Chapter 226 (1/2)
Volume 7 / Chapter 226
TL: LightNovelCafe
Editor: Isleidir
“Think of us as people who don’t exist. There won’t be any reason for us to get in your way while you perform. You bump into the camera more as you pay more attention to it.”
Jun Hyuk listened to the cameraman’s friendly explanation as he went into sound check with the other 2 musicians. A lot of people were already gathered below the stage, holding up their phones and recording the musicians they love.
“Look here! Jun! Jun! Hey, Maestro! Do you remember me? I gave you a beer yesterday.
You’re the person I watched the Santana performance with yesterday, right?”
Someone was yelling from the bottom of the audience at the guard line as security held him back. Jun Hyuk turned at mention of a beer and saw the young man who had given him a beer yesterday.
“Ha ha. I’ve gotten caught. Thanks for the beer yesterday.”
The man frowned once Jun Hyuk confirmed for him who he is. It is a pity that he lost the chance to get a signature and take a picture together.
Jun Hyuk put his guitar down and took off the t-shirt he was wearing. He signed his name in big letters on the shirt and gave it to a security guard below, saying,
“This isn’t a lot, but it’s for the beer. I don’t know if it’s okay because it’s not an expensive shirt.”
The young man took the shirt from Jun Hyuk and howled.
“And look closely. I’m not that skinny.”
He flexed his bare body, but the man just laughed at him. The young man who got Jun Hyuk’s shirt, took his shirt off and threw it to Jun Hyuk. Jun Hyuk saw the man’s body and quickly put the shirt on. He had just confirmed that he is skinny again.
After laughing for a while, he went into rehearsal for 3 songs. They practiced enough and jazz does not always follow the flow of rehearsals, so it was fine to do just 3 songs.
Jun Hyuk returned backstage and drank the water that Tara handed him.
“Jun. You look really comfortable today. You feel really different.”
“I need to enjoy the festival. Today’s goal is to make people have fun, not to present completed music.”
Stanley Clarke was listening to Tara and Jun Hyuk’s conversation when he laughed as he spoke,
“I’m really nervous, but you’re really relaxed.”
“Stanley, why are you nervous? You’ve done a lot of performances like this.”
“Oh… Well… I’m always nervous when faced with a stage.”
Stanley Clarke was taken aback and gave an evasive answer. When his face even flushed a little, Jun Hyuk had a strange thought.
Is he worrying that he might bring out improv that they had not practiced during rehearsals?
“We are starting in 10 minutes. Everyone, please get ready.”
He did not continue his thoughts because of the staff member’s loud voice. The 3 performers waved their hands as they walked out on stage.
When they walked out, loud cheering shook the stage. Stage 1 is the biggest stage, so it had the largest number of spectators. It seemed that there were easily over 20,000 people standing so close together.
His hand trembled as he looked down at the endless amount of people rippling in a crowd. It was a different experience to feel the pressure of a tremendous number of people through his body.
“What do you think? Incredible, huh? You’ll automatically relax once you start playing.
Don’t worry.”
Lee Carlton laughed as he patted Jun Hyuk’s shoulder and walked by. Then Stanley Clarke came.
“The first song is a gift from us, so we hope you like it.”
“Excuse me?”
Stanley Clarke turned away without even listening to Jun Hyuk, and the bass guitar started ringing without any signal. It is a rhythm he never heard during rehearsals. What song are they going to play?
Jun Hyuk had no choice but to put his hand on his guitar and wait for a signal.
But as soon as he heard Lee Carlton’s guitar, he was taken aback and his eyes grew wide.
His guitar melody is one that Jun Hyuk is very familiar with – his own song. The first song “Ah” of “A, E, I, O, U” is flowing out of the large speakers, filling the large venue.
The rhythm and speed was a little different and with Stanley Clarke’s bass, it became a complete guitar song and hit Jun Hyuk’s ears. A short while later, a light snare drum and high hat cymbal joined and it became jazz.
That is when Jun Hyuk laughed, loosened his fingers, and enjoyed the amazing gift of his music.
The audience was surprised because it is overly elegant for jazz performance, but everyone’s shoulders started moving once the drum’s light rhythm came in.
When did they arrange and practice this song? When Jun Hyuk imagined the two elderly gentlemen sleeping less and practicing in secret in order to surprise him, he found it funny and touching. He could also understand why Stanley Clarke had been nervous backstage.
Their arrangement was great. The light rhythm, appropriate tempo, and dramatic melody brought the audience’s spirits up. He could dimly hear the sound of Stanley and Lee giggling.
“How many days did you practice this?”
“Why? Don’t you like it? We had a pretty rough time of arranging this.”
“Let’s do the evaluation after the performance. Tens of thousands of fans are waiting.”
Jun Hyuk laughed at Lee Carlton and then started picking out the melody of the first song on his guitar. The first verse of ‘Room 335’ came out through the large amps, but the roaring sound of the audience cheering swallowed the sound of Jun Hyuk’s guitar.
Once they performed Lee Carlton’s famous Room 335 and Early A.M. Attitude, 20 minutes had quickly gone by. They continued with varying music, keeping the time as they had promised and practiced.
While Lee Carlton showed an overall tight performance, Jun Hyuk showed the effect of contrast with a very fast and passionate performance. Stanley Clarke’s bass fingering, which at times feels cold, worked like a gear with the drums without a single error.
Lee Carlton’s solo in the typical ballad style brought a cool feeling and Jun Hyuk’s languid and lazy guitar melody made small veins quiver.
The next song was lively to break people out of their relaxed states. The dull and dark atmosphere characteristic of jazz was nowhere to be found. With the two guitarists’ jumping melody and the bass’ heavy and cold rhythm. The drums even show a sturdy configuration without any mistakes.