By Mathew Bahl
Carla Cook has emerged in the last few years as one of the most dynamic, talented and promising jazz singers of her generation. She has released two CDs, 1999's Grammy-nominated It's All About Love and 2001's critically acclaimed Dem Bones both on the MAXJAZZ label. Her latest record, Simply Natural, will be available in stores on October 1, 2002.
All About Jazz: What words best describe the sound of your new CD, Simply Natural?
Carla Cook: I'd describe it as simple and varied. No heavy orchestration or instrumentation.
AAJ: What is your favorite cut on the record?
CC: "Tulip or Turnip" was great fun, but it's really hard to say this time because all of the music is new to me and I haven't performed any of it live yet. I did enjoy singing the ballads though. We'll see what develops when I hit a stage.
AAJ: What do you know now that you didn't know when you recorded your first CD?
CC: Well, I've boosted my producing "chops" a bit more with each successive CD. Thankfully, I've got a great partner in Bruce [Barth] because it's incredibly difficult to troubleshoot and hear everything while you're singing. Also, promoting a new CD is more than an abstract notion. There are so many CD's released at one time, you've got to hit the road hard to let the public know you're out there with new product.
AAJ: How active are you in arranging the tunes?
CC: I do some arranging. On Simply Natural, I arranged "Scarborough Fair." However, most of the time, I have a few ideas about what I want to do, and I usually know who I'd like to have arrange the song based on those ideas.
AAJ: What do all the musicians on the CD have in common?
CC: Well, the truly important thing for me is that they are all well versed in different styles. I like to swing, groove and a few things in between. All of these guys do that exceedingly well. Also, we're mostly around the same age. I don't know if that means much, but if I say, "I need a funky 1975 breakdown," they all know exactly what I mean.
AAJ: What is the biggest challenge presented by writing original material?
CC: The completion of a song. I have lots of verses, hooks, and partial melodies. Often, if it doesn't come to me all at once, it never will. Also, I often have the entire lyric, but not the melody and vice versa.
AAJ: Who are your six favorite jazz instrumentalists?
CC: This is tough, but I'll give it a shot. Miles [Davis] is a no brainer, He's one of my biggest influences. Also, Wes Montgomery, Paul Chambers, Herbie [Hancock], Wayne [Shorter], Lee Morgan, all of the Crusaders and Trane [John Coltrane]. Let's see, there's ...wait! That's more than five! Well, I'll leave it at that, but there are a few more.
AAJ: Who are your six favorite non-jazz performers?
CC: Stevie [Wonder], Chaka [Kahn], Earth Wind & Fire, James Brown, Parliament/Funkadelic, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Steely Dan...It's so hard to choose. I'm sure I'm leaving someone out.
AAJ: Would you ever record an electronic duet with a dead singer? If so, who?
CC: No. That's not an idea that has ever appealed to me.
AAJ: If you could go back in time, would you rather have sung with the Count Basie Orchestra or the Duke Ellington Orchestra?
CC: Definitely Count Basie. That was the swingingest big band in history. I must say, however, that the Ellington Orchestra had some of the hippest music ever written.
AAJ: The "prejudice" against jazz singers by instrumentalists: Real or Exaggerated?
CC: I can't speak for all singers, but I've had very few problems with instrumentalists. Sometimes I understand where the disrespect stems from - singers not being prepared, not knowing the key, not being able to count off the tune, etc. If singers take the stance of being musicians and not just showpieces with a microphone, instrumentalists know it and show their respect accordingly.
AAJ: How often do you listen to music for enjoyment? What kinds of music/artists do you enjoy listening to at home or on the road?
CC: I actually listen to very little music for sheer enjoyment. I do not travel with a CD player; the music we make on the road is where my focus is. After that, I enjoy silence. I do have my "house cleaning favorites" though. Tania Maria's Wild CD and the best of Sly and the Family Stone motivate me to some major spotlessness.
AAJ: What five albums do you think you've listened to the most during the last 20 years?
CC: Sarah Vaughan's I Love Brazil, Porgy & Bess by Miles Davis, Free as the Wind - the Jazz Crusaders, Road Song by Wes Montgomery (so romantic), and Wild! by Tania Maria. Of course there are others, but at least one of those always stays in my CD player.
AAJ: What advice would you give to a high school student who told you that she wanted to become a jazz singer?
CC: I would advise anyone, male or female to ask themselves why they want to sing jazz. If the answer is "money, fame, stardom etc.," then I'd tell them to find another genre. However, if they were certain that they were "chosen" to sing this music, I'd say: First, listen to the masters - singers and instrumentalists alike. Second, learn to play an instrument. Theory and some knowledge of another instrument is invaluable. Lastly, I'd say sing in as many situations as you can find to hone your skills. One needs to sing publicly when you're ready. It's one thing to sing, but quite another to learn to perform.
AAJ: If you had to pursue an occupation outside of jazz, what would it be?
CC: That's easy. A landscaper. I've recently had the opportunity to express my creativity in my garden and it was extremely satisfying.
AAJ: What do you do to relax?
CC: Well, I obviously love gardening. I also love to read. It is probably my second passion after music. I like to cook too.
AAJ: If you could only watch one of the following four TV channels, what would it be - CNN, The Home & Garden Channel, ESPN, or E-Entertainment Television?
CC: Did you mean to include the Cartoon Network? Actually, I don't have cable TV. However, I'd choose between The Home & Garden Channel and CNN. Unless the Pistons were in the playoffs, then I'd choose ESPN.
AAJ: If a network offered you $1 million to film your everyday life for a reality show like the Osbournes or the Anna Nicole Smith show would you do it?
CC: I'd do it in a heartbeat! Don't get me wrong - my privacy is extremely important. However, I'd take the check and run because, by the 2nd episode, the show would be cancelled. The viewers would be bored to death and tune out!
