Recently, some people have asked me if I replaced some players in my quartet. The answer is no.
Right now I have two bands...Neil Stalnaker Quartet...and the EAST/WEST UNIT. I have had more of my attention on EAST/WEST UNIT lately to get it started. But, from now I will be working and performing with both bands. I'm also doing trumpet/piano duos. I'm doing an all electric trio/quartet and an getting ready to start an acoustic trio with trumpet, bass and drums. I get bored with just one playing outlet. I need change. There are a lot of people that I want to play with but, it's important that I try to create the right context for different players' styles. I'm also playing the "jazz chair" in the Serendipity Big Band. I used to play in a 10-piece salsa orchestra in Washington, D.C. We performed at least twice a week. I REALLY miss that band. Also, in D.C I did a lot of classical trumpet with piano. I would love to be doing some of that now.

Hello!!!

A quick note to you regarding some performances this week.

EAST/WEST UNIT
Neil-trumpet
Hakuei Kim-piano http://www.hakuei-piano.com
Jeff Curry-bass http://www.jeffcurrymusic.com
Kenichi Nishio-drums

Half Tone (Friday, September 30 8PM)
Tachikawa, Japan Nishiki-cho 1-2-5 2F tel-042-525-3336 http://www007.upp.so-net.ne.jp/halftone/

Airegin (Saturday, October 1 8pm) Yokohama, Japan http://www.angel.ne.jp/%Eair-gin/Jazz/index.html

10/2 SPATS (Odawara, Japan)
10/3 DOXY (Nagoya, Japan)
10/4 Big Apple (Kobe, Japan)
10/5 Royal Horse (Osaka, Japan)
10/6 SOHO (Hiroshima, Japan)
10/8 afternoon clinic/concert Kagawa
10/8 Speak Low (Kagawa)
10/9 Yokohama Jazz Promenade Jazz Festival (afternoon)
10/9 New York Bar (Park Hyatt Tokyo-Shinjuku)
10/10 Chiba (private event)
http://www.neilstalnaker.com/

While taking my usual walk today, I realized that it's not living in Japan that is causing me to feel so much stress and pressure. It's the fact that I'm so far away from my family. Maybe I could fly back and see my parents, sister and my kids once a month. But, the fact is that I haven't been able to do that because of financial concerns up to this point. Growing up in the small mountain town of Elkins, West Virginia was great. All of my family was there. I was surrounded by incredible natural beauty. It was very safe. It was just a great way to grow up. I remember having Sunday dinners at my grandparents' house. A lot of aunts/uncles/cousins where there. I got to hear a lot of great stories. My grandfather was a master storyteller. He lived a helluva life. He's sitting at the head of the table in this photo. This was taken at a normal Sunday afternoon dinner. We usually had fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade bread, salad, jello, sweet potatoes and many, many desserts. After dinner, everybody went into the living room. Everybody relaxed...we often watched the end of a football game and maybe Disney around 7 or 7:30pm and of course, I heard tons of stories. Then, it was time to go home and start thinking about getting ready to go to school the next day. It gave my life a center...something real...something that made me feel a little more secure in this world. I had support there. Life in the USA, as well as the rest of the world has changed so much in the past 30 years. I feel sorry for people that don't have that support system that I had coming up.


Yes, thats me sitting on the left-side of the table next to my little sister and Mom. My generation is kind of in between that "leave it to beaver" period and this "scattered everyone living in different states and/or countries" group. I feel torn. I'm living in another country. I almost have to live in a big city to make a living as a trumpet player but, I want to have that feeling I had when I was growing up near family. My parents are getting older. I'm missing out on my kids' lives. Nobody really comes here to visit mainly becuase of the distance. So, I have an empty feeling. I've been thinking that it is my attitude towards Japan. But, today I think it's not my attitude towards Japan at all. Maybe I'm just homesick......

I guess maybe sometimes it seems like I don't like Japan or living in Japan. It sometimes seems easier to be negative than to talk about the things we like. However, I've always had a fascination with Japanese culture.

