Santi Chacon

Promise

2014-02-03T12:52:00.003-08:00

Alright...

So, you want to become a great success, a big wig...hmmm....the further you get along your desired path the more conflict you are going to have to face. The truth be told that even when God (the bible) promises something the first thing one encounters is conflict, challenges, or problems. Just look it up: Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham...Jesus...etc...

Based on my genius (just observation really), I can promise one thing: the further you desire to go in your current vocation, business, spiritual journey..etc.. the more conflict you will have to face...maybe, just maybe conflict is the facility that will get you from point 'A' to point 'B', but to do that you will have to stay on course no matter what...No Matter What - GET IT, GOT IT, GOOD : )

Artrepreneur 101: Going The Extra Mile

2014-01-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

The Foundation For Success

The greatest rewards in life will be attained based on the expansion of personal and collective energies. Think of successful people as those who have contributed sufficient energy in a specified direction. Personal energy takes different forms internally: emotions, thoughts, words, and actions.

The more focused a person’s attention is, the more energy will increase.
The greater the frequency, in which an individual fixes her attention on a goal the more energy will increase.
The more an individual visualizes and affirms a goal, the more energy will increase.
The more a person can join energies with others who have a similar goal, the more energy will increase.
The more you give and the more effective you are at contributing value in a particular area of service, the more energy will increase.

The more energy we expand consistently in one direction, the more we have the opportunity to influence our future opportunities. In the world of energy expansion progress will always take more energy in the beginning and less energy to maintain. Whether a person is starting a career or business thinking in terms of 'personal energy expansion' will bring insights into the rewards one can soon create for themselves.

Call Me A Pragmatic

Although much more can be said about energy expansion, one sure way to succeed based on this principle is to pick a direction or purpose and work hard to 'Go The Extra Mile.' Nothing will give you a better chance at attracting the best customers or opportunities than going the distance. Life will give back what you put into it.

Consistently increase the value you contribute, learn to perform better, work on your communication, work on your leadership, work on your business disciplines and skills and give, give, give. In the process of giving you will not only find new opportunities, but build better skills: management skills, leadership skills, business skills, and communication skills.

Think About Serving

Evaluate your business model, specifically your protocol around customer fulfillment, customer service, and leadership. If there is anything that will perfect how you play the business game it is the ability to perfect your value creation. Rewards are on the other side of service. You will be amazed when the rewards come. Think through how you are creating value, and ask how can you improve on this? A better way of doing business will always exist!

IT IS WHAT YOU GIVE, THAT ENTITLES YOU TO RECEIVE!

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)
Gratitude
Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)

Positive Thinking
Going The Extra Mile

Artrepreneur 101: Positive Thinking

2014-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Another Restless Life

You were meant to fulfill a radical purpose but as it stands you can't even get a foot hold. You are losing time and wonder if you will ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. At the moment you find yourself in that restless place again wishing for the type of success you have only dreamed of. The pangs of frustration is what is felt as you consider your failures against the landscape of achievers. Your soul aches for a resolution, a breath of fresh air as you labor relentlessly during those endless nights. The questions that beckon accountability over and over again scream:

Why aren't you as successful?

When will your time come?

Time To Re-examine

You are only as effective to the degree that you understand and work with fundamentals. If you are not achieving the success you desire than you must first discover the fundamentals of achievers and next you must measure what you do against those fundamentals. In this series you will discover those fundamental and will be invited to consider your attitude or posture around the specific behavioral principle. Just remember after you begin to apply these precepts your success is only a matter of time, so hang on, and press through.

Back To The Fundamentals

Fundamentals are not anything you do; as some type of technique, although “Doing” is in the nature of an achiever. The nature of fundamentals is about “Being” or whom you become as a process of habit and character development. To receive the greatest benefit from this series: after you are introduced to the character or behavioral principles, think on paper of how you can apply it in your current environment.

As you begin to re-discover the fundamentals in this series do not fall in the trap of thinking: 'I already do that,' The goal is 100% saturation of each principle before moving on. Take your time with this stuff and witness the transformation of your business life.

Attitudinal Principle

The study of quantum mechanics reveals the key element in possessing a positive mental attitude. The principle element states: 'As your perception of a thing changes, the very nature of that thing changes.'

Entrepreneurs should have an attitude that is unshakable. The acronym I like to refer to for this occasion is 'GIGO'; Garbage In Garbage Out. What you put into your mind will either move you away or toward your goal for success:

What do you read?
What do you listen to?
What do you watch?
Is what you surround yourself with positive?
How can you nurture more of a positive mindset?
Who do you need to distance yourself from?

You must look at difficult times with a sense of curiosity and ask 'what is life attempting to teach me at this moment?' while working to improve yourself. You will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. If you want a better business, than put new things in your brain. You must know without a shadow of a doubt that you are a winner and that success is around the corner. Understand that things happen for your purpose, and that life is conspiring to make you successful.

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)
Gratitude
Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)

Positive Thinking
Going The Extra Mile

Artrepreneur 101: Purpose (Re-visited)

2014-01-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

Every executive’s purpose is like a finger print: there are no two alike. Each person brings his gifts and talents to the world of commerce. As you rediscover and renew the purpose for your business you will begin to witness the unfolding of a new brand.

Purpose will always have a way of redefining your brand.
Purpose will make your voice stand out with authenticity from the hundreds of thousands of artists/businesses in similar industries.
Purpose is branding! Purpose will give your voice personality and depth of character.

When thinking about your company's purpose engage others in the conversation including friends, employees, partners, customers, and investors.

Put It On Paper!

Allow your unique perspective and meaning to ring throughout your purpose statement. Don't settle for some mediocre concept like "Our Purpose is to Provide a Great Service", "Our Purpose is to be the Best...(WHATEVER)", or :Our Purpose is to provide Great Customer Service." - THIS IS MEDIOCRITY!

Go deeper into your soul and answer the question: what do you stand for? and What should your art/business stand for?

If you are wondering how to define such a broad concept, answer the following questions:

What are you passionate about?
What is your unique signature (talent)?

