Evolutionary Jazz – Forging Creativity

Originally, Neil Peart writes, “And the men who hold high places Must be the ones who start To mold a new reality Closer to the heart. The blacksmith and the artist Reflect it in their art They forge their creativity Closer to the heart.”

I believe the task of Molding New Realities begins with the Artists. I respect the artists that reflect Reality as they perceive it, so that their audience can view, interpret, and perceive what is happening in our world. 

But if CounterParts is to imagine a  New Genre in Music, we must pursue a New Reality.

The men who hold high places may be able to Mold a new Reality, but First, the Blacksmith and the Artist must imagine it, and create the Blueprint for a New Way for a new way of thinking.

I believe many have set guidelines for creating something out of nothing. Everything from “Strive for Perfection” to “Dare to Fail” and all processes in between are legitimate approaches to Creativity. I improvise until I hear something new and unexpected. I will start with a motif and build the theme of the song. I might start with chords, mold a harmonic structure, then slide a melody through the middle of it. I can hum a tune and let that be my initial guide. A sound, a feeling, a person, a color; a freaky weather pattern inspired Winter Picnic. The extraordinary guitarist, Steve Vai once told me he pulls on the loose thread of a brand new sweater until he unravels the sweater. Then he sews it back together. 

Most times, there is the need to frame the picture, or create some boundaries for creativity to abide. Listeners, viewers, musicians, and eventually audiences have a beginning, a middle, and an end to the story to enjoy! Glenn Barratt, my favorite engineer, and partner in creating this sound once described his creative process. He told me as we worked on my Music in Morning Star Studios, “I build a world, then I drop your song into it”. 

A Brand New World. A Whole New Genre. Evolutionary Jazz