The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]


The Lost Art Of Listening …
August 24, 2020, 7:30 am
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Comment, Culture, Planners, Planning

I’ve written a lot in the past about the art of listening.

Or specifically, the lack of it.

How too many people hear the words, but don’t pay attention to what is actually being in said … instead, they are waiting for a pause so that they can say whatever it is they want to say, regardless of the topic going on.

And if you still don’t get what I’m talking about, just look at the comments on this blog – there is no better example of people ignoring what’s being said, hahaha.

But recently I saw something that takes listening to a whole new level.

Larnell Lewis is a Canadian composer.

He is also an accomplished jazz drummer.

And a good friend of Andy’s.

If you are wondering what that has to do with the art of listening, just watch this video as he hears a piece of free-form jazz for the very first time and then plays along to it on the second listen.

I don’t mean in terms of just providing a regular rhythm – this is free-form jazz after all – but actually adding percussion to every part of the piece.

This is what is capable when you listen.

The rest would just be noise.


28 Comments so far
Leave a comment

If Larnell thought he had hit career highs before, he now has.
Great post. Great drummer.

Comment by Pete

I am sure he will think it is better than multi platinum albums and a string of number 1 records.

Comment by George

Larnell on the same blog as the guitarist who played with Rick Astley. He’s made it.

Comment by Pete

Hilarious.

Comment by George

And Astley is far away the best of the people he played with.

Comment by Bazza

Isn’t Rick Astley the only one who still has something of a career?

Comment by Pete

You know I can read all this?

And I played with Rick a lot less than I played with other singers/bands … which may explain why, as you so kindly pointed out, why he still is pulling audiences for his concerts.

Comment by Rob

Nailed it.

Comment by Bazza

I find it hard to remember where I left my coffee these days so this is incredible. Excellent point about an inability to listen. If you think it is bad on this blog, you need to get out more. Which I appreciate is difficult during covid. Excellent post and Larnell is even more incredible than I always thought he was.

Comment by George

Larnell is amazing, but his biggest achievement is still being Andy’s mate.

Comment by Rob

I watched the video and listened to the music, and even without the pressure of having to play along with the track, I still could not remember how it went. I know he was writing notes along the way but this is still amazing. I wonder if musicians have a better ability to listen because it is inherent to their own level of performance?

Comment by Pete

Didn’t work with Rob did it?

Comment by Bazza

He listened. It was the grenades he’d set off I always found thrillingly uncomfortable.

Comment by Pete

Rob is definitely louder than Larnell playing a drum solo.

Comment by Bazza

I’ll ignore your lovely Sunday night/Monday morning insults … but while musicians may listen more carefully during a performance, I don’t think that extends to all parts of their life. You just have to see how many bands have split up due to ‘artistic differences’ to know they’re not always great at listening or communicating.

Comment by Rob

Brilliant. Does he listen to it a second time when he’s talking about taking notes and would that be something like pro-tools on the laptop? The editing is a bit confusing at that point.

Comment by John

He does .. and that’s when he writes down his notes.

I love how he say’s, “the shortest pencil is more useful than the longest memory”.

I think the computer may be protools – or maybe even Garage Band – but I think that’s more for seeing key and rhythm change than it giving him too much detail … that’s down to his pure talent.

Comment by Rob

Absolutely. Wasn’t suggesting the laptop was a cheat – if anything, it’s even more impressive because he’s splitting his attention.

Comment by John

its not good enough you fuck over everyone in adland, you now need to do it to fucking talented musicians.and im not including your fucking metal pricks in this comment.

Comment by andy@cynic

Rob’s only happy when he’s destroyed us all.

Comment by DH

Yes … and you buggers are like cockroaches I can’t get rid of. Hahaha.

Comment by Rob

youre the queen of the fucking cockroaches so fuck off.

Comment by andy@cynic

Thanks for the love. Glad you liked it.

Comment by LL

It was very cool.

Comment by DH

Hello Larnell, it was amazing.
Hope you’re great – looks like you are.

Comment by Rob

what the fuck are you doing larnell?

Comment by andy@cynic

You tried your best to save him Andy.

Comment by Pete

I recall Sir Ken citing that flight in a lecture I attended.

Comment by John




Leave a Reply