“When you meet artists from different countries, they’re almost always keen to chat, play and experiment. I think the musical training and experiences that many jazz musicians have allows them to interact with musicians from lots of different cultural and musical backgrounds and get something fun happening.”
“The mindset for me is to serve and support and honor the song and the musicians I play with. But mostly to follow the purpose of the song. To be fully present in every word and every breath.”
Few pianists can combine lyricism with a sense of groove the way that Alexander Nettelbeck does – which partly explains the seemingly effortless way that he can shift from ‘straight’ jazz to classical to reggae to R’n’B to every genre and sub-genre, really
“I like to sing songs that have elements of politics, social condition, environmental issues, generally songs that reflect the human condition.”
Kim Myhr: “For me, when I approach the piece and the composition it is important that the audience doesn’t have a feeling that the musicians are just reading through a big score, but they are actually really present and making music. The score is just a score but the music happens in the room and in the space.”
“I am presenting this music with a great amount of respect, because the thing that I realized is that there are really magnificent composers who only write for the church and are thus not really known – particularly Doris Akers is a very strong composer in different styles and few people in Australia has heard of her,” says Barney McAll
“To me, Theseus and Minotaur is a story about masculinity and a story about a cycle of fear and anger and rejection that fathers pass on to their sons that perpetuates bad things in society, like sexual abuse and violence. I see the Minotaur as a classic example of a child who wasn’t given the tools to be a good person in life regardless of the fact that he had the head of a bull.”
Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian McBride and Branford Marsalis share some common traits. They are all adept at both ‘straight jazz’ styles and the urban r’n’b-infused sub-genres, easily stepping in and out of these worlds, blending elements, mixing things, creating new music. By doing so, they all helped redefine jazz and keep it relevant.
“The Singh & Blanes duet is more about romanticism and flashbacks to a more romantic time, while my own solo work is about my intricate thoughts and emotions; it’s all about me being by myself, in solitude. It’s a bit more personal and reflects my individual take on the world. Then my jazz project is about my compositional ability and my fluency on the piano”.