I've been living here for 7 years. It has been such a fast 7 years in many ways. I have always eaten Japanese food since arriving here April of 1998. The food here has really turned my life around. I came here still suffering the effects radiation treatments (daily for two months). It took me years to overcome the radiation. I'm a big fan of brown rice (genmai) and unagi (eel). I also love having the traditional breakfast of rice, miso soup and fish. Soba (buckwheat noodles) is something I enjoy having for lunch or when I'm on the run and have to grab something fast in a train station. This year, I found a tiny sushi shop near my home that I like to visit once or twice a month. I usually have some sake or Sapporo beer with my sashimi and sushi.

One thing that I have always loved about Japan is the cleanliness (organization and structure). However, I must say that some of the structure and lack of flexibility drives me insane. Recently, I have been able to let a lot of that just "roll off my back", though.

The train system in Japan is really unbelievable. It blows me away thinking about our almost non-existent train system in the USA. I don't even need a car in Japan. The stations are very convenient. Compared to the cost of maintaining a car, the train cost in Japan is very reasonable. The trains are ALWAYS on time.

It's surprising to me that I can make a living as a "jazz" (whatever that is) musician in Japan and back in my own country (where JAZZ is considered to be a national treasure) can't even begin to make a living. There is such an enormous appreciation here for "the music".

Yes, everyone knows that Japanese are known for copying....and copying well. However, I like the thing I see in the culture where Japanese seem to want to pick the best or the highest level things from various other cultures around the world.

I guess I could go on and on. There are so many things that attract me to Japan. But these days I feel incredibly lonely all the time. Maybe it's because I'm not with my kids. I'm always talking to my parents on skype. But, it's just not the same as being in their living room..hangin' out..talking...watching some tv together and eating some snacks.. or having a cook-out. Living in another country isn't easy. Even if you really like the place, as I do Japan. I miss a lot of things about the USA. So many people have been so unbelievably nice and generous to me here in Japan. And at the same time, I feel like such an outsider. Sometimes I go all day without saying anything. It's difficult. Maybe I'm not supposed to be so open and honest in a blog. I don't know. I never read other blogs. I don't have much blogging experience. But, if I don't speak from my heart then I think it's just a waste of time for everyone. It's the same when I play trumpet. If I only play what I think people want to hear then I'm not playing from my heart. If I don't play from my heart and soul then I'm not being honest with my music.

I'm getting ready to leave now for my regular Sunday night gig in Shinjuku. I was just thinking about my gig last night at Mahoo no ryu in Oizumigakoen. After I finished the gig they gave me a beer and 2 plates of food...no charge....just a service...an appreciation for our efforts. I'm going to do this gig tonight at a rather famous place...very expensive..a lot of famous customers...etcetc. I've played there over 300 nights in the past 2 years. Last Sunday night I was kind of hungry after the gig so I decided to have a small pizza and a beer. One tiny little pizza and 1 beer. My bill was $40!!!. Don't misunderstand, I'm not looking for a "hand-out". But, come on!!!!

Played tonight at Mahou no ryu in Oizumigakoen. It was my first time at this club. Such a nice club. It has a really nice vibe. The owner and the staff were so kind and made us feel very welcome. The owner and I had a nice sound check before the gig. I felt really comfortable from the start because we took some time and got the sound right. The club was completely full. So many came out to hear the music despite the rain. So the conditions were great for making good music.

The band (East/West Unit) is preparing to do a tour of Japan from September 30. So, we are rehearsing and practicing a lot of our original songs. Tonight was a nice opportunity to play a lot of our new things. It's not an easy thing to put a band together. Of course, you want to have good players but, you must find players that get along well with each other and are easy to work with. We want to have a "band sound"...we want to create our own "vibe". Then we have to learn the music. All of this takes time. For many of us musicians, we get called to run out and play gigs for events, LIVES or parties knowing that we are going to be playing the from the same list of standards and with band s that are basically thrown together for 1 night only. However, in forming a band you have to be patient to let the "process" unfold. It takes time. Learning the songs takes time. Each member has to practice the songs at home and "live with them" for a while. We meet and rehearse when we can make time in our schedules. Eventually, we are really familiar with the songs...have them memorized and don't need to have the paper around. Then, the band can really start to make some music. But, it takes time to get to that point. I came to the gig tonight thinking that I knew the songs. But, I quickly found out that I didn't quite have them in my memory or sub-conscious, yet. I don't know why right now but, I was kind of nervous tonight. I found myself wondering what the audience was thinking. I wasn't able to really focus on the music. My attention kept getting diverted away from the music.

