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nisearticles) wrote2005-04-13 01:19 pm
nisearticles) wrote2005-04-13 01:19 pm
[The Marlin Democrat] -- Pied Piper brings live music to those who will listen
Pied Piper brings live music to those who will listen
by Denise Schoppe
Staff writer
The Marlin Democrat
April 13, 2005
With Austin, live music capital of the world, just down I-35, one might not expect to find live music regularly offered in Marlin. However, every Friday night that is exactly what can be found at Cactus Restaurant when Pied Piper takes the stage.
With Terry Bell on drums and vocals, and Derek Johnson on guitar, cornet and sax, the group takes the stage from 6 - 9 p.m. every Friday night to entertain any willing to listen with jazz music.
"We're an up and coming group," Bell said. "We're getting good. We push ourselves to the limits and push each other. We enjoy what we are doing."
The group got together when Johnson approached Bell with the idea.
"He's a visionary," Bell said of Johnson. "It's his dream. He told me a month ago he was going to do something about it."
Johnson previously had played with Wes Harden at Cactus, and now finds himself there again as a member of Pied Piper.
"I love jazz music," Johnson said. "There are 100-plus years of development of the music. In the Internet age, people are more open and are looking past what MTV brings them for quality. They are more aware of music, and I believe jazz music is the music of the future."
Bell echoed Johnson's thoughts by pointing out the ease of downloading music from the internet.
"People make their own mixed discs," Bell said. "They are not dictated by what's available for sale. They are reintroducing jazz to themselves. It was never gone."
Bell and Johnson aim to mix all types of music with jazz, and bring their own musical roots into the mix.
Johnson currently works at Marlin ISD with the band as a full-time director. Bell takes care of his mother and plays music.
"I grew up playing heavy metal and punk," Johnson said. "I got into funk with the Red Hot Chili Peppers."
Bells past music experiences have taken him to other parts of the country. After going to school at MCC, he went to the west coast and earned two music degrees. He spent four years in Portland, Oregon, playing with bands, getting private lessons, and attending Portland Community College. He then went to Oakland, Calif., where he played jazz in church before moving back to Texas where he found himself a member of several bands playing various types of music, including country, jazz and R&B.
"I can choose who I play with," Bell said. "I'm a Christian that plays jazz. I'm not about living the scene [musicians] used to live. Music is important, but I'm a Christian first. I need to promote Christ, and if I can't I don't want a part of it. We came to play music, lets be impressive."
The two continue to impress each other, and have fun while doing it.
"People like to see people having fun," Bell said. "We are just normal people who like to play jazz, but we want to touch the heart of the city while doing it."
The two are looking to add more members to the band over time, but are careful to keep the quality of their performances high.
"We know the value of lyrics," Johnson said.
Bell said he wanted to sing more in his younger years, but didn't get to do it as much as he wanted.
"Derek asked me to sing," Bell said. "He said he can't sing."
While Johnson may not sing, he's the band's biggest promoter.
"I know where this is going. I'm confident in our abilities," Johnson said. "Cactus is our start, then we'll move on. We'll eventually take the music industry by storm. Only thing that will stop us is to kick over dead."
Pied Piper performs every Friday night from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Cactus Restaurant at the Falls Hotel in Marlin.
by Denise Schoppe
Staff writer
The Marlin Democrat
April 13, 2005
With Austin, live music capital of the world, just down I-35, one might not expect to find live music regularly offered in Marlin. However, every Friday night that is exactly what can be found at Cactus Restaurant when Pied Piper takes the stage.
With Terry Bell on drums and vocals, and Derek Johnson on guitar, cornet and sax, the group takes the stage from 6 - 9 p.m. every Friday night to entertain any willing to listen with jazz music.
"We're an up and coming group," Bell said. "We're getting good. We push ourselves to the limits and push each other. We enjoy what we are doing."
The group got together when Johnson approached Bell with the idea.
"He's a visionary," Bell said of Johnson. "It's his dream. He told me a month ago he was going to do something about it."
Johnson previously had played with Wes Harden at Cactus, and now finds himself there again as a member of Pied Piper.
"I love jazz music," Johnson said. "There are 100-plus years of development of the music. In the Internet age, people are more open and are looking past what MTV brings them for quality. They are more aware of music, and I believe jazz music is the music of the future."
Bell echoed Johnson's thoughts by pointing out the ease of downloading music from the internet.
"People make their own mixed discs," Bell said. "They are not dictated by what's available for sale. They are reintroducing jazz to themselves. It was never gone."
Bell and Johnson aim to mix all types of music with jazz, and bring their own musical roots into the mix.
Johnson currently works at Marlin ISD with the band as a full-time director. Bell takes care of his mother and plays music.
"I grew up playing heavy metal and punk," Johnson said. "I got into funk with the Red Hot Chili Peppers."
Bells past music experiences have taken him to other parts of the country. After going to school at MCC, he went to the west coast and earned two music degrees. He spent four years in Portland, Oregon, playing with bands, getting private lessons, and attending Portland Community College. He then went to Oakland, Calif., where he played jazz in church before moving back to Texas where he found himself a member of several bands playing various types of music, including country, jazz and R&B.
"I can choose who I play with," Bell said. "I'm a Christian that plays jazz. I'm not about living the scene [musicians] used to live. Music is important, but I'm a Christian first. I need to promote Christ, and if I can't I don't want a part of it. We came to play music, lets be impressive."
The two continue to impress each other, and have fun while doing it.
"People like to see people having fun," Bell said. "We are just normal people who like to play jazz, but we want to touch the heart of the city while doing it."
The two are looking to add more members to the band over time, but are careful to keep the quality of their performances high.
"We know the value of lyrics," Johnson said.
Bell said he wanted to sing more in his younger years, but didn't get to do it as much as he wanted.
"Derek asked me to sing," Bell said. "He said he can't sing."
While Johnson may not sing, he's the band's biggest promoter.
"I know where this is going. I'm confident in our abilities," Johnson said. "Cactus is our start, then we'll move on. We'll eventually take the music industry by storm. Only thing that will stop us is to kick over dead."
Pied Piper performs every Friday night from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Cactus Restaurant at the Falls Hotel in Marlin.