Janek's new album

[stonecoldbass]

I've tried but just can't get into Janek's new album. On top of that I feel rather let down that this is what he has released. I understand the concept of spontaneous creation in the studio and picking players you hope will contribute to the project in a unique way and with today's technology the ability to play with things in post production can be really eye opening. However, the album really does sound like a jam, a cool jam, but a jam nonetheless. There are no real melodies or hooks, very few interesting basslines and a general lack of compositional ingenuity. I say this because Janek has so often spoke about the importance of melody and such like but seems to have forgotten about it with this offering. I was also disappointed with the lack of natural bass tones and solos from janek. He seems to have hidden away behind a wall of fx in the hope that this makes it different enough to be interesting. Not for me. And I love bass effects, but when they're used all the time, they lose their impact.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Janek hater by any means, I really respect him for what he's done for the online community and he is undoubtably a fantastic musician and businessman. I just feel that he has pulled a fast one on us with this album, I was really expecting a lot more than what he offered.
What do you guys think? It's possible this is exactly the album Janek wanted to make and this is just how his musical voice has evolved, it's also possible it was an experiment that didn't quite work out...
Please, I'm not here to start a fight, I'm looking for an open, thoughtful discussion.

Edited April 10, 2012 by stonecoldbass

[davebass66]

I have to agree with you here.....

I saw him playing with a good friend of mine in Kingston on Sunday evening, the show was really great (as it was the last time I saw him a couple years back). I chatted to them for a while afterwards and buying the album felt like the right thing to do... (although to be honest I wasn't that into his last record either)!

I listened to it on the drive home and, whilst I enjoyed it it bore absolutely no resemblence to what the band had been playing earlier in the evening!

I don't dislike the record, although it does seem a bit of a cop out type album...

I think my conclusion is that I like janek a lot as a player - great tone, feel and groove with some nice chops - but I don't like him as a composer/writer.....

[Doddy]

I actually dig it. It's got a totally different vibe than his last album and I like that. I think there is a big
influence of Jojo Mayer and John Davis with the more electronic aspects of the album and I think
that's cool. I like how he's doing something different with each album,unlike guys like Marcus
(who I love,as we know) who has been kind of stagnant on his last couple of albums.

[stonecoldbass]

I felt that about his last album, that the live versions he had being doing of the songs were much better than what ended up being presented on the album. I was actually involved in the recording of one of his gigs in Edinburgh but it didn't end up getting released due to the fact that Jojo was off his face on something, dropping sticks and beats! I felt there were some questionable performances from him on this album too....!

[Faithless]

The Kingston show thing, I think had nothing to do with Janek's music, as they must have been playing stuff from Bob Reynolds repertoire.

I think Janek will do his album Europe tour only in autumn, or something, I may be wrong though.

As for the album - I don't think it should be taken as an 'experiment that didn't work out' - yes, it's jam, as it was supposed to be so.
As for his sound - it was also supposed to sound like that, as Janek wanted a particular vibe on his stuff, that's why it's pretty much an heavy effected and OC2'ed bass all through.
He's one of those guys that isnt crazy for bass solos on his stuff - which, I think, shows his maturity as a composer - if it's a bass player's album, it doesnt mean it must contain a bass solo on every tune, or even on a single tune for that matter.

As other BC'ers may confirm, being a religious Janek's fan for years, and digging pretty much everything he'd done, I didn't enjoy his new album. I liked the previous one much much more, but then, you can't really measure the two, as they're two different worlds.
I want to like it, but I just,err.... can't.

I wouldnt be suprised about this 'jam-album' kind of thing - this is something that quite a few NYC folks go for these days - you don't even need to go far to find some similarities - just check some previous Bob Reynolds' stuff.

easy
L

[Bilbo]

Not heard it. What's the line-up?

[stonecoldbass]

[url="http://janekgwizdala.bandcamp.com/album/it-only-happens-once"]http://janekgwizdala.bandcamp.com/album/it-only-happens-once[/url] here ya go Bilbo.
From what I've heard from other people they feel the same, ie that the albums lacks melody and interest...
I just found it an unusual release because so many of Janeks instructional videos he is talking about playing melodically, developing themes etc, but he rarely explores these ideas on this album.

[Bilbo]

They're bleeding well making it up as they go along. Courageous but ultimately a failure. Rather listen to Spoombung.

[Chris2112]

I have really found that Janek has been more of a pretender than someone seriously delivering the goods. His name often gets dropped alongside great players like Tony Grey, Hadrien Feraud, Matt Garrison etc etc...yet for me, Janek just lacks that special something. Soul, verve, imagination, passion, heart, feeling...call it what you will. The basic element of making good music seems fundamentally missing with him. The other guys are playing relatively similar stuff but the quality is just much better; they [i]sound[/i] passionate and this is something I can really dig.

On the whole, I guess it is not surprising you'd be left feeling nonplussed by an album of jamming where 'it' isn't really happening. For those kinds of records to sound any better than your own bands mid-rehearshal noodlings you need some serious firepower; some Grade A musicians who are gunning to make it happen. Consider the Hellborg/Lane/Sipe trio records. Those guys were on fire. Listen to 'Temporal Analogues of Paradise', that is what proper jamming is all about. No safety net, just a framework and space to improvise over the top. And those guys got [i]that[/i] to record? It makes me weep, to think of the beautiful music they must have been making show after show on the road, and yet so little of it is recorded. A true shame, when you know it's all different.


On a wider note, does this hint somewhat at solo bassists edging closer to creative bankruptcy? Even as a fan of a the genre, I will admit that recent records do not have the 'fire' of the early days when Jonas Hellborg, Stuart Hamm [i]et al[/i] were breaking new ground. The spirit of innovation has carried on since the Millenium in less interesting forms like Squarepusher, Seth Horan etc etc...but the overall music just doesn't seem as good.

[phatbass787]

No doubt he's a good player technically but never really done it for me to be honest, haven't heard the latest album but from what you guys are saying I don't need to

[stonecoldbass]

Hey Chris,
I agree pretty much with everything you've said. There just doesn't seem to be the fire that guys like Hadrian or Matt have. I've been really enjoying Tony Greys music lately, he seems to meld the groove mentality of playing bass with electronica and melodicism in a really listenable way. I'm not sure about the creative bankruptcy thing though, check out my friend Pat Farrell from Australias album here: [url="http://pwfarrell.bandcamp.com/album/the-life-electric"]http://pwfarrell.bandcamp.com/album/the-life-electric[/url]
An obvious student of Willis and Garrison yet with his own distinctive and honest voice. And all self produced.

[kjb]

I like it, but I like everything he's done. Each album is different which I think is cool and important.
And Chris2112, no disrespect but I don't think you know what you're on about.
You don't get Janek's level by being a pretender.

Edited April 5, 2012 by kjb

[stonecoldbass]

There's nothing wrong with making albums that differ greatly from each other, however each has to be judged on its own musical merits and I feel this latest one falls short on many accounts...

[chardbass]

I have purchased it but not listened to it yet.
I would have to disagree (with all due respect) with Chris on the lack of passion and feeling he feels Janek has. I honestly believe he feels what he plays from his bones- just watching him play and the joy it clearly gives him tells me that.
I'm not an uber-fan and my style is light years from his but he has inspired me in the past.

I do believe he is a bass-playing (and musical) heavyweight but some of these E-C 5 stringers are getting more specialised in their approaches.

[Doddy]

I find it interesting (but understandable)when comparisons are made with Hadrien Feraud. I will say that Hadrien has some of the finest technique anywhere,but I find his playing boring. I've never heard the 'fire' in his playing,just long streams of technique. This is why I'm a fan of Janeks-I like his music and he always gets into whatever he's playing-to me he's got an energy that players like Feraud seem to lack.
It's no secret that I've had a bunch of lessons with Janek,and I wouldn't do that if I didn't dig what he did.To me,he is seriously one of the best players around right now.

[stonecoldbass]

This is Hadrian playing with fire...
[media]http://youtu.be/-6qT2jEwPBw[/media]

Edited April 6, 2012 by stonecoldbass

[visog]

[quote name='stonecoldbass' timestamp='1333661760' post='1605151']
Hey Chris,
I agree pretty much with everything you've said. There just doesn't seem to be the fire that guys like Hadrian or Matt have. I've been really enjoying Tony Greys music lately, he seems to meld the groove mentality of playing bass with electronica and melodicism in a really listenable way. I'm not sure about the creative bankruptcy thing though, check out my friend Pat Farrell from Australias album here: [url="http://pwfarrell.bandcamp.com/album/the-life-electric"]http://pwfarrell.ban...e-life-electric[/url]
An obvious student of Willis and Garrison yet with his own distinctive and honest voice. And all self produced.
[/quote]

Enjoyed the Pat Farrell - bit of a creative twist on the usual post-fusion drum 'n' bass jams that the current crop seem to gravitate towards. I recommend you check out Linley Marthe for something less studied and more of a raw talent.

Edited April 6, 2012 by visog

[chardbass]

[quote name='stonecoldbass' timestamp='1333676203' post='1605262']
This is Hadrian playing with fire...
[media]http://youtu.be/-6qT2jEwPBw[/media]
[/quote]

sh*t the bed.