Is it the way you strategize?
Is it the way you communicate?
Is it your Unique vision?

What unique gifts and passions are you keeping outside of your business? (business should be personal)
How could you tie your unique passions and gifts into your business?

Purpose and passion bring a sense of play back into our lives. Our businesses should work as extensions of our lives.

Do Me A Favor:

Don't settle for a business, CREATE a movement!
Identify your purpose
Identify your unique passions and gifts
Rethink your business model
…and perhaps RETHINK how you have been living your LIFE!

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)
Gratitude
Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)
Positive Thinking

Artrepreneur 101: Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)

2014-01-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

Lets Break It Down

If you are going to make a leap into effortless living, you must, must, must go to work to reprogram your subconscious mind; just like a programmer that has to re-write software. It's all about finding new mental models, creating suggestions (phrases that contain the traits you want to embrace), and repetition.

Finding New Mental Models

Gigo (garbage in, garbage out), we can be the worlds' most skilled programmer, but if all we have is outdated references our code will not work or even worse be detrimental. The same is true with our mind. Our first responsibility is to gather updated information and go to work to read and study 'self-love' and 'relationships' (we are involved in a life time relationship with ourselves).

Creating Suggestions

Part of this process includes creating affirmations or statements that embrace deep fundamental changes. Don't be consumed with more than a statement, something simple and profound such as: "I like and love myself" or "I'm grateful".

Creating a Personal Altar

Create a spiritual spot in your physical environment, a place in which you can acknowledge your self-worth and promise. Include pictures of yourself and memories that make you happy, include flowers, scented candles, and oils. You are a wonderful gift and the most important person in your life. After creating this space, enter into it with a sense of gratitude (this is where the magic lies).

Repetition

This is where your work ethic to shape and mold your subconscious comes in. It becomes important to work on programming your mind daily. The more time you invest on a daily basis going through your affirmation and acknowledging your 'personal altar' the greater impact you will have on your own mind. The best time to use the affirmation or to appreciate your own greatness is before going to sleep, after awaking, and when old negative feelings begin to emerge.

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)
Gratitude
Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)
Positive Thinking

Artrepreneur 101: Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)

2013-12-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

Effortless Living

So here we are, struggling for what we want or worse for what we need. One is the average person's struggle, the latter is the memory of an impoverished soul. A revelation came to me today; perhaps this simple concept crossed my mind before; it seemed oddly familiar. I think we all feel we have to push and strive or claw our way through life. If we are lucky in this struggle we turn to look at our neighbor as someone who moves effortlessly through life. If we are unlucky we witness our neighbor's betrayal (dog eat dog world) to get what she needs.

So this is when that revelation came in, while I was thinking about my struggle; the simple truth dawned on me: The more we LOVE OURSELVES, the more effortlessly our life will become. It becomes our tendency to want to fix 'them' or fix 'that' (all these external factors) and not want to fix ourselves. But when we love ourselves we will live in the moment, experience spontaneous healing, love, and peace. We will call out to that which we desire through our simple and quiet intention and have it manifest at the perfect time. We will become lost in the joy of our work and feel refreshed and inspired. We will be tuned into our emotions and intuition knowing that we will be gently guided in making only the necessary moves at the right time in order to achieve our vision of the future. At last we will discover our perfect and personal magic.

As Within So, Without

The principle states that the more we have our shit together the more life will work out (and everything in it). We tend to attract things, people, and situations according to our dominant way of thinking (or subconscious way of thinking). Until the point we align ourselves with true love, we will always have a bitter struggle. However, if we love ourselves deeply it will effect everything, everything, everything- this is the art of: effortless living.

Huh...?

Yeah, that part is not so easy to obtain, because you have to clean up your emotional crap and practice patience. It also depends on how radical your work ethic is; yes 'work ethic'. You have to work to 'undo' what you have spent your lifetime 'doing'.

The Breakdown

We all share a commonality: we all have a subconscious mind. This is our thinking under or behind our conscious thinking, these are the emotions that we truly have about something even though we are really trying to think differently. It's that feeling of inadequacy or bitterness or insecurity, although we try hard to think or act otherwise. That program is what controls our destiny. What we need to do is to change the old programming. So, if you are going to make a leap into effortless living, you must, must, must go to work to reprogram your subconscious mind; just like a programmer that has to re-write software. It's all about finding new mental models, creating suggestions (phrases that contain the traits you want to embrace), and repetition.

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)
Gratitude
Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)
Positive Thinking

Artrepreneur 101: Gratitude

2013-12-21T19:42:00.001-08:00

Forgive the cliche, but you will have everything you want - if you emerge your mind in the joy of your work and envision all you want with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude.

Break it DOWN!

Although, this sounds all mysterious and new age-ee, it's a discipline of mind and emotions. You must, must, must, only see and feel the joy of your work. Learn to pay no emotion or mind to all that negative crap in your day. Slow down when it comes to those wonderful events in your day - close your eyes and allow yourself to feel a sense of gratitude (you will attract more to be grateful for). Choose (make a conscious decision) to feel good most of your day, avoid stress (even if you have to reinterpret or re-frame things mentally and emotionally).

Everyday take a moment to get lost in your dreams. Create a visual representation of what you want in the next 5 to 10 years. This is usually called a dream board or you can compile what is called a 'Manifestation Altar' which would be physical things and symbols of what you want in your life gathered in a single location of your home or office. The key here is to take time to go through these symbols and representations of goals and visions and muster your sense of gratitude. Then let it go, don't worry how it will manifest just be confident that things will manifest.

The next step here is to create a plan and to work your plan, which should include building skills you don't have, building relationships that will be beneficial to your dreams, and working hard (but never allow fear or loss to be your motivation). The key in truly being grateful is not to stress, and to follow your inspirations and hunches.

Reprogramming:

If you have a ton of emotional crap hanging around reboot yourself by finding solace in meditation (just 15 minutes a day) and by taking time each day to affirm your sense of gratitude for what you already have. You will find not only peace but healing and great joy.

