Chapter 224 (2/2)

After making the decision to play the guitar, Jun Hyuk also worked with the men to select their repertoire. Stanley Clarke and Lee Carlton wanted to arrange the songs on Jun Hyuk’s rock tribute album, but Jun Hyuk shook his head.

“I decided to participate in this festival because I wanted to perform your songs. I don’t want to arrange my songs and perform them.”

They chose 8 of the two greats’ songs and then decided on the order. And they also planned to play more than 6 songs at the least even if the improv performance got too long.

“Then, shall we do 2 songs lightly? It’ll give us a chance to listen to your guitar. That’s okay, right?”

Lee Carlton felt rushed because he wanted to hurry up and hear this young genius’ music.

“I’m always up for it.”

“Let’s go really lightly. It’s hard to even hold up my guitar because I feel drunk.”

Stanley Clarke made a fuss as he put the heavy bass on his shoulder. Jun Hyuk picked the Gibson of the guitars laying around the studio, and started tuning it.

Stanley Clarke’s bass guitar started dinging and a light guitar riff came from Lee Carlton’s guitar for the first song, Room 335.

***

When they were done playing Room 335, the alcohol almost completely wore off from Lee Carlton, Stanley Clarke, and the drummer was hiding the sweat on his forehead.

Even though the drummer who will be performing with them is a skilled drummer who has a great sense of rhythm and a sturdy foundation, he felt like they had played for over an hour when they had just played one song.

The drummer looked down at his watch and understood why he felt like that. 25 minutes had flashed before their eyes.

Stanley Clarke shook his head and laughed, but Lee Carlton looked blank like the drummer.

Jun Hyuk alone looked refreshed as he drank water.

“Lee. You know what I meant before? Whew…..”

Lee Carlton did not hear Stanley Clarke’s words. He had only one thought since they finished playing.

The First!

The title of the album that Stanley Clarke recorded with Jun Hyuk.

The First did not indicate the first time they met, or their anticipation for the next meeting.

Pleasure regarding music that they experienced for the first time. That is what the title is showing.

He has never played like this before. Pleasure of jazz? Spontaneity of improvisation? Unity of a perfect ensemble? He has seen this before. He would not be considered a jazz great or legend if he had not had such experiences.

But the pleasure he just experienced while playing with Jun Hyuk is a different kind of pleasure.

A feast of endless melodies.

What would this kind of melody be like? Should we try a melody like this? It had felt like someone was whispering things like this into his ear. New phrases, melodies, and fun codes kept buzzing around his head. Lee Carlton only picked at his guitar strings as he thought of it.

When the melody inside his head stopped, 25 minutes had passed.

Stanley Clarke put the bass guitar down, plopped down on the sofa, and lit a cigar.

He took a long pull, let out white smoke, and looked at Lee Carlton standing in front of him.

“What are you doing? You want to do another song? Then, you two do it. I’m so tired I can’t.”

Lee Carlton finally came to his senses and leaned on the sofa.

“At this rate, we won’t be able to do 3 songs, much less 6.”

“It’s hard during the performance. They could at least appreciate it if it’s an indoor performance. It’s outside though… The audience will be so tired that they fall away first.” The drummer had not said much until now, but spoke up cautiously.

“I don’t think that this kind of performance is fitting for a stage either.”

Jun Hyuk put down his guitar as well, and agreed with the drummer’s opinion.

“Then, let’s try playing together again after adjusting our conditions. We’ll figure out when to cut the 8 songs too.”

Stanley Clarke had just been looking at Lee Carlton, and looked to Jun Hyuk.

“Jun, you must be tired from flying. What do you think about going to your hotel to rest?

Let’s really have a drink after rehearsals tomorrow.”

Stanley Clarke laughed as he winked, and Jun Hyuk nodded.

“Yes. Then I’ll come back at noon tomorrow. You should both get a lot of rest too.”

Lee Carlton could not shake the shock so much that he did not hear Jun Hyuk or realize that he left. Stanley Clarke watched him as he lit a cigarette and handed it over.

He took 2 puffs and let the rest burn before he finally snapped out of his blank state.

“Stanley. Is this the talent that you were talking about? That he can find balance perfectly?”

“No. It wasn’t to this point when we were recording together. He changed a lot in the time we haven’t seen each other. Ah, is it because of his experience conducting an orchestra?”

“Stanley. I’m not thinking wrong, am I? That kid Jun just dragged us around and made us play, right?”

“Of course. Was there ever a time it was like this when it was just the two of us playing?

There’s an instantaneous change when Jun joins us. Then it’s because of Jun.”

It is not something he wants to believe, but it has already happened and his whole body remembers it. It is not something that he can deny.

“How is this possible? Letting the people he is playing with the melody… no, he made us realize it. I can’t believe it.”

Stanley Clarke only smoked the cigar, and did not respond. He wanted to give a refreshing response if he could explain it. But even if he knew what has happened, he does not know how to explain it.

“There’s one thing that’s certain. Jun conducted the 3 of us as though conducting an orchestra. He showed us how to play and how to progress. Jun’s guitar melody was the baton.

We just played the way he told us to.”

“Is that possible? Is it possible for a song that we haven’t practiced before with new melodies and phrases that we don’t know and were just brought out?”

“Why are you asking me that? You experienced it for yourself. And… I told you, didn’t I? That he would bring out the potential in you that you didn’t even know about. Of course I didn’t know that we’d be able to prove what I said so soon.”

Stanley Clarke could not hide his dazed expression either. A few years ago, Jun Hyuk was a young pianist with tremendous talent. Now, though, he has become an unimaginable monster.