Interview with Wolfgang Muthspiel: Getting deeper and deeper into music: New videos 2018

Jazz interview with jazz guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel. An interview by email in writing. 

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

Wolfgang Muthspiel: – I grew up in a small town in Austria by the name of Judenburg. My father was an amatueur musuician and choir master and my three siblings also played an instrument. So music was all around me and seemed very inviting.

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

WM: – After having played violin for eight years I felt the need to find my own voice, partly because I was expected to become a violinist. Then, at around 12 I started learning the guitar by myself and got some early support from some great teachers.

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

WM: – I think that first I got my sound on the classical guitar, through strict classical training. That is a long and never ending process. On the electric, I was initially trying to sound like some of my heroes like Pat Metheny. Over time more influences shaped me and my sound ideal was changing. It still is.

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

WM: – I try to play every day, and the most important part of my practising is a kind of free improvising without expectations. That usually generates some zone of interest, which later might be developed or become a song.

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

WM: – This question is too general for me to answer.

JBN.S: – Which are the best jazz albums for you of 2017 year?

WM: – Hard to make such a list for me. I loved the Duo album of Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman and I loved  the Beatles album of Django Bates with Big Band.

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

WM: – Hopefully both faculties are involved.

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

WM: – I have so many musical memories which are hard to describe in words, because they happened in the language of music. But here is one thing that might be interesting: I played a Duo concert with Joe Zainul in NYC and I opened the concert solo. before I walked out onto the stage, Zawinul said “Don”t Bore Them!”

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?

WM: – I think it is absolutely necessarry to follow your musical dreams passionately and without compromise. That itself is very positive. As far as dealing with business issues, I know that it can be difficult sometimes, but I would recommend to see it like a game, a game that can be played joyfully.

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

WM: – There are many people in this world who make a living from jazz.

JBN.S: – Which collaboration have been the most important experiences for you?

WM: – Paul Motian, Brian Blade, Aydin Esen, Larry Grenadier, Rebekka Bakken, Christian Muthspiel, Brad Mehldau, Guillermo Klein, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tom Harrell, Chris Cheek, Mick Goodrick.

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

WM: – There is so much good music written today! Standards are a great playing field and a great reminder of the history of Jazz but they are not the main aspect of Jazz anymore.

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

WM: – You are really hitting me with the heavy questions! I have not found an answer yet …

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

WM: – I try to not have too many expectations. I pray that my family and me stay healthy and enjoy this ride.

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

WM: – I would forbid the chimes …

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

WM: – No frontiers, just challenges. Getting deeper and deeper into music.

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

WM: – Sometimes they can coexist in a nice way. Some artists manage to hold that balance.

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

WM: – Honestly: Children Songs in the version of Nena.

JBN.S: – What’s your current setup?

WM: – A Moffa electric guitar, a Jim Redgate acoustic guitar, a Vox AC30 amp and some pedals like compressor, delay, distortion, reverb, Lelhe switches.

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

WM: – How about Vienna in 1905 birth of modernity and a culmination of arts and sciences. Or Leipzig when Bach was around.

JBN.S: – I have been asking you so far, now may I have a question from yourself …

WM: – My question to you: how come Kamil Stoch wins everything?

JBN.S: – Thank you for answers. Kamil Stoch is not interested in our. 

Interview by Simon Sargsyan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgodSxJN3b0