By Vic Schermer
Jimmy Bruno and Joe Beck's new CD, Polarity, is the first recorded collaboration of two of the best jazz guitarists in the business, Jimmy a consummate artist and technician with a virtuosic mastery of the instrument and its possibilities, and Joe, one of the finest studio musicians, seasoned accompanist, and master of harmonies and of the expressive potential of guitar. At their CD release party and performance at JJ's Grotto in Philadelphia, they exuded enthusiasm about each other and their new album, and the recording deserves their (and our) enthusiasm.
Jimmy and Joe both have their own websites and are excited about the possibilities of the worldwide web and the internet for communication among musicians and listeners. The following interviews, focusing on their new CD, "Polarity", were conducted last month.
First names are used to distinguish Jimmy and Joe (their initials are the same JB!) and to reflect their spontaneity and informality as very warm and authentic people.
VIC: A "warmup" question. You must answer without a lot of thinking: If you could take all the recordings of only one jazz guitarist to the proverbial "desert island" with you, who would you pick?
JIMMY: I wouldn't take a jazz guitar CD, but would probably take anything by Bach: the fugues, preferably.
VIC: Did you have a working relationship with Joe Beck before "Polarity,"or is this your first collaboration?
JIMMY: This is the first time. We met at a clinic at Duquesne University.
VIC: What was the reason you- or the producers- chose the title "Polarity"?
JIMMY: Joe and I wanted to call it "The Odd Couple". Concord thought that not everyone would get the connection to the TV show. Don't know why they chose "Polarity". Maybe because we have opposite approaches to the instrument.
VIC: Could you tell us what you mean when you say you and Joe have "opposite" approaches to the instrument?"
JIMMY: Joe's approach with this instrument is more harmonic and mine is linear.
VIC: What difficulties and challenges, if any, did you face in combining Joe's alto guitar sound with your Fender?
JIMMY: The sound meshed quite easily. I play a custom 7 string Benedetto...not a Fender.
VIC: Sorry for the error! In the liner notes of "Polarity" you express thanks to Fender, so I'm not sure what's up. Could you explain?
JIMMY: Fender supplied the amps and Fender bought Guild guitars who now custom make Benedettos.
VIC: What do you admire and value about Joe's playing?
JIMMY: His harmonic sense is astounding. There is no one who can put harmonies together like that.
VIC: In my review of "Polarity" I note that it is striking to hear echoes of historically great guitarists, and I mention in particular Wes Montgomery, Herb Ellis, and even Django Rhinehart. Was there any conscious intent to incorporate ideas, motifs, and styles of past jazz guitarists in this CD?
JIMMY: No ... I've listened to all those guitarists you mentioned. I just play me and I guess those influences are there.
VIC: It seems to me that on this album, Jimmy, you achieve a new lyricism and subtly of expression to complement your virtuoso "poppin' and burnin'" style. Do you agree, and if so, did you deliberately strive for that goal? Was Joe helpful in that regard?
JIMMY:Yes, you are right. I purposely tried to avoid the burning guitar thing. Guitar people like to hear that sort of thing and I do it when it is appropriate for the music. But with this CD, I wanted to concentrate more on simple melodies. Joe was very helpful with that. Also, the way we set up the thing with Joe improvising the harmony I had to take a step back to listen to what he was going to play so that I could respond to it. None of that thing was worked out. Most of the time I had no idea of what chord he was going to play.
VIC: This is amazing to me, the notion of improvising harmony. I know that jazz musicians add and subtract harmonics and chord structures within a pre-figured chord pattern for a given tune. Could you explain what Joe does in particular that led you to attend to his harmonies more than usual?
JIMMY: That'a a bit complex to explain but there are many things that you can do to the harmony of the tune within certain boundaries. What Joe does is amazing to me because the harmonic routes that he takes to certain pivotal harmonic cadences are very unique.
VIC: You and Joe obviously make a great team, and are a "natural" together. I suspect there will be frequent requests for you two to perform together. How are you going to reconcile your desire to play, perhaps tour, with Joe, and your need to maintain your individuality and further your own development as a musician?
JIMMY: There is always plenty of time to tour and change the music as well. I am already at work writing original tunes in a different style than my previous CDs. I am also putting together a new band to accommodate the changing style of the music.
VIC: Do you have an idea of what type of group it will be and/or who will be in it?
JIMMY: Yes I do, but I think it better not to say at this point.
VIC: At JJ's Grotto in Philadelphia, where you performed often for several years, and held the record release party and performance for "Polarity" with Joe, you mentioned in conversation that you talk to other guitarists on the web, even play examples for them. How can musicians out there make use of your availability on the web?
