Take Five with Guitarist Jamie Pye

Meet Jamie Pye

Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. He performs in various line ups and contexts; from intimate duo residencies to headline performances as a bandleader showcasing his original music. He is often part of house bands for jam sessions around town, or as a sideman on other projects.

In 2023, Jamie completed his first 10-date national tour around New Zealand, including appearances at the Creative Jazz Club in Auckland and Hanover Hall in Dunedin. In between shows, Jamie recorded his debut album Monochrome, released in November on London-based Inward Bound Records.

As a composer, Jamie draws influence from all music and art forms, paying particular attention to the work of composers and bandleaders Brian Blade, Kendrick Scott, Petros Klampanis and Aaron Parks. Jamie composes music with the intention of honest storytelling and narrative, creating compositions that are as complex as they are harmonically-rich, while still remaining musically accessible to all ears.

Instruments:

Guitar, Composer.

Teachers and/or influences?

Teachers: Geoff Hughes & Callum Allardice.
Influences: Gilad Hekselman, Aaron Parks & Mike Moreno.

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

Improvising for the first time.

Your sound and approach to music.

Honest and true to what I'm hearing. It's an incredible feeling being informed what to play, or do next, by the music or musical situation itself, and I aspire to keep composing and creating with this in mind—doing what serves the music the best.

Your teaching approach

Inspire and excite students first—start with the why!

Your dream band

Aaron Parks, Matt Penman & Eric Harland.

Road story: Your best or worst experience

Connecting with music lovers in new places who otherwise might not have discovered my music.

Favorite venue

Rogue & Vagabond, Wellington. Countless great gigs as an audience member and performer, all with the strongest sense of community.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

"Monochrome" (track). It's one of my favorite compositions to play live and I love the energy and height we were able to capture in the recording!

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?

Honesty and originality.

The first jazz album I bought was:

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Moanin'

Music you are listening to now:

Aaron Parks: Little Big III (Blue Note)
Ross McHenry: Waves (Earshift Music)
Julian Lage: Speak To Me (Blue Note)
Lucy Clifford: Between Spaces of Knowing (ABC Jazz)
Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib, Dylan Day: Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib and Dylan Day (Leaving Records)

Desert Island picks:

Brian Blade Fellowship: Perceptual (Blue Note)
Joe Pass: Intercontinental (MPS)
D'Angelo: Voodoo (Virgin)
Petros Klampanis: Chroma (Minos-EMI)

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

Ever-evolving as it always has throughout the history of music.

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

Understanding and respecting the masters who came before us and acknowledging their contribution to Black American Music and further improvised music today.

What is in the near future?

Plenty more writing, practicing, performing and collaborating—here in the UK and abroad!

What is your greatest fear when you perform?

Not serving the music or the audience.

By Day:

Coffee trainer/barista.

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

Green coffee buyer, or linguist!

If I could go back in time and relive an experience, what would it be?

Touring New Zealand with my quartet in 2023.