Improvisation Workshop 07-09-06
Improvisation Workshop 07-09-06:Derek Pascoe and the art of fighting:
I like Derek. He seems to be a quietly grounded person. It’s the same feeling I get from most (if not all) people who are satisfied with what they do and comfortable with who they are. His first spoken words, regarding the fact that he has never had to struggle with the torment of not knowing what he wants to do in life, could have been rightly delivered at a life coaching conference. I have known many people who don’t feel they know why they’re here. Some of these people would be grateful to be in Derek’s position right now I’m sure.
The approaches offered by Derek appear to be as open ended as one would like to make them. I think a long period of working in this area, and with other people who are interested in adhering to these loose guidelines may produce some remarkable results. Satisfaction from this approach (and this applies to all forms of group performance in some way) would begin to be attained at a stage when everyone in the group is used to one another, and comfortable with their position within the context. Today there was only one person who I felt was truly comfortable with his position, and that was Derek. Given time, I feel that the other musicians would become less hesitant to express themselves, and really start going for it, like Derek was at times.
It was clear from Derek’s confidence and his words on his own gruelling practice routine, that he has been exploring the potential of ‘free’ music and his own improvisatory skills for a long time. As a student coming to the end of a masters degree in performance, he is also a musician in the rare position of possessing the technique to perform and express himself on his instrument in any way he wants to. I suspect that it is reaching such a high level of proficiency that has driven him to explore realms of the unusual, in the search for new sound and musical experience.
I thought today’s group responded remarkably well to being thrown in the deep end of live performance. It’s hard enough when you have something well rehearsed, let alone just getting up there and winging it, in front of many sets of critical eyes. I particularly enjoyed the vocal mashing, and the glissando duel between bass, slide guitar and saxophone was another highlight……..
FIGHT! (4.6 MB Mp3)
Reference:
Derek Pascoe. “Improvisation Workshop”. (Workshop presented at EMU Space and Studio five, 5th floor Schulz building, University of Adelaide). 07-09-2006
posted by David J Dowling @ 3:57 PM
2 Comments:
Quote: "As a student coming to the end of a masters degree in performance, he is also a musician in the rare position of possessing the technique to perform and express himself on his instrument in any way he wants to."
I agree completely, in fact it only just occurred to me today when thinking about it what an amazing level of control and proficiency he exhibited with the saxophone. Despite the vastly different angle he was taking with improvisation, I could tell he was still having fun with it... while very much aware of the contrasts being created between his musical output and others. This left quite an impression for me, because he didn't come across as being elitist or separate from us, but genuinely trying to meld his own approach with ours.
It's late - I hope that made sense... well it did to me anyway.
Aye, couldn't have put it better myself. Check out the Mp3 I've just put up, it certainly captured alot of Derek mania, you were a bit low in the mix however.........never be afraid to turn up louder than everyone else - as a guitariist it's your prerogative!
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