An interview with Arild Andersen: It is all in the moment and not quantized

Jazz interview with jazz bassist Arild Andersen. interview by email in writing.

JBN.S: – First let’s start with where you grew up, Arild what got you interested in music? How did you start playing?

A.A: – I grew up outside Oslo. I got a guitar for Christmas when I was 12 and started playing for dances with my 3 year older brother who played accordion. One day I heard a recording with Lester Young  and I was so amazed.I wanted to try to improvise.

JBN.S: – What interested you in picking up the jazz contrabass?

A.A: – I saw a TV concert around 1962 with Shorty Rogers with Gary Peacock on bass . I could hear every note from the bass . Just different from what I had heard before. I was in a band where I played guitar, but I had to play  the bass for the last set ,because the bassplayer got blisters all the time !  Finally I bought his bass and the band became a piano trio … no more guitar.

JBN.S: – What teacher or teachers helped you progress to the bassist You are today?

A.A: – I studies Ray Brown´s Bass Method Book first. Then the Simandl books. I had  lessons with Karel Netolicka summer 1970, about 4-5 weeks. Three days a week and practicing about 12 hours a day. Netolicka was at that time in the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and had  studied with the  Czech  bassplayer  Pošta (who also was the teacher of Vitous and I belive Mraz).

JBN.S: – How has the Blues and Jazz culture influenced your views of the world?

A.A: – There should not be any boundaries between people .

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

A.A: – Nowdays I mostly practice for upcoming projects . I also  practice with a metronome playing scales as if they would be walking bass lines.

JBN.S: – Many aspiring musicians are always looking for advice when navigating thru the music business. Is there any piece of advice you can offer to aspiring students or even your peers that you believe will help them succeed and stay positive in this business?

A.A: – Sometimes I say: Your talent is not bigger than the talent you have for taking care of your talent.

JBN.S: – Аnd finally jazz can be a business today and someday?

A.A: – Not sure about that !

JBN.S: – What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past?  What are your hopes and fears for the future of? 

A.A: – I might miss interplay in some of the music of today, If machines take over too much the communication as we know it, will be different. Kind of a one way communication,

JBN.S: – What’s the next musical frontier for you?

A.A: – Right now it is 3 upcoming solo concerts. Then I also use loops ,but never pre-recorded . It is all in the moment and not quantized.

JBN.S: – Are there any similarities between the blues/jazz and the genres of local folk music and traditional forms?

A.A: – There are similarities but I think jazz has the most interplay , improvisation and risk taking of all music. Seems like the folk musicians improvise more when they practice and if they find something valuable they stick to that .

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

A.A: – If I put on a record I have to confess it will be some older Miles Davis , Bil Evans and so on. I try to listen as much as possible to young Norwegian players , but it is so much these days and I hate Spotify… Then again I spend a lot of time checking concerts I have played myself, always trying to improve.

Conversation led: Simon Sargsyan