"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:

Bill Wolfer

Web site: www.mamborama.com
CD: MAMBORAMA - "Night of the Living Mambo"

I am relatively new to Latin Music. I worked for years in Pop and R&B music and participated on records by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and others. You know the three chord synth vamp on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean?" That's me. My latest obsession is my group Mamborama, a Cuban-style
Latin Jazz group.

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

Born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming--lived there for the first twenty years of my life. Not exactly the Latin music capital of the world.

Q: "Who was the most influential person in your life that affected you,and your decision to become an artist?

It wasn't a person, but an event--the very first professional gig I ever played, when I was fifteen--that's when I decided that I was going to be a musician.

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 ONLY Latin artist we heard in Wyoming other than Ranchera music was Santana--and we played some of his stuff in one band I was in. But what sparked my current obsession was a concert in San Diego by Chucho Valdes and Irakere. That night I decided I wanted to learn how to play Afro-Cuban music.

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

I'm amazed at how obscure all of the big stars in Cuba are in the States. I guess it's the embargo, but the general public knows absolutely nothing about Issac Delgado, Klimax, Manolito y su Trabuco and the rest.
It's like being in a cult.

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

Varies.

Q: "Are you a song writer?"

Yep. I wrote all of the tunes on Mamborama's CD.

Q: "What kinds of things do you do to inspire your writing?"

Mostly, I try not to think about it. If I sit down to consciously write a song, it usually doesn't happen, or it's contrived. The best songs just seem to pop out unexpectedly.

Q: "What things do you practice day to day?"

I was very badly influenced years ago by a Herbie Hancock interview where he declared that he didn't practice. I figured if it was good enough for him, it should be good enough for me. Prior to that, in college, I used to practice religiously, six hours a day. Nowadays, I sometimes will go a week or more without touching the piano, or, depending on my mood, I might be on it every day. When I do practice, I practice scales and Hanon and things like that for technique. Mostly, I will just sit and play for my own
enjoyment--standards and just improvisation.

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

To have fun, mostly! On the serious side, I try to keep the music rolling along without the usual American band thing where there is a big conference between each song. But on the other hand, I rarely write out set
lists, because I like to tailor what we're playing to the crowd. This causes some consternation with the horn players, because they have to scramble for their charts pretty quickly.

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

I see our music as being firmly based on the tradition, but not enslaved to it. It's a fine line. As a "yanqui," I wanted to present this music respectfully, and with integrity. Yet, if you go too far in trying to make
the music "authentic," you will lose your own identity, and then, what's the point? Of course, since the tradition in Afro-Cuban music is still very much alive and evolving everyday, that's no problem--experiments are allowed!

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

Lately, I haven't been able to get Issac's new one "The Formula" out of my player. I love that album. But I may listen to most anything, depending on my mood. I love Mozart.

Q: "If you have children what kind of musical education have you given them or do you intend to give them?"

I have one daughter, age 15, who absolutely loves music, won't go anywhere without her CD player, but shows no interest in learning to play. That's OK with me. She has been exposed to more kinds of music than the majority of her friends, I would imagine.

Q: "What does the music you play do for you, emotionally, spiritually, socially, whichever-other-ly?

Music is my religion. It gives me redemption. When I am feeling bad, or depressed, the best cure is to play.

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

Well, playing Afro-Cuban piano has sure made a difference in my time--it has gotten so much better!

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?

When the band is clicking, the whole becomes much greater than the sum of its parts. The energy level gets incredible, and the players feed off each other's energy, which in turn, affects the dancers and the people
listening. On the best nights, the roof gets torn off the sucker, and that's what's it's all about--it's better than sex (almost).

Q: "What one CD of those you have recorded would you keep if the others were forever lost??!!"

Mamborama: Night of the Living Mambo

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

Yes, music IS art, but it has always been a business as well, which will always create certain conflicts.

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

Are you saying there's a choice? I TRIED to quit once, couldn't do it. Being a musician is a terminal disease.

Q: "One piece of advice for musicians"

Repeat after me: "There is no such thing as a steady gig."

Credits:
Allan Johnston - format questions
Eliseo Cardona - translations

Lea esta entrevista en Español visite www.anapapaya.com