Interview with Eero Koivistoinen: My sound has become darke: Video

Jazz interview with jazz saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen. An interview by email in writing. Let’s see what the old, rarely spoken musician can tell us, for whom our questions are complicated. See what intelligence he has wasted his whole life with.

JazzBluesNews.com: – First, let’s start out with where you grew up, and what got you interested in music. How exactly did your adventure take off? When did you realize that this was a passion you could make a living out of?

 When did you realize that this was a passion you could make a living out of? 

Eero Koivistoinen: – I started by listening to audio records. I continued studying the violin. Then I discovered jazz music. At the beginning, I was unsure if music could become a profession for me.

JBN: – How has your sound evolved over time? What have you been doing to find and develop your own sound?

EK: – I’m looking for ways to get a dark tone thick sound. I tried a lot of different mouthpieces.

JBN: – What routine practices or exercises have you developed to maintain and improve your current musical proficiency, in terms of both rhythm and harmony?

EK: – I’m calling Harno. I play harmonies with the piano.

JBN: – Have you changed through the years? Any charges or overall evolution? And if so why?

EK: – My sound has become darker. I play less.

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

EK: – I am learning the the tunes carefully. I want to play songs with the whole band as much as possible.

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JBN: – In your opinion, what’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?

EK: – I want my music to have both. Balance is important.

JBN: – There’s a two-way relationship between audience and artist; are you okay with delivering people the emotion they long for?

EK: – I try my very best.

JBN: – Can you share any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions over the years?

EK: – It has been interesting to produce recordings in Africa, Mozambique and South Africa. One of them happened in a rural area without electricity. The aggregate car provided electricity.

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

EK: – I mainly play my own compositions. If I play standards, I try to find a new perspective on them

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

EK: – Music means a lot to me. I want to find a connection with nature.

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

EK: – I would like all genres of music to be supported equally.

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

EK: – I often listen to modern classical music.

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

EK: – The music itself is a message.

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

EK: – I would like to experience New York in the 50s.

JBN: – Do You like our questions? So far, it’s been me asking you questions, now may I have a question from yourself.

EK: – The questions are good but not easy, I  try my best.

JBN: – Have you ever given a free concert during your entire concert career?         

EK: – I played on a Street in Paris. Children danced, it was fun.

JBN: – At the bottom line, what are your expectations from our interview?

EK: – I hope that it will get raders.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan