Questions
A journalist from Eastern Europe forwarded these 10 questions (from ONE FINAL NOTE I noticed) to me. I’m not sure when or where it will be published but here are my answers regardless:
1) What have you been listening to lately?
Lots of Bill Dixon, most recently his Odyssey Box Set. In addition to that plenty of Joe McPhee, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell, Late-Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Art Ensemble, Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, just tons of stuff actually.
2) What is your most memorable live performance?
Playing with Billy Higgins shortly before his death. Not only was he a great musician but he had such an enormous spirit that affected everyone around. I feel blessed for having got to know him before he left his body.
3) What is your most memorable concert-going experience?
Seeing Cecil Taylor at the Jazz Bakery: it absolutely floored me. I had never heard or seen anything like that at that point in my life, I think I was 18 or 19 years old.
4) Who is the one musician with which you would most like to play?
Bill Dixon. His approach to music and concept of sound and time totally appeal to me. Playing with him would be a dream come true.
5) Who is your biggest non-musical influence?
Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was a tremendous artist. What stands out is his aesthetic conflict after he because a sought after artist in the 1980’s.
6) What is your first musical memory?
Seeing Stevie Wonder perform on TV. Ever since I have been a full-fledged fan of his.
7) When did you know that you wanted to be an improvising musician?
When I first heard Elvin Jones. Just hearing his emotional and technical connection was tremendous as well as the variety of approach in his playing.
8) What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
To communicate honestly with my music and hopefully reach people as a result. There is something very powerful when an artist communicates vulnerably to those experiencing the art when they are also vulnerable and open to the art.
9) If music was banned tomorrow, what would you do?
I would be an outlaw.
10) Can music save people, and if so, how?
I think it probably can. As it has been said many times before, music is the healing power of the universe. If you believe that everything in the world is made up of vibrations it seems natural that music would be that powerful. Hearing Coltrane saved my life a few times over!
1) What have you been listening to lately?
Lots of Bill Dixon, most recently his Odyssey Box Set. In addition to that plenty of Joe McPhee, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell, Late-Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Art Ensemble, Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, just tons of stuff actually.
2) What is your most memorable live performance?
Playing with Billy Higgins shortly before his death. Not only was he a great musician but he had such an enormous spirit that affected everyone around. I feel blessed for having got to know him before he left his body.
3) What is your most memorable concert-going experience?
Seeing Cecil Taylor at the Jazz Bakery: it absolutely floored me. I had never heard or seen anything like that at that point in my life, I think I was 18 or 19 years old.
4) Who is the one musician with which you would most like to play?
Bill Dixon. His approach to music and concept of sound and time totally appeal to me. Playing with him would be a dream come true.
5) Who is your biggest non-musical influence?
Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was a tremendous artist. What stands out is his aesthetic conflict after he because a sought after artist in the 1980’s.
6) What is your first musical memory?
Seeing Stevie Wonder perform on TV. Ever since I have been a full-fledged fan of his.
7) When did you know that you wanted to be an improvising musician?
When I first heard Elvin Jones. Just hearing his emotional and technical connection was tremendous as well as the variety of approach in his playing.
8) What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
To communicate honestly with my music and hopefully reach people as a result. There is something very powerful when an artist communicates vulnerably to those experiencing the art when they are also vulnerable and open to the art.
9) If music was banned tomorrow, what would you do?
I would be an outlaw.
10) Can music save people, and if so, how?
I think it probably can. As it has been said many times before, music is the healing power of the universe. If you believe that everything in the world is made up of vibrations it seems natural that music would be that powerful. Hearing Coltrane saved my life a few times over!
Labels: Artist's Thoughts
