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CALL for SUBMISSIONS!!!
ALL artists! I am very, VERY happy to announce that IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION is ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS again. I have been granted a (possibly long-term) stay of execution for my trip to Iraq. I will still be traveling all over the U.S., so new issues may be a little less timely, but (as always), we will review your materials as soon as possible after we receive them. Look at the guidelines for submission below, please:
MUSIC: All formats accepted. Snail mail to: Zzaj Productions, c/o Dick Metcalf, 5308 65th Avenue, Lacey, WA 98513 The only criteria for music you submit is that it MUST HAVE high performance energy... if you submit lacklustre material, it will be reviewed accordingly
POETRY: Poems are accepted for publication ONLY via e-mail. Poems submitted in any other fashion will NOT be published. Poetry that includes some reference to music is granted first priority for publication.
BOOKS: We will review some books; books about music are PREFERRED. We will NOT return any books submitted for review. Snail them to the address listed above for MUSIC.
Improvijazzation Nation - Issue # 65
INTERVIEW with improvisor Eric Wallack
Zzaj:
Having experienced your improv style (quite) a bit, I can say that it is
"quick"... no second thoughts, no hesitations... what (makes it that
way for you) & why (do you enjoy improvised musics)?
EW: I love the elements of danger and surprise within improvisation.
I feel strongly (spiritual, in fact) about the value of impulsive responses –
that they are direct transmutations of our subconscious minds, and that those
responses teach us a lot about ourselves (good and bad) as human beings.
As an improviser, if I can surprise myself it’s like I’ve gotten a precious
glimpse into a part of me that I didn’t know existed. There’s a
revealing of the truth there. This is true self-discovery, and of course
within collaborations there’s the profound sharing of these discoveries among
the group. In front of a receptive audience, REAL magic can occur!
Zzaj: How long have you been playing/performing/recording? Where
did it all "start"?
EW: I was lucky enough to go to a public school that valued music and art
enough to provide instruments and lessons free of charge. They started all
the kids on band instruments in the fourth grade. I was handed a trumpet,
a weekly lesson and a solid foundation in the mechanics of music. However
(like many kids) I didn’t deal well with the discipline of practicing etc, so
I quit playing the trumpet in junior high (an ugly marching band uniform
didn’t help). Not long after, someone gave me a hand-me-down guitar and
it was like being reborn. This was different because then it felt more
like “my” instrument than the trumpet ever did. It was liberating
because I felt free to invent and create on my own terms. I was my own
teacher and pupil. This was the beginning of that “self-discovery”
stuff I was talking about before. I was hooked! To this day, though
I play many instruments (including the trumpet again), I feel pretty close to
things with strings.
Zzaj: Do you think there's a possibility that "underground"
will ever catch up and outdistance "mainstream"? If so, why?
If not, why?
EW: Well, yes and no. Remember, rock and roll was “underground”
music in the early 50’s and that’s certainly not the case today. Even
underground movements within mainstream rock (like punk) have become popular,
mass-marketed genres.
I think there are a lot of music lovers of all ages out there who are getting
sick of being force-fed the industry-driven tripe, but it can be hard for them
to gain access to the hidden passageways to the underground unless they know
where to look. They can’t find our CD's in stores, they can’t read
about us in the easily accessible magazines, and they don’t get to see us at
gigs since there just aren’t that many gigs/venues for this music. On
the other hand, for those who are REALLY hungry, they’ll find it or luckily
someone will eventually turn them on.
Certainly, the biggest boon to the underground has been the Internet – it has
single-handedly revolutionized and catalyzed the scene. Plus, we’re
entering a time where the concepts of “success” and “making it” are
changing. For example, right now I feel like talking to you for this issue
is a big, personal step forward - certainly something meaningful and important
to me. I also did an interview with our friend Jerry Kranitz over at Aural
Innovations this month and man, that’s really gratifying – two interviews in
one month with people whose work I greatly admire and appreciate! To me,
that’s “making it”. So is working with people whose music I’ve
loved as a fan. Let’s face it, there are few financial rewards in our
contemporary society for “being different” so we may as well take what we
can get and offer as much artistic integrity to our few-but-loyal fans as
possible.
Perversely, for me there’s this sense that I’d like to keep the underground
scene a bit secret and hidden away – like a jewel that’s worth hunting for,
discovering and sharing only with a small-but-loyal community. All we need
are some industry guys in lousy suits “discovering” us and wrecking it all
forever.
Zzaj: Of the many instruments you play, which is your favorite (&
why)? Which is the least favorite (& why)?
