or series of rhythmic noises – like a breaking semi, or hearing a train in the near distance. Other times, still, it’s a bass line or rhythmic figure that I’ll then work with until I can articulate the sound I’m hearing.
From that point, I’ll either begin searching for a sequence of upper register chords on the bass guitar. Or, I’ll begin working with a keyboard. My process is very organic and a lot like painting. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve attempted to write one piece of music, only to see an entirely different piece of music into fruition! Again, its all about expression and tone. I’m a tone freak!
Music allows me to articulate my environment beyond words! I’m not attempting to suggest a feeling to another person as much as I’m attempting to speak to something deep within myself.
How does music affect your culture and immediate environment?
My teenage daughter and I were laughing about a commercial, and she mentioned that the first stanza of the WHO’s “Teenage Wasteland” would have been a ‘perfect’ way to capture the mood the commercial was failing to present! She was absolutely correct from my perspective!! Music continues to be the medium through which my family and I communicate ideas to one another. My children are very secure in their ideas (and imaginations) as a result of being life-long, avid music listeners! Humorously, both my children tilt their heads when they’re listening deeply – to sounds, conversation, as well as to music. I do that.
What would you be, if not a professional musician?
A music critic, or a music teacher in Academia! (Laughter) Actually, I’ve not thought a lot about it. I believe that musician is something you are… not something you do. I’ve met a lot of musicians who are in a life-struggle to do music and it is painful to watch! It’s like watching someone do loving…
Describe your practice regimen. Also, what technical aspects of your paying are you currently working on?
I practice playing “Hattie Belle” and my 6-string fretless almost every day. After running through scales, modes and arpeggios, I play through solos and pieces of music I’ve learned. At this time, I’m running “Donna Lee”, “Spain”, and Gary Willis’ “Speak” regularly. I also think its important to spend time just playing the instruments. Often I’ll play to drum sequences and “dance it out”! I’ve never been sorry that I rolled tape while sketching in that way!
Technically, I’m really working with my plucking hand approach in hopes of incorporating more of that articulation Matt Garrison and a few others are able to execute so profoundly! As in all things I attempt, it’ll have my stamp on it… and it certainly will never be a direct copy of anyone’s technique. Music allows me to work with my hands in a way that becomes my self-expression more and more.
What does music, and being a musician, mean to you – at the deepest level of your being?
More than a great deal! Beyond my faith, and my relationship with my wife and children (through which music and my personal musical concept has been invaluable) music is the immediate “next need” in my ability to cope with the world and all the potential negatives that constitute that idea.
How important is it to understand the Language of music?
Absolutely necessary – as much as possible! That is not to say that a person should become a “theory geek” to articulate their ideas. No. But, in working with music on a deeply intrinsic level, we can understand music beyond words. Having said that, I have personally found benefit in hearing music and understanding somewhat its composition from a technical standpoint. For me, life is a “sound quest”! The first time I heard the Beatle’s “Here Comes The Sun” I had to learn why that E7 chord affected me so deeply! Placement! Viola! That chord, and the subsequent G6 / Dadd9 / G6 / Dadd9 / A7 passage made me want to make those sounds! I was 5-years old and I remember it vividly!
Was I destined to become a musician? Or, does music speak that deeply to all children?
I love watching young children respond to music. Any music! I never want to lose that feeling of awe that I remember having while listening to the constantly present radio, or my parents’ record player. All revolutions are plotted to music, and that’s how important music is!
How do you collect the series of seemingly random influences and articulate them through music?
Listening. Listening always happens first. Like many musicians, I listening as deeply as I can to everything I can. From there, it becomes about “making that sound”, or articulating that vibe…
Can music ever truly become commercial? Why, or why not?
I don’t believe so. Music can be used to label a commercial movement. But, sooner or later, the music will change and the movement will be left – particularly negative movements against humanity. Sooner, or later, pop music will change its mind about everything it’s become over the past decade. We evolve, and music evolves with us.
Who do you feel would have great answers to these questions?
Let’s find out…!!