Commitment…

Meet Editor Jake Kot –

We here at BMM hope you’re enjoying the new format we’ve undertaken. It’s always a bit risky changing your presentation on the net, as familiarity and consistency always seem to evoke a sense of trust. But keeping our readers informed, and in a perfect world enlightened on a regular basis was my vision for this mag from day one, and our new approach helps facilitate that agenda, especially with this format giving our readers the opportunity to leave comments on any of our articles… we welcome your thoughts.

With the ongoing challenge to keep positive forward momentum in the business of music these days, that I’m sure many of us feel, the quest for “insight” seems to be rising to the top of our priority lists, and I’ll personally try to keep that thought at the top of “our” priority list. More than ever in our current economic status, how to move ahead “artistically” as well as financially seems to be the question of the day. I’d like to offer a one word solution to this enigma… commitment. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from author Peter Drucker on commitment, “Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; no plans.”

Many of the artists we’ve featured over the last three years in my opinion have embodied this personal dynamic of keeping shall I say, true to the art, which can be challenging with a sociocultural strategy out there these days that seems to be designed to “not” have you look at what is important for yourself through your eyes. But their commitment to their art seems to be the backbone of their longevity. It’s easy for me to feel justified in a statement like that as I’ve just received brand new CD’s for review from Anthony Jackson, Stanley Clarke, and Jeff Berlin. I’ve interviewed all three of these artists, and I promise you their commitment to their musical vision stands firm, right to present day. The how and why, which all of them very clearly and passionately speak of represents the “insight” I spoke of earlier, that we can all learn from and hopefully apply. That kind of knowledge coupled with a sense of commitment in my eyes represents a pretty hip strategy for anyone to consider as far as expanding their workability in the market with no loss of personal integrity.

Challenging… you bet. Worth the challenge… that’s up to you and your pledge to this construct called commitment. What I “can” promise you from my chair is that I’ll keep “my” commitment to providing as much insight as possible to you the reader in as many areas of the bass world as I can to hopefully assist in the journey you have, or are about to take… a tough road, but well worth it from this players perspective.

Best,

Jake Kot, Editor