I'm happy with the progress of this band. As we continue to get familiar with these songs, I feel like all the members are growing and stretching and beginning to communicate musically on a level that we couldn't touch a couple of months ago. It's really a beautiful process to watch unfold. I hope some of the people at the gig tonight will continue to come out over the next few months to check-out the band again and again. I think they will be surprised during the next few months.

As a bandleader, I have to be a little careful. Music is a special thing and musicians can be very sensitive people. I would never want to say anything that would hurt a musicians confidence. It's almost like being a coach. I put a certain combination of players together and give them some material. But, it takes time for this process to unfold. I can see so much potenial in the band now. It's almost like doing a sculpture. The masterpiece is already in the stone. It's a matter of carving the stone down to the point where your vision becomes a reality. It's hard work. Sometimes I push players to "dig deep" within themselves...to get "outside the box"....to play in a style that is maybe a little uncomfortable. I really have a vision for this band. However, it's a long process.

Tonight had a couple of interesting situations. We actually had a few kids at the gig. It was great! There were a couple of mothers that brought their children to hear the music. They didn't know each other before tonight. It's unusual to have any children at a gig but, to have to different mothers bring their kids was really unusual. My birthday is February 6. Tonight there were 4 people at the gig whose birthdays are February 6. I couldn't believe it!!!

I'm soooo sleepy. I actually just fell asleep while doing this blog. Tonight was great. It was a very important night in the development of this band. Thanks to all of you that came and inspired us to do our best. And a special thanks to the guys in the band. I really appreciate your effort and willingness to take time out of your lives to play music with me.

well....it's ALMOST Christmas.....

COAT-OF-ARMS
Dated as early as 1590, Steinaecker was a registered symbol from a city of Quedlinburg in the Province of Lower Saxony. The symbol is later associated with Steinacker, a family of Imperial noble lineage in Vienna dated 1637. It was a general practice for slight changes to be made on a family crest from one generation to another for identification.

Iraq Veterans Against the War

LINKS

WAGE PEACE (movie on the human toll of the war)

Outer Rim (video)

I want to thank the guys in the band, Miles and all of you that came out to hear us!!! Thank you sooo much! Tonight's gig was one of my very favorites in the last 10 years. So much energy, PASSION(!!!) and communication and I could feel all of that coming back from the audience. Thank you so much!

Over the last 25 years, I've been lucky to have a lot of work as a trumpet player. During some of that time, I took jobs outside of music. But, whenever I have wanted to really work as a full-time trumpet player, it hasn't been much of a problem. Looking back over those 25 years, I think I took jobs outside of music sometimes because I became bored with the kinds of playing I was doing.

Doing a gig like this one tonight makes it clear to me why I got into music in the first place. When I first moved to Washington, D.C. in 1982, I became very busy (playing trumpet), very quickly. I played all kinds of gigs. I never said no to a gig. Looking back, I know I played in a lot of contexts that were incredibly boring and had very little meaning or creativity. I was playing 250-300 times a year. In some respects it was wonderful. It was great for my confidence...great for my sight-reading...etc.

I'm not real interested to play in a "cover" band now. I like playing originals. I can't tell you how deeply enjoyable it is to write a new song, take it to a rehearsal and then perform it on a concert with your band and then to record it on a CD. Of course, I don't have a recording contract with a record label, don't have an agent and no promotional support. So, at this time, it's a little more difficult to get large numbers of people to my performances. But, that's ok. I'm patient. I've gotten enough feedback from my performances in the USA, Switzerland, Russia and Japan that people seem to enjoy the music (if the energy, passion and communication is there).

Presently, I'm still a trumpet player full-time and also doing some trumpet teaching. I feel very lucky. I guess I could make a lot more money if I took a lot other kinds of different gigs. But, I'm able to make it now. In the 1990's I was fortunate to have the experience of making great money. I know what that is. I feel like I know how to do that now if I wanted to get into some other kinds of businesses.

I had been a professional trumpet player for 10 years when I got throat cancer in 1991. I remember a large group of doctors and therapists came into my hospital room to tell me that I couldn't play trumpet ever again. It took me a long time to get my playing back but, I was able to do it. So, I feel a responsibility to really do something with my "2nd life" as a musician. I don't want to waste it. I want to do creative things. It doesn't mean I don't want to make money. haha..I'm normal. I like money as much as the next guy. However, at this point in my life, I'm not going to let it be the "driving force" in my career and my life.

