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Jazz / Fusion / Experimental. | ||
Dig deep in your heart and one will discover that there is a passionate side to him/her. But, this next artist does not need to dig far; one can find his passion through his music. Jazz Artist, Daniel Diaz, makes music that seems to epitomize what the whole Jazz Movement is all about. But, if you don’t believe me, check out this quick Q&A for yourself and be sure to buy his music.
Q. What is your name? When and where were you born?
A. Daniel Diaz, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov 22nd 1963 (minutes after JFK were shot).
Q. How did you learn to play (sing) this kind of music?
A. I was (poorly) singing and playing percussion on a garage band, and our bass player just failed to show up to 3 consecutive rehearsals. He left his bass on a corner, never showed up again. Everybody said "well, you are the worst in his role, you can't really sing, so let's go instrumental and you play bass". And I just picked up that bass and faked my way through it. I've met that bass player 25 years after. He was nice and never asked for his bass....
Q. When did you start to learn/actually take bass lessons? (How old were you?)
A. After my first gig with that band, I just came down after the gig saying WOW, I want to do this. I mean: I couldn't really play by then, just hit the right notes in our 12 songs. I was "old"...
Q. Where did you live at the time?
A. 20 Km away from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Q. How long have you been actively playing this kind of music?
A. My last CD is Solo Basses. I've been playing (or trying to find a way of playing) solo bass since I grabbed a bass for the first time. It was 1984.
Q. What is it about this kind of music that makes it different from other types?
A. Well: Solo Bass Performances? It's LOW. Deep tone and you... can't rely on the old trick of going up and up and up and making your solo scream....you need some substance to make shine a melody/harmony played on a bass instrument.
And in LOW volume 1 I actually transposed to Basses arrangements i did for Guitars, Flutes, percussion, Keyboards, Strings.....quite a different arranging/composing experience...
Q. Are there different styles of playing your type of music?
A. Yes.
1- Solo bass over another instrument comping (chords)...
2-Solo bass unaccompanied.
3-Multi Track basses, several basses laying together.
Q. When and where do you usually play music?
A. All the time, everywhere (it's my job and my passion/hobby)
Q. Do you ever earn money by playing music?
A. It's my only Job since 1989, and I started earning money (part time) in 1986.
Q. Do you play alone or with others?
A. Both. Low obviously is a record All-Alone.
Q. Are there others in this locale that plays the same kind of music? What are their names and types of musical instruments they play?
A. Well, I must mention Michael Marning and Rob Wassserman. And of course Jaco Pastorious had some solo bass compositions that showed the way to all of us.
Q. Have you passed your tradition on to others, who and when? Why is this important to you?
A. I was teaching between 1986 and 1997, yes, tried to show fellow bassists that our instrument can go beyond the supporting role.
Q. What is your favorite song or tune to play?
A. So many....now I should say A House is Not a Home by Burt Bacharach. And anything by Cole Porter.
Q. What makes a performance/song good? How do you judge a performance/song?
A. So many different things, and contradictory things sometimes. It could be (as for performances) a perfect control of the instrument and an easy, flowing and unassuming knowledge of the song. And it could be the opposite: somebody freshly taking risks, playing (or aiming to play) something that he can't usually play , and making it (magically) work against all odds.
Q. Do you have anything else you would like to add?
A. Thanks, love from Paris, and keep it LOW....
DD
MySpace Music Account:
http://www.myspace.com/danieldiaztrio
