http://beta.wnyc.org/thegreenespace/events/2010/jun/24/caramoor-festival-sneak-peek/

He told a story about when he was a kid; the two recordings that he listened to the most were Benny Live at Carnegie with his band and Benny playing the Mozart Concerto. He said he was so confused. He chose to just play music and it happened to be predominately jazz. In the end we are all just musicians after all. My program this summer at Caramoor has a French theme and especially Debussy and Stravinsky (not French but a composer like others with a French soul) were influenced by jazz. Unfortunately Paquito will not be making a guest appearance on my concert but I will think of this always. This experience will forever shape how I approach all kinds of music. The energy and spontaneity was so real. I give thanks for experiences like this.

Cheers and yes, I made it!

Anthony

He was the foundation of the group. So solid, and strong was how he played. These are also words that come to mind when I think of all those hours of rehearsal. Each phrase played with feet firmly planted on the ground but with such freedom. Freedom to play as you wanted. He would always talk about the fact that the person with the melody had the melody and that was it. When he would play a melody he owned it completely.

When he said something about music, you listened. The way he played a phrase you would think that was exactly the way it should be played. Such confidence and little doubt. I learned to be strong and not mess around. Being next to him on a stage you knew that this was serious business, not something to mess around with or toy with but something extremely important. No funny business. Although as many people know, he was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.

In rehearsals after much talking or debate, he would start playing almost immediately. This always seemed to say to everyone, Shut up! This is what matters, the sounds, the music. His music lives and we can hear him now as before.We can hear him still everyday, every second that we want to. He has given us so much and we have that forever. Thank you for playing with me for me and teaching me with every note and every slide. (He would always make fun of me for playing an instrument that you couldn’t slide on

Thank you Mr. Soyer.

One of the gems of the music world, The New York String Orchestra Seminar is an awesome group of young musicians that come together once a year to be immersed in great music and instruction, culminating in concerts at Carnegie Hall. It was founded by Frank Salomon who created the seminar in 1969 for Alexander Schneider, one of the great musicians of our time. I participated in the program when I was in college and it changed my life. I go back whenever I can to coach and in this instance, conduct  a sectional. These kids are the best musicians in the country and the program led by Jamie Laredo is a true gem. Above are some photos from the sectional at the Manhattan School of Music courtesy of Allen Cohen. They really inspired and excited me to make all of those faces!!  Learn more about the seminar here.  http://www.newschool.edu/mannes/subpage.aspx?id=30433

A

Artists: Radiohead OK Computer 1997

Christopher O’Riley Hold Me To This 2005

Recording Credits:

Mozart Kegelstatt Trio K.498 The Nash Ensemble 1999 by EMI/Virgin

Schumann Marchenerzahlungen Op. 132 Paul Meyer Clarinet, Eric Le Sage Piano, Antione Tamestit Viola 2006 by Alpha

Bruch 4 Pieces: Michael Tree Viola, Anthony McGill Clarinet, Anna Polonsky Piano. The Schumann Trio. 2008 by Me

Brahms Clarinet Trio: Anthony McGill Clarinet, Inbal Segev Cello, Benjamin Hochman Piano. 2009 at Cooperstown Music Festival

Messager Solo du Concours: Anthony McGill Clarinet, Gloria Chien Piano July 2009. Da-Hong Seetoo

For the first installment I’d like to introduce my parents, Demarre and Ira Carol McGill. They were my first teachers and the biggest influences on my music-making. In many ways they have already taught me so much about music and life. These two wonderful things, as I would discover in this conversation, are improvised everyday. My parents’ experiences as extremely creative artists gave them the ability to show me the way. We discussed this a few months ago before my concert in Jefferson City, MO over lunch. I took out my iPhone and recorded some of the conversation. This is what was discussed.

Back in the late 60′s they would get together at a spot by the lakefront on the South Side of Chicago and listen to long jam sessions by an eclectic group of musicians. There were musicians of many different backgrounds just getting together for the love of music. Bongos, singing and dancing into the wee hours of the night were the norm. Not really related except in name but enjoy Bongo Bop, Charlie Parker.  These were exiting times for them and it was all about expression. As my Dad points out, Dashikis and large afros were in vogue. In case you don’t know   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiki. Mom says that self awareness and self pride were at the heart of the music and the style.

My parents are both former art teachers and my Dad recently retired as Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department. Dad says that during the 70′s and 80′s when they were very into oil painting and drawing he would wake up, go to our art studio at home, and 6-7 hours later it would feel as if he came out of a trance and the painting would be complete.  He then goes on to make a very important point that, “…life itself is an improvisation.” I love this idea. We improvise everyday. You wake up with no schedule and say hmmm, I think I’ll do this. If we do the same thing in the same way everyday, we lose that spirit of improvisation. Dad has learned to embrace this even more in retirement.

This conversation brought us to another discovery. Our lives are structured to become note readers but we need to appreciate the beauty of change and discovery. Improvising is what makes us really human. We have choices to go in one direction or another. We are the composers of our own destiny in so many ways.

I urged my mom to jump in and talk about her experiences as a dancer and choreographer. She received her master’s degree in Dance Movement Therapy, was a member of a modern dance company and has choreographed for many productions. She is currently a professional actress and obviously loves to stay busy! She describes how it all starts in the mind. Mom imagines the movement in her mind’s eye and combines that with what she hears in the music. She envisions the steps then incorporates them with the body. Her movements were always so natural. Watching her move to music taught me about expression. She has always improvised. She says, “I saw what I felt from within and then expressed it outward.” I love this. She did not start off taking dance classes, she describes it as having, “…a sense of dance.”  To learn steps better she had to go back to her natural instinct in order to learn the notes…umm…I mean steps.  She tells one story of how she was trying to learn a dance and the choreographer screamed “Get out of your head!” Mom was trying to go over every little thing in her head but as soon as she just let go, it clicked. She says, “When I internalized it I could learn the steps faster.”

My parents also told me that when I was a kid and they would play music I would dance and improvise to the music. So much so that they almost put me in dance classes. I’m a better clarinet player than dancer but watch out Baryshnikov,

it’s never too late.

My brother also improvised on our electronic keyboard at home and composed his own pieces when he was very young.

This was my start with music and art. From these beautiful people I learned how to create, dance, hear, feel and express “…what is within, outward.”

I began this project thinking that I would have the first discussion with a professional musician but I’ve realized wisely, that I learned most of the things I know already from my parents. The first great artists and improvisers of my life. On this Thanksgiving I want to start off this journey with a tribute to them. Thanks guys for everything. Cheers.

AnthonyMcGill