Interview with Peter Pedersen: The music soul is most important: Video

Jazz interview with jazz guitarist Peter Pedersen. An interview by email in writing. 

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

Peter Pedersen: – I grew up in Copenhagen in Denmark and have been playing the guitar since I was a kid. I was very interested in listening to music and I simply loved to play my guitar -> Which I still do to day.

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

PP: – At a young age I got into rock and heavy metal guitar. In my teens I loved to play funk and discovered jazz. I have been playing jazz guitar professionally for a few years and recently I started studying the classical guitar again.

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

PP: – I practice and play the guitar everyday. I have periods where I practice some specific stuff, but most of the time I am pretty structured of what I am doing.

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

PP: – I have always transcribed my favorite musicians. I learned guitar the same way as I learned how to speak. By imitating my favorite players. Over time I have found my own voice.

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

PP: – Practice and stay healthy. I let the music do the talking.

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?

PP: – I simply only wanted myself to play on the album. The guitar is a beautiful instrument for melody, harmony and rhythm and the songs could be played beautifully just like that.

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

PP: – Personally I have studied music at the conservatory and university. Of course, we had a lot of intellectual stuff going on. I like to have a big knowledge of music when I teach and arrange. But the reason why I even play music is because I love it. So for me the music soul is most important.

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

PP: – Interesting question. As an artist I only record and publish what I relevant myself. However, I am often booked for weddings and some of my audience wants me to play a specific tune. Even though I don’t personally love the tune myself, I would still do anything I can to play it as beautiful as possible.

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

PP: – I love to go to gigs, jams and studio sessions. At my first gig when I was 11 years old we had a band and performed “Purple Haze”. I took the guitar behind my back and played a great solo – and the audience loved it.

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

PP: – That is a good and relevant question. I believe the more “funky” and groovy style is pretty hip at the moment. However, I still love to play the old school way as well.

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

PP: – My spirit is love. This includes love to music etc.

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

PP: – I want to touch people with my music. I hope my audience have a great time when they listen to my albums.

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

PP: – I would love to jam and burn with Miles and Parker at a Jam session back then!

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

PP: – My question for you is: What is the greatest thing a musician can archive?

JBN: – The intellect …

Interview by Simon Sargsyan