What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1234521
APRIL 12-18, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 9 See Jazz Page 10 are a lot of great opportunities for everybody to get the chance to enjoy the music together, get to play together and connect the generations a little bit more." "I'm super happy that folks like Chris Teal and the Jazz Festival are trying to push forward and share as much music as possible given the current situation," participating musician Matthew Golombisky adds. "It takes a certain amount of improvisation to change things up and still get this music and these experiences in front of as many people as possible even though we're all shut in. Everyone who is adapting quickly and continuing to share their craft(s), I really support (and follow)." Get to know a few of the artists-in- residence below: Q. What brought you to jazz? Do you remember hearing or playing a specific piece that sparked your attraction to the field? Golombisky: I would say that some of most compelling aspects of jazz are: 1) The need to improvise and to always need to create. It's never boring or without adventure in this sense. 2) The ability to communicate with others on a level that's not descriptive and obvious as, say, with words or something visual. There are so many options to interact with other musicians and then, when you find folks that you can really "gel with," the deepness of communication can be intensely beautiful and meaningful. 3) Also, I love that it's a genre that's forever moving forward; the forward motion keeps us on our toes and the creative juices flowing and learning. Lee: When I was studying (classical) voice in high school, I got disgruntled with it because my voice was changing. My teacher gave me a CD called "Ella Fitzgerald: Best of the Songbooks," and I took it home and basically memorized it. I grew up in a very rural area in southern Illinois and had no exposure to jazz before that. Pattillo: The saxophone is what brought me to jazz. I fell in love with the sound and look of the horn at a very young age. Once I was old enough to start playing in school bands, I gravitated toward jazz ensembles and repertoire. The attraction just grew from there — saxophone was my first love — the attraction to jazz was a result of that. Q. How are you coping with social distancing / working from home? What tips do you have for fellow musicians (and people in general) to keep spirits up and artistic passion satisfied during these crazy times? Finzer: Being a musician, you work from home all the time with the idea of being a practicer and working on your music, and having to basically self-isolate to do so. So, that process has kind of set us as musicians up to be able to transition relatively smoothly into this self- isolating/work from home situation. My tips for people are to plan out what you're going to do and try to stick to your plan. I know that sounds like a very simple step, but just having a very clear checklist of expectations that you want to get done in a day so that you can make measurable progress toward your goals. Try to think about some things that you wouldn't normally have time to do and make the time to do them. And also just being OK with taking some time and knowing that you don't have to be super productive every single moment of the day. Golombisky: I can't speak for everyone, but I'm someone that has a lot of new ideas (or rather, older ideas that never came to fruition). Back to the busy, busy brain. I'm hoping that this will be a time to address some of them. For example, I've had a chamber orchestra tone-poem of mine that premiered in Innsbruck back in 2006 just waiting to make it to a more public light, but more immediate commitments always got in the way. Yesterday, I was able to get it out. I've also, very slowly, been working on a book of "Etudes for Improvisation"; I'm looking forward to spending some time with that. I would advise folks to do what a lot of folks are already doing: getting onto social media and live streaming performances. It's really nice to see all these people playing. And the pop-up, solo concerts from the living room are swell! We're still connected. Pattillo: Social distancing has been a struggle for everyone; as a musician we are all dealing with our work schedules through June being entirely wiped clean, and we all could easily see it extend further. I had some really neat performances booked in 2020, so it's definitely sad to see the majority of them canceled, though some dates were rescheduled to later in the year. I miss the energy that goes with gigging — the interaction, the playing, the hang, the joy. But I'm taking advantage of our spring weather as best I can and getting plenty of fresh air. As far as tips? Get in a practice routine. Keep your chops up. Try to create an environment that challenges you, and that keeps you inspired and pushing. A routine in general to keep your mind busy. Exercise. Practice outdoors on a beautiful day. Collaborate on projects with musicians via file sharing. Practice performing an entire gig's worth of material. Don't eat too much ice cream — but don't not eat any. Schmidt: So far, social distancing hasn't been terrible… but I do miss face-to-face teaching. I have my students record videos of themselves practicing certain things, then we video chat about what to work on for next week. It is not ideal, but it is the hand we've been given. Since I'm stuck at home, I've had a ton of time to catch up with friends and fellow musicians. That has certainly kept my spirits up. If you know any freelance artists, check in and see how they are doing. If you don't, use this time to reach out to your friends and family. My advice for musicians is to take this time to work on stuff that they really enjoy and relate to. It doesn't matter if it is country, heavy metal or film scores. Just take care of yourself and your interests during this time! And if you have some, try to finish your school work, too. Stone: I have four young boys, so most of my days have been spent working with them and doing the necessary housework and chores. It has been amazing to spend such quality time with my family! We are really thriving mentally and emotionally as a result of this unforeseen break. I have some other projects that I wish I had time to work on, but with the responsibilities I have right now, I do not have a moment to spare in the day. So working from home has actually led to a busier schedule than normal. Most of the people with whom I associate have plenty of work to do, from their professional lives to their family lives and many other responsibilities. I think taking care of your family, friends and neighbors should be a focus during this time. I also find it very helpful to count my blessings each day. FAQ Fayetteville Jazz Festival WHEN — April 24-25 COST — Free INFO — fayettevillejazzfestival. com Doug Stone (Courtesy Photo/ Meagan Stone) Alisha Pattillo (Courtesy Photo/Pin Lim-Forest Photography) Nick Finzer (Courtesy Photo/ Ricardo Nelson) Garrett Schmidt (Courtesy Photo/Kate L Photography) Lauren Lee (Courtesy Photo/ Gwendolyn Mercer) Matthew Golombisky (Courtesy Photo/ Matthew Golombisky)