Jay Gavan, bassist for The Brothers Kalamazov and The Red Sea Pedestrians among several other musical projects, suggests that the longer a group of musicians play together, the easier and more dynamic a musical conversation can be.

The Brothers, by and large, only play together in a live setting. It is on stage that some songs are created and take shape. Gavan says the communication in the group is what makes this creative feat possible. He says this live musical conversation is also one of the most fun things he does musically.

Below is another preview of the Translating the Language of Music documentary news project here on Exploring Conversations. I will continue to post these pieces as the piece grows in an effort to open up the journalism process.

Join the conversation with your comments below or share with your favorite social media.

Below is a video clip of Jay Gavan performing with Ira Cohen at Bell’s Brewery.

Percussionist and musical therapist Carolyn Koebel suggests that bands following a rigid outlook on song structure are missing a deeper connection to the live performance and music communication.

Heightened communication requires not only that the musicians engage freely with their songs and with each other, but it also requires a full engagement with the audience. Koebel calls this completing the circuit.

Below is another preview of the Translating the Language of Music documentary news project here on Exploring Conversations. I will continue to post these pieces as the piece grows in an effort to open up the journalism process.

Join the conversation with your comments below or share with your favorite social media.

John Campos

As another preview piece while the documentary is being stitched together, here are a few segments from a conversation with Campos where he talks about what a strange environment the recording studio is and how he works with musicians helping them find their natural place where communication can occur.

(image: John Campos performing with the Corn Fed Girls)

Michigan-based musicians Seth Bernard and May Erlewine have played together for more than five years.

The duo’s intimate musical relationship is the fuel that drives their passion to create songs together. Strengthening this bond further, Bernard and Erlewine are also romantic partners. The connection between them has resulted in a deep catalogue of songs widely praised by critics and fans alike.

Bernard and Erlewine allowed me to observe and record a pratice session with Andrew Kratzat on bass and Mike Shimmin on drums before a recent show at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. as part of a radio documentary I am creating for my graduate thesis project at Michigan State University.