EVERYTHING’S COMING UP WEEDS!(1)
CORY WEEDS, a Canadian born Vancouver resident, not only owns his own jazz club called the Jazz Cellar, he also runs his own record label called Cellar Live but still finds the energy to play tenor sax in his own ensemble! The title of this article is also the title of his new CD. Mr. Cory Weeds, welcome and thanks for your great sound and your generosity.
Your participation in this project is truly appreciated. Below is Part ONE of your interview. Part two will be published next week.
As I read these questions I’m thinking of how I can answer them as philosophically as possible. Although I do have a spiritual side and a philosophical I don’t necessarily think that I think about music.
No. 1) What is music to you and for you?
I have a love / hate relationship with music. My thoughts are somewhat contradictory. I feel like music is something that I do that allows me to ‘escape,’ not from anything specific its a place where I can go to explore my creativity and express some things that I may not be able to express otherwise. This is the love part. Having said that I have a really hard time
getting to that ‘special’ place where nothing else matters other than the moment you’re in. I find it hard to keep the self doubt, the judgement out of what I’m doing and am very very hard on myself. That is where the ‘hate’ part of music comes in. So sometimes I do the opposite and find something else to do to ‘escape’ from playing music and going to that place. It’s an interesting conundrum.
No. 2) What inspires you?
Again, I want to be all spiritual and philosophical here but what inspires me most is simply hearing great jazz that I like whether it be a CD or a live show. I’m lucky being the owner of a club because I get to hear music all the time and Vancouver is blessed with great musicians that inspire me. Sometimes it’s an individual saxophonist like Mike Allen or Steve Kaldestad that really get my blood boiling or the vibe and cohesiveness of a specific group that gets me fired up. Because of my radio show I get a ton of CDs sent to me so I’m always on the pulse of what’s going on. I get really exited when there is a new Eric Alexander, Grant Stewart or Jim Rotondi CD to name a few.
There are other elements that inspire me that don’t have a lot to do with music but I’m not the kind of guy that uses events in my life in which to draw inspiration from. Sure, when I got married I wrote a ballad called ‘ Blossoms In May ‘ and during my wife’s pregnancy I wrote a ballad called “Little Unknown One’ but in general life events don’t really shape my music… at least not on a conscious level. One thing I do like is melancholy music or music that is more sad in nature. I think a lot of good things come out of the feeling of sadness. I don’t particularly have anything to be sad about. I have a pretty good life but I really like the feeling of sadness and I allow myself to feel that way from time to time because it helps me write and it makes me reflective. It also helps me pick tunes and I look for things with ‘pretty chords’ whether it be jazz, pop music etc.
No. 3) When you are creating, playing for yourself, not performing, where does it take you? I mean where does your mind travel?
Well, this sort of goes back to some of the things I addressed in your first question. When I’m practicing, that what it needs to be exactly. You take that time to perfect some things you’re working on, not trying to make it all polished and beautiful sounding as if someone is in the room next to you listening. Practicing is supposed to be ‘your’ time. I’m not so sure I have got that down yet. I find that I’m very hard on myself and sometimes tend to practice things that I can sound good on so I can pat myself on the back and get the feeling that I’m making progress. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that as long as that doesn’t make up your whole practice routine. I have found personally that my head gets in the way of most things I do in my life. If I spend as much time working on the mental side of music as I do the actual making of it then I might be better off. I know that I have all the talent, tools and dedication of any other musician but the head games are tough to beat!
No. 4) Do you think music, visual arts and health are related and if so, how?
I know music and visual arts are related but it doesn’t really resonate with me that much as opposed to the health relation to music. There is the 
physical nature of using your lungs and learning how to breath and just the energy it takes to play an instrument. Then there is the mental side of music that is so amazingly healthy. I can’t imagine my life without music. Playing and or listening to music forces you to think and feel things that you may not allow yourself to feel. It reminds you of times in your life, situations in your life etc. etc.
No. 5) How do you feel when you are playing? (You’ve probably answered this in part)
I feel lucky and I feel powerful, I feel thankful. To look out and see people who have paid money to come and see you play is really rewarding. I try to keep things in perspective but it’s the same old thing; when I feel like I’m playing well I’m on top of the world and when I feel like I’m not playing well I would rather be doing absolutely anything than playing my saxophone. I really am a big believer that the audience being satisfied is important. Sometimes I can get over myself if I know that the people had a good time.
Make sure you visit Cory’s links and listen to the video as well!
Stay tuned for part TWO of this interview coming next week!
TO THE READER:
Have you ever been to Cory’s place in Vancouver? If so, give us some feedback!
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Comments
The solo is terrific i would like seeing you live. For me there is a relation of feeling who relate music with health. Especialy mental health. The vibe of sound force ourself to connect with the interior. In my classroom i use music in back ground kids listen and work more concentrate more peacefull. There and ambiance of serenity comming around them. I’ll try your sound with my students to see what i gone observed.I’ll let you know. I think ,music is relate to health by a curative way receive by the listener.C’est une onde de transmission vibratoire.
La musique est une peinture que l’on regarde avec les oreilles et la peinture, une musique que l’on écoute avec les yeux. Bravo!
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