One More Time

Forgive the cliche, but you will have everything you want - if you emerge your mind in the joy of your work and envision all you want with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude.

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)
Gratitude
Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)
Positive Thinking

Artrepreneur 101: Purpose

2013-12-19T10:10:00.001-08:00

Are you ready for an attitude adjustment? I hope so, your success depends on it. The principles presented in this series are invaluable and will take you from rags to riches, if that is your goal. Taking these principles and applying them to your business is crucial to your peace of mind and financial well-being.

Attitudinal Principle #1:

Dr. Viktor Frankl discover the power of purpose as he forged his way through the concentration camps of world war II. After coming away from this experience, he spent the rest of his career assisting others in defining the cornerstone of human existence: life’s meaning. Dr. Frankl stated that if we have a big enough “why” we can accomplish any “what”. If we define our purpose (our “why”) we will not only endure hardships but grow from them.

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. - Helen Keller

It is our connection to purpose that refuel you with passion and replenish an otherwise tired soul. It is that connection to purpose that reveals opportunity in your ventures and paves the way to greater fulfillment. The more meaningful your purpose is, the greater hope you will have, and the greater the contribution you will make in the lives of others. Artrepreneurs are the artists of our time (in many ways). As any artist, artrepreneurs are romanticists striving on the hope of a better future.

Purpose and Business

According to Bloomberg 80% of businesses fail in the first year. This 80% is not including how many fail within the first five years. These are 8 out of every 10 chief executive officer’s who pack up and leave the business game within one year of opening the doors. The high rate of failure is due to the lack of preparation. Although there are many ways a new chief executive officer can forsake to prepare for the battle of her life; one of the most consequential areas left unexamined is in the area of purpose.

Purpose and Contribution

An artrepreneur understands that her purpose is driven by the need to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Her purpose is not based on what she receives, but on the contribution she makes. The artrepreneur understands what she contributes entitles her to receiving.

Let's Get Pragmatic

Your writing assignment is to write down in detail the answers to the questions listed below inasmuch detail as you can. If for any reason you can't answer (ouch!) you have some details to consider.

What is the purpose of your life? (In exact detail)

What is the purpose of your art? (In exact detail)

What is the purpose of your business? (In exact detail)

Unless you have spent time thinking about this stuff recently, do not settle for the first thing that comes to mind or give into conventional thought. Ignore your psychological tendency to lean toward what you “think” or “feel”' people's impressions of you are. Use this time as an excuse to do some self-discovery.

Write a first draft
Let the themes resonate in your consciousness as you consider the meaning of ‘purpose’ over the next several weeks
At this point take your rough draft and rewrite it, and rewrite it again
Even if you think you know what your purpose is recreate and rethink it!
Find a reason to be passionate and refreshed again as you put a new spin on old themes. Tie your purpose into whom you are, and to those things in life and in business that bring you the greatest joy, feelings of contribution, and satisfaction
Last review your purpose on a regular basis and adjust it over time as you gain clarity
Purpose is branding!

Artrepreneur 101

Purpose
Purpose (Re-visited)

Gratitude

Radical Self-Love (1 of 2)
Radical Self-Love (2 of 2)
Positive Thinking

Masterful: Al Di Meola

2013-12-13T11:05:00.006-08:00

Festival Django Reinhardt - Samois Sur Seine 2012 starring legendary guitarist Al Di Meola and Kevin Seddiki.

Al Di Meola is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin (from Cerreto Sannita). With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date.

More Info: www.aldimeola.com

Vision Anyone?

2013-12-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Artist,

You are a leader, a business professional; you have the potential to go beyond cultural, religious, and political boundaries to influence the masses, if you do your job right:

What does your vision for leadership look like?

A vision in your mind’s eye is your road map there. If you don't have it, create it and experience a self fulfilling prophesy.

"Dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision."

Anonymous

"The very essence of leadership is [that] you have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet."

Theodore Hesburgh

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible."

T.E. Lawrence

"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible."

Jonathan Swift

“It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities. A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it.”

Sören Kierkegaard

“Create your future from your future, not your past.”

Werner Erhard

“Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Some believe there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills -- against misery, against ignorance, or injustice and violence. Yet many of the world's great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man. A young monk began the Protestant reformation, a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth, and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. It was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and 32 year old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal. ‘Give me a place to stand,’ said Archimedes, ‘and I will move the world.’ These men moved the world, and so can we all.”

Robert F. Kennedy

"To be a successful entrepreneur one needs a vision of greatness for one's work. If we dream extravagantly we will be inspired to forge a reality beyond the straight jacket of practicalities. There is a profound connection between art and enterprise which allows businesses to overcome the limitations of their existing visions."

Sir Ernest Hall

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes."

Andrew Carnegie

Persevere

2013-12-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

People come first, so make a commitment at the very least to yourself (you are people). Set your strategy and than work like mad to get where you need to go. When things get hectic take a moment revisit your plan, make corrections. Persevere in your commitment to:

Owning Your Strategy
Being Visible
Pushing For Improvement
Grabbing Opportunities

Look around at your resources, make an appointment with yourself and begin some of this stuff - its only when you work all these principles and make them a vital part of your leadership, that you will stop running in circles (and calling it progress).

Thoughts On Leadership

Time To Start
Own It
Be Visible
Push For Improvement
Grab Opportunities
Persevere

FREE BUSINESS COACHING

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Santi@SantiChacon.com

The Age Of The Geek

2013-11-21T23:52:00.002-08:00

By now I hope you know that geek is in!

Geeks use to be synonymous with recluse. This was the guy who lived in his basement and sat in front of his computer screen all day and night with little food, water, and god knows little to no human contact. He had little to no social skills and seemed very awkward in social settings; having a temporary case of turrets. This is the guy who we all looked at with a sense of embarrassment. Well, he is all grown up now, and cashing his multi-billion dollar checks. Yes! ladies and gentlemen he alone has dominated the business world, impacted existing industries, created new ones, and has literally changed the world as we know it. The world would be at a stand still with out the infamous geek standing by to lend his expertise.