JIMMY: Go to www.jimmybruno.com. You can sign a mailing list that will notify you of live chats, lessons and web updates that include free online instruction. Also, if you purchased one of my books or videos, I will personally answer any questions you might have about those topics.
VIC: I rarely hear that you are doing any "sideman" work for horn players, quintets, vocalists, etc. It seems to me that you could help any group swing, and that you'd be enriched yourself in the process. Do you do any work of this kind, just to vary the pace?
JIMMY: No. Not anymore. I did that for a living and I don't like it. Although if the right type of situation came along I would accept. But these days I only accept things on my terms. No more compromising the music.
VIC: That's just what I meant. Would there be any particular musicians you would gravitate towards, or is that a trade secret?
JIMMY: Well I don't think it would be good idea to say because I wouldn't want to put anyone off. But it would also depend on the music involved. If it was a project that fits my style then I would definitely be interested. I don't want to get involved in something where the leader might say, can you play that like..."
VIC: Thanks for your thoughtful responses, Jimmy.
JIMMY: Great questions. Thanks.
VIC: A "warmup" question. If could take all the recordings of only ONE jazz guitarist to the proverbial"desert island" with you, who would you pick?
JOE: I would definitely take "Mellow Guitar" by George Van Epps.
VIC: How did you become interested in working with Jimmy Bruno? Did you have a working relationship before "Polarity", or is this your first collaboration?
JOE: This was our first collaboration, but I am interested in playing with anyone who plays as great as Jimmy.
VIC: What do you value about Jimmy's playing?
JOE: Jimmy has mastered the technique of guitar playing as well as anyone I ever heard. It is a style I admire but could never play. The amount of discipline is mind numbing and I chose to to just go directly to the music and let the guitar be only a vehicle for that. A cowards way out.
VIC: In my review of "Polarity" I note that it is striking to hear echoes of historically great guitarists, and I mention in particular Wes Montgomery, Herb Ellis, and even Django Rhinehart. Was there any conscious intent on your part to incorporate ideas, motifs, and styles of past jazz guitarists in this CD?
JOE: That's just a natural result of playing the guitar. Neither of us is trying to emulate anyone.
VIC: It seems to me that on this album, Jimmy achieves a new lyricism and subtly of expression to complement his virtuoso "poppin' and burnin'"style. He gives alot of the credit to you in the interview, saying that he really had to lay back and listen to your harmonic improvisation. Can you describe a bit about your interest in harmonic improvisation, as Jimmy calls it? Can you tell us a bit more about what you are trying to achieve on the guitar in this respect? Is there a theory or concept behind it?
JOE: My whole goal is to make the guitar fill the function of a piano. My whole life has been spent working out ways of moving gracefully through harmony and texture. That is why I am most comfortable as an accompanist.
VIC: Your rendition of "Tenderly" on this album is nothing short of remarkable. How did you approach this standard for this particular CD?
JOE: There was no "approach" other than to play the tune, which is one of my favorites. I did a few solo takes while Jimmy took a little break and "Tenderly" is one of them. No second takes, just foolin' around.
VIC: The liner notes state that you created the "alto guitar." Is it true that this is your own innovation? Can you describe it to our readers and tell them how they may purchase one if they are interested? What was it that you couldn't do on the "standard" guitar that you can do on the alto?
JOE: The alto guitar is simply a tuning which allows me to play inversions of chords that would be otherwise impossible. It also lets me play independent bass lines because the bass strings are separate from the other four. It allows me to have complete control over the harmonic direction and be completely free in my chordal direction. The tuning, however, does not require re-learning chords, which is critical. People can visit my website (www.jabinc.com) and learn more about the guitars. Also, there will soon be a short video available that is a simple demonstration of it.
VIC: Even though the album title emphasizes the differences, the "Polarity" between the two of you, you and Jimmy obviously make a great team, and are a "natural" together. I suspect there will be frequent requests for you two to perform together. How are you going to reconcile your desire to play, perhaps tour, with Jimmy with your need to maintain your individuality and further your own development as a musician?
JOE: Playing with Jimmy doesn't impact my own individuality in the least. If anything, it points it out more clearly.
VIC: What projects and goals do you have in mind for the future?
JOE: I will continue to record and tour as I have for 35 years, I guess.
VIC: Thanks, Joe.
The reviewer/interviewer, Vic Schermer, is a psychologist, former trombonist, and jazz afficianado in Philadelphia, PA. He writes about jazz on various websites. Vic welcomes email correspondence from readers.
