"When you switch the gear of what you're operating on from the memorized information to the gear of intuitive, faithful response, it's a whole different frequency that's emitted from the hands and from the soul," country shredder Daniel Donato expresses on this episode of Wong Notes. He's talking about what makes for powerful improvisation, and if you know anything about the guitarist, you know this insight around the topic is coming from someone who's a master on their instrument.
Throughout his conversation with Cory, Donato shares his uniquely intellectual philosophies about music, explaining what it means to exploit versus explore creatively, how lessons in faith and trust of his bandmates came to supersede his knowledge around music, and how "listening and alignment" of one vision is most important when jamming with others. He also sheds light on his experiences working with producers Robben Ford and Vance Powell, and the different collaborative dynamics he had with both.
Following an emphatic statement from Cory that he has always, always been loyal to Dave Matthews Band, and a comment from Daniel on how a drummer really is at the core of a successful jam, Daniel elaborates: "The song is a vehicle for a spirit." He says Carter Beauford's performance on "Ants Marching" on DMB's first live album, Remember Two Things, which features an extended 2 and 4 pattern in the intro, perfectly serves the song. "I need players that are very spiritually and emotionally vulnerable," says Donato, "and willing to do things that are abstract and left-field that wouldn't be intuitive."
Clearly an admirer of Cory's work, Daniel has some questions for him towards the end of the interview. Then, Cory quizzes Daniel on gear that he finds essential. His response? Whatever feels like the right pick to you, Mogami cables, and, if money isn't an object, a Fender black-panel. Tune in for the full Donato experience.
Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/WongNotes
Get 30% off your first year of DistroKid by going here: http://distrokid.com/vip/corywong
Visit Daniel Donato: https://danieldonato.com/
Hit us up: wongnotes@premierguitar.com
Visit Cory: https://www.corywongmusic.com
Visit Premier Guitar: http://premierguitar.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wongnotespod
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wongnotespod
Produced by Jason Shadrick and Cory Wong
Additional Editing by Shawn Persinger
Presented by DistroKid
Linda Perry Stays True to What She Knows
Ed Robertson Is a Pinball Wizard
Robben Ford: “The Guitar Is a Rhythm Instrument”
Michael League: The Walter White of Jazz-Funk
Sierra Hull Decodes the Business and “the Chop”
Jimmie Vaughan
Henrik Linder (Dirty Loops) On The Power of Stupid Luck
The Tao of Pat Metheny
Joe Walsh Can Tell You What Not to Do
Nathan East on Filling Every Note with Love
Mark Lettieri Likes Solos You Can Dance To
Larry Carlton’s Favorite Guitar Solos From Bebop to “Sleepwalk”
Why You Should Prep (& Maintain) Like an Athlete
Lindsay Ell: “A Guitar Solo Should be the Extra Lyrics of a Song.”
Christian McBride: Legends, Labels, and the Guts of Genius
Heart’s Nancy Wilson: “I Think Artistic Integrity Is Fleeting at Best.”
Danny Elfman Goes Psycho!
Peter Frampton: "Management's Greed Was My Downfall"
Ani Di Franco on the “Larger Purpose of Artistry”
Joe Bonamassa: “People Don’t Think I’m Self-Aware”
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Immediately Kinfolk
This Next Song‘s About - A Songwriter‘s Podcast
No Jumper
Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin
OUT THE MUD PODCAST