Post by Zadoc on Dec 14, 2004 8:27:22 GMT -5
While writing my latest MySpace.com blog entry, I felt that I should repost it here for those of you who avoid MySpace.com for whatever reasoning. Approaching two years of my partnership with good friend and bassist extraordinaire Azriel Mordecai and in light of recent events, I posted the following, which can also be found in it's original context here.
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Bass Player
I think one of the best compliments I enjoy recieving is when one of our own is recognised for being somewhat sought after. My best friend and bassist Az seems to be in a pretty good light these days... No, he didn't win a Grammy (or in Syracuse, NY here, a SAMMY) or anything, but the fact that he's been approached by a few other bands for either full or part-time employment has made me nervous, proud, humored, and a tad bit conceited all at the same time.
Thankfully for me and the sake of our band, he turned down a fairly nice offering recently which could have netted him a bit more of a paycheck in a slightly more high profile band. He stated to me that one his reasons is because of the freedoms he has in our project to express himself musically - which makes me honored and proud.
It's such an awesome feeling knowing that finally Az is getting the credit he so rightly deserves for being such an awesome showman, workhorse, and a fine musician. He truly is a gifted man that I'm so proud to be sharing the stage with.
For different reasons, both him and I were almost at the ends of our musical ropes (or should I say strings??) when we ran crossed paths about two years ago after not having seen eachother for a few years.
One of the first times I met Az, back when I was a tender age of 21 and he was still in highschool, he purchased one of my poorly made demo tapes and within weeks proudly told me that his band was doing a cover of one of our songs. Seven years later when we crossed paths again he still had that same damned demo and had learned a few more of the songs contained within.
It's an odd sensation when you've got someone in your band that grew up admiring your work and years later the tables turn towards you being the one adorning the admiration. Needless to say it was pretty awkward first few months upon his arrival to the band, especially considering some of the hurdles that got thrust our way early on.
Our keyboardist quit on us the day before one of our first shows together, a former guitar player harassed us at a club and told him to "die", we played our first few shows together as a two piece - backed only by a drum machine led sequence track, and we searched for a drummer together. All in our first three months together.
The fact that he stuck through all those virtual speed bumps and still put on a bad ass performance and helped shaped the songs as if they were his own (which I rightly feel they are at this point) cemented a bond between us that I hope will remain for many years to come.
Slowly but surely, with the aid of our drummer Carmen Giocondo, we've become a tight enough lineup to begin to embark into new territory. After our first recording session together as a group is completed we'll be finally venturing into writing new material together as a band.
Despite what he might lay claim to downplay his talent, without Az I'm not sure if I'd still be involved in the music business...and I have a hunch that the feeling is somewhat mutual through his eyes as well.
I think one of the best compliments I enjoy recieving is when one of our own is recognised for being somewhat sought after. My best friend and bassist Az seems to be in a pretty good light these days... No, he didn't win a Grammy (or in Syracuse, NY here, a SAMMY) or anything, but the fact that he's been approached by a few other bands for either full or part-time employment has made me nervous, proud, humored, and a tad bit conceited all at the same time.
Thankfully for me and the sake of our band, he turned down a fairly nice offering recently which could have netted him a bit more of a paycheck in a slightly more high profile band. He stated to me that one his reasons is because of the freedoms he has in our project to express himself musically - which makes me honored and proud.
It's such an awesome feeling knowing that finally Az is getting the credit he so rightly deserves for being such an awesome showman, workhorse, and a fine musician. He truly is a gifted man that I'm so proud to be sharing the stage with.
For different reasons, both him and I were almost at the ends of our musical ropes (or should I say strings??) when we ran crossed paths about two years ago after not having seen eachother for a few years.
One of the first times I met Az, back when I was a tender age of 21 and he was still in highschool, he purchased one of my poorly made demo tapes and within weeks proudly told me that his band was doing a cover of one of our songs. Seven years later when we crossed paths again he still had that same damned demo and had learned a few more of the songs contained within.
It's an odd sensation when you've got someone in your band that grew up admiring your work and years later the tables turn towards you being the one adorning the admiration. Needless to say it was pretty awkward first few months upon his arrival to the band, especially considering some of the hurdles that got thrust our way early on.
Our keyboardist quit on us the day before one of our first shows together, a former guitar player harassed us at a club and told him to "die", we played our first few shows together as a two piece - backed only by a drum machine led sequence track, and we searched for a drummer together. All in our first three months together.
The fact that he stuck through all those virtual speed bumps and still put on a bad ass performance and helped shaped the songs as if they were his own (which I rightly feel they are at this point) cemented a bond between us that I hope will remain for many years to come.
Slowly but surely, with the aid of our drummer Carmen Giocondo, we've become a tight enough lineup to begin to embark into new territory. After our first recording session together as a group is completed we'll be finally venturing into writing new material together as a band.
Despite what he might lay claim to downplay his talent, without Az I'm not sure if I'd still be involved in the music business...and I have a hunch that the feeling is somewhat mutual through his eyes as well.
;D