Interview with Carmen Lundy: The intellect can get in the way of soul: Video

Jazz interview with composer and vocalist Carmen Lundy. An interview by email in writing. 

JazzBluesNews.com: – First let’s start with where you grew up, and what got you interested in music?

Carmen Lundy: – Miami, FL.  Home life and extended family life was filled with music. I took lessons at age 6. My mother was a wonderful singer and formed the gospel group The Apostolic Singers.

JBN: – How did your sound evolve over time? What did you do to find and develop your sound?

CL: – By pursuing a consistent performance life combined with deep study, discipline with risk taking.

JBN: – What practice routine or exercise have you developed to maintain and improve your current musical ability especially pertaining to rhythm?

CL: – Listening to the greats. Working with the greats. I collect and play instruments – piano, drums, guitar, bass.

JBN: – How to prevent disparate influences from coloring what you’re doing?

CL: – Stay in the moment.

JBN: – How do you prepare before your performances to help you maintain both spiritual and musical stamina?

CL: – Deep breathing. Sometimes I warm up with scales, sometimes I hum.

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JBN: – Ism is culled from a variety of lives dates with various performers over the course of a few years. Did your sound evolve during that time? And how did you select the musicians who play on the album?

CL: – I look for a lot of heart, and great concept, great flexibility, crazy awesome chops.

JBN: – What’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?

CL: – There is too much of a variable between these human traits, but I do know that intellect can get in the way of soul.

JBN: – There’s a two-way relationship between audience and artist; you’re okay with giving the people what they want?

CL: – More Carmen, yes. I can’t do what I do without the audience.

JBN: – Please any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

CL: – Every gig makes a memory. I value them all.

JBN: – How can we get young people interested in jazz when most of the standard tunes are half a century old?

CL: – Write, speak of this time!

JBN: – John Coltrane said that music was his spirit. How do you understand the spirit and the meaning of life?

CL: – I don’t know the meaning of life other than to know and give love, and be loved.

JBN: – If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

CL: – JAZZ ON TV 24-7

JBN: – Who do you find yourself listening to these days?

CL: – Original music.

JBN: – What is the message you choose to bring through your music? 

CL: – Truth.

JBN: – Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go?

CL: – Anywhere in the galaxy as long as I have wings.

JBN: – So putting that all together, how are you able to harness that now?

CL: – Keep it moving!

Interview by Simon Sargsyan