The Power Of Imitation

Chances are if you are not striving to be the geek in the industry than you haven't kept up with the technologies and you are running further and further behind. Eventually your technological illiteracy will bring your business down a fatal path, especially now that there are only 4 major labels, competition to win a paying fan base is tough, the way music is being purchased and sold is changing rapidly, and not to ignore the threat of piracy, with more and more free music being offered on mediums like YouTube.

The bottom-line is stop taking the technologies that surround you for granted, and create the habits behind adaptation. The world is filled with technologies that will take you further then you have ever imagined. Business is not made for the timid at heart, so create a plan to obtain the technical knowledge that will propel you toward your business objectives faster than ever before.

Where To Start:?

If you think you are doing okay in this area ask yourself:

What are the top three technological trends that influence your industry?

How often do you seek technical knowledge that will provide competitive advantages?

What technologies have you mastered in the last 12-24 months?

Start By:

Attempting to understand your own computer

Learning html, css, javascript, dreamweaver, flash

Master the use of social media (i.e. blogging, podcasting, social networking, vlogging, photo sharing etc...)

Subscribing to technology blogs, vloggs, and podcasts

Taking a new class

Working toward one more degree or certificate

Learning how to take advantage of google analytics

Learning a software programming language

Identifying software in your industry and mastering it

Understanding the ins and outs of technologies or technological platform you use on a regular basis such as ms word, excel, power point, access, sales force etc...

Grab Opportunities

2013-11-11T23:00:00.002-08:00

Grab 'um

Opportunities come with faces. To be effective you must always be on the look out for strategic partnerships not just inside the industry, but outside the industry. Everyone uses music from ad agencies to film schools and everything in between (think outside the box).

Focus on opportunities (known as relationships) that will contribute to your success. Nurture talent (people) and relationships until they are ready to blossom. Think strategically, coffee once every couple of weeks with people, can mean the difference between average and excellence. Engage people that are going to assist with the greatest return, always network, always build partnerships, and engage, engage, engage.

Thoughts On Leadership

Time To Start
Own It
Be Visible
Push For Improvement
Grab Opportunities
Persevere

Push For Improvement

2013-11-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

Let's say so far you are eating this stuff up and you can see the potential to achieve more than you could ever imagine in your music careers (small businesses). If you have stayed with me so far, you are probably aware of your weaknesses more than ever. This is where the cliche comes in: .."Not Enough Time In The Day..." I mean if you really thought about it you could probably think of twenty marketing campaigns to promote yourself and your music right now. The truth of the matter is you lack the resources and time to execute all that will ever help you, so the idea to continue to push for improvement might be overwhelming, frustrating, or even disappointing.

Another challenge in business is: time is always of the essence. Opportunities are seasonal, but what happens when you under estimate an opportunity for busy work. Since all busy work looks the same to any observer. What are you doing to ensure that you don't waste opportunity by carelessly doing work that becomes meaningless in the long run?

What to do?...What to do?

This is the time you have to put your CEO hat on (the role of CEO is to think strategically), and to avoid thinking linearly. Old way of thinking maybe: play every gig, spend hours practicing to get better, send out press kits, look for a music agent, look for a music manager, compose my next song, record my next album, write on my music blog, promote my album by gigging...etc Although these are effective, what if you failed to achieve your long term goals because you were focused on the wrong things?

Push For Improvement

Although many things will help your music only a few of those things will propel you most of the way to your vision. Okay, as you know its easy to say you are a stickler for improvement. It's more difficult for you to identify your key indicators that will propel you toward your dreams faster than you ever thought possible. Key performance indicators are like vital signs of your business (music career). Key performance indicators are quantifiable measurements (you can put a number to them) that reflect the critical success factors of an organization.

So now you must see your music career beyond the one thing you are doing today (i.e. gigging, composing, networking etc...). Think of your music career as your business and consider these business questions:

What does your company need to demonstrate authentic growth?
what is your definition of success?
more sales?
larger sales?
creating a buzz around your music?
better employee (band mate) retention?
What is it you want to achieve with your music? Publishing? Millions of CDs sold? Playing the largest venues in the nation? produce music? form a record label?

Think for a minute and figure this stuff out. No one can ever help you to succeed if you haven't taken the time to define success. Maybe that is the challenge you are having: you become tunnel vision on one thing or another instead of seeing your business holistically. So, take sometime to study different angles of the industry, don't be lazy! Lets assume you figured out key success factors for your organization, what do you need to measure? or what are the indicators of these factors?

Lets Take Just One Example:

To grow a business; the bottom line needs to increase while expenses decrease. To have more revenue from year to year the company needs to have more sales, or increase the life cycle of existing customers or make larger sales, or ....well you get the point. What measurement indicates growth in your business and how do you measure it? What rate of growth is realistic each year? So, identify key indicators for the business, work on improvement; measurable improvement.

Thoughts On Leadership

Time To Start
Own It
Be Visible
Push For Improvement
Grab Opportunities
Persevere

A Not So Average Joe

2013-11-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Click Here

Twenty years after the death of legendary guitarist Joe Pass who recorded the seminal album "For Django," the remaining members of his quartet, jazz giants Colin Bailey, John Pisano & Jim Hughart along with Joe's protege Frank Potenza came together over two days to record for Capri Records Ltd. a tribute aptly titled "For Joe".

Al Di Meola: A Tribute to the Beatles

2013-10-26T13:12:00.001-07:00

A bona fide guitar hero, perennial poll-winner and virtuoso of the highest order, Di Meola has also been recognized over the past 30 years as a prolific composer and respected artist with over 20 recordings as a leader. His creative output to date is staggering, whether it's with his current World Sinfonia band or past musical endeavors like his electric Tour de Force group with Jan Hammer, Anthony Jackson, Steve Gadd and Mingo Lewis, the internationally acclaimed Trio with fellow guitar superstars John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, the Rite of Strings trio with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty or the '70s fusion supergroup Return To Forever with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. And while his unparalleled technique on both acoustic and electric guitars has afforded him regal status among fretboard aficionados who regularly flock to his concerts, the depth of Di Meola's writing along with the soulfulness and his inherent lyricism of his guitaristic expression have won him legions of fans worldwide beyond the six-string set.

