Lou Grassi: Joining Two Worlds

Rico Cleffi

since 2005

Recent articles (8 total)

Published: February 11, 2005

LG: Right, I do both, and a lot of people do. I had a conversation with somebody about this just last night. I did several gigs recently with Charles Gayle (saxophonist and pianist). He's playing alto now and using a different approach. We were using standard tunes to launch us, and really working with the material of the tunes, even if we don't keep the form and structure (sometimes we do). And somebody was surprised that he could do that. I said, well think about it, he's in his mid-60s. When he started playing...there wasn't free jazz. He grew up learning to play jazz. And a lot of the people who you think of as total free players, especially if they're a certain age, they can play "jazz". And I'm not saying they need to; there's a lot of great music in the world that has nothing to do with ii-V-I's — it's another level of substance, another source to draw on. Anybody who's of a certain age has that because free jazz didn't really start until the late '50s. In order to sell something, you have to label it and categorize it. It all comes down to how you play.

AAJ: Here's the obligatory New Year's question: where do you see yourself in another year?

LG: Hopefully right here (laughs)...just to continue doing the things I do, and be with people I love.

AAJ: Anything in closing?

LG: One thing that deserves mention...is the presenters, the people that are presenting this music. We've talked about the fact that it's now possible to put together tours in the States and connect the dots, city-to-city, and drive gig-to-gig and put together a ten day or two week tour. The people that are presenting this music almost entirely are getting nothing except the music for it. None of them are making any money at it. Most of them I think are putting some of their own money into it to make it happen. And they're as dedicated to the music as any musician. And without them it wouldn't happen, and they deserve a lot of credit.

Recommended Listening:
Lou Grassi's PoBand - Pogressions (Cadence Jazz, 1995)
Lou Grassi's PoBand - Mo' Po (CIMP, 1997)
Steve Swell - Atmospheels (CIMP, 1998)
Lou Grassi's PoBand with John Tchicai - ComPOsed (CIMP, 2002)
John Tchicai/Pierre Durge - Hope is Bright Green Up North (CIMP, 2003)
Lou Grassi - Avanti Galoppi (CIMP, 2004)

Visit Lou Grassi on the web.

Photo Credit
mkiesant

View All 1 2 3 4