My Mom and Dad live here. (just outside Elkins, West Virginia) "Wild, Wonderful West Virginia".

9/18/05 Music and updates from Tokyo trumpet player Neil Stalnaker and his website www.neilstanaker.com


MP3 File

A little shorter podcast tonight....I've just been too busy...no time....kind of over-slept...was late to the the studio...no money...kind of not feeling good today..well, I didn't write it down and just forgot...oh yeah, my confidence has been kind of low...well, you know, Tokyo is a big city and I'm just a "country boy".......excuses...right? We all hear them everyday. We even use some of them ourselves. That's the subject of one of my songs on the podcast this week.

Lipstick in School -- Priceless!!


According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington was recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom.

That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.

Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.

Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it.

Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

There are teachers, and then there are educators.

A few years ago, I learned an important lesson while (and about) living here in Japan. I was doing some of my own quartet gigs. In the USA, I was used to showing up 15-20 minutes before a gig. If there was a rehearsal it was usually a day or two before the gig. Then we just went to the gig and played. I noticed here (in Japan) that the musicians seemed to be uncomfortable with me coming to my gigs only 15 minutes before the start time. If I was on someone else's gig, we usually had a rehearsal at 5:30 or 6pm (for an 8pm gig). This meant that I would had to leave my apartment at 3 or 4 pm for an 8pm gig. I got called for a few big band gigs. This is where I really noticed a change. The bandleader told me to be at the club around 3:30pm for a "sound-check". Well, back in the good 'ole USA, a sound check meant that I would come to the concert hall around 7pm and the band would play 1 or 2 songs so the sound man could get the levels on the mics, drums, etc. Here in Tokyo, I quickly found myself in 3 hour sound-checks. We played and rehearsed every tune that was going to be played that night. I just couldn't understand it. Why are we wasting the brass players chops and using up all of the creative energy in a "3 hour sound-check"? I wondered.

Around the same time, I was continuing to teach English (had to make that money...). I had a couple of students that went to New York on a business trip. While in New York, they went to a Yankees game. When they returned, I asked them how they enjoyed the game. They said it was "so-so". I asked why only so-so. They said they were disappointed because they went to the ballpark 3-4 hours before the game to watch the practice session. They said the guys came out stretched a little, tossed the ball around and did a few minutes of batting practice and went back into the clubhouse. I told them that was normal because it was a "game day". We want to save our best for the game. They were very disappointed. I began to see a connection between this baseball experience and the experiences I was having with "sound checks".

During the same period, I read a book called "THE CHRYSANTHEMUM AND THE BAT". This is one of the best books that I've read to give you an insight into the sometimes vague but, multi-layered culture in Japan. Also, another book simply called , "KATA". Kata is a word I learned in high school while I was studying Shotokan karate. Kata means form. It means there is a "correct" way of doing things. So, I noticed that I was running into the "process" all the time. I was having to arrive at gigs 2-4 hours early and do rehearsals that often times seemed to be "too little, too late" or just a waste of time. However, I learned that because this culture focuses so much on the "group", these "get togethers" before the gig were actually a way to strengthen the group..to form more harmony within the group. Japanese like to use the word "wa". This word is very important in the context of the Japanese culture.

I can't say that I'm any happier now than I was 3-4 years ago about having to show-up hours before a gig and run through 15-20 tunes. But, at least, now I understand why and the form of the "exercise". However, I still love the excitement and the spontaneity of showing-up and sight-reading a concert like I had to do several times in Washington, D.C. at places like the Smithsonian Museum Concert Series. I don't do much reading now so, my reading level is much, much lower than it was when I was living in D.C. But, in D.C. I was expected to be a great reader. There wasn't all of these opportunities to eliminate possible errors. It was too difficult to get a band together for rehearsals so, you were expected to show up at the gig and be ready "to play".

Try this unique puzzle .... Not your usual jigsaw puzzle.
Drag the pieces with your mouse. Have fun!

CLICK HERE

I couldn't resist taking this photo at a festival I attended last year. I thought it was Michael Moore from behind.......

