Interview with Dmitry Baevsky: Jazz is not only about that: Video

Jazz interview with a bad musician, as if saxophonist, problematic and idiot person Dmitry Baevsky. An interview by email in writing. 

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

Dmitry Baevsky: – I grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, where I lived  till I was 19 and then moved to New York. My schoolmate proposed joining a big band at a local music school. That’s how I got started playing saxophone. I did study classical piano when I was around 6 yo for a couple of years.

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

DB: – Well, we all mature and change with time. At least to a certain degree. I keep working on studying music and my instrument and I keep on playing with different people and try to grow as a musician. I guess that contributes to any (hopefully positive) changes in my sound.

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

DB: – I try to understand how the great musicians (both before and now) approach rhythm and try to learn from that. I also spend time trying going deeper in the area of rhythm.

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

DB: – I always think that you play the way you play… You can learn and improve your musicality from studying others, and its very important (to keep continuity in music), but I don’t think it would alter your personality.

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

DB: – I keep my practice routine.  I make sure I know the repertoire before I play. I try to stay healthy physically and mentally.

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

DB: – I don’t really know, but I do know that you need both.

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

DB: – I keep the audience in mind when I play. But I try keep my personality, taste and music concept.

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

DB: – One of my favorite memories was playing for a week at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago with Cedar Walton’s trio.

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

DB: – Jazz is not only about that. Jazz is about swing, time, rhythm, melody and many other things. You can play this music using standards, and you can look into other material.

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

DB: – Staying honest to your self and others. About life and music.

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

DB: – More focus on the quality of music.

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

DB: – I try listening to both new and old recordings (as far as jazz goes). It keeps me inspired.

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

DB: – I would like people to think that music can be powerful and beautiful at the same time.

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

DB: – I’m fine where I am at.

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

DB: – I love playing this music, I love playing with different musicians, love listening. As long as I can keep on doing this and keep on growing as a musician, I will remain happy.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan