FRANK AXTELL’S MUSICAL CONVERSATION!
FRANK AXTELL is a renowned guitarist and composer who is a major contributor to the South Florida jazz/fusion/rock/blues scene. He performs with his own jazz ensemble, The Frank Axtell Quartet/Trio.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Frank attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has always taken his continuing course of musical evolution seriously, learning from prominent guitarists Vincent Bredice, Joseph Iodone, Joe Diorio, Scott Henderson, and Jack Wilkins.
Frank’s comprehensive body of recorded material includes original compositions in the jazz, rock, R&B, classical, world beat and smooth jazz veins. He is a sought after session guitarist because of his versatility and talent for producing and arranging.
Frank, welcome and thank you so much for taking the time to answer the following questions:
No. 1) What is music to and for you?
My general description of music is a spiritual and emotional conversation between you and the audience.
Personally, it is a fulfillment of accomplishment to create the conversation to a higher plane of existence
No. 2 ) What inspires you?
Other great musicians and the complexity and beauty of their music.
No. 3) When you are playing, creating, where does it take you? Where does your mind (spirit) travel?
It takes me to a dimension that is outside the realm of everyday life, which transcends the level of our mundane, daily routine existence.
No. 4) Do you think music, painting and health are connected, and if so, how?
Music and painting are connected through the creativity of the artists, which in turn proves beneficial to our basic physiology. In other words, brain function increase proves beneficial to all aspects of our physical health, as chemicals released in our brains through creativity vastly improve everyday life functions.
No. 5) How you you feel when you are playing, for yourself, versus performing for an audience?
I mostly practice, which enables me to provide the vehicle of techniques and skills in order to convey the musical presentation to the audience. In turn, when I am performing for an audience, it goes back to question 1, where I can convey my musical ideas into a colourful conversation that envelops the audience, where emotions and energy are not only created by myself, but to also the listener.
No. 6) In what conditions do you work best?
Peaceful conditions are always conducive to my best production.
No. 7) Do you identify with your music and if so, on what level?
When I’m performing, I’m actually speaking to the audience through the feel and expression of my music, so yes, my music is my own thoughts and emotions expressed through my guitar.
No. 8) Does playing help you connect with your higher self, whatever that is for you?
Yes, all my creativity comes from God.
No. 9) How do you feel about creativity in the public school systems?
That’s a loaded question. The arts definitely need to be reincorporated back in to the public school systems. Studies have shown, children who are exposed to the arts at an early age develop basic coordination and positive learning skills at a higher rate than children who are not exposed. Children that are introduced to the arts are more equipped to tap into their own creativity, whether it is music, writing, dance, painting or drawing.
No. 10) In your opinion, what could be a simple solution to improve creativity in the public school systems?
Musicians and artists could hold free clinics, but other than that, I don’t know that there is a simple solution. Educating politicians, school boards, teachers and parents to the positive attributes of the arts may be helpful in directing more finances to that area of curriculum.
No. 11) How do you feel about improvisation in music?
Sometimes the best creativity is from improvisation.
No. 12) What is jazz to you?
Jazz is a higher language of expressive communication.
My major influences are Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, John Coltrane, Allan Holdsworth, Weather Report and J.S Bach. I have been interested in music since I first heard classical music being played around the house growing up as a child.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. Your participation is greatly appreciated and until our paths cross again, keep well and be blessed!
TO THE READER :
You are cordially invited to visit Frank’s links below to hear more of his great guitar playing and get to know him even better. Your comments are always appreciated, thank you and enjoy!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=518251
http://www.macjams.com/artist/FrankAxtell
http://www.palmbeachguitar.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/FrankAxtell
http://www.myspace.com/frankaxtell
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frank-Axtell/102093939828369
http://www.youtube.com/user/frankaxtell
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Comments
Hello Frank………You are a great musician and teacher………Keep up the fine work. Alex Darqui
He aprendido mucho de ustedes. Gracias por este debate.
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