A CirdecSongs Chat with David Torn

Something about David Torn’s playing led me to think he was a super-serious person who doesn’t suffer fools or foolishness lightly. This was one of those rare times where I was unsure of my approach to a chat.

David’s guitar playing is one of a kind. His sound is innovate and extremely difficult to reproduce. His production skills are also highly sought. The work he did with the Swiss trio Sonar (where Davis was ultimately asked to join the group) is essential listening. Such a man struck me as ultra-serious.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5a92dzbabd0DE1Y1VEx15m?si=fN18czoqRu-eJRjW3sLOfA

I was just a tiny bit nervous when David appeared before me on my computer screen. But within 90 seconds, we were both howling with laughter over a quick anecdote about a trio gig he played. David and I laughed and joked for nearly an hour before I remembered to hit the “record” button.

The actual recorded chat was equally entertaining. To keep things informal, I’ve made a habit of writing down next to no questions in advance. I just go where the conversation takes us. That approach was perfect for this chat.

Did I mention that we spoke for almost another hour after I hit the “stop” button? That’s how much fun we had!

My thanks to David for a most enjoyable chat.