Interview with Enrico Rava: I give the people what I want: Video

Jazz interview with master of jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava. An interview by email in writing. 

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

Enrico Rava: – I grew up in Torino. I started listening to jazz trough my older brother’s records( Armstrong, Bix, Jellu Roll Morton etc.) when I was 8 years old.

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

ER: – My sound is the result of  the music I love : Miles, Chet,Don Cherry ….

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

ER: – I practice every day Carmine  Caruso and Lips Flexibility and I play with records.

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

ER: – I do not prevent. Have no problems if something influences me.In fact every musician is the result of the influences he got.  Armstrong from King Oliver, Lester Young from Frankie Trumbauer. Miles from Lester Young and Clark Terry and so on.

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

ER: – I try to relax in the hotel and avoid to go to dinner.

JBN: – What do you love most about your new album 2021: Edizione Speciale, how it was formed and what you are working on today.

ER: – I love the energy in this cd. Now I’m preparing  for my next recording with Fred Hersch

JBN: – And how did you select the musicians who play on the album?

ER: – It’s my regular band and I call the musicians who share my vision of music.

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

ER: – It should be half and half. Miles is a perfect example of that.

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

ER: – I give the people what I want.

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

ER: – There is so many memories to share that would need the whole day to tell you.

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

ER: – Not many musician keep playing standards. Anyway I see many very young musicians deeply into standards. And you can play them in a very contemporary way.

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

ER: – The meaning of life…… you’are asking too much. I,’m not a philosopher, and even a philosopher could not answer.

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

ER: – I really don’t know.I don’t think is necessary to change anything.

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

ER: – Ravel, Miles, Chet, Joao Gilberto, Aretha, The Beatles, The Stones, Queen, Jimmy Hendricks…..

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

ER: – No message. Just music.

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

ER: – I like to stay where I am and possibly to repeat my life, exactly the way it happened.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan