Janek Gwizdala Podcast

Thanks for all the great feedback on the last episode. I get to some of your questions and comments in this follow-up, and tell a few stories from the road as both a band leader and freelance musician. Tour Dates and tickets for the summer European tour: August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue August 25th - Helsinki:...

Traveling as a musician can be one of the most stressful elements of our job. There are so many moving parts and things to consider, and quite often a lot of them are out of our control. This episode takes a look at how you can take maximum control over how you travel, and bring down the anxiety often associated with heading to the airport with a bunch of expensive gear, and not knowing when you'r...

Over the past few days I spoke at length to over a dozen friends who are way high up in the world of gear and endorsements both as players and company employees. I heard some great stories, some eye-opening numbers, and some solid advice that I get to share with you in this episode. Don't forget tickets are now available for the first leg of my One Way Out world tour! August 22nd - London: Pizza E...

I'm almost certain 98% of people listening to this episode will have been walking the wrong way down a one-way street on this one for a while. Hopefully I can dispel some myths, give you good information, and help you understand how the world of gear and "endorsements" work, and how to make it work best for you.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Kenny Werner, master pianist and author of Effortless Mastery, has a fantastic concept that I've been using for years to create chord sequences. The hipness is only as successful as your ability to voice lead though, so it's a great way to improve a bunch of skills with just one simple concept. Root motion, chord quality, chord voicings and voice leading.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at...

There is often an element of risk involved for the independent artist when it comes to touring. How much of a balance can you strike between door splits and guarantees? Do you have any well paid festivals to build your tour around? And what are you willing to personally risk to make it happen? It sounds more daunting than it needs to be, and in today's episode we take a look at a ton of things tha...

There are hundreds of things that go into the touring process. From the booking of shows to the performances themselves, there is a chain of events that needs to happen to give you any chance of success. That check list can be super daunting, and in this episode I chip away at a few of the big keys needed to make your tour happen.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.co...

Being in Spain with my music and video crew was an absolute blast. I have a few rough bounce snippets to share with you in this episode, along with a bunch of stories from the sessions that are still super fresh in my mind.  The pre-order is still in full-swing at https://janekgwizdala.com/ and at the end of this episode I talk about some new bonuses we've added to some of the packages.  Get full...

The stereo setup makes its first appearance on the podcast today. Albeit very low-key and definitely not dialed in. I thought it would be good to give you a look through the window of what is happening in the week leading up to the recording of the new album, what I'm working on every day, how the setup sounds, and what needs more work before I get on the plane. There are lots of emotions in play...

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter for sustainability as an artist, and in just the past four days of the pre-sale for my new album, my motivation has risen to levels I haven't had in over a decade. You, the fans, are to thank for that, and it has turned this project into the most exciting I've ever embarked on.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.c...

With streaming music services destroying what little chance of continuing to create art musicians like myself have, I'm saying goodbye to convention, and taking a different path.  I hope you're curious enough to join me on the journey. Whether you're a musician yourself, or a fan interested in more than just the music, this is going to be some kind of ride and I have no idea where it might end up....

We're taking a look at 4 of my favorite solo breaks of all time featuring Michael Brecker, Lee Morgan, Pat Metheny, and Nat Adderley. It's incredible how much these sounds and phrases have stuck with me throughout my career and informed what I do today, even if I don't write, play, or record in the style of any of these artists. It's all about time and sound informing nuance.  I also give an updat...

Marketing guru Seth Godin gets us started with a quote from the "Behind the Brand" YouTube channel, and sends me down a path of working on the mental preparation needed to position yourself for success when you pursue something in music.  We talk documentary film, recording, dad life, touring, music school, and a ton more in today's slightly longer than normal episode.  Get full access to Janek's...

It has been 18 years since Mystery to Me, my debut album, came out. Today I take a quick look back at the complete discography, tell stories about the sessions, and start to plot a course for what is to come in the future. As mentioned in the show, you can join my new Telegram Channel to be a part of the conversation algorithm-free: https://t.me/janekgwizdala Get full access to Janek's Newsletter...

The podcast is back after a one year hiatus, and it's all thanks to my recent uncoupling from social media. I've quieted the noise, brought my focus to where it needs to spend more time, and as a result have more time to be creative and produce these episodes for you. Aside from explaining a bit of my social media journey, I get into some new music, new pedals, and stereo imaging with my bass rig...

I'm working on ways to stay sharp at home while we don't have the option to be out playing gigs. Stamina will be a key element to the success of gigs once they return, and I have a couple of ideas towards the end of this episode that might help you.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Getting stage-ready for gigs again is going to take some time. But it's something I think we should be thinking about now, even though gigs might be 6-9 months away at least. I'm working with a drum loop and trying to dial in my time, and also working on articulation of solo pieces and making a melody sing.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2021 with some positive takes on the learning process, and what I think are the two most important things in my daily routine. I'm also giving you guys a quick listen to the new sounds of the current pedalboard setup which includes a new pedal this week: The Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I don't normally take more than a day off at a time, but with the holiday season in full flow here, it ended up being 4 whole days this year! I finally find a route back into working on music in this episode, and end up creating some really fun frameworks for practicing chords and melody reharmonizations. Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I was trying to figure out what to play in today's episode, when I realized pressing record and documenting the process of where to start would be far more valuable than a preconceived idea.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

It's so important not to let the nuance in your phrasing, your time, your sound, and your note choice get lost with technique. Technique typically overshadows subtlety, and we have to police ourselves on that as we develop our learning process.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

There's no substitute for limiting your technical ability when it comes to composition. Being a a very average piano player, I can't get lost in licks and technical ability when it comes to writing, and am really forced to stay within the melody, the harmony, and the form of a song.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I'm getting into Bach's Violin Sonata No. 3 for my sight reading practice today, as well as taking some oboe technique phrases from Georges Gillet.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Sunday mid afternoon practice session, the new live album from 2011, and some thoughts about being a band leader, and what might be next.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Chelsea stops by the studio to say hi, I get into some new stuff with the latest addition to my pedalboard, the Mattoverse swell delay, and close out the episode with a little french gypsy jazz vocabulary.  Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe