Researching the essence of the blues for his master’s degree, tenor saxophonist Efraïm Trujillo made some spectacular discoveries: ‘facts’ that had been assumed and passed on as truths by musicologists for decades turned out to be untenable. For example, the oft-mentioned ‘blue note’ is not an essential characteristic of the blues as has always been […]
Interviews
Wynton Marsalis: Good music is timeless
After my interview request with trumpet player and band leader Wynton Marsalis (1961), I do not expect him to reply immediately. However, a lady from New York is on the phone, saying: “Mister Marsalis will call you back within 15 minutes.” I quickly jot down some questions. The Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra is mainly […]
Colourful music in dark times
Arthur (24) and Lucas (28) Jussen think that these dark times need more colour. The piano playing brothers therefore present their colourful Russian Album with Russian piano music from roughly the first half of the 20th century. During our Zoom-conversation, the Jussen brothers stay in their parental home. Two grand pianos are at their disposal […]
John Helliwell opens his doors
John Helliwell has been a member of the British band Supertramp since 1973. Helliwell’s saxophone playing largely determined the sound of successful albums like Even In The Quietest Moments (1977) and Breakfast in America (1979). Rodger Hodgson, one of the vocalists, left the band, but as a collective Supertramp never stopped. John Helliwell, the man […]
“Bach can comfort and heal us”
Pianist Lang Lang really wanted to understand Bach and the Baroque period before he recorded the monumental Goldberg Variations. Alongside a studio recording is a contrasting performance, a single take from a recital in Leipzig’s iconic St Thomas Church, where Bach worked and is now buried. What was the biggest challenge in recording the Goldberg […]
Chris Illingworth about GoGo Penguin
In a relatively short time GoGo Penguin developed from an experimental jazz trio into a popular festival band. The three Manchester musicians created their own sound: a clear, subtly distorted piano, powerful drums, ultra deep bass grooves and electronic effects. Since 2016 GoGo Penguin recorded successful albums for Blue Note like Man Made Object (2016) […]