Interview with Angel Zaberski: Music must come from the soul and heart! Video

Jazz interview with jazz pianist and composer Angel Zaberski. An interview by email in writing. 

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

Angel Zaberski: – … I was born at Sofia/Bulgaria. My interest of music and first inspiration was my father(composer),and my mother(singer) I grew up in musically family.

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

AZ: – … Mostly practicing,practicing! I graduated Music School at Sofia,and then Music Academy at Sofia…So I have profesional training of music. I started seriously with classical music.That,s the basic of developing good technic and sound on piano!

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

AZ: – … Very simple Playning with metronome!

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

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

AZ: – … I just have a lot of experience…I know how to sit and play at home,and do a lot things –for less time! CONCENTRATION!!

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?

AZ: – … About ISM … I don’t know … I just like the sound of recording…The musicians I play with … again … we are friends, I think … they recognaise my ideas, and they convert them into music in way I want …

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

AZ: – … I prefer … SOUL!!! Most of young musicians today use the BRAIN,then Soul…Music is getting more intellectual! Which is not bad … but I prefer … SOUL … Music must come from the soul and heart! 🙂

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

AZ: – … I stay in between that … hahaha … if they get, what you give them … it’s ok! The audience understand a lot! That’s the real critic!

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

AZ: – … All of them of course … I don,t remember any particular.They are mine, that’s me … I put all my soul and knowleges when I play, record etc …

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

AZ: – … Dificult, but not imposible … We have to convinced them,that is  the base of starting play jazz … They are OLD … but REAL … coming from classic. Harmony, Melody … etc.

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

AZ: – I think they walk together … what you are in real life, you are the same in music…

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

AZ: – I’d like to get rid of the deep, commercial, amateurish thing.

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

AZ: – I love listening to music, but most of all, the one I learn from.

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

AZ: – I’m just trying to be honest with what I’m creating … this is my formula, sitting behind the piano, whether I’m playing or writing music.

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

AZ: – … haha … at home! That is my place!

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

AZ: – Am I on the right track?

JBN: – Of course,  not …

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

AZ: – Time is not enough and it is not enough to tell everything in detail! Music is a great thing, whether it is jazz or serious music … The attitude to music and the world must be very responsible … Everything is achieved with a lot of work and work at home! If you are honest with yourself and what you create … it would reach people.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan