WILL THE MUSIC EVER END?

 WILL THE MUSIC EVER END?

 

In March 2017, former LA recording studio executive Nick Bogden and I formed a musical ensemble. Our original concept was to create a jazz / swing combo; however, the kind of a band one gets depends on the musicians who answer the call. For the case at hand, reality dictated a vintage rock band; a group that began with a two-fold vision: 1) have fun, and 2) be inclusive. The only rules were: regular attendance at weekly rehearsals; and show up prepared. In the main, the players adhered to those rules, and always

 enjoyed each other’s company. Synergy was excellent. Most recruits were experienced country and/or rock musicians, but couldn’t read music; and relied instead on following chord progressions. The plan was keep-it-simple; i.e., stay away from complicated musical arrangements. With guidance provided by the keyboardist and original bassist, the strategy worked well. We did have fun, and included almost anyone who could make a contribution. The band was locally popular and in demand. We were dubbed as A

 BAND WITH NO NAME by guitarist Jan Polansky. By-and-by, a few conflicts developed, which ultimately resulted in other musical groups being formed. I always counted that as a plus; the more music, the better—at least that’s the way I look at the world. Not everything was easy, however. Including vocalists, the band typically played with 10 members. To have nine to 10 ready to play, the roster ballooned to 22. We had to