A pioneer of blending world music and jazz, going back to early Latin-tinged fusion outings like 1976's Land of the Midnight Sun, 1977's Elegant Gypsy and 1978's Casino, the guitar great continues to reflect the rich influence of flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern, Brazilian and African musics, as evidenced by recent outings like 1998's The Infinite Desire, 2000's The Grand Passion, 2006's Consequence of Chaos and 2008's La Melodia, Live in Milano.

Di Meola's ongoing fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony has been at the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has earned him three gold albums and more than six million in record sales worldwide. He has been particularly enamored over the past 20 years by the tango music of the late Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, whose compositions he has interpreted over time, beginning with 1990's Di Meola Plays Piazzolla, continuing to 1993's Heart of the Immigrants, 2002's Flesh on Flesh and 2007's Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar. "Piazzolla had a profound effect on my development as a musician and as a person,” says Al. “We became close friends, often communicating by mail. And during the course of this friendship my admiration and desire to learn more about this great man intensified.”

A native of New Jersey who still resides in the Garden State, Di Meola was born in Jersey City on July 22, 1954. Growing up in Bergenfield with the music of Elvis Presley, The Ventures and The Beatles, he naturally gravitated to guitar as a youngster and by his early teens was already an accomplished player. Attaining such impressive skills at such a young age didn't come easy for Al but rather was the result of focused dedication and intensive periods of woodshedding between his junior and senior years in high school. “I used to practice the guitar eight to ten hours a day,” he told Down Beat. “And I was trying to find myself, or find the kind of music that suited where I was going with the guitar.”

His earliest role models in jazz included guitarists Tal Farlow and Kenny Burrell. But when he discovered Larry Coryell, whom Al would later dub “The Godfather of Fusion,” he was taken with the guitarist's unprecedented blending of jazz, blues and rock into one seamless vocabulary on the instrument. “I used to ride the bus from New Jersey to see him at little clubs in Greenwich Village,” he recalls. “Wherever he was playing, I'd be there.”

In 1971, Di Meola enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and by the second semester there began playing in a fusion quartet led by keyboardist Barry Miles. A gig tape of that band was later passed on to Chick Corea by a friend of Al's, and in the early part of 1974 the 19-year-old guitarist was tapped to join the fusion superband as a replacement for guitarist Bill Connors. “I was just sitting around my apartment in Boston on a Friday afternoon when Chick called and asked me to come to a rehearsal in New York,” he recalls. “I couldn't believe it. But in 10 minutes I packed some clothes in a bag, got a ride to New York and never saw that apartment in Boston again.”

Following a weekend of rehearsals with Chick, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, Di Meola made his RTF debut at Carnegie Hall, officially launching his career into the stratosphere. "Playing with Chick in Return To Forever was the first significant step in my development as a player,” says Al. “Chick is another major influence in my life. He has always been a wonderful supporter, major musical inspiration and a friend.” After three landmark recordings with Return To Forever -- 1974's Where Have I Known You Before, 1975's Grammy Award winning No Mystery and 1976's Romantic Warrior -- the group disbanded and Al subsequently started up his career as a solo artist. His 1976 debut as a leader, Land of the Midnight Sun, was a blazing showcase of his signature chops and Latin-tinged compositions that featured a stellar cast including drummers Steve Gadd and Lenny White, bassist Anthony Jackson and Jaco Pastorius, keyboardists Jan Hammer, Barry Miles and Chick Corea and percussionist Mingo Lewis. Over the course of six more albums with Columbia Records -- Elegant Gypsy, Casino, Splendido Hotel, Electric Rendezvous, Tour De Force and Scenario -- Al established himself as an influential force in contemporary music.

1980 marked the triumph of the acoustic guitar Trio with Paco De Lucia and John McLaughlin. Their debut recording on Columbia Records, Friday Night in San Francisco, became a landmark recording that surpassed the two million mark in sales. The three virtuosos toured together from 1980 through 1983, releasing the studio album Passion, Grace & Fire in 1982. In 1995, they reunited for a third recording, Guitar Trio, follow by another triumphant world tour. In early 1996, Di Meola formed a new trio with the violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and RTF bandmate Stanley Clarke called The Rite of Strings. He subsequently recorded with the likes of opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti, pop stars Paul Simon and Dave Matthews, classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco and Japanese jazz pianist Yutaka Kobayashi. Over the course of his career, Di Meola has also worked and recorded with Phil Collins, Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Milton Naciemento, Egberto Gismonti, Stevie Wonder, Les Paul, Jimmy Page, Steve Vai, Frank Zappa and many more.

With the March 2011 release of Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody, Al's main focus remains his New World Sinfonia. “I'm just totally involved with the new group,” he says. “Everybody's happy and totally into the music. The RTF reunion tour was fun and it was great for the fans, but it was more of a nostalgic thing. I'm more interested now in moving forward with the New World Sinfonia, which has really developed into something beautiful. For me, it's the most rewarding thing I've done in a long, long time, all the way around. What I'm doing now is just completely satisfying, like a phenomenal meal and a great glass of vintage wine.”

Be Visible

2013-10-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

Cloak of Visibility

Alright, just in case you didn't notice this is a series - so lets say you decide to start, and create and own your strategy, (hello anyone there?) now what?? Once you figure out what you need to show up for, than show up, every single time. You greatest asset is you! 90% of success is showing up. So, show up and do your thing. Don't make a fool of yourself in the process- but put on your big boy pants and get out there every single time and give it 110%. Get a reputation for consistent hard work (from your music blog, to your composition to your gigs, to every single interaction with your fans). Create a buzz for yourself - play every gig, network every day - compose every week, introduce your music to someone new every day, and do something that screams: I'm here!

....who?

We as consumers have short-term memories, heck if Pepsi wasn't spending millions and millions of dollars just to let us know they were still around their sales would plummet. No one is going to remember you past tomorrow, not even your mom remembers your name sometimes. If you want the prize that comes with excellence in your music and artistry, you have to show up.

Take yourself seriously and begin to see yourself as a Leader and Chief Executive Officer of your small business, or of your group and act like a business person. You will begin to attract people to help you, than you can direct them effectively (based on your plan).

Everyone?

A secret of leadership is 'Everyone Knows Everything'. Don't assume people are stupid, we may have poor memories when it comes to your brand but we know everything. Your constituents (fans) understand the tremendous strain you are under and how hard you are working to meet the expectations of those around you (i.e. band-mates, managers, agents, record labels, producers...blah...blah... blah), don't insult their intelligence by creating excuses as to why everyone is there but you. Make it a discipline to be there and to give yourself away every single time and witness the transformation.

Self-Assessment

Is your music blog getting regular attention?
Are you gigging at least 4-5 times a week?
Are you practicing at least every other day?
Are you actively seeking inspiration for your musicianship?
Are you actively studying the music business?
Are you actively seeking mentorship?
Are you actively looking for the relationship that will take your career to the next level? (manager, music agent, music publisher, record label...etc)
Are you interacting with fans weekly?
Are you networking?
Are you giving the attention you need to your plan and music goals?

Figure out another 10 things that you need to show up for and decide to be excellent!

Thoughts On Leadership (Series)

Time To Start
Own It
Be Visible
Push For Improvement
Grab Opportunities
Persevere

Own It

2013-10-18T01:47:00.000-07:00

Forgive the Candor

Time to put on some big boy and big girl underwear. The truth be told art has always lived in the shadow of big business and government (study history). Talent is a dime a dozen, if you did a reality check you may see that you haven't even reached dime status. Accept the fact that there are far better musicians out there, so what's your plan? If these are the facts than you must, you must, you must, be part-time artist and full-time business professional. Because I want you to be a professional I am going to write to you like one, so please treat the rest of this article as a manual - and go through it carefully (perhaps more than once). This should be the beginning of: 'You Inc. It's important that you begin to see yourself as the CEO of a small business or aspiring CEO. Its not fair to you or those you will serve to think of yourself as anything less.

To be effective you must think strategically. Commerce suggests being in the right place at the right time; which translates into: being everywhere all the time (this is a matter of strategy). Possessing a strategic focus will ensure that you are not taking opportunities for granted. Practice by planning, goal setting, and by constantly adjusting the plan as occasion calls for it.

So what does this mean to you musician?

Well, where do you want to be in the next 10 years? still slumming the cafe's and bars?
How much do you want to earn in 5 years?
How many fans do you want? and by when?

If you could control these few variables wouldn't it mean success as you define it? the truth is you can! define your goals, begin planning, begin studying, and begin paying the price for you freedom. If you see potential in the few questions above, imagine what you would be able to achieve if the list was up to a dozen. The implications are incredible and empowering.

Okay, So What Is Your Strategy?

If those individuals who were in charge of your pay check asked you to describe your strategy in painful detail, could you? Could you described what you have quantified and measured or would you provide generalities and assumptions? This is truer that you think, if a well know music manager, music agent, record label or major distributor emailed you to set up a meeting - could you speak intelligently to these areas? Could you prove to them that you are worth the investment of time and money?

Are You Ready?

It would be in your best interest to devote a portion of your life to planning your strategy for the next five to ten years. Planning insinuates writing and rewriting in painful detail your intention (how you will get from point 'A' to point 'B' effectively at the lowest possible cost) that includes matrices for measurement and time lines for feedback.

If It Doesn't Hurt, You Aren't Doing It Right!

Planning your strategy should not be easy, rather it is a mental and emotional exercise that you engage in that refines thinking, reveals challenges and solutions, as well as facilitates education and accountability.

What's Next?

After you have actually planned and lived your plan for a season begin to consider carefully how much of your attention you lend to the urgent needs of your projects, business, or people and how much of your time is dedicated to executing against a well thought out strategy.

Wouldn't it be fascinating to have the capacity to direct your key players in a fashion that produced consistent and measurable results?
Wouldn't you define effectiveness as your ability to use your talent (your people, i.e. fans, band mates, street team) in ways that would produce an increasing return on energy?
Have you written down your strategic direction for the next five to ten years?
Does your strategy live on a document for reference?
What are you doing to take ownership of your strategy for personal and organizational growth?

In Conclusion

Remember to focus on growth opportunities, partnerships, training and educating your people, and decide to always document your strategy regarding these matters. Documenting every important strategy will demonstrate that you actually care about those you lead. All this means is that you plan and put feet to your dreams - if you want to be taken seriously, you have to take yourself seriously. Get off your music and get into your business.

Thoughts On Leadership (Series)

Time To Start
Own It
Be Visible
Push For Improvement
Grab Opportunities
Persevere

Time to start

2013-10-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

No excuses, just do it, start fresh - out with the old in with the new. Its about time that you see yourself as a business professional and not just an artist. Great artists are a dime a dozen, so don't fool yourself most of those around don't even think you are that 'good'; not sure if you reached dime status, hmmm. Great business people are the movers and the shakers in society. A cold reality check: art will always live in the shadows of big business or government (study history). So decide to be a part-time artist and full-time business professional. When I speak of business professionals or entrepreneurs I'm also speaking of leadership.

Why not?

So you should put musician, business person, and leader on your name tag. Transformation Leadership begins with transforming yourself. First things first, you need followers if you want to be a leader. The word ‘Leader’ denotes, someone is following, even if it’s just you.

The Basics

The following thoughts are in the form of questions to help steer you in the appropriate direction.

How big is your dream?
How are your listening skills with those around you?
Are you results oriented?
Are you action oriented?
How disciplined are you?
Do you invest in becoming better and more knowledgeable in those areas you desire to lead in?
How much time do you spend investing in personal or professional development?
What is your purpose as a leader?
What is the vision of your leadership?
Do you have a leader, mentor or coach to help you to lead?

When you grow your capacity to lead, you will find more opportunities to lead and when you find more opportunities to lead, you will grow your capacity to lead. The key to leadership is found in activity and in your ability to add value to each life that finds itself in your care even if only for a fleeting moment.

All this means musician is treat people with care especially your growing fan base and if you should get partners in the form of band mates or investors in the form of a music distributor or record label, or if you should get a music manager a or music agent or god forbid come across a fan that wants to converse, represent yourself well. Decide to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you.

Thoughts On Leadership

Time To Start
Own It
Be Visible
Push For Improvement
Grab Opportunities
Persevere

Social Networking for the Introvert

2013-10-11T09:53:00.001-07:00

What's your problem!?

Okay, truth be told if you are an artist you are a sensitive person, open to the waves of emotion. You are moved by feelings and neurotic tendencies both your own and of those around you. If you are an introverted artist you are not only plagued by your own sensitivities but by social anxieties. In this context being a successful musician can be a great challenge.

Musician and Business

Alright friends, I will now speak to you as music professionals. Let me define a term/phrase for you, so that we are on the same page: Lead Generation is the act of attracting interest from very influential people. Examples of influential people for your music could be a/r reps, music executives, music managers, music agents, or potential fanatics.

On the business end of your music career, it becomes important not only to get in front of the potential fan but also in front of those who can invest in your career to get you to the next level (usually someone with more money than you).

Pursuing Business

Although there are many lead generation activities, networking is the least expensive and most effective for small business owners (You Inc.). This lead generation activity could lead to a fortune when done correct. Networking is relationship building at its best. To create meaning in conversations with people who open the doors to the next step in your music career and who can assist with putting butts in seats at your gigs on a very large scale is an artist's/entrepreneurial dream.

Eeeeeeeeeeek!

I know you are competent at what you do, but it drives you crazy when you are left in a crowd with no one to hide behind. When the time comes to attend a networking event or reaching out to a likely candidate at your favorite spot you are not very good at small talk. You are afraid that the look on your face screams for an escape while everyone is looking. I mean you could function if you put your best foot forward, but...

Maybe you could get better at your elevator pitch for the sake of your business but every step is emotionally painful. Although you care about people, you don't care to be surrounded by people you don't know or even worse people you do know, if there are too many. The only challenge with your psychology is that people need to know you if they will eventually become fans and investors with you, but you are often discouraged easily and pushed away.

Social Networking For The Introvert

The greatest technology of our day is the technology, which facilitates a relationship in our new social world. Social networks are perfect for your temperament. You can connect with one person at a time. If you make an impression through your genuine interest, sincerity, or helpfulness the links on your profile will be looked at. The important thing is that you attempt to converse with everyone in your social network to get better acquainted:

Decide to invest a couple of hours a day or even a week looking for people to connect with online and to converse with.
Please do not feel you have to sell them on your music or art, better yet prepare a blog, or a music catalog and let them know you were thinking about them when you give them the link.
When you send a note you will find some people will ignore any attempts you make at conversing, so be prepared. Just keep moving forward being friendly to anyone you can. You will eventually find a wonderful connection with someone based on your willingness to serve.
Nothing replaces asking for the sale: when you feel you have built enough rapport ask if they would like to take a listen to your music, subscribe to your music blog and sign up as a fan, or better yet have a phone chat about future opportunities.

tell me a story

2013-10-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

...long time, no write, sometimes I get this voice in my head telling me to share something with you. I'm not crazy, just a little restless the 3 am coffee doesn't help, but for what it's worth here it goes:

Help Wanted!

My latest thought could use your help. I would love for you to become aware of your response to a good story. For just a moment turn off the world, worries, anxieties and take the time. This could be a moment you take time to enjoy your favorite song, movie, book, comedian, etc.. and witness how you are moved by the emotion of it all. You too will witness that all great musicians (or artists) are great because they understand how to tell a story.

Another Discipline

It's wonderful to have chops, to understand music theory, to be a musician's musician, but when all is said and done people will relate to your story. People will relate to your story because they've experienced a similar range of emotion. Along with practicing your instrument i.e. scales, arpeggios, or chords, work on becoming a master story teller.

So, when you begin to compose or play another's music ask yourself what are you attempting to communicate?
What is the story line?
What range of emotion do you want to relay to your audience?

My Mentors

I have mentors and concerts on this blog, so take a look and listen with the intent of understanding how each artist communicates a story.

Welcome to your greatness, its just a story away!

Romero Lubambo

2013-09-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

Romero Lubambo (born 1955 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian jazz guitar player. Romero Lubambo started learning classic piano at a very early age. At 13, he started learning the classic guitar, studying at the Villa-Lobos Music School. At the same time he studied engineering at PUC University in Rio de Janeiro. Since 1985, he has lived in the USA and played and recorded with names as Astrud Gilberto, Dianne Reeves, Michael Brecker, Al Jarreau, Kathleen Battle, Herbie Mann, Ivan Lins, Flora Purim e Airto, Paquito D’Rivera, Harry Belafonte, Grover Washington, Jr., Luciana Souza, Sergio Assad, Dave Douglas and Odair Assad, Leny Andrade e Cesar Camargo Mariano. Recently he has been playing with Trio da Paz. One of his most well-known and well-loved contributions is as the guitar/percussion near-orchestra he provides to Yo-yo Ma and Paquito D'Rivera on "Doce de Coco" on Ma's Apassionata CD; while the cello and clarinet answer each other seamlessly, the steady rhythm they seek, the bass, and the grace notes are all provided by Lubambo's fingering.

Joscho Stephan

2013-09-09T01:26:00.000-07:00

Joscho Stephan (born 1979 in Mönchengladbach, Germany) is a German Jazz guitarist who mainly plays modern Gypsy jazz. He began playing guitar at the age of 6, when influenced by his father who had been a member of a local cover band. In this style he is particularly noted for his virtuosity on the acoustic guitar.