EW: I take a sort of Zen approach to the many instruments I play – my
favorite instrument is the one I’m playing at any given moment. I try
really hard to get into the persona of the “ist”. When I’m playing
my bass I’m a “bassist”, when I’m playing my flutes I’m a
“flautist”, etc. Ultimately I see myself as an improviser who has a
lot of sonic possibilities at his disposal.
Zzaj: Are you in another "zone" when improvising? Or
does your training influence the outcome (more)?
EW: Oh, I’m in the zone all right! Like I said earlier, for me
improvisation is spiritual – like prayer or meditation, so there definitely is
a zone to get into. I see musical improvisation as a microscopic
inspection of daily life - things don’t always work out for the best and (like
everybody else) I have bad improvisations and good improvisations. I
accept them all and take pleasure in sharing the good ones with others and
trying to learn from the bad ones.
My musical training is something that I’m not conscious of when I’m
improvising. Obviously it’s given me part of my “vocabulary”, but as
with any other language there’s a lot that can’t easily be taught, like all
the subtleties and innuendo that make our “voices” unique even though
we’re speaking the same “language”. There are other languages to
learn too! I’m still exploring what sonic possibilities exist within my
instruments, even if it means approaching them from an unconventional
standpoint. I love banging on acoustic guitars to hear what’s rattling
around in there.
Zzaj: I notice that you "play out" (in other words, perform
live) quite a
bit... which is more enjoyable for you (most of the time)? Live or
in-studio? Or, is there any difference?
EW: Well, I don’t play out nearly as much as I used to when I was
younger. I love the real communication that can occur in a live
performance with an audience who’s listening and giving the music a chance.
On the other hand, my live performances tend to lack the subtlety and detail
I’m able to achieve at home in the studio. All sorts of factors seem to
work against me in most live performances – bad P.A. systems, noisy expresso
machines and my own insecurities. Plus, with this music there aren’t
that many venues willing to offer me a gig – even in a college town!
Zzaj: My wife has suffered through many (different) exploratory
stages... does your family share in your projects in any way, or do they
(only just) "tolerate" the madness?
EW: Ha! No, my family’s really terrific about letting me do my
thing. In fact, they’re really my biggest fans and they always want to
hear the latest projects. My wife’s particularly helpful with valuable
criticism and she’s very supportive. Two of my stepsons (Eric and John
Zibbel) are successful independent musicians in their own right, and I have
records with each of them on my label. We were recording together and
putting on little “concerts” at the house when they were kids. I feel
really lucky to live like this!
Zzaj: We (until Shrubbie & Penis Cheney) supposedly have
"separation of church/state".... would the world be a better place if
we had "integration of music & state"? Where one of the
REQUIREMENTS for serving politically was to have played some or any (kind of)
music?
EW: I think they should be required to have proficiency in ANY of the
arts! Simply stated, it’s hard to justify killing a bunch of people as a
way of solving a “problem” if you’re awed by the beauty of their culture.
The arts offer avenues for humane, creative problem solving as opposed to blind,
ignorant dismissal.
Remember when Clinton came out with the saxophone on MTV and late night
television? He was more like a “real guy” than a presidential
candidate, and I think a lot of people voted for him because he acted like a
normal human being, like a guy who could have some fun and still relate to Joe
Lunchbox. Of course he WAS a normal human being and got caught shagging
groupies in the Oval Office, but after the saxophone I kind of expected it.
Sax players are always getting laid.
Zzaj: You've often told me that you're finding great enjoyment in being
part of this (fine) "underground" community? I've often found
that I have a better time with (musical) folks I've never (or only briefly) met
than those players in my local arena. What is your feeling on that?
Why?
EW: I’m honored that I’m considered part of this community - it’s
thrilling to meet and collaborate with the most amazing and inspiring artists
from all over the globe! Yes, most of the people I’ve collaborated with
are folks I’ve never met face-to-face, yet we end up e-mailing each other
talking on the phone like we’ve known each other forever. I think it’s
because of the improvisational nature of our work – we develop and relate to
TRUST. As for the local area, I mentioned that I’ve worked with my
stepsons and I guess that’s different – a special case. Like I said
before, I live in a college town so there’s a steady influx of young musicians
but the problem is that they usually don’t stick around long enough to develop
a good musical hookup, or because of their training they are afraid to “break
the rules” before they’ve learned ‘em.
Zzaj: Your "parting shot", in the sense of advice to those
who aspire to play/record the music of tomorrow, please?
EW: That’s easy! Trust yourself and do what comes naturally.
Let things happen “in the moment” and enjoy being surprised by what comes
out. Definitely share it!
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