[Chris2112]

[quote name='stonecoldbass' timestamp='1333676203' post='1605262']
This is Hadrian playing with fire...
[media]http://youtu.be/-6qT2jEwPBw[/media]
[/quote]

He is truely stunning. I didn't massively dig his solo album but as a sideman he is incredible. He has come on leaps and bounds from when he was playing with John McLaughlin (and pissing off Gary Husband IIRC), and he was no slouch then. But every time he plays he seems to be a bit more 'on the button', which is fine form considering he was on fire when he played on [i]Industrial Zen[/i]. I think the praise Hadrien deserves goes far beyond his technique.

To whoever it was above who tried to say I 'don't know what I'm talking about', please try to be more constructive than that. You cheapen the discussion with lazy quips like that, it may be that you're a Janek fanboi who doesn't like the tone of the debate here but you could do more good by explaining your thoughts and feelings in depth.

[urb]

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1333569173' post='1603787']
I actually dig it. It's got a totally different vibe than his last album and I like that. I think there is a big
influence of Jojo Mayer and John Davis with the more electronic aspects of the album and I think
that's cool. I like how he's doing something different with each album,unlike guys like Marcus
(who I love,as we know) who has been kind of stagnant on his last couple of albums.
[/quote]

Er, you should hear the new Marcus album - it's killing and the best thing he's done in years - it'll be out soon

[risingson]

I find this new generation of bass players interesting. I'm always impressed by their technique etc. but when there's no writing prowess behind it then to e it becomes bleak and self-serving. I appreciate the likes of Janek and Hadrien have their place in this world, but I do sometimes wonder if their music is just about the exploration of how hard you can jazz and how fast you can play whether they'd just be better writing a thesis or teaching.

And for once I almost agree with Chris2112 on something. The level of music that these guys are bringing out just isn't even close to good enough. I appreciate that they'll have their audiences with the bass playing crowd but otherwise, it's not exactly cutting edge stuff. (You're wrong about Squarepusher though Chris, he can write ).

[chardbass]

[quote name='urb' timestamp='1333721956' post='1605733']


Er, you should hear the new Marcus album - it's killing and the best thing he's done in years - it'll be out soon
[/quote]

OT but I'm looking forward to hearing it- I understand where Doddy is coming from though with his point re Marcus.
For me, Silver Rain and Free felt like they could have come from the same period as M2 which was a healthy progression from Tales.
I still think Tales and M2 are his best with Tales edging it on a conceptual level.

I'd love to hear some more bop-influenced funk along the lines of Jean Pierre - his jams with Dario Deidda on YouTube show him in a different light to the usual.

[kjb]

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1333719198' post='1605697']


He is truely stunning. I didn't massively dig his solo album but as a sideman he is incredible. He has come on leaps and bounds from when he was playing with John McLaughlin (and pissing off Gary Husband IIRC), and he was no slouch then. But every time he plays he seems to be a bit more 'on the button', which is fine form considering he was on fire when he played on [i]Industrial Zen[/i]. I think the praise Hadrien deserves goes far beyond his technique.

To whoever it was above who tried to say I 'don't know what I'm talking about', please try to be more constructive than that. You cheapen the discussion with lazy quips like that, it may be that you're a Janek fanboi who doesn't like the tone of the debate here but you could do more good by explaining your thoughts and feelings in depth.
[/quote]

What I mean by saying you don't know what you're talking about is this. You state that janek is a 'pretender'. Which is a bit of an odd thing to say considering his position in the New York jazz scene. He regularly plays with Mike Stern for example, a gig he shares with Anthony Jackson, Chris Minh Doky anfRichard Bona. Now that's not a gig that gets offered to just anyone.

Have you ever seen him play live ?
He's a visiting tutor at my college, and I've been lucky enough to see him play a couple of times at master classes. He is an an incredible player.

[urb]

[quote name='chardbass' timestamp='1333732033' post='1605882']


OT but I'm looking forward to hearing it- I understand where Doddy is coming from though with his point re Marcus.
For me, Silver Rain and Free felt like they could have come from the same period as M2 which was a healthy progression from Tales.
I still think Tales and M2 are his best with Tales edging it on a conceptual level.

I'd love to hear some more bop-influenced funk along the lines of Jean Pierre - his jams with Dario Deidda on YouTube show him in a different light to the usual.
[/quote]

Yes I agree too that MM had got kind of stuck in a bit of a rut - the new stuff is the perfect mix of jazz and funk - really fresh playing and some killer unison heads and solos etc - it really is great

[chardbass]

Gotta just chime in again- doing a bit of work with the headphones on and checking out Janek's last album. I really like it- "Next" is just chilled out to sh*t and builds so slowly. Great restraint and very musical.