His debut album was named CD of the month by the American Guitar Player magazine in July 2000. In May 2004 the Acoustic Guitar magazine wrote that Joscho Stephan represented the future of the Gypsy jazz guitar tradition.

Doug Raney

2013-09-07T00:45:00.000-07:00

Doug Raney was born in New York City, 1956 and is the son of guitar legend Jimmy Raney. Doug started playing guitar at age 14 and his earliest explorations were in rock and blues. By age 17 he was almost exclusively into jazz, swapping his Gibson SG for an L7. His first gigs were with bebop piano great, Al Haig at age 18.

Doug went on a concert tour with Jimmy in Europe, eventually deciding to make it his home and finally settling in Denmark. Gigs with Johnny Griffin and Dexter Gordon followed. His debut record, Introducing Doug Raney for the Steeplechase label, recorded when he was just 21, was very well received. Other Steeplechase records followed including he legendary trio recordings from one night at the Montmartre with Chet Baker and Niels Henning Ørsted Peterson, producing 3 classic albums (Daybreak, This is Always and Someday My Prince Will Come). With his reputation solidified, several great records followed with Jimmy on Steeplechase (Stolen Moments, Duets, Nardis) and Criss-Cross labels (Raney ’81).

In total Doug has recorded close to 30 records and has truly established his voice as one of the best of the modern bop guitarists in the tradition — no small feat given his illustrious father’s achievements on the same instrument. Despite his recognition and following by critics, contemporaries and jazz fans alike, Doug (like his father) continues to fall under the radar of the jazz listening public.

After a long layoff Doug has been active in 2012 doing several gigs at the famous Montmartre Club in Copenhagen, Denmark and knocking people out.

Sylvain Luc

2013-09-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Sylvain Luc (born 1965) is a French jazz guitarist. His musicality, his great sense of improvisation and his virtuosity, and unique, technical abilities with the guitar have earned him high (but discrete) praises from all around the world, including from many musicians he has played with.[citation needed] He is very regularly on tour, but very rarely makes appearances in high profile jazz festivals. As a result, he has little international recognition.

His most well known works are the two duet albums with Biréli Lagrène, with whom he has toured many times. He is an ambassador for Godin guitars since 1993.

He is very attracted to duets, but has also been seen within trios (for instance his own trio, but also Trio Sud, and on tour in 2009 with Steve Gadd and Richard Bona) and more rarely with larger groups.

Childhood and musical studies

Sylvain Luc was born in Bayonne, France, the youngest of three brothers. His two elder brothers (Gérard, the eldest, playing theaccordion and Serge, playing drums) were both musicians who regularly played in balls. At the age of 4, he laid his hands on a toy guitar with only three strings left on it and was allowed to accompany his brothers on rehearsals. Even at such a young age, he was able to play accurate chords.[1] As a result, he started touring with his brothers playing balls at a very early age.

Being immersed in a musical environment, he was regularly in touch with other musicians. One of them, the late Joe Rossi (who taught accordion to his elder brother Gérard), suggested that he to listen to (and offered him an LP of) Joe Pass (Portraits of Duke Ellington). This, and other encounters at his parent's home (in particular guitar player Michel Ducau-Lucart, who offered him his first guitar), led him to listen to, and appreciate, jazz music.

At age 9 he performed for the first time on an album with his brothers (Elgarrekin), and played in the first part of a concert of Joe Dassin with a local group.[2] He also entered the conservatoire of Bayonne. While the guitar is his instrument of choice, there were no courses for the guitar at the conservatoire, so he chose to study cello instead, and gained a taste for classical music. Luc has commented that his study of the Cello helped him build strength in his fingers which was beneficial for guitar.

At age 12, he performed on a second album with his brothers, Oinakarin. He also became fluent with other instruments along the way, including the mandolin, the violin and the bass.

Beginning of solo career

At age 15, Luc formed a jazz group called the "Bulle Quintet," and quickly gained recognition. Two years later, in 1982, he and his group were elected laureate of the international festival of San Sebastian. He quickly became the most sought-after guitarist and bassist in the Basque region, and began to tour regularly. In 1985, he metMarie-Ange Damestoy and became her guitarist, arranger and composer. Two years later, in 1987, they were nominated revelation of the Printemps de Bourges.

In Paris, and afterwards

In 1988, he came to live in Paris and became an arranger, composer and accompanist to many different French artists, including Al Jarreau, Catherine Lara, Michel Jonasz, all while being the bassist for the Richard Galliano trio.

Among the musicians he has played with are Dee Dee Bridgewater, Michel Legrand, Erkan Oğur, Richard Bona, Steve Gadd, Biréli Lagrène, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Stéphane Belmondo, Manu Katché, Michel Portal, Bobby Thomas JR, Andy Sheppard,Jacky Terrasson, André Ceccarelli, Jean-Marc Jafet, Alain Caron, Didier Lockwood, John McLaughlin, Bernard Lubat, Lokua Kanza,Richard Galliano, Ivan Paduart, Steve Lukather, Keyvan Chémirani, Billy Cobham, Victor Bailey, Larry Coryell, Al Di Meola andTommy Emmanuel.

In 1999, he founded the Trio Sud along with André Ceccarelli and Jean-Marc Jafet, an ensemble with which he obtained the "French Music Award for Jazz music" as the best formation of the year in 2003. Since 2006, he has regularly found himself in the "String quartet," alongside Didier Lockwood, Victor Bailey and Billy Cobham.

In 2009 he toured across Europe with Steve Gadd and Richard Bona.

Instruments

Sylvain mostly plays with Godin Multiac guitars, both the nylon and steel string versions. The particular sound of this guitar has partly become part of his unique sound. He also, but less frequently, plays with the 5th Avenue series, always from Godin (he is seen with a black-colored 5th Avenue series on his album Standards). He also, but even more rarely, plays on classical guitars.