Music and Ideas

Pianist Fave #1 George Winston

mattjoneser — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:59:07 +0000

When I was an older child my Dad was really into music from the Windham Hill label, and bought a lot of it. He would play it for me if I had trouble sleeping and eventually I’d listen to it every night while going to sleep. I eventually became very interested in George Winston, an artist with Windham Hill . In high school I got a copy of Forests by George Winston, and I really liked it, but didn’t really get what he was up to with alot of the album.

A drama teacher in my junior year made the whole class lay down on the ground, close our eyes and listen to A george Winston composition called lThanksgiving. I was overwheleb by the beauty, simplicity and creativity of it. For the first time I understood what he was doing in terms of improvisation, not to mention a killer case of lthe goosebumps.

During my senior year Gearoge Wintson did a performance at my high school. I went with a couple of friends who were also into music. We sat in the balcony and I was stunned for the length of the performance. I’d seen a couple of big rock concerts before that but they lacked the intimacy, and frankly the mastery of the instrument. I was especially struck by the way he would let a note or two ring out into space and just roll around the space in the auditorium. He was trying to show us the beauty locked in the instrument.

Since I knew the songs so well from the CD, i got to hear the many ways that he changed them live and twisted them, while still being true to the original song. This was the first time i’d been in the presence of a master of improvisation (I’d experience other masters of improv in the future, in variety of genres.)

As i learned his songs and tinkered around with my own composition and improv, I came to love the brilliant simplicity of his music. He was a doorway into my own creativity.

He also introduced me to the work of Vince Guaraldi in his album Linus and Lucy. This would the first time I’d really pay attention to theses jazz harmonies that still sounded so strange to me at that point in my life. I came to really like Vinces’s music.

George was one of my first music role models that I continue to emulate. He’s explored many styles of piano with artistic excellence. Here’s to George! I think I’ll go play some of his music now.

A New Hope

mattjoneser — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:36:36 +0000

I’m in a strange new phase of being a musician. I’m in the Navy, studying electronics. my heart is with music and it’s a challenge to be enthused about electronics. I want to join the Navy band but that path remains uncertain.

Since the future is seemingly unknown right now, I’m looking toward my roots to gain some insight. I’m interested in who my influences are and what they taught me. That’s going to be the focus of my next posts.

I’m also working on a bunch of compositions for solo piano. More on that as I go.

Bluestone Album

mattjoneser — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:36:43 +0000

Here is the album that I created with Mark Miller and Chris Arndt at Mark’s studio in the mountains. It was and is very special for me to have this music recorded available for people to hear. My time with Bluestone in the last 3 years or so has been a huge learning experience, tons of fun, and has produced some incredible music.

I was able to work with a bundle of talented musicians in this group: Mark Miller, Mark Cornett, Todd Oppel, Chris Arndt, Mike Kline, Mark McCrady and Bob Vignali. Did you notice the list of Marks? My next band will be a electro pop band where everyone plays keyboards called…Matt and the Mark Magnets?

Bluestone Videos

mattjoneser — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:39:41 +0000

Here are a couple of vids of me and the fellas playing in Bigfork MT this summer.

New Music…

mattjoneser — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:19:52 +0000

Just finished another improv style piece with the tenorion- and piano. These are fun bits to dobecause while imperfect in ways, they represent me at that moment, I don’t over think it, just flow with it.

Starlight by Matt Jones

Slipping On…

mattjoneser — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:19:07 +0000

I just finished a bit of music that just happened in my studio as I was sitting there avoiding my usual practice routine. I finished setting up the pieces and plugged in my recorder and just went for it with my looper, tenori-on and piano. I’ve got another tune like this coming soon.

New Tune Up

mattjoneser — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:34:00 +0000

Here’s a tune that I just got up, an oldy, but a goody.

Mini Studio

mattjoneser — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:36:41 +0000

Just finished setting up my mini studio. Laptop running Reason, USB Keys, Nord Stage, and Tenori-On. I’ve got a stack of ideas for tunes as well that I dreamed up the other night, so it’s all ready to go. I’m looking forward to creating in my new space. I’ve also got some ideas for acoustic tunes with accordion and guitar, though I’m not sure my instruments are up to the task, I’ll at least get some rough work done on those.

A new phase of music

mattjoneser — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:33:13 +0000

I just got back from an audition with the US Navy Music Program and I’ve got about 1.5 months before I go to basic training. I’ve got a lot of plans for the time I have left. I’ve got some tunes that I’m writing that I’d like to finish and get up for people to hear. I’m hoping to get some of my older material up here, including music from my band Bluestone and material from my podcasting days. I’ve got a ton of stuff to share, and I’m looking forward to getting it up here for folks to enjoy. So look forward to electronic, jazz, ambient, and acoustic music from me in the coming days.

Busy summer

mattjoneser — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:53:48 +0000

This summer is about to start, and I’ll be playing most weekends through the season. I’m hoping to share music and experiences here, as well as updating the site so that I can sell my music and let you know what I’m up to in general. It seems that I’m involved in so many projects that I want to collect them all here.

Here is my schedule for the summer so far. Check in with www.bluestonemusic.org for any changes:May 22th FatBoys, Kalispell

May 23rd Tamarack Brewery, Lakeside

May 30th Craggy Range, Whitefish

June 5th Love Your Mother Earth Festival

June 6th Ricciardi’s, Polson

June 13th Raleigh’s, Polson

June 14th Flathead Lake Brewery starts at 5pm

June 18th Charlies Baab (Thursday)

June 20th Silver Bullet , Creston

June 27th Eichardt’s, Sandpoint, ID

July 10th Craggy Range

July 11th Ravenwood Benefit

July 19th Riverbend Concert Series, Bigfork

July 25th Raleigh’s, Polson

July 26th Flathead Lake Brewery starts at 5pm

July 29th Boat Club

August 1st Baabfest

August 7th & 8th Garden Bar Bigfork

August 8th Private Party

August 14th Ricciardi’s, Polson

August 15th Craggy Range, Whitefish

August 19th Boat Club, Whitefish

August 28&29th The Depot, Butte

September 1st Farmers Market, Whitefish

September 5th Craggy Range, Whitefish

September 16th Boat Club, Whitefish