Interview with saxophonist, clarinetist Gilad Ronen. 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? When did you realize that this was a passion you could make a living out of?

Gilad Rone: My father is a musician and pushed me to start music at an early age so I start playing the piano at age 9 and when I was 12 I picked up the saxophone. I realized early on that I’m able to make a living of music as I was accompanying my father, he took me everywhere around the country to perform and he paid me at the end of every show.

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I realized I wanted to make this for the rest of my life when I saw The Brecker Brothers perform at the red sea festival. I was completely blown a way and very passionate about music since.

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

GR: – An an early stage I was trying to emulate and imitate every single sound I would hear so if I would listen to John Coltrane for that period of time I would sound more like Coltrane if I listen to Michael brecker I will sound more like Michael Brecker and so on. Eventually I realized I needed to have my own sound and I started focusing on the technicalities of sound production basically having a ability to play any dynamic on all of the range of the horn expanding the actual range and the abilities to play higher registers and produce different types of sound whether it’s a gravely airy it clean. Is my interest in music expanded I start doubling on other instruments and broaden my musical horizon so I’m playing flutes and clarinets and different indigenous instruments like bansuri, conch shells without with those experimentation with other instruments I was more diversified with the music stars I would listen to and that in turn influenced the way I play the saxophone as well I believe my sound is coming out whether I like it or not because it reflects my personality and my choices that I make I don’t think I can specifically aim to be one thing or another I can only be what I am.

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

GR: – In relation to rhythm one thing I always maintain is to try to practice smaller subdivision on large larger time frames.

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

GR: – Yes, I have changed over time and still changing every day I believe all humans change with time. Music is like fashion it has a taste and some taste and trends change over time there were periods that I enjoyed more listening to classical music orchestral especially film scores really love and Ennio Morricone. There are other times I want to listen to traditional jazz old recordings other times I enjoy listening to all the new stuff that’s coming out from the new generation and I also enjoy mainstream music as well I believe all of that is affecting the music that I create.

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

GR: – I believe you can put yourself into anything you connect to musically that’s why the intellect can create the forms and take decisions and the role of the soul is to bring everything to life.

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

GR: – Yes, I know what you mean it’s really important to connect to your audience and communicate with them on an emotional level. Without it the music is cold and very intellectual I’m all for having an experience that includes the audience.

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

GR: – I believe there’s more to jazz than just playing standards. Standards are popular tunes that are being performed by many different artists and therefore turn into a standard. There are new standards that are being created even as we speak today. I think we can get young people interested in the jazz art form just by performing and explaining the meaning of improvisation at any given moment.

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

GR: – I believe that the meaning of life has to do with the meaningful connections. Connections to your place In time, your surrounding, the people around you, sense of belonging to a community. In musical terms connection to your audience and the ability to affect their life to the better, and to enrich one’s self into the feeling of joy. True happiness is not short-sighted or short felt but a longer Arc that has it’s ups and downs.

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

GR: – If I could change something that would be the reward for creating music. In my opinion it should cost a little more to be able to listen to music.

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

GR: – Most of it I don’t like but now and then I’m exposed to new artists that were unfamiliar to me that I like an example James Brandon lewis or kokoroko.

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

GR: – If I had a time machine I would love to go back to the ‘70s.

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

GR: – Your questions are deep and very specific so yes I appreciate them and like them.

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/