AJN: Some think that a tribute to Vince Jones is long overdue and that the jazz community should gather and honour your contribution. What are your thoughts on that?
VJ: Give me a few more years to write some more songs before any tributes.
AJN: Some think that a tribute to Vince Jones is long overdue and that the jazz community should gather and honour your contribution. What are your thoughts on that?
VJ: Give me a few more years to write some more songs before any tributes.
” I always have to have an emotional connection to the song, otherwise I don’t feel I’ll be able to do a good job. I’ve never been good at pretending, so it has to be honest and real”.
“When you’re playing with someone you admire, you might be worried if they’re enjoying what you’re playing – or if you might not live up to their expectations”.
“Adding a guitar to the Vampires distinct chord-less sound world is of course new, however we feel that Lionel’s contribution will help inspire and spur us onto new musical territory. Nick and I have also composed music with Lionel in mind, and so the music will accommodate and make way for his unique style of playing.”
“We both sing songs made famous by both Judy and Barbra as well as some of their infamous live duets that really encapsulate the close connection they had, a connection that we also feel when we sing together.”
“Best travelling music is still Pat Metheny. “The Precious Jewel” from “Beyond the Missouri Sky”, with Charlie Haden. Travelling through the Swiss Italian alps by train for the first time. Laughing and crying at the same time.”
” I just kept looking into Mingus’ music and found that every time I listened to a new album, his music always had this way of blowing my mind like I was listening to Mingus for the first time ever. I was just totally hooked by the end of high school and still am now!”
“ATM15 is my vehicle for original material, experimentation and doing whatever the hell I want”
“I’m so grateful to be able to sing, to make jazz my vocation: I dedicated my life to this; It helps me, it sustains me, it supports me, it has allowed me to travel more and make friends. Besides, singing itself is its own reward.”
“I feel happiest and most ‘myself’ when I’m singing. An audience member once told me I looked ‘zen’ on stage and that’s pretty much how I feel! I love the fact that it is such an expressive avenue through which to communicate and tell stories”.