JEFF JONES JEDI MASTER’S OWN “FLAVAH”!
JEFF JONES grew up in Wilton, Connecticut. He’s been around the arts his whole life, his mother being a retired opera singer, his wife a professional photographer and his daughter a visual artist. He has studied jazz and classical piano, voice, drums, trombone and woodwinds. As a player, his primary interest was learning how to use early synthesis in his high school big band. “I used to fall asleep in the bleachers listening to my mother singing Wagnerian opera” admits Jeff!
Jeff has worked both in the film business and in the music business for the past thirty years. His first films date back to when he was but ten years old and he’s been doing it ever since. From recording and mixing all styles of music for Neil Sedaka to Public Enemy, to traveling with Talking Heads, to…
He’s been around a long time and has even won an Grammy Award. And if you want to know how he got the title The Jedi Master, you’ll have to visit his links!!! And all you people who like to record, mix, produce etc. you will most certainly learn something as well!
Jeff, thank you for taking the time to participate in this project, I sincerely appreciate it. It’s been most interesting. Here are my questions:
No. 1) What is music to and for you?
Music is sacred. Its powerful harmonically and therefore spiritually because sympathetic frequencies resonate not only in our human hearing range but also in the frequencies of light, soul, spirit and other planes of existence. It’s meditation and the act of giving love for me. Because I record and mix and produce music i tend to it lovingly like a child. seeing to its needs, helping it stand. I figure out its formula by figuring out how its creators intent and how they heard themselves. Music comes from in between the way people interact when they are playing it, how they hear themselves and how they hear others around them.
No. 2) What inspires you?
Hard driving loud rock music is one thing… precision is another thing that inspires me. Working together. Wise words. Riding the wave of art in motion or as it is created. Riding the wave of new technology, Figuring something out. Putting final touches on a recording and the inspiration of recording something brand new….
No. 3) When you are playing, creating, where does it take you, i.e. where does your mind (spirit) travel?
Both to lower and higher planes at the same time. Its like a meditation but by going to a lower more pure concentration level I find a sympathetic higher place.
No. 4) Do you think music, visual arts and health are related and if so, how do you see that?
Spirit, pure, touched, by music and in the process of being enjoyed is what keeps a man healthy (if he is a musician) what ever it is that we as individuals enjoy in life, if we do it, it keeps us young and healthy in spirit. If the center of our existence is happy then all its extensions are cared for.
No. 5) How do you feel when you are playing (for yourself, not necessarily performing)?
Like I don’t know enough to have freedom, experimental, inspired, like im in a time warp.
No.6) How do you feel when you are playing music?
I’m a musician but I’m not a great musician and I have some facility but I have a lot of gaps in my theory. I love playing music. I love playing with music. I love working on music other people’s music and my own.
Most of my time is spend working on other people’s music, but the time that I spend on my own music is sacred.
No. 7) Do you identify with your music and if so, on what level?
Yes I do almost subconscious in that I’m not a schooled musician although I play multiple instruments. After many years of working in the biz I began work last year work on a project record by a band called “Force of Habit” The first of four CDs using the talents of my friends who are the best musicians in the world.
I get them together and record them doing free form improvisation. Then I make musical origami out of what they do through editing and overdubbing and working with other arrangers and horn players etc.
No. 8) Do you find playing music helps you connect with your higher self, whatever that may be for you?
Absolutely, music is a meditation. Meditation connects with higher self by nature. I leave it up to my fingers and where the mistakes I make lead me. Those mistakes are controlled in part by God in my opinion.
All mistakes are from God for that matter everything is from God yet …there are no mistakes. It’s like MC Eschers drawing of an infinite stairwell…. we continue to ascend.
No. 9) How do you feel about the school systems and creativity?
Budgetary problems have created a lack of creative programs in many schools go to creative programs are crucial to development. Doing music and other creative endeavors frees one’s mind and allows self-expression which is part of human nature. I am an artist. I have no idea what it’s like to not be an artist except that I deal with people who are not… Still one can be a creative in math, or cooking. They are artists too.
No. 10) What would be a simple solution to improve creativity in our school systems?
That’s a good question. It leaves my mind to think what if the instructor asked the student a question to which there is no real definitive answer. In that way it would be up to the student to come up with a creative answer, sort of an open question. Questions that require thinking creative thinking outside of the box are very instructive to young minds.
In a sense being put to a challenge and removing the boundaries will promote creativity.
No. 11) Here’s a question I haven’t asked yet. In an establishment where musicians are performing, do you think there should be a separate area for people who want to talk from the area where people actually want to listen to music?
Yes. In the past I have set up concerts where the live area was no talking and a video feed in another room was available with great sound and good picture for people who wanted to talk. Frankly, the two don’t mix. Musicians feed from the audience and talking indicates they’re not paying attention. People who want to discuss things under, or over music not being as influenced by the music and they’re essentially not listening to the music. For the musician that’s offensive.
Jeff, I want to thank you again for this most interesting article. You have been most generous in sharing your thoughts and feelings. Until our paths cross again, keep well and be blessed!
TO THE READER :
You are invited to visit Jeff links below and for those who are interested in photography, I’ve also included Jeff’s wife Joanne Levey’s links that are very interesting as well! 
Your comments are always appreciated, thank you. ENJOY!
http://www.askthejedimaster.blogspot.com
http://www.joanneleveyphotography.com
http://www.joanneleveyartdirector.com
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Comments
Enjoyed your article, blog and MUSIC. Your own gift is amazing but the gift you give to others music is even greater. Love all of it, wife’s photography too. Thank you for sharing. Cecelia
.-= Cecelia Gay´s last blog ..The Spirit Door =-.
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