Guitar Weaving

One of the great things about music is that it allows for both self-expression and collaboration. In fact, often times, these two occur at the same time. Take any small jazz group, for instance. The song kicks-in with the players leaving the starting gate together. But at some point, it is not usual for one of the players to break out and riff for a while. At some point, this musician falls back into the pack only to be replaced by another. And so it goes until the song - a musical adventure of exploration - comes to a close. But between the beginning and the ending, one or more of the players have had a chance to stand out, be heard and, with luck, be enjoyed. This process, of course, can and is often seen in pop and classical as well. Sometimes the featured players are instrumentalists and other times they are singers. Either way, group and solo effort happen.

This duality is very much evident in a book I am reading at present: the autobiography of Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. I am finding it an enjoyable read, in part, because of the attention he devotes to music, his efforts to grow, musicians he admires, the composition of songs, and his collaborations with others. I was particularly intrigued by Richards' use of the term "guitar weaving." As the phrase suggests, it refers to the purposeful intersection of guitars to produce particular sounds that result in melodic music that resonates with its audience and best communicates the overriding message or story of the song itself. In other words, the guitar weaving about which Richards refers is a form of communication.

Non-musical communication is also often about the weaving or blending of various voices to make a certain sound and send out a particular message. We see that when the head of an organization speaks, for instance. That CEO may be the one at the microphone, but often times what he or she is saying reflects the input of a team of advisers and information they have collected from others. It is the weaving together of data, thoughts and even creative inspiration for the purpose of connecting with others. For over forty years, Keith Richards has demonstrated his skills as an effective weaver and, as a result, a most successful communicator. He has also served as a good example for those of us in the non-musical world of what it takes to connect with others.