Take Five With Glenn Nolle

AAJ Staff

Contributor since 1995

Various staff members.

Recent articles (1,149 total)

Published: November 23, 2009

How would you describe the state of jazz today?
John Scofield is really happening as far as guitar is concerned. William Orbit, whose electronic stuff incorporates many jazz elements, is great, but there is this stale close-minded philosophy out there that jazz began and ended with Wes Montgomery. Wes was great but there's a lot of equally great music being overlooked and rejected by people who mistakenly call themselves purists instead of pompous morons. Remember: jazz was created by thinking outside the box!

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?
Definitely hold onto foundational jazz principles by absorbing them and allowing these ideas to evolve into other things. Impressionist painters still worked with the tools of the trade and valid concepts of color but through creative manipulation were able to transport the viewer to a different place rather than the same old still-life painting of a bowl of fruit.

What is in the near future?
An upcoming clinic at Guitar Center to be announced. A possible duo collaboration with an accomplished classical guitarist and myself completing the musical picture with electric guitar. Another album.

By Day:
Guitar Center/Guitar dept. manager/resident vintage expert. Guitar instructor.