Why I’ve Been Saying No Lately

If you look at my gig calendar you’ll see a bunch of different projects. I’ve been playing in a lot of bands. I started to feel a bit out of sorts. The reason? What I really wanted to be playing was some burning instrumental music. None of the projects I’ve been doing fit that bill.

So, I’m forming my own band. Finally.

And that’s why I’m saying “no” to a lot of stuff lately.

I’m not totally sure what the right name will be. I’ve been advised that I should have my name in the title of the project. At first I resisted. I’ve never thought that my name really rolled off of one’s tongue. But I see the logic. Why go through all the work to start a band and then not have anyone know who you are when things go well?

So, I’m thinking that part over. Some ideas:

• Delirium
• Proton/Ion –see the logo I came up with?
• Feldman’s Android (robot?)

OK, you can see that the names are a bit dorky. But it is going to be a progressive band, so isn’t that de rigueur? You bet it is. I embrace my dorkiness.

It’s going to be a jazz/rock type of thing. I think the kids used to call that fusion. I love that music. I also love pocket. So, my band is going to combine the pocket of funk, with the balls of rock, and some twists and turns like my favorite fusion bands.

Who do I like?

Let me name some artists/albums for you.

• Jeff Beck: “Wired” and “Blow by Blow”
• Mahavishnu Orchestra “Birds of Fire”
• Bill Connors “Step It”
• Chick Corea: almost anything
• Led Zeppelin: almost anything
• Rush: “Hemispheres”
• Bruford: “One of a Kind”
• King Crimson: “In The Court of The Crimson King”
• Virgil Donati: “Serious Young Insects”
• CAB: “CAB”
• Steve Lukather: “Candyman”

etc….

It’s going to take a minute, but I have a very talented musician writing charts for me right now. He’s re-arranging some songs I like for the project (including songs by Zep, Jeff Beck and Edgar Winter), and writing some new things.

Now, I get to decide who I want to play with! This is going to be fun.