Interview with Gabriele Orsi: Jazz is above all a passion: Video

Jazz interview with jazz guitarist Gabriele Orsi. An interview by email in writing.

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

Gabriele Orsi: – I grew up around Milan (Italy) in a small town in the Brianza area, and I started playing with friends in the church choir.

JBN.S: – What got you interested in picking up the guitar?

GO: – I started almost casually, there was a guitar course and my parents invited me to participate. The guitar fascinated me immediately and I then dedicated myself by transcribing my favorite songs by ear

JBN.S: – What teacher or teachers helped you progress to the level of playing you have today? What made you choose the guitar?

GO: – I listened to many rock bands, Pink Floyd, AC / DC, Deep Purple etc … and the guitar was the main Filippo Mineo was my first real teacher, the one who taught me the first basics of harmony and pushed me to study jazz. Then I met several musicians who brought me closer to jazz, Joe Diorio, Rick Peckam, Jim Kelly, many others …

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

GO: – It all comes naturally, what I listen to affects my sound a lot.

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

GO: – I play a lot on the basics, Aebersold or similar. Study on drum books like Dante Agostini. Normally, however, I use the time preparing and learning the songs that I will play with the various groups.

JBN.S: – Which harmonies and harmonic patterns do you prefer now?

GO: – No one in particular. Some time ago I liked all the quartal harmony, I used it all the time. Now I use harmony based on musical projects.

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?

GO: – Studying a lot, always trying to have fun. Play as many bands as possible, trio, big band quartet, etc. in different styles, blues, funk, jazz rock.

JBN.S: – Аnd furthermore, can jazz be a business today or someday?

GO: – Jazz is above all a passion, it can and must be a business for those who work with music.

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

GO: – History and tradition must be followed, after which there are plenty of interesting modern musicians to listen to.

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

GO: – Music is my life.

JBN.S: – What are your expectations of the future? What brings you fear or anxiety?

GO: – No fear or anxiety, I hope there are opportunities to play with many musicians. Make new artistic friendships and produce interesting music.

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

GO: – Digital music is taking over everything. I wonder if in a few years the musicians will be able to produce and still sell their music. I hope …

JBN.S: – Are there any similarities between jazz and world music, including folk music?

GO: – Especially now that in music we try to mix different styles, I think there are some similarities in any kind of music.

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

GO: – I’m listening to an Andy Summers record dedicated to Monk, which I find very interesting, the latest by Mike Moreno, “Dockings” by Michel Portal, Gilad Hekselman, Steve Coleman, Marc Ducret and others. Of course, they alternate with my favorites, which are John Scofield’s “Hand Jive”, Thelonious’s Monk’s Dream, “Going Back Home” by Ginger Baker and “Lookout for Hope” by Bill Frisell.

JBN.S: – What’s your current setup?

GO: – Guit: Patrick Eggle Berlin model
Gibson 347
Ibanez Artist AM 205
Strings: D’Addario 010
Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
DV Mark little jazz
AER acoustic amp
Pedal: Volume Ernie Ball
Analog Multieffect by my friend Roberto Bevilacqua (www.mdfitaly.it) Freeze. Boss octaver.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan