Guitarist looking to start band; eclectic originals/covers & improv

Garland TX

Description

My name is Jordan and I’m a guitarist, mandolin player, vocalist, and composer/songwriter in my mid-30s looking to start a new band. My ultimate goal is to have a band that plays an extremely wide variety of styles/genres and incorporates extended, collective improvisation within and outside of a mix of complex and simple songs. Though I do also appreciate an improvisational approach that is based around a player taking solos, I’m really hoping for one that is a bit more like composing multi-sectional pieces of music in real-time. Styles I’m interested in playing (and fusing/mashing together) include: Prog, Rock, Psychedelic, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Classical, Experimental, Noise, Electronic, Funk, Pop, Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Americana, Metal, Punk, Blues, Afrobeat, Indian Classical, Minimalism, Ambient, and anything else potential bandmates would like to explore. This project would focus mostly on original music, but would sprinkle in a rotating repertoire of covers into the mix as well. Since the initial goal is to play live, I envision a higher percentage of covers in the early stages in order to help us build an audience. Eventually somewhat well-paying gigs will be the goal, but based on previous experience, I imagine we’ll likely have to start by taking some low or non-paying gigs at first. I’ve got about 10 originals that I’d like to start with, plus some more that may be incorporated/adapted for this project as it builds. Most of these were written by myself (though a couple have some co-writers) and have been played or recorded by some of the previous bands that I’ve been in. Some examples of artists that have influenced me: Frank Zappa, Phish, Deerhoof, John Zorn, John McLaughlin, Gentle Giant, John Coltrane, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Tame Impala, Grateful Dead, Radiohead, Jimmy Herring, The Books, Fleet Foxes, Tin Hat Trio, Bill Frisell, and Vulfpeck. I see this being a band that I would lead, at least logistically, but I’m really looking for people who want to be involved and invested in all aspects of the band. I’m mainly looking for drums, bass, keys/synths, and (another) guitar. I’d prefer if the instrumentalists shared vocal duties, mostly due to a large amount of instrumental music that will be present, though I’m not necessarily opposed to a dedicated lead singer. I’d also be interested in anybody who doubles on (or just plays) instruments like some kind of horn (sax, trumpet, trombone, etc.), woodwinds (clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, etc.), violin/viola, banjo, auxiliary percussion (non-pitched and/or pitched), and computer/electronics. I do recognize that all of this may not be totally possible, but I’m hoping to find people who: - Are interested in being part of a fun, adventurous, and musically satisfying band (I’m not really looking for people who just sort of show up to maybe a couple of rehearsals every once in a while and then to the gig as a sort of ‘hired gun’) - Are ok with not being paid much, at least initially - Can commit to rehearsing once a week as a group and who will put in some time working on things on their own - Have reliable transportation and are hopefully located fairly close to me so distance/traffic/time isn’t too much of a factor in making regular rehearsals happen (Rehearsals would be either in my studio space in my home in Garland or somewhere in the Northeast Dallas/Richardson/Garland area) - Can read sheet music/tab and have some music theory background (Being skilled at picking things up by ear/being shown would work as well) - Are songwriters/composers that want to contribute their own material to the band and who would be open to writing songs as a group - Are open to discussing, analyzing, and practicing improvisation/jamming in order to improve on that skill as a band - Aren’t spread too thin with too many other bands (I get that people play in other bands and that it is sometimes a main source of income, in fact I currently play in another tribute band myself, I just find it hard to have consistent rehearsals and to book gigs when people are booked up solid most every night of the week and most every night of the month with the other bands) If you want to get an idea of my playing/writing style, as well as some of the originals that I plan to start working on, here’s a YouTube playlist of just that: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT48K-tCQ0FjDIH391bcpuTcOPfvC_bL4 I also have a playlist of some of the covers I’d like to start working on: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT48K-tCQ0FgAyjOZtIPtAY78qSQ7pWgS Lastly, here’s a Soundcloud link to an example of the kind of extended improvisation I’m interested in pursuing: https://on.soundcloud.com/vErks If any of this sounds interesting to you, please reach out and let’s talk!