Making music is unlike any other "job". However good any non-musician thinks it is, multiply it by 10 (at least). No one understands what kind of "prep" time that musicians go through....the years of daily practice..all of the head trips (up and down)...the study away from the instrument and (for most us) the complete lack of job security....and on and on. But, non-musicians can probably never understand what an unbelievably liberating experience (emotionally) performing can be for a lot of us. It's like therapy. You can completely drain yourself physically and emotionally of stress during the course of a gig.

got two people i know. both "players". same instrument. one "cat" is the ultimate b.s.(er) and a "so-so" player, the other "cat" is equally a helluva "b.s.(er)" but, plays his ass-off(!!!). leads me to believe..."b.s." is (actually) sometimes *cool* [however] without the "real deal", it's just "b.s." [and] that ain't "cool".....

September 16 LIVE!!!! Click on photo for larger image

I've always believed in "what goes around comes around". Some say "karma" or "you reap what you sow". I remember around 1983-84, I was in the US Navy Ceremonial, in Washington, D.C. Our daily responsibilities were official funerals at Arlington National cemetery and Official White House/Presidential functions around Washington. Sometimes when the schedule was a little slow, they scheduled us to perform school concerts around D.C. We had this conductor/leader that was really into mixing the power/intimidation factor from his military rank and his position as conductor to "mess" with people. I watched him "mess" with a lot of people. I thought it was sad. Most of these people were scared of him because their career was the Navy Band. From day one, I never saw the Navy Band as a career choice for me...just a place to get started.

One day, we were rehearsing a jazz piece, for one of these school concerts that he had programmed. I had to stand in front of the band and do this trumpet solo. Well, there were some troubles with the "time" and we had to go over a difficult spot a couple of times. He became impatient with me at one point and stopped the band and started to give me a lecture that he used to play euphonium in a combo at a "Holiday Inn" and knew a lot about jazz. I just listened and made no comment.

A few weeks later, we were doing a concert on the steps of the "Lincoln Memorial". I was sitting directly in front of this conductor. At one point, he starts telling me how surprised he was that I ever got selected for this band ( I had to compete through auditions with trumpet players that came from all over the USA to Washington for the audition). He made some very "low class" remarks to me in the middle of the performance in front of the band. I just listened and made no comment. Some people in the band told me that it was driving him crazy that I wouldn't say anything when he tried to "take me down" in front of everyone.

A few months later, he got transferred to the Navy School of Music in Virginia Beach. At some later point, maybe a year or two later, I heard that he had been forced to retire because of a sexual harassment case that had been brought up on him. I can't say that I was happy or unhappy about his misfortune. I just thought that it was natural because he had been setting up the context for that final outcome for a long time.

Neil Stalnaker's EAST/WEST UNIT Fall 2005 Japan Tour Posters/Flyers

If you want to print and hand-out flyers for our upcoming tour, click on the link (check date and location) below.

EAST/WEST UNIT "Posse" Materials

My son Louie is a junior on his high school soccer team.

9/5/05 Music and updates from Tokyo trumpet player Neil Stalnaker and his website www.neilstalnaker.com


MP3 File

Network For Good

Help Me To Understand why the US Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Army and AirForce couldn't have entered New Orleans a day or two after the storm in helicopters and small boats doing rescue missions and delivering supplies. Could we not have gone into New Orleans with small boats? I don't understand.

I don't even know how to express my sadness for the people of New Orleans and the Gulf coast. I guess I don't have to, everyone has feelings about this. I'm confused. I feel sad and shock about the natural disaster itself but, I seem to feel more sadness and even anger about the disaster that has evolved in the past 5 days after the storm. Of course I'm in Tokyo, not the US, not on the Gulf coast. It's easy for me to sit here and comment. However, I just haven't seen or felt the "sense of urgency", that I witnessed during the 9/11 situation, to help these people. Why? I can't understand. We "moved mountains" in Afghanistan and Iraq. We approved multi billions, moved troops and equipment at an unbelievable pace. Sound political? Well...maybe it is. That's not my intention. This situation (slow aid to the storm victims) is inexcusable. Politicians come on the damn t.v. and slapp each other on the back and tell each other how great of a job they're doing and at the sametime, dead bodies are being stacked in the stairwells at New Orleans hospitals.

copyright 2005 www.neilstalnaker.com