Search - John Basile :: Amplitudes

Amplitudes.......... In a somewhat strange twist of fate, Amplitudes came about as a direct result of using an iPhone app simply as the sketchpad for the multiple guitar tracks recorded here that hopefully reflect a certain perspective of what jazz guitar is for me. Though initially intended as references for performances with perhaps another guitarist or instrumentalist, the process became so creatively challenging and intriguing, that I ultimately decided to seize this opportunity to overdub all the tracks in what made musical and conversational sense. Years ago, Bill Evan s Conversations with Myself was a great inspiration in this regard. With the iPhone revolutionizing our pop-culture, I thought why not use it and see where it takes me? Remarkably, its extreme portability allows any artist, anytime, an immediate creative palette for ideas whenever the mood strikes; the ultimate in immediate musical gratification and the opportunity to never again lose a great idea because of time or circumstance. Plugging multiple guitars directly into this device, with full fidelity and 4 tracks of high definition digital sound, provides a perfect creative storm for creating music in as natural and honest a process as possible. For a real jazz palette to exist, it s important that no tool limit creative flow or true improvisational spirit, and that s where this current technology assimilated itself perfectly into my workflow. My overall thought process was to combine different guitar timbres in complimentary combinations and varied musical styles. All tracks were recorded in one or two takes, direct to ProTools with no amps and some digital plug in effects. In short, 3 guitars, 1 player, 1 engineer and just enough current recording techniques and technology to combine forces and represent jazz with a conversational relevance. As the jazz guitar idiom has such a vast history of astounding duo performances, please enjoy these, captured here as they humbly exist, performed as simple Amplitudes of space and time. John Basile - June 2011