SPOTLIGHT ANCHORAGE
SPOTLIGHT ANCHORAGE |
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But it's precisely this security that enables duo act Steve Cipriano and Greg Vinson to practice and perfect their musical skills. At least for now anyway.
Both have a strong penchant for jazz; Cipriano is a serious guitarist and Vinson's forte is arranging, though he also plays bass and accompanies his partner in their duo.
"We play something completely different," said Cipriano, referring to the usual folk music fare at the Cauldron, where the duo is now appearing. They play at the downtown eatery about once a week, and their next appearance is Saturday evening, July 3 (1982).
The duo offers a dose of old jazz standards that is unusual in most Anchorage nightclubs. "We play some country tunes too," said Vinson with a smile, "but they still sound like jazz." They said they make an effort not to play folksy-sounding music, in order to offer something different.
Both belong to a cadre of Air Force musicians who must belong to the marching band. They also both are involved with the stage band. -- Cipriano is its guitarist and Vinson the arranger. Anyone strolling downtown at noon Wednesday is likely to hear the band wailing away in front of Alaska Pacific Bank on Fourth Avenue. (If you shut your eyes and block out the blue uniforms you could swear that you're in a San Francisco nightclub.) Other highly visible Air Force groups include a jazz combo and a brass quintet.
Though the military enables them to be fulltime professional musicians, it has its limitations.
"Your primary job is as a military person," said Cipriano, who is one month away from rejoining civilian life. No background strummer, he wants to pursue a career as a solo guitarist. "It's the ultimate (in playing)," he said. However, well aware of the fickle nature of the music business, he realizes that some other means of supporting his wife and two children may be necessary.
Vinson, who still has two more years in the service, seems content for the time being. He's doing what he likes and has job security.
They both agree, however, that they would like to do more playing. Apparently there aren't enough city and military playing engagements to staisfy this music-hungry pair. They nourish their creative drive playing at the Cauldron and as occasional backups for visiting artists. They both say that the backup work isn't nearly as satisfying as doing their own music, though it pays a lot more.
Is it hard playing while people eat?
"We just play for ourselves mostly," said the easy-going Vinson, adding that it's always a challenge to figure out what kind of music the audience really wants to hear. For Cipriano, however, "atmosphere" is not the most important factor. "I appreciate a crowd that listens," he admitted.
There is a first time for everything.
My new acoustic bass solo CD is now fully licensed and available. Bassics was recorded in a single day. The string bass, vocals and hi-hat are performed simultaneously (no double tracking) on all nine tracks which are also live first takes and burned in the originally recorded sequence.
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