"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:
Kimson Plaut
NYC
Pianist - Jovenes del Barrio, Astrud Gilberto
Website: www.makaiproductions.com/kimson
CD: "Ubatuba"
Q: "Tell us a little about your childhood - where were
you born and raised?"
I was born in Baltimore, but grew up in different places -
my dad moved
around a lot. I moved to Brazil when I was 23.
Q: "Who was the most influential person in your life
that affected you, and
your decision to become an artist?"
I would have to say that my old buddy Michael Spiro was the
one who
convinced me I should try my luck as a professional musician,
rather than
struggle to fit into the world of academia. (And it's been all
downhill
since then. hahaha)
Q: "When did you first fall in love with Latin music?
Can you remember which
band or artist turned you on?"
1973 - Eddie Palmieri - the cut "Puerto Rico" on
the album "Sentido".
Q: "What piece or pieces of music made the most impact
on you and why?"
"Coltrane's Sound" - I must have been about 9 years
old when my mother
got this. Trane was still pretty tonal/melodic at that time,
but there was
this one tune, "Liberia" (based on "Night in Tunisia"
changes), where he
took it pretty far outside on the 4-bar break. I remember being
blown away,
even at that age. Anyway, for me, listening to Trane has always
been a
religious experience.
Q: "Who's an artist you think more people should be aware
of..."
Wow, there are too many. There's this kid in Miami, Samuel
Torres, who
plays percussion with Arturo Sandoval --- he's extremely talented
and
dedicated, and a great composer. Also in Florida, percussionist
Edwin
Bonilla has a wonderful CD out with this guy Jesus Perez. Last
but not
least, mi pana Johnny Almendra, one of the finest musicians I've
ever had
the pleasure of working with.
Q: "At what hour of the day are you most productive and
why?"
Early in the morning or late at night.
Q: "Are you a song writer?"
Yes.
Q: "What kinds of things do you do to inspire your writing?"
It doesn't work that way for me: I can't just sit down and
say, "Hmm,
time to write a song." But when the inspiration hits me,
I have to let it
out.
Q: "What things do you practice day to day?"
Let's see. My son is 2 years old, so that's how long since
I've really
"practiced" piano. I guess what I practice most every
day is being more
patient with my son.
Q: "What are your priorities when you go to the stage?"
Focus, concentration, courage, confidence. To do my best,
to give my
utmost, no matter what kind of gig it is. To listen to my fellow
bandmates,
lock in with them and try to lift everyone's spirits.
Q:"How do you see yourself in relation to the 'tradition'?"
As a humble student.
Q: "What music do you listen to when you are relaxing?"
My tastes are eclectic - a lot of Brazilian and Cuban, but
also
Flamenco, Steely Dan, music from Africa, Madagascar. Lately I've
been
enjoying a singer named Dulce Pontes, from Portugal.
Q: "Give us a mental image of your favorite view in the
world".
A deserted beach lined with coconut trees, at sunset. No sound
except
the breeze in the palms and the roar of the surf.
Q: "If you have children what kind of musical education
have you given them
or do you intend to give them?"
Lucas's music education started in the womb! He's exposed
to music every
day, and loves uptempo stuff with a lot of percussion. He has
an awareness
of rhythm, and as soon as he shows a glimmer of interest, I'm
sending him to
study with Almendra. As far as piano, if he's interested in learning
to
play, I will stress to him the importance of getting a basis
in classical
training (which I never had).
Q: "What does the music you play do for you, emotionally,
spiritually,
socially, whichever-other-ly?
It heals me, it's my therapy and my religion. It's infinite,
in that
there will always be more to learn and more room to grow.
Q; "What changes or landmarks in your life can you attribute
to the music
you play?"
I think one of the greatest things it's done for me is to
have taken me
all over the world, and to many places which otherwise I would
probably
never get to see. I have also been fortunate enough to share
the stage with
many of my musical idols from when I was younger - something
I never would
have dreamed was possible.
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?
It's those rare exhilarating moments when everyone locks together
like
an engine and the whole band takes off into another dimension.
It means
everyone's listening to each other. That's what makes all the
shitty gigs,
all the schlepping and rehearsing, worthwhile.
Q: "What one CD of those you have recorded would you
keep if the others were
forever lost??!!"
My own CD - "Ubatuba". That was a real labor of
love.
Q: "What one CD of someone else's would you keep if all
others were
lost??!!"
Boy, I hope that never happens!
Q: "What musicians would you most like to play with,
now living on earth or
elsewhere?"
Who are no longer with us? Arsenio, Chano Pozo, Jaco Pastorius,
Nico
Assumpção, Frank Zappa.
Q: "Are critics important? Or do you rather see your
music reviewed in the
vanity press? Are you susceptible to bad reviews?"
Of course critics are important - they wield a lot of influence!
But you
know, there are critics and there are critics, and, as in every
profession,
there are probably more bad ones than good ones. There's nothing
worse than
a misinformed or narrow-minded critic, or one who has a private
vendetta
against certain artists.
Q: "Do you believe in music as art, as opposed to a product
for
merchandising?"
Call me an idealist, but I believe music is art. I hate the
whole
marketing aspect, I hate MTV and commercial radio and what corporate
money
has done to the music.
Q: "Would you still be a musician even if that means
you´ll die of hunger?"
I don't know how to do anything else.
Q: "If you had to choose a short segment (a few bars)
from your work to
represent you, which would it be?"
Any of my compositions.
Q: "What food would you most liken your music to?"
Rice and beans --- simple, but tasty.
Q: "Do you believe in aliens? (HAHAHAHA!)"
Most definitely. (I've worked with some.)
Q: "If it were up to you, what would the names of Hermeto's
pig and rooster
be?"
Getúlio and Lupicinio.
Q:"One piece of advice for musicians"
Listen, listen, listen!
Q: "One piece of advice for life"
Love one another.
Credits:
Allan Johnston - format questions
Eliseo Cardona - translations
Lea esta entrevista en Español visite
www.anapapaya.com
