"Questions, Questions..."

A series of interviews with the members of The Latin Jazz Discussion List. All the questions were submitted by other members of the group, their peers. Each artist was given a number of questions with the option of answering as many as they wished. Further discussion with the artist in this forum is invited...

Today's Subject:

Allan Johnston

Bassist and Composer, Vancouver, Canada
- Plays/writes with Grupo Jazz Tumbao, Rumba Calzada, Orquesta Goma Dura, Orq.
La Clave. Has performed with Lalo Rodriguez (with La Clave) in '98 and '99. Has
opened up for Orquesta Aragon, Eliades Ochoa, Maraca y Otra Vision, Los
Muñequitos de Mantanzas...
www.jazztumbao.com
www.vancouverjazz.com/home/allanjohnston

CD: Grupo Jazz Tumbao - Qué Bolá?

Q: "Tell us a little about your childhood - where were you born and raised?"

I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, fourth of five children in a
close family (I'm the musical one). I grew up listening to my sisters Beatles
collection. I played trombone when I was in elementary school (grade 5) and
switched to bass in grade 7.

Q: "When did you first fall in love with Latin music - or - when did you first
choose Latin music as a career path? Can you remember which band or artist
turned you on?"

The first album I ever bought, when I was 11 years old was SANTANA
"Abraxas", and "Oye Como Va" was the first thing I taught myself on the Bass
when I was 13. Then I forgot about Latin music for a while, got into
Progressive Rock (Yes, Gentle Giant) and eventually became a freelance jazz
bassist. I fell in love with the music again when I was playing on a cruise
ship based in Viejo San Juan PR, every Saturday for months at a time. I
switched my career focus to latin/jazz after being inspired by such recordings
as 'the white album' by Eddie Palmieri (1980), "Chocolate en Sexteto", Jerry
Gonzalez "Ya Yo Me Curé", Batacumbele "Afro-Caribbean Jazz", Fania All Stars -
"Live at the Cheetah - Vol II", and of course, the classic PANART Label "Cuban
Jam Sessions", by 'Cachao', 'Peruchin', 'Tata', 'El Tojo', Niño, Guillermo, 'El
Negro', et al...

Q: "What piece or pieces of music made the most impact on you and why?"

1970 - "Oye Como Va" - from Santana "Abraxas" - first exposure to latin
music, age 11.
1972 - "The Grand Wazoo" - Frank Zappa/Mothers - first exposure to jazz
and Zappa, age 13.
1976 - "Spain" from Chick Corea "Light as a Feather" (1972) - first music
that FORCED me to improve as a musician.
1978 - "The Firebird" (1945 extended Suite) - Stravinsky conducts the
Columbia Symphony (recorded in 1961) in this suite from his 1910 masterpiece. A
constant inspiration.
1984 - "El Dia Que Me Quieras" Eddie Palmieri/ Cheo Feliciano (from the
'white album'). That's it - I'm hooked. The quest for an Ampeg Baby Bass
begins... and ends successfully.

Q: "Who's an artist you think more people should be aware of..."

Orquesta Mulenze from PR, led by bassist Edwin Morales. The band Guaco, from
Venezuela. And a couple of bassists who knock me out - both Cuban. Roberto
Riverón, from Klimax and Cubanismo, and my friend Pedro Pablo Gutierrez, from
La Charanga Habanera and Charanga Forever. I believe they're two of the people
who've led the resurgence of baby bass (my instrument) in Cuban Music.

Q: "At what hour of the day are you most productive and why?"

Unfortunately, ALWAYS past the hour that will get me a decent night's sleep...

Q: "Are you a song writer?"

Yes. I wrote my first song at age 12. I consider composing to be essential to
who I am.

Q: "What are your priorities when you go to the stage?"

Make sure I have my bass... ;-)

Q: "How do you see yourself in relation to the 'tradition'?"

I'm an 'outsider' that feels 'inside' when I play. I'm very conscious of
respecting the achievements of those who've come before me.

Q: "What music do you listen to when you are relaxing?"

I don't usually listen to music to relax. Music doesn't relax me - it
'involves' me. For that reason, I have a hard time sleeping to quiet music -
it's like having someone whispering in my ear. That being said, the music
that's most likely to put me in a trance-like state is Miles Davis "Sketches of
Spain".

Q: "Give us a mental image of your favorite view in the world".

A turquoise-colored glacier lake, circled by jagged snow-capped peaks.
Morraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Q: "What changes or landmarks in your life can you attribute to the music
you play?"

Because of music, I've been to 46 countries, seen the Great Pyramid and the
Great Wall, maintained my sanity, and had a chance to spontaneously create the
unexplainable...

Q: "When the music is at it's best in your opinion, what is it that's
happening (to make it the best) and what do you feel?

There is deeper level of communication going on. Sometimes, when I'm
playing, I'll break into a spontaneous smile. It's only after I've finished
that I'll remember the perfect chord the pianist played for me at that exact
moment...
.
Q: "What one CD of those you have recorded would you keep if the others were
forever lost??!!"

Grupo Jazz Tumbao - Qué Bolá?

Q: "What one CD of someone else's would you keep if all others were lost??!!"

