Striving to be “The Best” is so pervasive in our hyper-competitive culture. Indeed, now that the year is coming to a close it’s time for “The Best (insert whatever) in 2022”. I submit this kind of thinking is unhealthy and self-defeating. To illustrate this I played the same tune as Spanky McCurdy, who is clearly a monstrous player. I did it my way to the best of my ability, so I don’t care if he did it better. Don’t get me wrong…I love the way he played that tune! So clean and precise, and his rhythmic ideas are amazing! I’m so inspired by him, yet I can’t play the way he plays…I can only play the way I play!
by Gary Dates
