Corona... & being an artist in lockdown

It has been almost two seasons since I’ve posted my last update here and for a good reason. Covid-19 has entered all of our lives out of nowhere. In two days, it will be half a year (!1) since a strict lockdown had been imposed on citizens of many countries, including in Barcelona, Spain, my current choice of residence. Shortly after the initial period of shock there came a period where we were all kind of figuring out how to do what we did before, but remotely. Being in a small apartment in Barcelona, this task has seemed impossible to achieve for me. With no access to my instrument, I quickly saw that a great adjustment will be needed on my end in order to get the best out of the time to come. Contrary to other opinions, I didn’t believe that the virus and state of crisis will vanish in 14 days-to a month.

I began the first month of lockdown in a good state, finishing up arranging David Bowie’s “Blackstar”, a project which was at that time still being prepared to premiere at the end of May. I’ve practiced on my mini Gretsch drum pad, mainly working on technique and some rudimental etudes. Clearly, playing in a group wasn’t going to be possible for quite some time, so a necessary change of vision has pointed directly to a wish that has been steaming in my conscious for quite some time.. Upon meeting an innovative drummer and a great friend @currencyaudio last year, I’ve began leaning towards the way he makes music: an interesting way of playing not only electronic drum set, but drums and percussion in general. His expression and sound really inspired me to try to express my ideas through the medium of electronic drum-kit all triggered and powered by triggering through Ableton. So I purchased all that was needed (my wife was not happy, lol) and built my own instrument, my own electronic drum-kit.

Learning how to do something like that, takes a lot of learning and patience, but during the quarantine I have devoted quite some time to exploring the possibilities and learning the craft. It’s one of those things that with doing it definitely becomes significantly easier. After four months, I am now at the point to make my own music, which I am doing at the moment. I am also soon releasing three new videos, playing drum tracks, playing drum tracks of legendary tracks, such as Photek’s The Rain, Boards of Canada’s Telephasic Workshop & dBridge’s True Romance (this one is super fast, but smooth!). Also, do check out the first video on this new setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR3V_OISsoU Goldie’s Inner City Life.

Needless to say, I have in the jazz world just as much. I have been practicing, transcribing and learning quite a lot during past six months. The lessons with both Joe Farnsworth and Marc Miralta prior and during the pandemic have inspired me to work in the direction which seems to be very rewarding and just right. Working on phrasing, musicality and relaxing has been on the top of the menu.

I have had the pleasure to be one of the few lucky musicians who actually got the perform during pandemic as well! My newest work and soon to be released album (The date is now set: 5th of december 2020!) The Port of Life II. ENSO was premiered on June 17th, LIVE at the 61st Ljubljana Jazz Festiva in beautiful Linhart Hall of Cankarjev Dom we also did a video recording session for a stream portion of the concert which came out beautiful. See for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnWQQnbeeIY&t=5s.

On July 25h, the band and the music also premiered in my hometown Ptuj on now already renowned ARSANA music festival in gorgeous Minoriti monastery. Also in Ptuj few days later, I played at the Dominican Monastery with Ana Bezjak’s quintet, featuring Tomaž Gajšt, Marko Churnchetz and Robert Jukič.

In composing world, I am currently preparing to start the symphony, (finally!) and therefore gathering all the knowledge and inspiration I can. I am studying scores of Mahler, Mozart and Bruckner and studying Orchestration manuals. I believe the music is in me already, I just want to put it to put in the paper the best way I can. Finally, more copying work (always welcome by the way!) from Wayne Shorter during this pandemic, and yes… it’s always a surreal experience receiving and seeing his handwritten manuscripts!

More upcoming news in the next post!
Stay healthy, sane and in love,

Žan T. / Jean John