My introduction
to the Chapman Stick came in 1980 when I read an interview
in some magazine
with Emmett Chapman about the Stick.
I found the symmetry
of the stick very appealing and logical. Being a young
musician I was financially
challenged and could not afford to buy a new stick.
Eventually on day
in 1982, I just decided to call around to all of the local music
stores and asked
if they had a Stick for sale. One music store actually had a
used stick for sale
on consignment. I had just enough money in my bank
account so I bought
it (I think it was serial number 179?). I was an ironwood
stick that had originally
been purchased from Emmett by Chuck Hughes.
The upped frets
on the melody side had been scalloped causing the neck
to have a slight
warp leading to bad intonation. After many years of frustration
I finally sent it
to Emmett for repair in 1990. When Emmett received the stick
he called and offered
me a new stick with the trade in of my old stick for a
very reasonable
price. I eagerly agreed and Emmett sent me a new stick
within a few weeks.
After experimenting with my new stick for several months
I took it with me
to a jam party. It was then that I truly became a stickist.
At the party there
were 50 guitar players all with different styles, I discovered
that I could jam
with any of them even if I was only playing 1-part. I found that
the stick could
play the role of all kinds of different instruments.
I went home that
night and wrote my first song on the stick “Harley Rider”.
Ever since it has
been a constant evolution in my understanding and abilities
on the stick. I
have developed a style that relies mostly on a 3-finger right
hand technique
because I have been unable to consistently produce the same tonal qualities
with the pinkie that
I can produce
with the other 3 fingers on my right hand. I have also found that improvisation
seems easier mentally
with a 3-finger
approach. I also have “The Grid” a fully midi stick. I has 10-strings that
are all the same. It is a whole
new world
where the touchstyle technique meets the synthesizer. I have recently been
spending most of my energy
on midi stick
because of the range of instruments that can be played with midi. I have
used it for drum parts, synth
parts, horn
parts and ?
When creating
my DVD “Paul Caruso Plays the Chapman Stick” I used my midi stick and computer
to create solid
reference
tracks that could be easily edited in detail. I then was able to record
over these tracks with some of my guitar
and bass
stick sounds. A large part of my musical style is improvisation and I wanted
to make ensure that part of my
style was
accurately represented in my DVD. The solo sections were recorded simultaneously
on video and in the audio
project so
that the solos could be musically correct and not just an imitation.
For young
players I recommend Jamming with as many people as you can and exposing
yourself to many kinds of
music as
possible. The stick can seem very difficult an imposing at first but I
recommend that you just start out simple
playing with
one hand or playing 2-handed bass parts.
Then, as
you grow and practice continue to take chances like throwing in some chord
while playing bass, and soon you
will find
yourself playing separate parts without even thinking.
.
Agradezco a Paul
su rapidez al aceptar mi petición de escribirme un artículo
personal sobre el stick .
Descubrí
su trabajo con el instrumento rastreando información en internet.
Tengo su DVD producido
por Chasmata Productions
y promocionados por " Caruso's Cave" conteniendo 6 temas con melodias
muy pegadizas .
Mi preferida es "Livin' In A Haunted House" , donde
no solo toca acompañado por un bateria y
un flautista sino
que incluso canta . Reside actualmente en Golden , estado de
Colorado (USA) .
Un día de
estos me acerco a visitarlo y pedirle el telefono de las chicas que salen
en el video-clip Thanks a lot
! Mr. Caruso . When next one ?
Epakta
.
DVD description; A collection
of 6 original music videos featuring Paul Caruso the
extraordinary Chapman Stick® player playing
bass and guitar parts simultaneously.
As a soloist on the Chapman Stick®, Paul
Caruso draws on an extensive background
of diverse musical influences to create unique
soundscapes that are both surreal and
compelling.
The DVD features 5 original instrumental compositions
and 1 vocal tune influenced by
the likes of Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, The Doors
and John McGlaughlin.
Paul Caruso has introduced many listeners to
The Chapman Stick®, an innovative
12-stringed electric instrument that is played
with a two-handed tapping method.
Each hand performs its own part, tapping and
sustaining notes independently in a
keyboard-like style, but with all the feeling
and sound textures of a guitar and bass.
DVD Features: 30 Minutes (approx), Region [USA]
Audio: PCM Stereo, Video: NTSC
Tracks:
1-"Herb Goes To Greenland" 2-"A Tantric Embrace"
3-"Livin' In A Haunted House"
4-"Dreams Of Charon" 5-"Pacific Skies"
6-"Nighlife"
.
Comentario publicado
en My Space ( http://www.myspace.com/carusopaul
)
Paul Caruso is an
accomplished musician. As a soloist on the Chapman Stick, Paul Caruso draws
on an
extensive background
of diverse musical influences to create unique soundscapes that are both
surreal and
compelling. Caruso
combines the amazing sound of the Chapman stick with vocals based on sci-fi
lyrics to
create a truly 21st
century experience for audiences. Caruso has introduced many listeners
to The Chapman
Stick, an innovative
12-stringed electric instrument that is played with a two-handed tapping
method.
Each hand performs
its own part, tapping and sustaining notes independently in a keyboard-like
style, but with
all the feeling
and sound textures of a guitar and bass. Caruso has played the Stick exclusively
since 1992 when
he devoted himself
to the instrument, leaving the guitar behind. “Once I started writing tunes
on the Stick I realized
that the Stick is
just so much more than guitar”, says Caruso, “it’s on a completely new
musical plane that has
yet to be defined”.
Caruso combines some progressive jazz stylings that are reminiscent of
Pat Metheny with
reggae, rock and
blues to create a truly unique sound.
