SCOTT GOLD’S TIME FINDING HIS OWN VOICE!
SCOTT GOLD was destined to be a musician from day one! As he explains, he went straight from the womb to the piano! Scott admits he was a bit of a weird kid. Son of two full-time musicians, he quit high school to study music on his own and finally got “in the business”. So basically, he’s been involved in music all his life! “I’m currently living in Cincinnati but on the road much of the year with Smooth Jazz recording artist David Wells (Trumpet). I am getting ready to release 2 CDs. A Smooth Jazz and a Fusion/World Music one”, says Scott.
“I’m very fortunate to be touring and performing my original music on ” Lead Electrik Bass” … I hear all the time that people say they love to watch me play… Shouldn’t they be saying that they love to LISTEN to me play ?!?!… ha ha
I understand what they mean though… Apparently they can feel my passion for the music when they witness it… I think that’s great and I very much appreciate the many people that are still promoting the ART…”
Scott, welcome and thank you so much for participating in this project although your schedule is incredibly full. I sincerely appreciate your collaboration and your answers to the following questions:
No. 1) What is music to and for you? (personally, generally)
Well, music is my life… Both of my parents ( Mike Gold and Nancy Van ) were professional musicians in NYC. When I was born , they brought me home from the hospital and immediately, upon walking in the door, put me on top of the piano and played something so I could , “feel the vibration” ! … ha ha . So, it’s no wonder that it’s the only thing I’ve ever done… Music is my work , my play and my passion…. I’m very fortunate to have something in my life that I can never be , “too good at”. Most people have 9-5 jobs and then either go to happy hour and drink themselves to death or go home and collect stamps or something… Not that there’s anything wrong with that but I have something that is a continually evolving in my life.. The word , “bored” is not in my vocabulary… There is always something I should be working on to improve….. Music is all powerful… It soothes the savage beast, it helped the Pied Piper rid the town of mice , it can effect people emotionally.. I don’t know how many times listening to something has given me , “goosebumps”! Music is everything to me.
No. 2) What inspires you?
The very best at anything ! I have a unique capability of channelling inspiration I draw from anyone or anything directly to my playing. I draw inspiration from a great athlete’s accuracy ( Drew Brees), any great artist of any form, a pretty girl, a comedian, a beautiful wonder of nature, science , philosophy, almost anything that is extraordinary…
No. 3) When you are playing, creating, where does it take you? I mean where does your mind travel?
When you first learn how to play music , you think about what notes and rhythms to play ( your vocabulary ), but once you’ve discovered what you like to hear, you forget all of that and just let your emotions and/or attitude take over.
I think Joe Zawinul once said “you learn how to play all the notes, and then you forget everything that you learned and just play”… I now know what he meant.
No. 4 Do you think music, visual art and health are related and if so, how?
I have friends that teach music therapy… I believe that all art can release endorphins in the brain and that can be beneficial to one’s health.
No. 5) How do you feel when you are playing?
Well , in the ideal situation , I feel all powerful !! ha ha..
There have been times where someone I’m playing with doesn’t know music or their instrument very well and that can be very distracting from our goal, which is to communicate with each other and the audience… Over time you learn how to not let that affect you and go straight ahead.. When everyone you’re playing with has the same goal it can truly be magic… Music is just another language and we need to be able to express ourselves accurately.
I understand this language but I prefer the expressing myself with music…. I know it better than English !… ha ha ha
No. 6) Do you identify with your music and on what level? 
When studying ALL music, your ears develop and you learn to recognize the elements that make up the sounds that you find pleasing… I’m at a point now where any sound I hear, I immediately know what it is and can mentally picture what it looks like written out. There is a progression of tension and release in music and I can tell where something is coming from and where it is going, melodically, harmonically and rhythmically. I identify with my music because it’s a fusion of all the different genres I’ve analyzed over the years… Miles Davis said that you put all your influences in a funnel, and what comes out of the bottom, is you !.. ha ha
No. 7) When do you do your best work? Under what circumstances?
Well , obviously when there are no distractions… Because I’m a performer and a composer , I should answer twice… ha ha
As a composer , I will sometimes hear something that inspires me and then I am compelled to start experimenting to develop it further. It helps if you feel good and are somewhat free of stress.
As a player, you strive to be in a situations where there are no distractions so you can , ” get into the zone”.. There are many things that can take you out of your element in live performance… Sound problems, equipment failure, inept musicians , etc.
No. 8) Does playing music help you connect with your higher self, whatever that may be for you?
Absolutely ! .. When everything is right, it’s amazing how I will express myself on my instrument. I’ll play things, when improvising, that I’ve never played before! I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t have to learn to play something, I can just play it without thinking about it….It just proves to me that you have to practice concentrating… You get better at not letting things distract you.
So, my “higher self” manifests itself when I’m inspired by the many beautiful aspects of music. Groove, feel, harmony, melody, timbre, antecedent and consequent ( call and response)… Music is communication and the longer the phrase in music that possesses continuity, the more it seems like intelligent conversation to me.
No. 9) How do you feel about the public school systems and the development of creativity in students?
To tell you the truth , I’m pretty disappointed… I quit high school to study music on my own.
I would sit at the piano all day everyday and investigate what made up the sounds I was hearing that moved me…
These days everyone is looking for a short cut. The schools have a few formulas that they require you to learn that will “work” when performing. The students just regurgitate these formulas and don’t learn how to listen and hear… It’s all about money these days and the schools just churn out these “cookie cutter” musicians and recruit more to keep themselves in business… There are no short cuts.. The greatest musicians in history have ” paid the dues”.. Countless hours of analyzing, practicing and experimenting. It’s the most thorough way of internalizing and then accurately executing….
No. 10) What could be a simple solution to improve creativity in the public school systems?
I think putting more emphasis on the aspects that made up the greatest music in history. Also individual attention would probably help also.
No. 11) What is jazz to you?
That’s a good question that I’ve thought about often… My father says that
jazz is just improvisation. So, in that case, that means that Jimmy Page ( Led Zeppelin guitarist) is a jazz musician because he plays improvised solos…. I don’t think it’s just that but, that’s a big part of it…. Jazz is improvising a version of a song and replacing what is normally there with something you spontaneously conceive…
Scott, again thank you for your generosity and honesty in your answers. You have shared a great deal with us. I want to wish you all the best in all your endeavours, and until are paths cross again, keep well and be blessed!
TO THE READER :
Scott is sharing many links below. You are cordially invited to visit these links to hear more music and to get to know him even more. Your comments are always appreciated, thank you so much. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/scottgoldcity#!/pages/Scott-Gold/112219568845742
http://www.facebook.com/scottgoldcity
http://www.youtube.com/user/givemeafrigginaccoun#p/u/5/9uWurXT8WE8
http://www.youtube.com/user/givemeafrigginaccoun#p/u/6/CVbdDLnKoAk
http://www.youtube.com/user/givemeafrigginaccoun#p/u/7/aKEevpxfqiw
http://www.youtube.com/user/givemeafrigginaccoun#p/u/8/LMwUvbeQDig
Mail this post
Comments
A great interview..! It’s amazing that as long as I’ve known Scott, there is still more to be learned about him and too, like Austin Powers… Scott has sort of become “an international man of intrigue” in many ways ~ lol… nice work, Michele!
.+§x
Love your music. Just finished reading an article on early exposure, training and the making of a genius. Looks and sounds like your parents got that right…Thanks
Hope has so many tletnas, and we are blessed that she chooses to bestow her gifts with us ALL! Many Thanks & Much Love… Precious
Leave a Comment