Interview with singer Kevin Harvey. An interview by email in writing. 

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? 

Kevin Harvey: – I grew up on the south west shore of Montreal in a town called Chateauguay. I had two older who were both into music and started their own record collection. When I was 10 or 11 I started collecting records myself. Like most typical kids in 1970 and 71, I was listening to CCR, Elvis Presley. Whatever was on the radio. My older brother started listening to progressive rock. Fast forward a little bit.

OUR US/EU Jazz and Blues Festivals 2023

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

KH: – That is the most important question anything to address as an artist. It’s finding your sound. And it takes time. It came about organically with the musicians that I work with. David Whyte, Carl Rufh, James Preimel, Neil Elsmore and now Rob Couture. Each one of these personal friends are incredible musicians. Each with their own individual input that fosters our growing sound. We started off, quite acoustic and folky if I can say that. And we have been leaning ever forward towards the blues and jazz R&B gospel sound we have now.

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

KH: – Always listening. Always open. Going into the past. And open to the present, But mostly it has to be from the heart and true to oneself. So I guess it’s circles back to finding ones voice. Practising keeping up your chops. And working with different positions and stretching my comfort zone.

There could be talk or advertising about your CD

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

KH: – I don’t feel too qualified to answer that, but I suspect. The intellect part is when you’re writing and arranging and forming a piece. But ultimately the heart/soul has to be moved, swayed, inspired,Awakend,soothed, yet not just a visceral way. but in a spiritual way as well.

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

KH: – Absolutely. It’s the most integral part. However, art is art, and sometimes people want to be rocked when I feel like rolling. But if you believe in what you were doing. And if it’s real. People with listening ears will take notice.

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

KH: – Everything old is new again. There’s nothing new under the sun. Play it with conviction. And if children or young people open up to it. Then all the better.. We can bring it to the schools. We can encourage it. But ultimately the new youth makes the decisions. It’s always been like that.

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

KH: – That more musicians and songwriters would get rid of fear. And embrace other musicians, from “other towns, and/or provinces and states. And work together to build something special from the ground up”. Spread the love around.

OUR US/EU Jazz and Blues Festivals 2023

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

KH: – Lately, I’ve been going back listening to Simon and Garfunkel. Digging into Muddy Waters again ,checking out the Texas swing. And finding the soul and listening to old-school rhythm and blues. And the kind of jazz that swings. Anybody and everybody who’s doing that.

Interview by Simon Sarg

Note: https://jazzbluesnews.com/2023/03/19/useu-jazz-blues-association-festivals/ You can express your consent and join our association, which will give you the opportunity to perform at our Jazz and Blues festivals, naturally receiving an appropriate royalty. We cover all expenses. The objectives of the interview are: How to introduce yourself, your activities, thoughts and intellect, and make new discoveries for our US/EU Jazz & Blues Association, which organizes festivals, concerts and meetings in Boston and various European countries, why not for you too!! You can read more about the association here. https://jazzbluesnews.com/2022/11/19/useujba/