Talent
Talent is one of the world’s most unevenly distributed gifts that God has given. Not just musical talent, but painting, writing, dancing, and many other activities that brings joy to others. I am thankful that God has given me a certain quantity of talent. I love to write music and share it with others; I love to play guitar and sing and I love to write, but I always want more talent. It’s not that I’m not thankful for what I have; it’s just that when I play with others they all seem to be more talented than me. And yes, I know it’s not always true, but it feels like it.

We had band practice last night so I was able to play with a lot of great musicians. Every one of them is younger than I am (in fact, a lot younger in most cases) and every one of them can play guitar like they were born with one in their hand.

George is a good example. George is a single man who is usually the drummer in the band, except when he’s playing bass or guitar. He’s a good guy to be jealous of because he can switch from one instrument to the next and sound great on any of them. He doesn’t have a drum set at home so he doesn’t spend any time practicing the music, he just shows up after listening to it on a CD and nails it that night. In fact, he will often stop us because we’re in the wrong key or have missed a stop or change in the music. In other words, he is an incredible musician.

Last night he was on acoustic guitar (as we all were) and played lead when needed. Of course he had never worked on it and was playing by ear the whole time. He was so fluid and creative that his playing just ‘made’ the song. How he can do that just baffles me. I know he plays a lot because he’s single, but man, I wish I could do that. I try to play like that alone at home and can tell that it just doesn’t sound the same. It’s more mechanical and predictable and not nearly as musical as George can make it sound.

Erik just has music flowing through his veins. He’ll tell you right away that he’s not much of a guitarist, but he’s great on bass, vocals, percussion and harmonica. He just has that innate ability to feel the music and play along. And, whether he admits it or not, he’s actually pretty good on guitar for someone who has just learned to play.

Ricky is a guy who joined my band years ago. His wife came up to me and said that her husband was pretty good on guitar. I’ve heard that many times before and am usually disappointed, so I took it with a grain of salt. Ricky shows up at practice and worked with us for a few weeks before I asked him to unplug his head phones and let us hear how he was doing. Our jaws just dropped when we heard him. This guy had been playing at home and had never played in a band and here he is playing with us and making us sound like sloppy amateurs.

David and I have been playing together for years. He started as a young guy so I expect him to be better than me since I started playing as an adult. But the thing that sets David apart is how clean his playing is. No sloppiness or missed chords, just solid sweet Strat sounds emerge from that side of the stage. And his blues licks really make my songs sound like they were meant to sound. “Now God, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but can’t you help me play like that?”

Dennis plays bass primarily but can pick up a guitar and make it sound like it's supposed to. He is a great bass player who can cover every lick from any song we play and he's been playing only a very short time.

Jeffrey is this incredibly amazing percussionist that can play congas, tamborine and shaker all at once (no lie). I've never seen anyone with his sense of rhythm and his diversity. I would love to be able to play like he does.

Alex, Adam and Ben were guys I played with long ago in a band. Alex can play keyboard as well as anyone I know and has an uncanny feel for structure and expression in recording. If he had the time to devote to it he could be a great composer. His brother Adam is the kind of musician that just makes me sick. Equally adapt at drums, guitar, keyboard, bass and vocals, he can express himself musically in any capacity he desires. A great songwriter and performer and, like Alex, he has a great sense of how a song should be structured to make it shine. Ben, who has passed away, was a lot like Adam. He was a great drummer (his first passion), but could also play the keyboard and guitar. Talent seemed to flow through his veins and ooze out of every pore of his body. After spending time with these guys I had to constantly fight the urge to envy them and the gifts they had been given. Can you understand that? Probably.

Now, I know it sounds like I’m just whining, and yes, in a way I am. I know many people who envy my abilities on guitar and song writing, so I have no reason to complain. But, I just had to get it out in the open and be honest about it. I don’t care that I can’t dance. I don’t care that I’m color blind and not very good as an artist. It doesn’t matter to me that I couldn’t whittle a stick into the shape of a stick, but I would like to play as well as my friends. And that, my friends, is a lot to ask.

If you'd like a taste of what I'm talking about visit this site and listen to the music. Alex recorded, produced and directed the album as well as doing the keyboard work and drums. Adam added the bass in one night's work and David did the electric guitar work. David and I wrote "Under Construction" with him doing the recording and guitar work. And you can hear David, Ricky, Erik and George on the live version of "I've Been Blessed". Once you listen to that suff you'll have a better underdstanding of my complaints.

On the other hand I just realized how blessed I am just to know these guys and am grateful that they let me play with them.

Now, isn't that a better perspective? "Sigh, yes"