Oh man - that's hard. I could probably only cover MOST of the styles I love
in one CD by picking something by Zappa. Probably the live "Roxy and
Elsewhere". If we're talking about Latin only, probably: "Descargas Cubanas"
(Cachao, etc) Can I have both volumes? ;-)

Q: "Name an all-star band of your favorite musicians (and arrangers) or one
band for each genre (charanga, conjunto, big band, etc.)"

There are so many I had to leave out!

LEADER: Tito Puente
VOICES: Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Rivera, Pete 'El Conde' Rodriguez, Beny More.
Celia Cruz
TRUMPETS: John Birks Gillespie, Victor Paz, 'Bomberito' Zarzuela, Brian Lynch,
'Perico' Ortiz, 'Chocolate' Armenteros
FLUTE: ' El Tosco' (Jose Luis Cortés), Pupi Lejaretta, Jose Fajardo.
VIOLIN: Alfredo de la Fe, Pupi, Lewis Kahn
SAXES: Altos: Charlie Parker, Rolando Briceño, Miguel Zeñon - Tenors: John
Coltrane, David Sánchez, Chombo Silva - Baritones: Mario Rivera, Pablo Calogero
TROMBONES: Barry Rogers, Conrad Herwig, J.P. Torres, Papo Vasquez
PIANO: Peruchin, The Palmieri Brothers, Harlow, Bravo,
CONGA: Tata Guines, Jerry Gonzalez, Ray Barretto, Giovanni Hidalgo
TIMBAL - Tito Puente, Guillermo Barretto, Ralph Irizarry, Orestes Vilató
DRUM KIT: Giraldo Piloto, Willie Bobo. Steve Berrios, Ignacio Berroa,
BONGO: Roberto Roena: Anthony Carillo, Jose Mangual (Sr. and Jr.)
BASS: Bobby Rodriguez, Cachao, Sal Cuevas.
ARRANGERS: Rene Hernandez, Ray Santos, dozens more...

GROUPS:

CLASSIC PUERTO RICO - Cortijo y su Combo, El Gran Combo
CLASSIC CUBA - Beny More, Chapottín
CHARANGA - Fajardo y su Estrellas
CHA CHA CHA: Orquesta Aragon
BIG BAND: Machito, Tito Puente, Mario Bauza
CONTEMPORARY CUBAN: Klimax, Issac Delagado, Charanga Forever
CONTEMPORARY PR: Willie Rosario
BOMBA Y PLENA: Los Pleneros de la 21, Truko y Zaperoko
RUMBA: Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Afro Cuba de Matanzas
CHANGUI: Orquesta Reve
70's SALSA DURA: Eddie Palmieri, Tipica '73, Orq. Harlow, Ray Barretto, Sonora
Ponceña,
ROOTS OF JAZZ/LATIN: Herbie Hancock (the 'Inventions and Dimensions' recording
group - with Paul Chambers, Willie Bobo, and 'Chihuahua' Martinez)
JAZZ/LATIN FOR THE NEW CENTURY: David Sánchez

Q: "What musicians would you most like to play with, now living on earth or
elsewhere?"

Well, I'd love to play with David Sánchez or Eddie Palmieri... and any
members of the Latin Jazz Discussion List, of course.

Q: "What band or musicians would you have wanted to play with from the past and
why?"

The John Coltrane Quartet, 1961 European Tour
Playing bass with a drummer like Elvin Jones is like having your dad standing
behind you yelling "Come on boy, SWING!! You can do it!!". Following (and
leading) a player like McCoy Tyner as he builds the harmonic structure of a
solo would be a constant inspiration. But the best thing would be the three of
us running after Trane, as he JUMPS to places we can't even see yet...

Q: "Are critics important? Or do you rather see your music reviewed in the
vanity press?Are you susceptible to bad reviews?".

Yes x 3 ;-)

Q: "Do you believe in music as art, as opposed to a product for merchandising?"

 

"To the devil with all those who have seen in our sublime art nothing but
an innocent tickling of the ear."
- Georges Bizet (letter to A. Marmontel, 1857)

Q: "Would you still be a musician even if that means you´ll die of hunger?"

I doubt that I could stop myself now. I'd do other jobs too, instead of
starve.

Q: "If you had to choose a short segment (a few bars) from your work to
represent you, which would it be?"

The last 12 bars of "Frankness". It's a six bar montuno in 4/4 (three bars
in 2/3 clave on Gm and three bars in 3/2 on Db Major). The horns come in and
quote fragments of the melody, in groups of 5 notes. So instead of playing 6
bars of 4/4 to cover the 24 beats, they play one bar of 4/4 and four bars of
5/4 - but still stay in clave.

Q: "What food would you most liken your music to?"

Haggis, stuffed with Habanero peppers, wrapped in banana leaves, and
roasted over an open fire.

Q: "Do you believe in aliens? (HAHAHAHA!)"

According to that guy at the border, I AM an alien - from the planet Canada.

Q: "One piece of advice for musicians"

Play with your ears open...or go home.

Q: "One piece of advice for listeners (or dancers)"

You haven't lived till you've danced mambo in 10/4...

Q: "One piece of advice for life"

It's all in your head...really.

Credits:
Allan Johnston - format questions
Eliseo Cardona - translations

Lea esta entrevista en Español visite www.anapapaya.com