As individuals from all walks of life work out the way to get by within the age of coronavirus, musicians are left to determine the way to adapt to a world through which reside concert events are out of the query. Whereas the reside music trade as we as soon as knew it stays crippled by the pandemic, we’re checking in with a few of our favourite musicians to mirror on years previous (each the nice instances and the unhealthy), see what they’re most wanting ahead to as soon as the continuing live event hiatus involves an finish, and discover out what they’d love to do in another way when that point comes.
For the most recent installment of this collection, saxophonist James Casey (Trey Anastasio Band) affords his ‘2020 Reflections’. You can too learn the earlier installments of the collection with submissions from percussionist Keita Ogawa (Snarky Pet), drummer John Kimock (Mike Gordon), singer Shira Elias (Turkuaz), bassist Chris DeAngelis (Kung Fu/The Breakfast), and bassist Reed Mathis (Electrical Beethoven, Billy & The Youngsters, Golden Gate Wingmen).
BEST GIG STORY
Aight, so when Jimmy Fallon took over on The Tonight Present, The Roots moved from Philly to New York and began doing these “Jam Classes” at Highline Ballroom on Wednesday nights. I performed a whole lot of them on saxophone with Igmar Thomas and lot of my associates got here and sat in all through the time they did this.
This one explicit week, I wasn’t in an excellent temper. I used to be irritated with the opposite horn participant who was enjoying with us as a result of they couldn’t get the components I used to be attempting to scream at them in time to play the road. It occurred so many instances that at one level I simply walked to the again of the stage by the drums and stood there, irritated. This explicit day simply occurred to be the primary Wednesday after Michael Jackson died, and after a number of songs, The Roots went right into a Jackson 5 track. Everybody within the viewers was singing alongside, however there was no lead singer. I used to be standing within the again subsequent to Questlove as the following track, “I’ll Be There” began. [Captain] Kirk, the guitar player, began singing MJ’s half (the melody). I used to be singing it as properly standing within the again, however I knew the half that Jermaine sang (“ailing be there to consolation you…”) was arising. Quest had a mic subsequent to him and he pointed at it and pointed at me, so I picked it up and sang that half. Thoughts you, at this level Questlove had by no means heard me sing besides proper there. Additionally, I had by no means sang solo in entrance of anybody since I used to be 4, not to mention the 1000+ individuals who have been there, to not point out all of the celebrities and musicians I regarded as much as.
I sang that half and I used to be feeling good about myself! It was in my vary, I knew all of the phrases, I didn’t have to fret about anybody else messing up my half…it was nice! The factor is, that half occurs once more within the track. So this time, Quest seems to be at me and factors to the microphone on the entrance of the stage. Nobody was utilizing it. It was on their lonesome, within the center, by itself. For a break up second, my thoughts was reeling: “James, the hell are you doing?”, “You’re a saxophone player, you’re not a singer. You’re gonna make a idiot out of your self in entrance of God, your pals, Questlove, The Roots, Jill Scott (she might not have been there that night time, I don’t keep in mind), and all of the musicians within the metropolis you respect and admire” All that ran by way of my thoughts on the similar time, however I ran up there and sang the half. The group really began cheering after I bought there.
If the story stopped there, it’d nonetheless be certainly one of my favorites. However then, they performed one other track, and I knew it, so I sang it in entrance of all these individuals. And one other track. And one other, and one other. I really tried to name different singers as much as sing, however they have been all cheering me on. It sounds fairly made up, however Louis Cato was there with me and he bought all of it on video (whereas laughing at me). That night time was the primary time I sang lead in entrance of anybody as an grownup and the night time I really determined to be an Artist and never only a Musician.
WORST GIG STORY
I don’t assume I can inform the “Worst Gig Story” as a result of I’m saving that one for my memoir. Nonetheless, I can inform the “Most Irritating Gig I’ve Performed Not too long ago” story. In August of 2019, the Trey Anastasio Band had a run of shows in Colorado. Two in Denver, and two in Vail. I had by no means been to Vail, I hadn’t actually ever heard of Vail. All I did know was that Denver is excessive up and each time I am going there, I would like a day to acclimate myself trigger my lungs are trash. Truly, let me make clear—I’ve bronchial asthma. I even have unhealthy lungs on prime of that (about 70% lung perform stemming from a medical concern). To prime all of it off, I used to be sick. I had a chilly. All the things was s**tty.
