Morgan's Return − 5 October, 2007
A sort of shock, today: Morgan Caraway has returned.
Months ago, I wrote about his departure. Morgan himself has a hard time believing this, but he was one of my most influential musicians.
He played bass with freedom. He didn't run over the lead or hot dog with some Jaco moves; he provided the groove. Music theory was irrelevant to him. He played what he heard.
At the time I met him, I was heavily into jazz. Talking with him, listening to him play, and even working with him in a side project band taught me more about bass than any 50 jazz books you could name.
Now I'm at the point of releasing my new album, La vie sous la mer. The style I have developed over the years is nothing like his -- yet has Morgan Caraway written all over it, because it involves chucking out the theory and playing what you hear. Breaking the rules without getting caught. Driving the song without running it over.
Morgan is a very humble and down to earth person. When he hears all this, he can't really believe it. But it's true.
He is back in town for family related reasons. This must be the year for it: I've been through the same thing. It's not the happiest reason to come home, but it says a lot about him it was THE reason.
Tonight I asked if he'd work with me on a collaborative project. I've grown lightyears beyond my former skills. His girlfriend, Mary Jane, plays incredible acoustic guitar and has something I've never had -- an beautiful voice.
It's a work in progress. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't.
But if it happens, it'll be the hottest thing since Uranium met Plutonium.
Months ago, I wrote about his departure. Morgan himself has a hard time believing this, but he was one of my most influential musicians.
He played bass with freedom. He didn't run over the lead or hot dog with some Jaco moves; he provided the groove. Music theory was irrelevant to him. He played what he heard.
At the time I met him, I was heavily into jazz. Talking with him, listening to him play, and even working with him in a side project band taught me more about bass than any 50 jazz books you could name.
Now I'm at the point of releasing my new album, La vie sous la mer. The style I have developed over the years is nothing like his -- yet has Morgan Caraway written all over it, because it involves chucking out the theory and playing what you hear. Breaking the rules without getting caught. Driving the song without running it over.
Morgan is a very humble and down to earth person. When he hears all this, he can't really believe it. But it's true.
He is back in town for family related reasons. This must be the year for it: I've been through the same thing. It's not the happiest reason to come home, but it says a lot about him it was THE reason.
Tonight I asked if he'd work with me on a collaborative project. I've grown lightyears beyond my former skills. His girlfriend, Mary Jane, plays incredible acoustic guitar and has something I've never had -- an beautiful voice.
It's a work in progress. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't.
But if it happens, it'll be the hottest thing since Uranium met Plutonium.
