Interview with Richard X Bennett: Musicians wouldn’t look at their phones during rehearsal: Video

Jazz interview with a bad musician, as if pianist, problematic person Richard X Bennett. An interview by email in writing. 

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

Richard X Bennett: – I’m from Idaho. There was a piano in my house. When I was two years old I climbed up on the bench and started playing.

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

RXB: – I learned a lot of music by ear. Inevitably you make some mistakes which accrue. That becomes the basis of an original sound.

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

RXB: – I practice rhythms from percussion books.

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

RXB: – You can’t and shouldn’t try to avoid them. Why be static. I’m a different person than I was five years ago.

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

RXB: – I liA weights and try not to be on-line or talk too much before I play.

There could be talk or advertising about your CD

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

RXB: – 35/65

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

RXB: – I give them what I I want groove, fun, transcendence and a slick presentation.

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

RXB: – I once met McCoy Tyner at a rehearsal where he had to play an electric keyboard. He still had his sound!

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

RXB: – Make sure that the rhythm is very good.

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

RXB: – Put your complete concentration into it.

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

RXB: – Musicians wouldn’t look at their phones during rehearsal.

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

RXB: – Migos, Kirk Franklin, Kishori Amonkar.

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

RXB: – The musical message exists on a different dimension than words.

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

RXB: – 50 b.c. Rome. The end of the republic, the beginning of the empire…

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

RXB: – Why jazz?

JBN: – Because Jazz is my life!!!

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

RXB: – Try to keep a still mind and concentrate.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan