Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 328 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 12:43 pm Post subject: Magazine interview
In the new copy of The Guitarist, a Dutch pro-guitar mag, there is an interview with Robben. He makes some interesting statements! I would like to share some quotes from this interview with you all.
First of all about the musicians on the new album:
"Jimmy Earl is my favourite bass-player. He can put a lot of feeling in his playing".
"Edgar Winter is a very funny guy! He only wanted to play on my record if I played on one of his, so I did".
About his music:
"I always choose very good musicians. People who like to play the blues. People who don't find it boring to play simple things, but who have much more headpiece..............I you really can play well, but you keep it simple, you give your music a certain amount of weight".
"I have choosen to develop myself as a songwriter. So instead of trying new licks on my guitar, I try to write new songs. I want to grow as a songwriter".
About the transition from jazz to blues:
"........I didn't really like fusion (!). That's always only about technique, and I prefer sound, space, groove; that kind of thing. Simple music with a nice funky groove. Like Miles Davis, he was the master of this kind of music. He is, I think, my greatest musical hero!".
That's it for now, folks. If you have any question about this article, please don't hesitate.
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 7:28 pm Post subject:
For the last couple of years Robben has been saying he avoids complex music. The Miles things were modal and didn't have a lot of complicated changes to play through. This allowed folks to explore rather than trying to keep up with a moving tonal center. With his blues background, it seems Robben is more interested in these pallets. He also made a choice to concentrate on songwriting and creating his own pallets. There are enough folks out there doing the chops thing and some of it goes the same way the rock shredders did. Maybe that's why it's hard for folks to appreciate him. He neither goes for the cheap thrills of spewing a lot of notes or arpeggiating his way through Giant Steps. He is making emotionally connecting music. He has said that some of the fusion stuff he played with Russ et. al. was a lot of work. And that he enjoys just playing, which the blues and the more modal Tiger Walk/Jing Chi things allow him to do. I for one am glad we have someone carrying this torch. _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 328 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 12:01 am Post subject:
marinblues wrote:
Question no° 1: How would you call the music Miles Davis played in the 80's?
I mean, I wonder what Robben refers to as "fusion" (Yellowjackets?)
marin
It was a bit confusing to me too, Marin. He was referring to Yellowjackets. I seems that he had to work hard to keep up, losing his "creative attitude" towards his music. Miles and also Jing Chi seemed to bee big fun, though!
Question no? 1: How would you call the music Miles Davis played in the 80's?
I mean, I wonder what Robben refers to as "fusion" (Yellowjackets?)
marin
It was a bit confusing to me too, Marin. He was referring to Yellowjackets. I seems that he had to work hard to keep up, losing his "creative attitude" towards his music. Miles and also Jing Chi seemed to bee big fun, though!
Some call Miles's 80's period as "fusion" or "jazz-rock". I am a big fan of this period of Miles. I don't really care what it's called, it's just music to me.
I don't think that there is much for Robben to be ashamed of in his career (excluding the LP, perhaps...).
I find it curious that Robben feels that the first Yellowjackets LP is "less creative" than say "Blue Moon".
Or "Pass It on" from the "Mirage a Trois" LP and ultimately, the Miles Davis stuff.
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 5:01 pm Post subject:
I'm actually not that familiar with Robben's work with the Yellowjackets (with the exception of the Casino Lights CD) but I did get to see Robben play with David Sanbourn about 10 years ago.
His playing and musicianship were stunning in this setting but nothing compared to what I saw about a year later when Blue Line first toured here. He was carrying a monster case of RSI during the Sanbourn tour though - maybe that had something to so with it. With Blue Line though, you could tell that blues was his passion... there was just something about the energy and emotion he seemed to pour into everything he did.
One of the great things about Robben in terms of his approach to the blues is that he embraces it in so many forms. There's often a tendancy with some players/bands to not see beyond the stock standard 12 bar format. Most of those artists honestly bore me stupid.
He may keep it simple, but there's so many twists and turns in what he does that he really keeps the music alive from song to song. Simple, maybe, but always different and always good.
It's the simple things in life that are the best!
Chris _________________ because I rock, and that's important.
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LP, perhaps...).