[Harp-L] RE: Performing - Don't forget your audience

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 8/12/2007 9:02:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
wasabileo@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

Miles  Davis use to turn his back on the audience and he payed for it later 
in his  musical career. 



It created an aura of mystery that surrounded him. It caused controversy -  
and he got a lot of press. He used it to his advantage. It created a  persona - 
Prince of Darkness, Dark Magus, The Sorcerer, etc.
 
His music was powerful enough that it didn't hurt his career. Not everyone  
who adopts this attitude has the talent to pull it off, although quite a few  
try on this "I'm an artiste so everyone will forgive my social  inadequacies" 
suit. 
 
Miles did this because he felt that his music should always speak for  
itself. He was dead set against the black performers who constantly "mugged" for  
the white audiences - Louis Armstrong, for example. You have to remember the era 
 that he lived in during his formative years - segregation and Jim Crow  
attitudes.
 
Also, he turned his back on the audience in order to concentrate on  the 
music happening on stage. He'd also walk off the stage when his side men  would 
solo. Miles did this so his stage presence wouldn't distract the  audience from 
focusing on the soloists.
 
Miles truly lived by the philosophy "What you think of me is none of my  
business". He was focused on his personal goal. By the age of 15, he knew what  he 
wanted to do with his life and proceeded to do it. I'm jealous.
 
Miles greatest successes were steeped in the blues. He often stated that he  
was trying to find that "deep blues played on acoustic guitar and 25 cent  
harmonica" emotional resonance in his music.
 
Someone on this list misguidedly proclaimed that Howard Levy was the  reason 
I play the way I do. The truth is, Miles Davis is the reason that I play  the 
way I do. I study his life and music almost exclusively these days. The  
deeper I get into it, the more I find to explore. Even some of Mile's music that  
made no sense whatsoever to me at one time is finally opening up it's mysteries 
 to me as time goes on. 
 
Miles famous quote - "I have to keep changing. It's like a curse." He never  
looked back, never sat on his accomplishments and glided, always kept 
searching  for something new, something current. He would work with younger and 
younger  musicians as time went on to keep abreast of what was happening. Miles  
brought out the best in all those musicians who were fortunate enough to work  
with him.
 
It's funny. At those International Association of Jazz Education  
Conventions, I carry the "So What" biography on Miles with me. When I run into  living 
musicians who crossed paths or worked with Miles, I have them autograph  the 
page in the book in which they are mentioned, collecting their "energy", so  to 
speak. A lot of these guys are pretty famous dudes with big egos and are hard  
to approach. It is great to watch how they completely change their attitude 
when  they realize what it is I'm asking of them. A Chick Corea, Dave Liebman or 
a  Jack DeJohnette come completely down to earth and are humbled in Miles' 
shadow  for a few moments.
 
For harmonica inspiration, listen to Miles on "Kind of Blue" and "Ascent to  
the Scaffold".
 
The Iceman



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