Interview with Jeff Lofton: That all modern music is directly connected to and created from jazz: Video

Jazz interview with jazz trumpeter ​Jeff Lofton. An interview by email in writing.

JazzBluesNews.com: – When you improvise, you know where you’re going. It’s a matter of taking certain paths and certain directions?

Jeff Lofton: – Yes, I have a direction and ideas that often I have been working on and improvisation is and process of using what you have heard and learned and then coming up with new material.

JBN: – Do you ever get the feeling that music majors, and particularly people who are going into jazz, are being cranked out much like business majors? That they are not really able to express themselves as jazz musicians?

JL: – Well there are some schools that don’t focus on swing or what makes jazz music what it is. I was surprised to find out that one of Austin’s best up and coming guitarist didn’t know who West Montgomery was, then even more when I found out they went to the Berkeley School of Music.

JBN: – What about somebody who is really gifted and puts together a band and just gets upset to the point of quitting because of the business aspects-the agents and the clubs?

JL: – One is not a kin to the other, they’s music and playing , and performing, and there the other stuff. Most of us only want to play, and that’s fine but you can’t live off of that so if you are not dedicated, you should rethink your path.

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

JL: – Ignore that stuff and just get into what you are doing and do it well.

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

JL: – If you are doing it right, there should just be one thing working together in harmony.

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

JL: – Of course, I want my music to be accessible to all.

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

JL: – “Jazz to the People” except vocals, was recorded in 4 hours. The vocals were adding in another studio.

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

JL: – If the music is swinging, and the tunes played well, it will translate. I have people of all ages tell me they listen to or like jazz all the time.

JBN: – And lastly, being a teacher, do you find it difficult to write music yourself?

JL: – No, I have so many ideas that I lose many of them, when I have a tune that’s recurring in my mind over and over again, I know its a keeper.

JBN: – How important is it to you to have an original approach? Can you comment on the bridge between being a musician and being a composer?

JL: – Jazz is composition on the spot. So for me , there really is on bridge to gap.

JBN: – Do you have an idea of what it is you’re trying to say or get across? Is it an idea or is it just something that we feel?

JL: – Some time one or sometimes both. Often Im trying to get across the lyric thought my horn, or just create a mood.

JBN: – What do you see for your extended future? You know what you have going on? You have life?If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

JL: – More playing outside of Texas, like to see all musicians have a better work ethic about playing for free which no musician should be doing. I like to tell young musicians “You never see a broke sound man” cause they don’t work for free!

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

JL: – Miles, Horace Silver, Trane, Lee Morgan, Freddie Huddard, Bill Evans, Dexter Gordon, George Duke, Joey Alexander and many others.

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

JL: – That all modern music is directly connected to and created from jazz.

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

JL: – Maybe back to meet Cliiford Brown preferably when he was in Paris, not the U.S. in the 50’s.

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

JL: – My question is > How did you get your tone? Listening to Lester Bowie and a lot of hard work.

JBN: – Thanks for answers. Sorry, but my question is different: you should have asked your question to me and not to yourself 🙂

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

JL: – With the grace of God and his gifts and blessing.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan