Please use this post to comment on Free Hands Friday #19

We went a little long, but when you hear Jim speak, you'll understand why. Even after the "cameras were off" a few of us hung around talking. As a mater of fact, some of us are still talking with Jim as I am writing this.

Jim had a lot of good inspiring things to say. Many of which came from his experience as things clicked for him. Check it out.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1lZSOIidzE[/youtube]

What a guy - what an inspiration. Fantastic session Dale / Russell. Great to hear Jim's thoughts on composing. Lots of great history with Dbra and Matt Tate!

I’ve enjoyed all the Free Hands Fridays, but it was somehow especially nice to see Jim!

And Gene, I don’t think you really succeeded at getting us all to be sick of each other at last year’s FHA!

There will be plenty of time this year to be sick of each other.

Agreed - Jim is a model player and musician. I enjoyed hearing his work and, along with the upcoming Adelson release, looking forward to another big Stick album this year.

I really liked it when he said that you have to touch your instrument each day...some days you think you play so bad and you have to continue to practice because you don't play bad at all and you can see your progress after a while...well...maybe it's not the exact words but that is what I understood. I have this feeling very often and I do my daily practice thinking that one day I'll be better...

This instrument is challenging and that's the main reason why I love to put time on it...

I am thoroughly enjoying Freehands Friday. Thankyou Gene and everyone for organising and participating. As Jim said, it's like having a mini Stick seminar every week. That's a huge advantage to me living in Western Australia. Almost can't believe Tony Levin will be playing here in Perth on Wednesday night. Looking forward to it. Cheers, Simon.

That was great! Jim is King!

I found the discussion about writing and scenery very interesting. I showed up at Jim's Salt Spring Island retreat with a tune that wasn't finished that I was hoping on making something out of by the end of the seminar. The surroundings were so incredible that I was definitely inspired to fill in the missing pieces. On our final performance on Sunday evening at the Pen-ee Ma'at Light Centre, I debuted the as of yet untitled tune. After that, the tune took on the title "Sunday in Salt Spring". I've repeated that story at numerous live gigs.

After watching this recap, I went upstairs and played the tune in salute.

another great episode…great exchange and information as always

To really misquote a recent song "Jim-he's Da Man, he's Da Man, he's Da Man, he's Da Man!"

What a absolutely great Free Hands Friday with a true and great friend and wonderful player. Jim brings an honest candor to his early days with the Stick, his "inspiration/fear" with some seminal recordings and how he eventually found peace with his own music. He also philosophized about the true performance nature of busking and the professional responsibility involved.

There is usually one nugget ( sometimes many) in everyone of these Free Hands Friday that makes you stop in your tracks and go like Keanu Reeves "Whooaa". Jim had one on top of the other on top of the other and so on. We could have done 4 hours worth and still been engaged and entertained.

IMHO Jim is one of the most unsung heros in the Stick World. He tirelessly for the last 14 years has been doing the Vancouver Seminar and the Salt Springs retreat, yet he is the last to toot his own horn.

Why are seminars so vital and important-?- one they are fun and we all need fun, more important you all cut your teeth together and make life long friendships. Dave Tipton, Matt Tate, Jim Meyer, Glen Poorman and myself were all at the early 2000 Stick Seminars when Ann Arbor at Oz's Music was the epicenter of the Stick Universe and some of that crazy camaraderie is self evident in the jokes between us during this FHF. Most Important, Jim brought up that he only knew the Stick through the "top players recordings" and seeing Tony Levin and Trey Gunn and thought ALL PLAYERS were this good and how could he compete. When he got to the seminar, he learned there are all shapes and sizes and this revelation got him back on his feet.

Dale was her usual wonderfully warm host with great banter between her and Jim, especially coming fresh from the Vancouver Seminar both as instructors. Russell, taking over for Gene on all the tough duties of pre coordination, e-mails and links and administration, is doing a splendid and thankless job. so Russell, thanks!

a must watch! 5 Stars!
Dave Brosky

ps. in context with you pejoritive types, it is DBRO! like Deee ( Yo) Bro!
if we were in a foxhole together, you'd yell "Bra- Skee cover that flank!"

Another excellent submission to FHF!! Jim Meyer, I'd have to say is easily my best pal in the Stick community. His Vancouver seminar in 2002 changed my musical life. I've met so many excellent Stickists and people thru seminars, that I can't recommend them enough.