A Live SBL Jam: Janek Gwizdala, Larry Goldings, and Clarence Penn Tackle Michael Jackson

Every once in a while a video shows up that just feels good from the first few seconds. This one comes from an SBL hang with Janek Gwizdala, Larry Goldings, and Clarence Penn as they jump into a Michael Jackson tune and start shaping their own version of it. Janek is on his signature Mattisson and it sounds huge right from the start.

The real magic here is watching the three of them build the arrangement as they go. Nobody arrives with a fixed plan. They feel out the tune one idea at a time. Goldings throws a little twist and you can hear the whole direction tilt. Penn shifts the groove and adjusts dynamics to see what catches. Janek locks into whatever they create while still pushing ideas of his own and the track keeps evolving. It is that quiet back and forth that makes the whole thing work. They are not trying to cover the song. They are trying to discover their version of it on the spot.

If you enjoy watching great players build a tune in real time this clip is an easy win. Let me know what you think after you check it out.