The Life Of A 21st Century Musician: An Interview With Jim Campilongo

Popshifter: Right, exactly, at the end of the day, you still have to have the wherewithal to, you know, play, and have the energy to make it worthwhile.

Jim Campilongo: It is a dilemma. I feel that I haven’t reached my potential as a musician yet. And that’s one of my great ambitions and desires and goals. Now and then, when I can fit in a couple hours, three hours, maybe four in a day, when I’m not completely distracted and exhausted, you know I really start playing well, in a way where I’m hitting a plateau here that I’ve never seen, and that’s really what I want.

It’s definitely more intense in New York, but you know it’s great; everyone else there is doing it, too. When you get together, nobody complains, everybody’s serious about the music, and nobody takes it for granted. It’s an intense place.

Popshifter: New York has a reputation for being an intense place going back to, well, forever, and then on top of all that, you’re still doing lessons, right?

Jim Campilongo: I give lessons, but not that many. I was giving maybe 30 lessons a week living in the Bay Area; in New York I give about five a week. Generally, New Yorkers don’t want to take weekly lessons. They’re too busy. Everybody teaches, so you can get a lesson with Mike Stern, Howard Alden, or Bucky Pizzarelli, people teach who you’d think wouldn’t.

I love that about New York, and the good thing is there are a number of ways to make some money; you just don’t have to give 30 lessons a week. Hopefully, you’re getting a call for a commercial, something. And I do the lessons by mail, too.

Photo © Todd Chalfant

Popshifter: Which seems like a great idea. Prior to this interview, I went through and played the samples on your website and they were great.

Jim Campilongo: Thanks!

Popshifter: Everybody learns differently. I think I maybe would do better in person, but it’s great to get sort of pointed in the right direction.

Jim Campilongo: Eventually, I think I’m gonna do some kind of instructional DVD. Who knows, it might be 3D by the time I do it! (laughs)

Popshifter: That’d be great, actually.

Jim Campilongo: (laughs) That’s next, I guess! I’ll be reading about 3D technology instead of practicing “Stella By Starlight.” (laughs) But yeah, I think the lessons are pretty good; I’m proud of ’em.

Popshifter: Looking through the list on your site, the only thing I thought was lacking was that I saw you had lessons for several of your own songs, but “Pepper” wasn’t one of them. .

Jim Campilongo: Aww, thanks. (laughs)

Popshifter: I’ve been trying to sort of pick my way through it, you know. I’ve got the melody as single notes pretty well down, but the harmony. . . (laughs) You should do a Lesson By Mail of “Pepper.” That’s my advice. (laughs)

Jim Campilongo: (laughs) Thanks! Maybe I will. I’ll let you know when I do. (laughs)

Many thanks to Jim for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with me!

Orange will be released on February 16. Jim will be playing five dates in New York City in February; the CD release party will be at The Living Room on February 15. Check out Jim’s Official Site or MySpace page for more details.

Click to read more from Jim Campilongo on. . .

New Record Details and The New York Sound
Making The Songs Work Together
Guitar vs. Singing
Sideman vs. Frontman
The Life Of A 21st Century Musician
Jim Campilongo In 3D?

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