Wouldn’t you like to be King for a day? Well, if you’re a female, then Queen for a day?
My guess is yes.
The concept of being able to do whatever you like and have people respond would be one that could consume anyone. Power is intoxicating. At least that’s my impression of it. Usually the one day out of the year that people sorta get that vibe is their birthday. However, I wonder if some people get to do it more often. Do you?
What would you do if you were King/Queen for a day?
Chances are you might be a King/Queen right now if you’re in America. Out and about traveling or partying for the holiday weekend. Maybe you’re hangin out at the beach. Possibly BBQ’ing in the back yard. Imbibing a bunch of drinks (cause it’s hot out). Relaxing in front of a TV. Catching a movie. Swimming in a pool. Rollerblading?
Today’s artist was one of those fortunate musicians at a young age. Blues Saraceno, yes that’s his name, is a guitarist who happened to get his debut around the age of 16. He put out a few instrumental records then went on to play guitar for others. I found out about him as I was learning to play. Then got a chance to hang with him in SoCal. Briefly. A friend of mine was a friend of his. So we rollerbladed once or twice. Nice bloke.
Anyway, I can appreciate the playing and the mindset Blues has. While I haven’t done an entire record of instrumental music like Blues, Satriani, Vai, or any of those cats, I can appreciate it. I felt I wouldn’t add anything to that genre so I never really ventured into it. The quest for a great sound though is something I can relate very well to. In a parallel, Blues likes to get great guitar tones and has lots of amps and such to do so. Beyond that his dad built him an amp that defines his sound. I’d be willing to bet Blues also spent time figuring out what kind of strings he likes, what kind of picks, etc…
When a player gets down to the nitty gritty of the difference between 11 gauge strings, or the material/size/shape of a pick, the fretwire, etc. It means they’re really defining their art. At least that’s what it means to me. I did that too. I’ve got very specific tastes in my gear. But I spent a lot of time trying tons of combinations to get to it.
Beyond the gear there is one thing that defines the sound of a musician. That is their playing. Their fingers. Their musical patterns. Their touch. Blues has a very obvious Blues vibe. Especially on the instrumental CDs he put out. It’s a catch 22. Either people will dig that, or they won’t. There aren’t many players on the planet (compared to all the people who actually play and instrument) who are instantly recognizable by their playing. To me, that is the mark of a unique and original musician. Blues is one such player.