Philosophy

This is not much of a bio, since most of my experience in music does not relate to what I’m doing now. However, here are some basics about me and the way I approach music.

UPDATE FOR FRIENDS OF PETE DEMARZO!!!!!

I have recently been incredibly lucky to have met via email, Dave Reuter who lives in Boston. He studied with Pete near the time of his death. He had the correct and true story as well as some recordings to share of Pete playing and talking during his lessons. Id give anything to have recorded my lessons..but Dave had the foresight to do it. I am blessed to have been contacted by Dave and to have gotten a copy of some of Pete's teachings. Thanks again Dave!

Here is what went down: Pete worked at a music store called The Big Red Note in Selinsgrove PA near the end of his life. Before that, he was driving truck for Young Door. Then he took a job in the music store near his home. This dispels the legend that Pete was driving a 'garbage truck' and died on the truck, which is the story I heard for years.

My past includes medium length "road stints" along both the east and west coasts. In the 80s I lived in Los Angeles and got much more involved in what happens in the recording studio. I did a lot of recording and got much more interested in that than in playing live.

In this long process, I have discovered that I am not a guitar player. I am also not an entertainer or performer and have never wanted to be any of these things. My job is to create music. I compose, arrange and record my own music. I also take tunes I like, and arrange them in a way that expresses what I hear. I use guitars as well as digital technology to create with. They are my tools just like a hammer is to someone framing a house. Playing an instrument is my means to an end, not the end itself. I usually create alone, but I would love to meet other creative people who would want to collaborate with me. Feel free to contact me if you would like to collaborate.

BTW, I get a lot of questions about “What kind of pick do u use?..What guitar did u use?? etc...etc” and I do have a lot of equipment. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have about this stuff, and I will do my best. Please note, however, that I don’t take equipment very serious anymore, I usually pay little attention to the guitar, amp settings, strings or much else when I do these recordings, but will do my best with your technical questions.

So, I make music. That’s it. I have no desire to play “jobs” nor am I an available "guitar for hire". Those situations generally do not allow me to express my ideas, and therefore have little value for me.

I am not an entertainer and don’t really want or know how to be. To me, entertainment and music are two completely different things, although in the mainstream they often get connected. I do not connect with the "entertainment' part. It’s the job of the court jester to come out and make the King laugh. He may do whatever it takes to accomplish this; Juggle, walk on hot coals, swallow worms or bend spoons with his ass cheeks. This is not my job, nor do I want it. I leave that to the entertainers. I just do the music.

Along my way I have heard many views on all of the above, but I have narrowed it down to 4 simple quotes. These come from very unlikely places, and when in doubt (which is often) I try to remember one of these.

1. "Time flies when you're wasting it."
(Jim Tauber- west coast keyboardist)

2. "It doesn't matter what you do with your life. It's how you feel while you are doing it."
(Harpo Marx)

3." I didn't get to be this successful, and for this long, by worrying over what other people think."
(Howard Stern)

And maybe most notable:
4. "I'm Mingus. Everything I do is Mingus". 
(Charles Mingus)

And..if you have some time now, read "The Paradox of Life" below:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less,
we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly,
laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry,
stay up too late, get up too tired,
read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We have learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We have added years to life not life to years. We have been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We have done larger things, but not better things.

We have cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We have conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.
We have learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce,
fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight,
or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart
and it does not cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! In addition, give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Remember Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
- George Carlin

When in doubt during the creative process, one of these quotes usually help.

People often comment as to why I like jazz when I seem to have a strong rock type edge. My thinking is this:

I very rarely listen to rock music. Rock and pop are great places to get hooked on music as they are joined with the entertainment part that draws you in. This is a great place to start and this is where myself, and many others of my era have started. Many have found everything they need in just the rock format. I envy them.

My bent for jazz happens because of the rhythms and the interaction between the players. Music is made up of Melody, Harmony and Rhythm. As far as I’m concerned, you can forget the first two and get right to the rhythm. Rhythm can stand alone without harmony or melody. It’s the first and often the only thing I hear when music is playing. The rest is icing on the cake.

It is also very exciting for me to hear people get up and just “wing it” or improvise without knowing what the other people in the group might do. There is a level of interaction and listening going on in jazz that is not a part of many other types of music. Not to imply that other forms are not as good, but they do not rely on improvisation. For example, The Beatles made many great records, but they didn’t need to use a lot of improvisation to express themselves. Others do rely in improvisation. I just seem to enjoy music that leaves a lot of room for the musicians to improvise, break free and express what ever they want at the moment.

I also like the 32 bar song structure of the 30s - 50s. The outline of these tunes offers unlimited exploration into tonal colors and moods. Once you get past the "head" they become your own tunes. You can then be free to express your own ideas and find out how "it should go" for you as an individual. It’s not really about having a certain tune in the repertoire, it’s more about “What can I do with this tune?” Some other formats do not leave as much time and space for my ideas as the 32 bar structure does, so, I prefer it.

Lastly, most jazz is played with acoustic instruments. My favorite music is played on acoustic instruments, as I am very drawn to the tone and timbers found in archtop guitars, acoustic pianos, upright bass and all the horns used in jazz. After I hear the rhythm, the next thing that grabs me is Tone and Timbre. I feel that once something gets processed whether its food or music, it loses much of its natural appeal and value to me. I know what your thinking...if you like acoustic so much, what is with the 100 watt Marshall stacks, digital delays and backward masking of vocals like on your CD? I guess I like acoustic music, but keep an open mind to other possibilities if they express me at that moment.

So, there u have it. I like to hear YOUR ideas so shoot me an email now that I may have spurred a dialog.

In the end though, Thelonius Monk probably said it best: "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture".