Sound Collaborators

They say that no one is an island, and that goes for artists... sometimes. Certainly, a solo performer can be, by nature, singular in his or her approach. But collaboration with one or more other musicians can be just the thing for a singer, songwriter and/or instrumentalist in need of inspiration, a sounding board, or simply a way to make a richer, more expansive sound

When you think about it, a band is the ultimate in musical collaboration -- even if the line-up isn't locked in. Every player in an ensemble brings a different set of skills to the creative process, and can offer a unique perspective. Whether it's about composition or arrangement, the addition of fresh ideas and fresh ears can help make an otherwise pedestrian project something exceptional.

Yes, there are plenty of examples of songwriters and performers who do just fine on their own. But there are also those who have brought their work to a whole new level through the input of others. Think of the developmental leap made by folk-music goddess Joni Mitchell, from singing her material while strumming her guitar or playing her piano to doing jazzed-up sessions with some of L.A.'s top studio musicians. Or the fantastic performance of "Angel Duster" by rappers Run the Jewels backed by rock band TV on the Radio for a recent episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

On the other side of the coin, we have John Lennon and Paul McCartney whose collaboration as primary composers for the Beatles will always transcend the solo material they each did after the band broke up. Sometimes the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.