This space is for the individual members of the band to articulate their thoughts on music and life:
Kim: My fondest childhood musical memories center around early morning drives to Jones Beach on Long Island. Listening to the late 60's and early 70's music as the sun was just beginning to warm the day was magical. As a teen, I spent a great deal of time in Joe's Garage, Frank Zappa was god-like with his lyrics and a unique intertwining of various sounds. Well, that was after a brief stint with being in love with David Cassidy, we'll just leave that there.
Today, my influences range from Pink Floyd to the Who to YES to the Allman Brothers to Rose Royce (how else does one wash a car?) and I am always drawn into that zone by a moody medley. All of these has brought me to a place where I have become part of the groove incentive and celebrate the joyful noise of Dirtgroove. Shine on and when it doubt, groove. Peace.
Carol:I have been playing music and singing my whole life, and have been playing hand drums for about 16 years. I love the intertwining of melody and harmony, the texture in layered instruments, and the juxtaposition of rhythm. I love working together with other musicians to create something beautiful and compelling, contributing my small part to what becomes a larger, magnificent whole, more than the sum of its parts. Playing music is to me like constructing a tower from the smallest, most basic building blocks, something grand from the most unassuming fragments. Making music is its own form of communication and expression, its very own language, at once common and yet infinitely unique.
Dave Brown (Bass Daddy):
From my earliest childhood memories, there was always music around. I remember my older sister screaming at the top of her lungs as I raced inside to see what was wrong. There she was spinning 45's on her portable record player as she shouted above the music, “It's the Beatles!!!!” I thought if she screams over beetles, she's really going to shriek when she finds the grasshoppers and salamander I put in her room.
Tee-hee... good times!
Soon after, I got my own Sears transistor radio. I was consumed by the music. There was Motown, pop, and the British Invasion. My mom liked Big Band Swing from the 40's. To round out the sound, I heard Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Harry James. I started playing the trumpet in the sixth grade. It was a lot of fun, but not very popular amongst the kids my age.
Moving along a few years, I was drawn to rock & roll, the blues, Motown, and progressive rock and I wanted to play the bass guitar. I listened to everything from Alice Cooper to ZZ Top. There are so many great bands and bass players that I came to admire and wanted to emulate; there are just too many name but a few that really influenced me early on were The "Funk Brothers" from Motown, Yes, The Who, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Rush and Jimi Hendrix.
Today, I am still drawn to the melodic, in the pocket, solid groove sound of the bass. So, here I am playing bass with dirtgroove. Whoo-Hoo-Good Times!!
Here are my thoughts on the dirtgroove incentive:
Keep your ears open to new ideas.
If you have an idea, let's hear it!!!
It's not so much playing what you know (it helps) but to play what you feel.
Bass should be turned up.
Hey, it's good to be here with all of you to make some music...
Let's have some FUN!!
Ian: I have been drawn to music for a very long time. I have always found life challenging and difficult...perplexing. Music has helped me with these feelings when I had no ability to cope with life. When I had no way to express my joy, music helped. Through music, I have the possibility of hope, friendship, joy, and love. My performance of music is an attempt to reach towards these possibilities. Music bridges the gap between what is and what might be.
What I could be.
The person I could be.
The person God sees in me. Without so many limitations, frailities and weaknesses.
This is why I am drawn to music.
Dave Bolles: I grew up with a radio. I remember my Mom humming along as she ironed to “Witchita Lineman” and waiting for the Glenn Campbell guitar solo so I could try and hum along too. Growing up in a racially mixed town was a blessing in disguise. Cub scouts sitting around a campfire singing Aretha Franklin, War and James Brown tunes. I got my first guitar at age 12 from my brothers girlfriend, who stole it from her younger brother because “ he ain’t doin’ nothin’ with it”. I once met Glen Goins from the Parliament Funkadelics in the summer of ‘76. After a show, we rode around in his Caddy and tuned in to Bob Marley. I was blown away by how easy he made the groove come alive. I listened to everything growing up from Humble Pie to Return to Forever, Albert King to Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tower of Power to Yes, Wes Montgomery to Loggins and Messina. Everything. Anything.
Fast forward 35 years. The musical messages I heard back then resonate with me now. The vibrations, the pulse, the “groove” rolls on. When we are playing, all that energy carries forward into right now.
In these moments, we are living the groove incentive.
