Photo by Luca Manfrini.

Artist Interview:
Daniel Bazzani
by Stephen Rekas

Click to hear inverno_a_marcelji.mp3.
Click to download a PDF of inverno a marcelji.


Personal/Biographical

Who or what events inspired you to play the guitar? Was music a part of your household when growing up?
I'm not really sure of what inspired me to take up the guitar; I just always wanted to play it. I remember listening to a Beatles' tape pretending I was a guitar player! You know "air guitar"? I was 30 years ahead or the trend!

How old were you when you began to play? Do you feel that your starting age is a critical factor in playing your current style?
I was 11 years old; my mother began studying classical guitar but after a while she quit. took up the guitar and I'm still holding onto it! I went to the same teacher my mother had, an Italian classical player. I think that really influenced me a lot because I still play with nails on my right hand; I've always had them. And polyphony on the instrument? That's what fingerstyle is all about, isn't it? I think I closed the circle.

Please describe your formal music training.
I studied classical guitar for a year and a half, then fingerpicking for awhile, using a thumbpick and metal fingerpicks; then I studied theory and technique with a teacher who taught me all the things I still use when I teach. Later I studied classical guitar again and graduated in sight singing [solfege] at the conservatory in Rome, but I withdrew from classic guitar studies at the conservatory. It was too hard and too different from what I enjoyed playing at the time. I played rock-blues with my band in clubs. Then I discovered Hedges, Kottke and Tommy Emmanuel, and everything changed.

The thing that made all the difference was figuring out by ear every single guitar part (and sax, trombone or trumpet part) I wanted to play; I did that with Django Reinhardt, Paco de Lucía, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, and Tommy Emmanuel, to name just a few. Until then, I had played electric guitar for most of my musical life; I've been playing fingerstyle since 2000.

What styles interested you when you first began to play? How do those preferences influence your current music?
I wanted to be the 5th Beatle! I still try to play like George. I go for a melody; if it's not there, go ahead without me! I love the blues. That's the music I played and listened to for a long time.

Did you seek out any particular teachers, artists, or method books? Do you play any other instruments besides the guitar?
I grew up listening to blues, rock, jazz, folk, pop- whatever I liked! I had a piano at home for a few months many years ago and played The Beatles' "Martha My Dear" with it, but I only play the guitar now; I have enough problems with the guitar not to add another instrument!

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with in a recording or tour?
Tom Waits, Tommy Emmanuel and Jimmie Vaughan. And my friend Todd Hallawell; I love his playing; I hope we manage to plan a short tour together. We had so much fun in Nashville last year.

What keeps you interested in the music business?
Making music is the only thing I can do...

Have you ever had to weather a creative dry spell in your playing or composition? How did you overcome it?
I've made only two records so it's too soon for a dry spell. I hope it never comes. Sometimes I don't feel like practicing so I turn on my PlayStation and play Tomb Raider. Or just go out and take some pictures; I love that.

Which of your albums would you recommend to someone buying one of your recordings for the first time?
Both! There are only two of them! I think the new one is much more mature and I composed almost everything on it, although on the first one there are a couple of the tunes I love even more, like "Settembre". I don't know if I'll ever write another one like that.

Technique

How did you assemble the body of technique you possess now? Do you ever use a thumbpick or a flatpick? Do you prefer playing with flesh, nails, or acrylic nails?
I've played with nails since I was a kid, but I use a thumbpick for Atkins style and I still use a flatpick when I play my Stratocaster or Martin D28. I just studied what I liked and technique never mattered to me. The real problem is making music! Of course, I spent years playing scales and arpeggios like everyone else. I played mostly electric rock-blues but I had my jazz period, my country moment, my Gypsy idea, my flamenco interest... And now fingerstyle. I just love music; there's beauty everywhere.

What sort of practice routine would you recommend for the beginning, intermediate or advanced player?
Play as much as you can, try to get better on what you're not satisfied with, record yourself and listen to the playback to know how you really sound. Play what you like; don't waste your time with useless things or music you don't really love. Life is short!

Do you recommend any particular teaching/learning techniques, such as maintaining a log of practice time?
It's too difficult a process to reveal in this format. I would need a lot of pages! If you want to study seriously, you have to find a good teacher and then try to absorb the music. Music is the only reason we should play our instrument. Michael Hedges used to say, "I'm not trying to play the guitar; I'm trying to play music." By example, he gave us the best lesson we could ever have.

