If improvisation is the key to creating powerful rhythms and soulful songs, then consider three time Juno award winner Bill Bourne an expert.
“Improvisation is really an interesting thing because ideally you want to set the music free and you really take a chance in doing that,” said Bourne, who will be performing at the Royal Canadian Legion Aug. 27.
“Some days are better than others, but if you don’t take a chance to set it free those really unique moments don’t really occur.”
According to his short biography, Bourne is a veteran of the international blues and roots music scene, but if you ask him personally he’s reluctant to categorize his music at all.
“Categorization of music seems a bit strange to me, but that’s just my own perspective. I just look at it as dance music,” said Bourne, who plays a stomp box as well as a guitar and vocals.
This is the second time Bourne has played in Jasper in the past five months, but because he regularly improvises, no two shows are ever the same.
“I love that about improvisation,” said Bourne. “Every day is a bit different and every audience is a bit different, so all the feedback that is coming into the music that influences it has a bearing on what comes out.”
In addition to his musical licks, many of his songs focus on social justice issues.
“The ideology in the songs really is about the human condition and the idea that there’s room for improvement in almost everything that we see in the world around us that we’ve created as human beings, especially things like justice and equality.”
Bourne has released more than a dozen albums since he started his career in 1975 and has collaborated with dozens of other musicians.
“I’ve played a lot solo shows over the years because it seems to be the best way to make a living, but playing solo you don’t have that feedback coming from other players that tends to lift things up sometimes,” he said.
Over the past four decades of his career, Bourne said the biggest difference in music today is how accessible recording is.
“Recording has become a lot less expensive and a lot more accessible. You can actually spend more time recording for a lot less money, so it gives you a lot more flexibility on what you actually put on an album when you release it.”
His most recent album, Songs from a Gypsy Caravan, is a live recording released in 2012.
Staying true to his word, Bourne said next week’s show in Jasper will be “wide open.” He’s even upping the ante by playing some nylon string guitar, something that he doesn’t normally do.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
