| Daniel Humair |
| 01-11-2002 00:00 |
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When you were born what was the jazz scene in Switzerland and Geneva?
The jazz scene in Switzerland was mainly Dixieland and it was no
possibilities to become a pro musician
When did you wake up to Music?
A friend had some Jazz records (Mezz Mezzrow, Tommy Ladnier, Louis Armstrong Hot Five) ... and I loved it!
Why did you choose the clarinet as your first instrument?
I didn't choose the clarinet... That was the only class were they had room for me in the marching band;
When did you start painting?
I started painting when I was a teenager but very seriously in 1964.
What kind of painting do you do?
I am not a modern drummer or a modern painter! I just try to be as creative and not follow the fashion.
Can an old style drummer be a modern painter?
I like to do things with honesty without effects or compromise to the public. I mainly do it for my PERSONNAL PLEASURE but with a lot of attention to my friend’s musicians desire on the stage. A modern Drummer can be an old style lover in any art form.
Does a drummer need special musical training?
A drummer as to be as musical as possible. He has to develop his touch & his sound but specially his understanding of the music as a finish piece. He has to be very self critical but also propose initiative the quick way.
Are you ambidextrous or left handed? Is that why you set up your drums the way you do?
I am ambidextrous because I have practiced but I didn’t know how to set up a drum set when I was beginning. I am left-handed and I quick the football with the left foot...so I play the bass drums the same way (when I was a kid and i never changed the position) Then I adapted my technique to that position.
Do you use your brushes a lot?
I love brushes a lot but because of the sound system it is difficult to adjust the level and it loose the beauty of it, but in trio I use it a lot
in clubs work.
Who is the best drummer with brushes?
Best with brushes? ... Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Jo Jones, Shelly Manne, Kenny Clarke and I’m not to bad myself! (sorry)
You've played with almost all the best jazz musicians. Is there any other jazz usician you would like to play with?
I will love to play again whit Cannonball Adderley... but it is so many that
I love!!
Which are the differences between a classical and a modern drummer?
It is no difference between modern & classical ... just the context of the
music to play that make you play differently.
What makes a drummer a bad drummer?
A bad drummer has no time, no swing, he is not listening play to heavy and is not working as an artist but as a performing drummer.
Do you still remember Don Byas? How was he on stage?
Don Byas was a great musician and a very nice man. I miss him a lot. Great sound and articulation.
Are you successful in the USA and in Japan?
I am getting some good response from U.S.A and I am very well received in Japan for a long time.
Your opinion between the European and the North-American audiences?
The European audiences are more receptive to creative music and take jazz as an ART FORM not a ENTERTAINEMENT like in USA
You were musical Director of the Museum of Modern Art of Paris. What were the results?
It was a good opportunity to have more jazz exposed in an official Art Place because Jazz need more respect.
Your best memories were with European or North American musicians?
I have great memories from all musicians! ... And bad to!
Black or white?
I try to not be involved with stupid racism conflict on stage so I am very attentive to who I play with.
The Scandinavian, East European and Far East jazz are they well defined?
The best Jazz has no passport but an ARTISTIC identity.
Do you remember your best solo?
I will play my best solo tomorrow ...I hope!
Differences between European and American jazz do they now exist?
The difference is in the individual
Please describe Jean-François Jenny-Clark as a musician and as a man.
JFJC was a very unsecured man that didn’t believe in his talent. He was very very honest. Unhappy and a little sad. His talent was very big and original. For my taste, he was the most advanced and maybe the best bass player in the business.
With Trane and Miles dead, but Ornette still alive, what's happening in Europe today? Do each country has its own jazz?
Each country have jazz musicians that are playing inspired by the country culture, their personality but I do not believe on nationalistic jazz because jazz is NOW an universal language and not a folklore!
You've had big successes with trios and quartets (Humair, Urtreger, Michelot and Humair, Kuhn, Texier, among others, now with Humair, Eskelin, Ducret, Chevillon), what is the secret?
My only secret is to try my best to be creative without commercial preoccupation and envy of copying something existing.
My style is to integrate the band that I am playing in with a concept of a rhythmical keyboard and match my sound to the music.
Do you imagine jazz without swing or brasses?
I imagine jazz without brass but not without swing
What experience did you gain playing with 'Double Six' or 'Swingle Singers'?
With the Swingle Singers & Double Six I learned how to make nuances and various sounds with a lot of dynamics in the soft register & with brushes.
Do you remember Cascais Festival, Portugal 1971, with the Woods' 'European Rhythm Machine'?
Cascais was a great concert for the machine & we loved the people & the atmosphere.
There is no European percussion tradition or is there?
It is A LOT of European tradition in drumming! Do not forget that march drums AND African tam tam drums are the base of jazz drumming and the march drumming comes from Europe, French, Scottish, Swiss Basel are the base of rudiments of jazz drumming.
The future of jazz...
It always will be a future for Jazz. If we can keep performing live music and some press talking about it! Because the message bring the news. No jazz news is bad news!!!!!
Amitié à toi cher José
Daniel Humair |
José Duarte |
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Escritos e entrevistas
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Festivais
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- não há festivais agendados
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