Summary Of My Interview With Guitarist Travis Willard Newman. His Thoughts On What He Likes To Hear From Piano Players.

The button on the right will open a new window in Dropbox of our actual interview. 

Click for Audio of Interview

This is a summary of my interview with musician/guitar player Travis Willard Newman. Travis is from South-Western Virginia and has been working for 27 years as a guitar player.  He has spent time as a sideman, a session player and also produces.  Some national artists he has played with are Clifford Curry, Jay Proctor and the Techniques, Craig Morgan, Love and Theft, Barret Baber, Craig Wayne Boyd, Presley and Taylor, Glen Templeton, Charlie Floyd, and Tracy Lawrence (currently with Tracy Lawrence).  He is from Southwester Virginia. 
Some things Travis looks for in a piano player:

1.  A wide knowledge of songs and styles.
2. Good time, particularly with the left hand.
3. Keeping the left hand “out of the way” of the band.
4. The ability to work with a guitar player dynamically.

Travis stresses how important it can be for a musicians in a band to simplify their parts.  He demonstrates how he accompanies a piano intro by simplifying his guitar part on Tracy Lawrence’s song “Texas Tornado”.  
Travis talks about the kinds of sounds he likes to hear keyboard players’ use.

1.  For bigger bands Travis likes the Yamaha piano sounds because they tend to have less lows and mids.  They cut through a little better without getting in the way.  For smaller bands he likes Ivory piano samples or something more complex like that.  (He cautions the use of shimmer mode).
2. For organ he likes to hear a real B3 through a real Leslie.  If a keyboard has to be used he likes some distortion and almost a low-fi sound so it sits in the band better..

Regarding making recordings Travis talks about what he looks for from a piano player sending tracks for projects he produces.

1.  A “safe” track that fits the song and is appropriate.
2. At least 2 more tracks where the piano player plays it “how he or she hears it”.
3. He likes to have options to choose from.

Travis talks a little about practicing and how always practicing with the click had the effect of weakening his inner sense of time because he got so used to always having the click.  So he practices both ways now. 
We talked about relationships with other musicians:

1. Communication and talking through a song is important.
2. Being kind.
3. He talks about The Schooled Musician vs Street Terminology Musician and how they can work together and learn from each other.

Travis talks about what has helped him make for a long career as a musician.

1. Being able to adapt to different musical situations.
2. Being able to adapt to different kinds of people he works with.
3. Keeping the drinking and ego in check.

 
I talked a lot too and hopefully some things I said were helpful to someone else.  I do remember saying that, in general, all piano players need to work on their time.  But I can name a few who already have great time.  And I’m sure there are plenty of grooving piano players that I don’t know of.  And I know it has been something I came to understand was important later in life.  I just want to stress how important time is to that piano player out there that thinks this is an optional skill to work on.  It is not. 
I thought this interview was interesting because it is so rare for a musician to talk about piano players and what they are wanting to hear from us.  And really, it’s not their role unless they are teaching.  I put Travis in the hot seat and he delivered.  Travis’s opinions may not square with yours or everyone else’s.  He’d be the first one to admit that.  But isn’t it nice to hear anyway?  I hope you take his perspective and ponder it a bit next time you sit down to practice, record or play.  I know I will. 
A special thank you to Travis Willard Newman.  I know I learned a lot.  Travis is so much fun to work with on stage and off.  I consider myself lucky to get to work with him.