I used to be speculated to fly out to Denver the morning earlier than the present there, however LaGuarida [airport in New York] was a large number. They have been doing their grand re-opening of some half the day after, in order that day, they determined to principally shut all of the streets going to the airport off the freeway. It was so loopy {that a} mile away from the exit, flight attendants have been strolling with luggage attempting to get to the airport. For sure, I missed my fligh, however so did everybody else with a flight leaving from there. Sick as a I used to be, I needed to take the primary flight the following morning at 6 a.m. (and left my place at 3 a.m. to ensure I bought there on time) and didn’t get to acclimate. These first two reveals have been okay, however then we went to Vail. F**king Vail.
Don’t get me unsuitable, it’s lovely there, however I couldn’t breath to save lots of my life. Once we bought there, [TAB bandmates] Jennifer [Hartswick] and Natalie [Cressman] and I went to get sushi. As I ordered, Jen checked out me and mentioned, “You okay? You don’t look good in any respect.” I bought up, and virtually fainted. Fortunately, there was a retailer subsequent door that bought oxygen in a can. I swear I purchased 2 of the most important cans they bought and was inhaling like a young person hitting a bong for the primary time. However I felt higher, and it bought me by way of the night time.
Subsequent day, we’ve got a present. In Vail. The primary of two, and I already understand it’s gonna be tough. Administration lined up a number of extra of these cans and there have been three tanks backstage and one can onstage. I bought by way of soundcheck and I felt good. Then got here the gig…
If you happen to’ve ever seen me play in this group, you’d know I swap devices just about each track. This explicit gig was extraordinarily baritone saxophone-heavy. So [it’s] me, me with the unhealthy lungs, and the bronchial asthma, and the chilly, up within the highest altitude I’ve been in, enjoying the most important of the saxophones all set attempting my greatest to not go out. Then, as I put the 25lb sax on the hook for the second-to-last track of the set, the strap doesn’t join, and the 1964 Mark VI Bari with the low A key price upwards of $25k, falls to the bottom.
The microphone was on it so it was as loud as something I’ve heard on stage with in ear displays. I’m positive when you might see my face, all you possibly can see was anger, defeat, and probably dehydration and oxygen deprivation. The horn was mangled. No extra Bari Sax for the remainder of the present.
Thankfully, the superb crew we’ve got with Trey’s band took it right down to Denver the following morning and had it fastened by the present the following night time.
SOMETHING YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO
I’m wanting ahead to enjoying with individuals. Music isn’t the identical for me after I’m making it on my own, or with one thing pre-recorded. For me, the act of making within the second is the factor I miss greater than something.
SOMETHING YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CHANGING
Actually, I’m utilizing this time to develop, personally and professionally. I’ve created a web based platform known as Aux Chord for artists to stream and carry out behind a paywall, and searching after this time, I need to discover a technique to break the paradigm of artists counting on everybody else to get their music out. This additionally means they’re the final and least to receives a commission off of the artwork they create. I feel Aux Chord could be the beginnings of a catalyst that may reverberate over the entire trade. [Find out more about Aux Chord here].
James Casey is an NY/LA-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer and composer. Born in Washington, D.C. to a musical household, and raised in Phoenix, AZ, he pursued a Music Enterprise diploma at Berklee School of Music. After leaving Boston, James moved to New York to proceed to develop his ardour for making music. Over time, James has develop into probably the most in-demand saxophonists in New York and Los Angeles and has toured the world many instances with many various artists. When not on the street, James has discovered a distinct segment within the studio, producing and performing for a lot of totally different acts, together with his personal, Animus Rexx. James can also be xo-founder and proprietor of Aux Chord, a web based live-streaming venue.
A present member of Trey Anastasio Band, James has had the chance to carry out, file, produce and write with most of the world’s main and most influential artists. Credit embody The Roots, Phish, Meghan Trainor, Anderson .Paak, The Jonas Brothers, Maceo Parker, Carly Rae Jepsen, J. Cole, Leslie Odom Jr., Dave Matthews Band, Sabrina Claudio, Chaka Khan, Wu-Tang Clan, John Legend, Roy Hargrove, Soulive, Lettuce, Shawn Mendes, fifth Concord, and plenty of extra.
