Buzzy Carlyle's Protégé - Tuning Fork Turner

At one of Buzzy Carlyle's Recording sessions, he brought along his protégé blues guitarist Tuning Fork Turner. After Buzzy laid down his song, he had the engineers keep the recording going, and gave a chance to Tuning Fork to let us know what he can do. The results were not very well received by Buzzy, or by Big And Tall Records. Buzzy lets his feeling be known on the recording after Tuning Fork was finished, in fact Buzzy cut him short. We've had this recording for a while, and Buzzy finally told us to release it, as he's finally got Tunin' Fork to playing real blues, and not just a bunch of theoretical microtones and key changes. There is an ensuing recording of Tunin' Fork coming soon, and Buzzy wanted the comparisons between this recording and his new one.

We sat down with Buzzy to talk about this new artist, who we already have a short term contract with on Buzzy's  recommendation. 

BTR - We admit, Buzzy, after hearing the example of Tunin' Fork's playing on the demo, we seriously considered whether he was worth even a short term contract. 

Buzzy - Man, cain't say I blame ya! The kid blew his golden chance that I give him. That's for sure!

BTR - Why do you think he played the way he did? You've raved about his natural ability and talent!

Buzzy - Nerves. Didn't tell him I was gonna do it, first time he was in a recording studio and in front of a microphone. 

BTR - What in hell was he playing? Didn't sound like anything to us but some chord changes that didn't mesh, very little to no melody. 

Buzzy - That's for sure what it was. Goddam guitar noodlin's all! He's got all this formal education, and I respect that. But damn, you cain't be usin' all that fancy crap with playin' the blues startin' out! I've heerd some guitarists use some shit I didn't know what in hell they did, but they been playin' for years, and it fit. It was still the blues. This wasn't.

BTR - Sounds like he was doing a performing test for his theory professor!

Buzzy - Don't know 'bout that. Nevah had no theory m'self, outside what I just picked up. Didn't give a shit what in hell it was, I let him know what it wasn't!

BTR - We really enjoyed the way you spelled it out for him after you interrupted him!

Buzzy - Hell, that ain't nothin' the way I chewed his ass after the tape stopped! We had a knock down drag out for sure! Tol' him cut the fancy 'Music Perfesser' shit, and git down to playin' the blues I know you can do! You wanna keep playin' all that other crap, get the hell out my life and let me git 'nother player that wants to learn! 

BTR -How'd he react?

Buzzy - He stomped out of my room at the home, never said nothin' Thought that might be the end of it, but two days later he come back with his tail 'tween his legs and apologized up one side and down the other. I accepts, he kept apologizin' and I told him I didn't cotton to no ass kissin', mine, or anyone else's! But that he better respect me as much as I respect him and what I sees in him, and let's just git back to work!

BTR - So how's he doing now?

Buzzy - I had him play with other blues people, and especially with some blues singers I know. The kid can play along with the best of 'em. Picks up their style like he's been with 'em for years, and the singers he gitso n their same vibe and gives them a ton of support. Haven't let him play much solo. That seems to be when all the high and mighty shit comes in. Just what in hell is a microtone anyway? He tried explainin' it, told me it was like a note atween F-sharp and G. Now I ain't much for theory, but I know there ain't no note atween F-sharp and G. He retuned his guitar and played some microtones for me, and damn, they just sounded either too sharp or too flat to me!

BTR - It's difficult to understand if you don't know theory.

Buzzy - He tol' me microtones are bein' used right now, and he believed they'd be used in the blues as well. I kind a think it's like bendin' a note, but he says it's more than that. Not interested in arguin' with him. Might be blues in the future will have more microtines in it, but he's learnin' music like I play it! Than he can make his own style in that framework, then go on from there, and more power to him!

BTR - Okay, so tell us how he's doing now!

Buzzy - You seen him! Pockets full of tunin' fawks, metronomes, god only knows whatevah other music contraption! When we play together, he cain't stand to hear my 'dirty' tunin'. Takes us a while to get even in pitch, right on the wazoo. He got what they call perfect pitch. Play a note, he can tell ya what it is. I can kind a do that, but he can tell ya if it's an out of tune whatevah, and if it's sharp or flat! Right in thin air. No other notes playin'! Man, I'm glad I ain't got that! He says hearin' somethin' out of pitch hurts his ears. But he's learned to be intentionally out of pitch, to bend a note when he plays for expression. So yeah, he's come a long way since that demo. Wait 'til you hear him now! He's workin' on an original song too, a for real blues song he's gonna sing and play!

We at Big And Tall Records are excited to hear Tunin' Fork Turner on his upcoming record!