Alex Aspinall doesnt know Im writing this about him. Alex is too modest a musician to say a lot about himself, so I need to because my friend, Alex, is one of the best drummers I have ever played with both in the studio & on stage. In fact, to quote Nacho Libre, he is the best! He started playing with me when I asked him to join the Night Watchmen in 2003 & I dont think he knew just what exactly he was getting into playing with a bunch of miscreants on dirty stages to drunken crowds, this refined jazz drummer with a degree in music from Sonoma State University. But he more than held his own & even helped to tame down our unnecessary partying on stage. Ive learned a lot from this quiet, contemplative, driven man 5 years younger than me through the years. I learned how to value myself as an artist, to be able to say no to gigs & projects when people offered little or no money or time to do them, to begin to think of myself as worthy of the concerts & tours weve gotten to perform & the projects weve done. The first project we did together was my Tranquillo piano instrumentals album, which he didnt play on, he recorded it, & he may have forgotten because he was napping during my takes. It sounded lovely as many of you have told me. The next project, the Night Watchmens Rain Come Down album, we recorded ourselves & Alex spent hours learning to record & mix this strange fedora wearing, piano playing mans songs. And, when I went solo, the only member of the band I continued to play with was Alex. He played all the drums on my No War record, the Gentry Bronson (Beautiful Ghost) EP & my latest HUMAN. Always rock solid in the studio. Prepared. Focused. Fun. You learn a lot about someone in the studio, & Alex is just exactly himself: a pro. On stage, he is the same. People whove seen him play know that he gets this Zen look, looking slightly off to the side, as he nails and coaxes these brilliant rhythms from the drums. I generally think hes slumming it when he plays with me, because hes such a good jazz drummer. Jazz is really Alexs true art form. But he has accompanied me throughout a whole slew or firestorms, embattled nights among throngs of inebriated people, playing to nearly empty rooms, near perfect gigs & gigs where you want to throw in the towel. Loading in, loading out, egos thrown about, the screeching sound checks, sitting in traffic, bright lights, sweat & applause. Weve shared a lot of applause. The night the band & I opened for Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers, a year before Ray died, we walked up on stage, and I took a moment to look at Alex & say, Enjoy every moment of this, man. And he did, of course. Ive learned that from him. To be completely present on stage, in the studio, when rehearsing. And then, well, go home, go see your girlfriend, go surfing, go have a sandwich, live your life. Music is only a part of us & a part of our friendship. The only thing I can remember Alex saying a no to besides a poorly paid gig is to go surfing. Maybe one day Ill get him to paddle out with me. For 12 years, Alex Aspinall has been the back bone, the subtle brush, the strike, the pulse of the music Ive made. Its been an amazing ride, & Im very happy to have been in mutual sidecars together. alexaspinall
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 15:54:29 +0000
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