DVJazz Live Tonight at Swig Martini Bar Riverwalk!
DVJazz Swig Martini Bar Riverwalk at 9:30pm December 8, 2011
DVJazz JazzSAlive Promo on WOAI with Cleto Rodriguez
We had a blast performing this morning for the JazzSAlive promo for WOAI Where’s Cleto?
Sugar Performed by David Villanueva & DVJazz
First of all I want to thank Adolph Lopez from MOSZ Media Designs for producing the video. This is a Stanley Turrentine composition called Sugar. Stanley was always on the edge of Jazz, R&B and Soul. This is was Stanley’s most famous composition and it show how soulful Stanley’s melody is.
Christmas Music
Christmas is definitely my favorite time of year. I love decorating the house and singing the carols with my daughter, seeing my wife decorates the tree with Christmas music in the background, while I hang lights outside. Shopping is hectic and malls are packed. Temperatures dropping into the 30′s and raising back up to high 70′s. It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
I want to personally thank every single one of you for your support. My gift to you is MUSIC! You can download any of these Christmas songs as my gift to you this Christmas.
Thank you, Merry Christmas and May God continue to bless you and your family.
David Villanueva
Jam Sessions Etiquette
Jam Sessions can be a lot of fun and a great way to network with other musicians and band leaders. It is also a down time for musicians that are not gigging. It’s a time for them to relax and have fun. If you are serious about what you do and give respect, these jam sessions can be fun for you too. They can also be deadly and embarrassing. Some kats believe that if you’re not a pro you have no business on stage and can have no remorse. This is part of becoming the musician that you are. Can’t have the sweet without the bitter.
Most jam sessions are hosted by a band. It is the bands job to get musicians and the crowd involved. Most jam sessions there will have a sign up sheet and some just let people come up and do their thing. I recommend that you check out the vibe of the jam session before you jump in. If you are not a strong musician and would like to get your feet wet, make sure the band allows beginners on stage and make sure they are not insulting. Leave your axe in the car and sit down and enjoy it. Once your comfortable, walk up and talk to the bandleader to find out what he/she will allow.
Rules:
Be Nice. Introduce yourself to everyone! You never know who is in the crowd and what musicians are there.
Know your limits. Don’t take a 16 chorus solo if you don’t know what you’re doing! Hit it and Quit it! Be sure to talk and get to know the musician next to you. They can save you if you don’t know the form or if you get lost within your solo.
If you can’t solo DON’T go up to play! Trust me, not everyone will be supportive of you learning on stage. Older musicians can be very cruel and insulting. Practice at home and go up when you think you’re ready.
Network. Meet that AWESOME kat that makes your knees tremble. In college I would always make it a point to sit next to the great players. It pushed me to play at their level and would make me a better player. Take business cards and get phone numbers from other musicians. Meet band leaders and make it a point to go see them at their own gigs.
The point to these jam sessions is to have fun and learn. Watch the professionals and meet them. Most will show you their secrets. Follow these steps at your next jam session and have a blast! Check your local jazz listings for jam sessions! Here is one I attend regularly. See ya there!
Small World Jazz Jam Session
Monday Nights
7:00 pm
Olmos Bharmacy
My Music vs Coltrane
As a musician I am over whelmed with the sensation of trying to SOUND GOOD and if I am playing VALID JAZZ. I believe that every musician goes through this. I close my eyes at the gig and count off a John Coltrane tune. Now, I have listened to Coltrane for years and I love his sound and style. I have even attempted to learn some of Coltrane’s transcriptions but, I can’t say that I actually have Coltrane’s style under my fingers. This is where most of us doubt ourselves as musicians. So here we go… 1…..2….ah 1…2…3…4….and my mind goes straight to Blue Trane album or Giant Steps. In my mind I’m say COLTRANE, SOUND LIKE COLTRANE!! Put the horn to my mouth and blow the first note and SQUUEEAAAKKK!!!!!
Does this sound familiar to anyone? Now it’s the 2nd set of the night and I call out Mr. Magic which is a Grover Washington Jr. tune. I have played with many bands throughout my career, the majority having been R&B bands. I know this style and I can even play it in my sleep! To people that know me can say that this tune is like my theme song. So, I closed my eyes and count off the band…1….2….ah 1…2…3…4…. my mind goes blank. I’m not chanting Grover’s ghost to come into me and perform this tune. I put my horn to my mouth and blow the funkiest groove I have ever heard! I am grooving and the band is right in the pocket with me. As soon as we finished the song the crowd in the bar claps and cheers us on!
Why can’t every song and every gig be like that 2nd set? Here is the difference. I don’t feel worthy of playing Coltrane as I do playing Grover Washington Jr. If I had relaxed and said to myself, “this is me playing my interpretation of Coltrane.” I guarantee that first note would of came out flawlessly and the rest of the song would have been an experience just like Mr. Magic.
Easier said than done, as musician’s we are constantly worrying about our sound. Do we sound good? Am I playing valid jazz? If we clear our minds and have a positive attitude towards music, I think we will be a lot kinder to ourselves in the future. Imagine walking in to a bar on your night off and you see another musician playing. The mind begins to analyze the music, the technique, and is he better than me? Next, you’re tense and uncomfortable. Instead of focusing on the pure ENJOYMENT of the music our minds go the opposite spectrum. I remember myself in middle school. Honking away on that Yamaha YAS-23 alto sax, remembering how it felt like magic to produce a sound. How the cold brass felt on my fingers and the funny sensation of the reed vibrating. There was no competition for gigs, sound, business cards, chord changes, press packets, twitter accounts, and Facebook fan pages. It was just MUSIC!!
This is something that I am working on to become better at my craft and to serve my audience a more creative me. It’s not going to be easy and by no way overnight but, a true challenge. A challenge within myself.
Vandoren New Website!
Hello Jazz Fans,
I have discovered a great website by Vandoren Reed Company. They have set up a site that have professional musicians giving clinics on gear, techniques, and improvising. Its a great find with lots of helpful tips for the young Jazzer’s out there. I wish I had this during my Padawan years!! You can also sign up and make a profile for yourself or band. Let me know what ya think.
Welcome!
Welcome to my page! Please be patient with me and JAM Technologies as we prepare this site for you. Meanwhile look around as new things get added every day.
Thank You,
David V.
210-645-JAZZ (5299)
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