Take Five With Philipp Zarfl

Meet Philipp Zarfl:

Born 1991 in Wolfsberg/Austria, Philipp started playing trombone at the age of 13 in the local music school. Currently (from 2007 on) he has studied with Andi Mittermayer at the Conservatory in Klagenfurt/Austria.

Instrument(s):

Trombone, Arrangement, Composition.

Teachers and/or influences?

My influences are Bill Holman, Phil Kelly, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Parker, Conrad Herwig, Steve Davis, Miles Davis, Michael Gibbs, Kai Winding, Sammy Nestico, Hank Levy, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Watrous, Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Ack van Rooijen, 'Jerry' van Rooijen.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I quit school to be a jazz musician.

Your sound and approach to music:

I try to play what I really mean.

Your dream band:

My dream band would be a big band but I also would like very much to play in an octet or nonet. I like to work with honest musicians who feel the music.

Road story: Your best or worst experience:

My best experiences are playing, jamming, or drinking coffee in the summer garden of Jazz Club Gajo. This club is in the center of Ljubljana/Slovenia but it's like you are in the forest and it gives you such a great atmosphere to play and relax. It's the most wonderful Jazz club I've ever been to.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

I have a lot of favorite recordings but the albums I listen the most are:
Bill Holman Band, In a Jazz Orbit;

Count Basie, Basie Straight Ahead.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

Count Basie, Basie Straight Ahead.

Did you know...

I also play other instruments.

CDs you are listening to now:

US Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, Things ain't what they used to be;

Klemens Marktl, Oceans Avenue;

Walt Weiskopf, Simplicity;

Steve Davis, Outlook.

Desert Island picks:

Bill Holman, In a Jazz Orbit;

Count Basie, Basie Straight Ahead;

Miles Davis, Birth Of The Cool;

John Coltrane, Giant Steps.

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

Jazz is still not commercial but it comes slowly back, I think.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

Musical growth.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Classical musician who wants to be a jazz musician.

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