GCNE Meeting, 01-24-2010, 'The Loft'

In attendance: Victor McSurely, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, Glenn Hughes, Alex Lahoski. Rick McCarthy and Dev Ray unable to make it, due to family matters.

Beginning the meeting at roughly 7:40 in silence. After a moment, Victor asks to warm up with the same rhythmic expansion exercise, but with an added dimension, based on the overtone series:

1: Open C
2: 5th Fret C
3: 5th Fret G
4: 3rd Fret C
5: 7th Fret E
6: 10th Fret G
7: 13th Fret Bflat, pushed flat (in the overtone series, this note is slightly less than a minor 3rd above the previous overtone)
8: 8th Fret C

And back down again. Additionally, we begin one after another, in a round fashion (displaced by 4 beats each). Especially in this format, the 5s and 7s are still soupy--several reasons are put forward why this might be, with the general consensus that how the 7 is played and counted is still kind of fuzzy.

This leads to a discussion of logistics, both for the Montessori gig in February, as well as some new prospects for regular gigs (once a week, ideally). There are some options that we have, and we'll be pursuing most of them, it seems:

-A regular gig at PA's Lounge, with the idea to turn it into a shared gig
-Some different spots in the Central/Inman Square area
-A couple of spots in Jamaica Plain
-Some venues both to the west of Boston, as well as further south in Connecticut, though these would more likely be occasional gigs (the idea being to keep it accessible and available in the city)

Moving on to repertoire, we visit Growing Circle. This is on the setlist, so we work it a little harder than normal: twice through, with some fairly particular attention to dynamics. As short and to-the-point as this piece is, small nuances are extremely important, so we really work on properly defining the dynamic movement of the piece. One more run of part of the piece, to solidify a point, and on to Love is Green (from Jeff Beck's album 'Wired'). This is a trio, with Victor, Chris, and Glenn--apparently, this arrangement is very effective, and breathes quite a bit more than an ensemble piece. So, it will remain a trio arrangement. On that note, a break is called, and a break is delivered.

Back in the circle, we work on Opening, from Philip Glass' Glassworks. With Rick and Dev gone, Brad is the only person present who has played the bass part, so Alex is asked to read the part as well. This actually goes very well, and bumps the piece from the 'hopeful' list to the 'part of the setlist' list. This will be a fun piece to play in full.

Nurse is next. We play it once through, and Victor calls for section work. Alex and Brad head to the hall, and work on bass, while the leads remain in the loft. After about ten minutes, the basses head back in and sit down. Once through Nurse in full, at a sprightly pace, and it is very good.

After this, we hit several pieces in quick succession: Third Relation, Calliope, and Flying Home. This brings us up to ten o'clock, which means that Alex, and thus Chris as well, must head home. The meeting ends in silence at about 10:05 p.m.