senorblues

I'd worked with this drummer in the past and found that he doesn't like to um.....stick to a standard beat and could go off the rails with a little, shall we say, improve occasionally. I've talked to others that have worked with him since that time and tell me they find it difficult to work with him for similar reasons.

If you want to start a band, you'd better be the musical anchor of the project. Having said that, the lead singer chair is often the most important in a band, and often we avoid them simply because the economics of the circuit you play means you can't afford to pay someone who doesn't also play an instrument. Virtually all the venues up here are simply too small.

I don't think anyone's mentioned this, but I'm always interested in what instrument the person forming the band plays. A drummer is the last person who should be forming a band unless you already have a reputation that can get gigs sight unseen. Good drummers are busy because they can play in multiple projects with less rehearsal time than pretty much anyone else.

Most groups will revolve around the lead vocal. That's who should be forming the band, and if they need a musical director, that's the first chair you fill.

Depends on what your aspirations are. If you're happy to jam in the basement or play out for gas money, invite guys who can demonstrate that they are comfortable with the genre you're looking for. Around here, the musical landscape is littered with self-taught players who just want to play and don't have delusions about being successful. I'll bet the drummer in the original post doesn't have any recordings to share that will demonstrate that he actually knows how to play.

Not sure if this is the right place. . . . .

Here's a link to a collection of solo clips. "Solo Piano" is a live studio "stereo" recording with a ZoomH4N recorder. "Blues 1 & 2" the vocals are recorded separately. "Woodstock" adds a percussion shaker track triggered by the piano. "Americana" is a first attempt at stereo separation. Processing so far is pretty much limited to fading the clips in garageband. I'm open to suggestions both at the source and in post.

I can't support any device that makes me dumb down how I play. I found that the "arpeggios" on my Yamaha S70XS would follow my left hand, assuming that it always played the root of the chord. Way too restricting!

I've used some of the more specialized voices like vibraphone and accordion in a band setting, but somehow in a solo setting, they seem cheesier. I like being able to switch off between Fender Precision and upright bass to accompany a one hand or two hand piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, and/or various B3 presets, but that's about it.

I'd be curious to know what you all think of Jacob Collier's use of harmonizer technology. Pretty sophisticated arrangements, but I don't think I'd want to listen to a whole show.

Here's a representative sample of what I'm doing.

You can hear short clips on

#1 - 4:37

Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

A Song For You - Leon Russell

Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison

God Bless the Child - Blood Sweat & Tears

Tightrope - Leon Russell

Walk and Don’t Look Back - Jagger/Tosh

Come Rain or Come Shine - Ray Charles

Such a Night - Dr. John

#2 - 4:34

Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker

Loberta - Huey "Piano" Smith

Unchain My Heart - Ray Charles

Peg - Steely Dan

All Shook Up - Elvis Presley

Seventh Son - Mose Allison

Mardi Gras in New Orleans - Professor Longhair

I Don’t Need No Doctor - Mayer/Scofield

Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin - Sly and the Family Stone

#3 - 4:36

How Sweet It Is - James Taylor

Sometimes I Wonder - Jon Cleary

Holy Cow - Lee Dorsey

Early in the Morning - Louis Jordan

Let the Good Times Roll - Dr. John

Bring it on Home to Me - Sam Cooke

Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles