Scott Henderson Discussion

[Thanasis]

Hey Scott, just a couple of questions if you don't mind.

When you play old tunes, are you reminded of the vocabulary you used to use more back then and incorporate it into the tunes? I heard a very nice 2013 version of the big wave that has the string skipping motif that you used to play in this tune and it was very interesting seeing how you revisited it.

Also, do you find it possible that when playing with the same guys for many years there is a mutual vocabulary growing to some extent?

[Scott Henderson]

If there's a part of the solo that became a memorable part of the tune, I guess I'd learn it again, or if there were difficult changes and I found some particularly good voice leading through them, that would be worth revisiting.

Playing with the same guys for a long time refines the music, regarding dynamics, interplay, energy, and especially creativity. Nothing's worse than playing compositions with a new band - everything sounds stiff and preconceived. It doesn't sound organic and the creativity level is low because everyone's just concentrating on playing the right notes.