Musical Empowering And Equality
As a bassist I have no problems stepping down in the hierarchy, to become the musical proletarian and to support others with a tonal and rhythmical foundation. The thing that I do have a problem with is when other musicians take me for granted, that I become nothing more than the support for other musicians momentum. That I become the radio in the background, murmuring sounds without music. The noise that the other musicians do not miss until it is gone.
The conversations that I appreciate are the ones between equal parts. Where those who take part in the conversations equally talk, listen and reflect. My way of playing the double bass, in the genre where I mostly play, i.e. free improvised music, reminds me of a modern relationship.
Hence, where you perceptively, both individually and jointly take the initiative of what things that have to be done. What is missing? How do I bring the music forward? How do I make the music interesting?
Or as Sten Sandell said when we had a conversation about this theme:
”you need to work the music in depth, and not just sideways”.1
1 Quote Sten Sandell, during a conversation in Malmö in November 2022