What do you feel are your technical strengths and weaknesses?
The good thing is I've listened and played many different styles, but I've got a short memory and I tend to forget the things I have to play!

Please describe your own practice routine.
For now, I just play my music and try to compose when I feel like it.

What do you do to keep your repertoire sounding fresh?
I try to include different styles, rhythms and moods; that's something I learned in many years on stage with bands in clubs. Try to keep the listener's ears focused on what you are playing; it's just easier with bass and drums!

What do you feel are the key elements of your technique or compositional style that set you apart from other players?
I go for a clear melody even with a strong groove; I don't know if that sets me apart but there are players who don't strive for that element.

Creative Process

What inspires your music?
It just comes out; I think it's an amalgam of what I've heard over the years- sometimes a melody, others a bass line or a new tuning. I've noticed that a particular state of mind often leads me somewhere.

Do you ever get the feeling that the notes are being given to you, that you are a conduit for a higher intelligence or power?
Not really; I just feel lucky when they come.

Do you compose or arrange for other instruments or only for the guitar?
I wrote a part for the viola played by Silvia Battisti D'Amario on my new CD for the tune called "The Baby". I just wrote a line, not enough to call myself an arranger, but I'd like to.

When composing for the guitar, do you actually write down the notes in standard notation or tab, or do you just experiment until you find something memorable?
I just fool around until I find something that captures my attention, and then I work on it. Most of the time I listen to what I wrote the day before and I agree with myself that it sucks! I write things down only if I have a complicated bass line and need to add a melody.

Do different guitars in your collection inspire different types of tunes?
Yes, definitely; that's why I bought a Martin OM-28v and a Larriveè OM-10; they're completely different. A beautiful guitar built by Steve Klein inspired me to write "The Short Goodbye". I had that guitar at home for just a week to review it and actually "had to" write and record that song before it left! The tune is on a compilation called 36, Italian fingerstyle players released by Italian independent label www.fingerpicking.net

Gear

Inquiring minds will want to know your preferred guitars, strings, and recording mic. Do you have any product endorsements? What's special about the instruments you play? Is there anything on your wish list as far as equipment or instruments?
My endorsements are with Elixir strings and with Italian amps built by SR Technologies. I use their JAM150; it's basically an amplified speaker with a built-in mixer and FX. It sounds great!

Concerning guitars, I have this incredibly beautiful Martin OM-28v; it's not a real endorsement arrangement but it was chosen for me at the factory and I actually am on the "Famous Martin Owners" webpage. I'm so proud of that! You can hear it on most of my new album.

When I perform with Italian singer Gina Fabiani as KozmicBlues, I use a Martin D-28 to back up her vocals and a beautiful Larriveè OM-10 when I play solo. The Larriveè, bought used from a friend, is amplified with a stereo system made up of a L.R. Baggs i-Beam contact pickup and a magnetic Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker. Both pickups are processed by a Raven Labs PMB-1 which is no longer available from the manufacturer. A friend of mine is building a blender for me based on my technical specs. Then I have a handmade classical, two Stratocasters and two Telecasters and a maple Gypsy jazz Saga Gitane. On my wish list there's a Martin OM-42 or something similar and some Blackface Fender amps! And I've never owned a really great classical or flamenco axe.

Current

Do you have any upcoming performance dates, tours you would like to mention?
They're mostly in Italy at the moment. I hope to be at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) fest in Nashville in 2007; I've been there four times so far; if I don't go it would be like my family having Christmas dinner without me!

Can you offer any tips on touring, performance etiquette or artist/venue/manager relations?
Be ready to face any kind of problem on stage: Always have a backup for your most important gear. Try to look good. Remember that the audience is with you, they are not the enemy. Don't try to show off but rather be honest; people don't care about that. If they did, they would go to the circus to see lions and fire eaters! Be yourself and bring a tuner and a mute switch!

What projects do you currently have in mind?
I'm helping singer Gina Fabiani with her own project, recording Italian pop songs we wrote together, and I'm starting to write some new stuff for my next solo album; it'll take a while

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How has your family affected your music?
Nobody played music in my family, except my mother for a few lessons, but they helped me every time I needed it; knowing they were there for me was the most important thing.

Apart from music, what are your interests?
Photography, books, movies. Art is life. I love to go to museums and visit places; it makes me feel alive.

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To learn more about Daniele Bazzani and his music please visit:
www.danielebazzani.com

News of KozmicBlues, Daniele's duo with Gina Fabiani can be found at:
www.kozmicblues.it