New York Adventures with Bobby McFerrin

What I haven't really touched in this blog is some of my own musical path as a DJ and vocalist. I would particularly like to share one of my voice training experiences of a lifetime. In June 2004 I flew to NY for the first vocal workshop of its kind given by none other than vocal shaman, Bobby McFerrin. I learned more about improvisation and vocalization in those five days than in years combined previously. The suprisingly low cost of attending was worth more than its weight in gold.

The workshop was held on the lovely Omega Institute campus, where in between voice training you can take a stroll through the woods to the lake, lounge in the grass while classmates sing and play drums, take dance, movement and spiritual classes. Meditate...

The Omega Sanctuary--click for their website
Unfortunately, all too often, when I mention my experience with Bobby McFerrin to people who aren't in music they either don't know who Bobby is (gasp!) or respond with "Oh! He's that 'Don't Worry Be Happy guy isn't he?" (groan...) Even more sadly, the young people I know usually draw a complete blank.

Here is a video of the maestro himself.

If you like what you hear and would like to go out and purchase a Bobby McFerrin CD, I would personally recommend his release, Beyond Words. The beginning of his first song, Invocation, would certainly be one of my own desert island picks. I do prefer the beginning of the song to the more jazzy later part of the song though.

More About the Voice Workshop

I'll get right to it. I'm not sure what it has been like in more recent years, but I had a few chances to sing one-on-one and also chat informally with Bobby at the Omega workshop. Forget about his great personality on stage. As a human being, offstage, he was one of the most down-to-earth, accessible and warm people I've ever met. Real. The only time I saw him start to look frustrated was when people, like crazed fans, started to delve into him instead of the music.

I've heard of other vocalists who give similar improv workshops where the atmosphere is much more clinical and competitive, but working with Bobby absolutely brought out the best in everyone there. Many friendships were forged that week. I met so many wonderful people myself with whom I shared some unforgettable times...

Here is a shot of me and one of the most inspiring instructors, and an amazing vocalist in his own right Joey Blake, who has recently struck out a more solo career. Joey normally works in the San Fran Bay area.

But for me the hightlight of the Workshop was a chance to improvise with Bobby himself...

Pied Piper Davis

I think I’ve caught a member of the wee faerie folk, and I’m not letting go until I get the secret directions to the promised land. So far I’ve discovered that the faerie grotto ain’t what it used to be and that jazz, industrial and funk can be transmuted into gold.

I hang on tight, slip on my headphones, crank up the volume, and put on my visionary goggles. A few beats in I start to see...

To the east a shining citadel. To the north miles upon miles of undisturbed forest. I find myself turning to the west and hear…

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep.
- Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi (1207-1273CE)
Into tantra? Technological revolutions? Ancient Sufi mystical secrets? How about springing your life force into action to a bass beat driver from the depths of digital machinations? From Mexican machiadoras, to Tunguskan factories clearing out cobwebs that have been gathering dust for decades, factory workers, commission slaves and overtime managers with bent backs take notice.

The Lotus Land diva of emancipation is here.


Piper Davis is one of the people at the doorsill. She’s just arrived from the bus stop, having returned bearing songs from some strange industrial Shangri-La. Wont you let her in? Even the mica-like dust from the road on her shoes has stories to tell. She weaves some of her mantras with rudimentary technologies, but they still spring to life with the uncanny magic of a troubadour.

From minimal lyrics that later blossom to realizations in your mind, to churning and snappy beats that knead and pop your base chakra open, it is evident that Sarasvati has sailed down upon her hamsa and blessed this woman-child with the mind of a composer AND galvanized Pipes, capital P. Don’t get me wrong. You are not going to find traditional bells and gongs with Piper. No new age la la la. No no no. As revealed in her pieces like “Bus Stop” this is absolutely, and even icily (between steamy grooves), modern. Industrial meets prana meets sugar popping candy. Yet somehow, her self produced iron-toed boot walking beats have evidently traveled.

The beats of this diva also talk about once meeting Silvia Plath’s daddy, and falling down hard. But then, it's right back up again, taking the boots back, and marching out in search of swallows, butterflies and men who make you moan in a different kind of way… And whoa, has she ever found one (i.e. in “Nothing at all”)! This is Björk after rehab.

I have had the good fortune of Piper sending me a demo with a couple of new pieces, “The decades” and “You wouldn’t surprise me”, that sound like they were mastered with crisper engineering than her tunes up on MySpace. All I can say is, “Oh, soooo nice," as I float to the floor. SNAP! Crackle! Plug me in for more.

---
Please click on Piper's MySpace page for more information and to hear and download songs.

Please let us know what you think of her music below under comments.

Secret Slug Video

This video was stollen from secret slug files and reveals them cavorting in their natural environment. This includes never before seen footage of ways that they use their antennae, previously unknown to science.



If you don't get the video, click on this link.