Miles Davis,
John Coltrane,
Dave Matthews,
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones,
Sting,
J.S. Bach,
John Brion,
Stan Getz,
Nirvana,
Prince,
Chick Corea,
Bobby McFerrin,
Jimi Hendrix,
Peter Gabriel,
Pat Metheny,
John Mayer,
Branford Marsalis,
James Taylor,
Paul Simon,
Dexter Gordon
Sounds Like
hmmmm... see "influences". This is definitely a different thing than many specific references I can make, but I think all of my influences (and probably many that I didn't mention) play a part in the sound. I guess on the surface it is very jazz and maybe blues or world music influenced. Instrumental, so that narrows it down.... just have a listen ;-)
I grew up knowing that I loved making music, but never quite finding my voice. As I played with sound, I tried everything from organ and saxophone to empty coffee cans and toy synthesizers. I formally studied music in college, receiving a Master’s Degree in Composition and spent some time working as a professional musician in Las Vegas but, while I loved performing, I knew that something wasn’t quite right. I wasn’t tapping into what caused me to fall in love with making noise. Feeling that I needed a break, I stopped playing music completely for about 5 years. When I started getting the urge to play again, I knew that I wanted to do something unique – something that really expressed what I love about music. I started experimenting with the EWI (electronic wind instrument), which I had discovered just before I stopped playing. The EWI allows me to play many sounds through a single wind instrument. It can produce wildly varied sounds, from an Andean flute or muted trumpet to synthesized sounds that have no wind instrument counterpart. I found a way of using electronics to record myself as I play and build a rich canvas of sound on the spot during a live performance. This is called “Live Looping”. I found that I could improvise entire songs with many parts and different layers with this approach and it completely inspired me. I have since added the saxophone, looped percussion, and found sound into the mix and I bring all of these sounds together in one live solo performance without any pre-recorded material or “backing tracks”. I believe this is a truly unique live performance experience that is as interesting conceptually as it is sonically!
Hi Doug Thanks for accepting the request. I'm totally diggin' your stuff. Sounds like you can't stand still and I'm looking forward to seeing how far you can take that EWI. Post more stuff! Software or hardware looper? B-man
thanks for the add. Yes, we express ourselves throught the special capacities of the EWI. It is our instrument (my god! so many years to find it.....). Good luck with your music!!!
Hey Doug,
Thanks for the kind words..
Love the EWI stuff, my brother plays the EVI.
Here's a link of us doing a duet: http://www.masonbrothersband.com/media/masonbrothers_semimentalmood.mp3
Best wishes,
-Elliot
Remember I'm still older than you! No matter how hard you try, you will not catch up with me. Unless of course you have me whacked, and I'm not sure why I just gave you that idea.
Happy Birthday, Sucker!
Kevin told me to tell you "happy birthday" too since he is one of the last MySpace holdouts.
