Bay Area musician remains creatively inspired over the years

Renowned Bay Area musician Dave Getz, known for his drumming in Big Brother and the Holding Company, a band that contributed to the iconic rock album “Cheap Thrills,” which skyrocketed Janis Joplin to fame, is still thriving creatively after almost six decades. His musical journey began with the monumental success of “Piece of My Heart,” which continues to gather an impressive 150 million streams monthly on platforms like Spotify.

At 85, Getz is gradually winding down his performing schedule after a lifelong commitment to touring with Big Brother. Despite earning his place in rock ‘n’ roll history, he recently unveiled a 13-track instrumental album titled “Anthems, Themes & Little Stories,” a masterpiece of original compositions spanning various musical genres.

In an interview at his Fairfax home studio, Getz expressed his pride in this latest project, stating, “I’m kind of a late bloomer — ridiculously late. But this is probably the best thing I’ve ever made in terms of total conception and quality. You can listen to every song for a long time and still find something new to enjoy about it.”

Over the past 15 years, Getz composed the album’s themes and melodies on the piano, structuring the pieces meticulously. Collaborating with guitarist Tom Finch, who contributed guitars, bass, and mandolin alongside co-creating four tracks, Getz engaged in a profound artistic endeavor. Although Finch is renowned for his guitar prowess in the rock genre, this collaboration entailed a departure from conventional rock music, focusing on creating a cohesive soundscape that captured the essence of the music.

Getz, sporting a neatly trimmed gray goatee, utilized a MIDI keyboard to broaden the instrumental sounds accompanying his acoustic drums and percussion. He incorporated the balafon, a West African gourd-resonated xylophone, and introduced Charles Moselle on saxophone and bansuri, an Indian bamboo flute. Keyboardist John Varn contributed rousing piano solos to four of the songs.

Before embarking on this project, Getz confronted a life-threatening accident three years ago, plummeting down a steep hillside in a tram incident. Suffering severe injuries with broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and cracked vertebrae, he underwent a lengthy recovery process involving hospitalization and rehabilitation. Community support rallied behind him financially, raising over $16,000 to aid Getz’s recuperation.