Marilyn Mazur

Posted on By Pablo Held

Percussionist & composer Marilyn Mazur is like a magician. Through her imaginative playing and her rich palette of sounds she casts spells on the music, her bandmates and us as listeners. When I listen to her I feel transported into places that I didn’t know existed and that’s something I’m fascinated by. How does one do that?

I’m so happy I got to talk to her about her process, leading a band, composing, finding her way in the bands of Miles Davis & Wayne Shorter, my late teacher John Taylor, Norma Winstone and much more.

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Kevin Hays

Posted on By Pablo Held

Kevin Hays is one of my absolute favorite piano players, period! The first time I saw him live was in 1996 on a concert of John Scofield‘s Quiet Band and this made a deep impression on me. I’ve been following Kevin’s playing very closely since then. Out of his own records “Andalucia”, “Seventh Sense”,“El Matador” and “For Heaven’s Sake” are my personal favorites, but I do love all the other ones, too! If those records would have been LPs I think I would have worn them all out a couple of times by now. I’ve studied Kevin’s work with Chris Potter, Al Foster, Bill Stewart, Bob Belden, Seamus Blake and many more. He’s outstanding as a soloist as well as an accompanist, a complete musician!

In our conversation we talk about his work with John Scofield, Sonny Rollins and Roy Haynes, his touch, rhythmic variety in his playing, going for a personal approach on standards and a lot more. However, the main theme throughout seemed to be finding one’s own voice. Hope you enjoy!

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Peter Erskine

Posted on By Pablo Held

Master drummer Peter Erskine is on so many of my all-time favorite recordings that it’s almost ridiculous! I love everything that he’s done with Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Joni Mitchell, John Abercrombie, Joe Henderson, Marc Johnson, Vince Mendoza, Kenny Wheeler, Michael Brecker and SO many more! Of course, let’s not forget his own records!! Especially “You never know” with Palle Danielsson and my late teacher John Taylor is one of my absolute favorite piano trio recordings!

I also highly recommend his fantastic book “No Beethoven: An Autobiography & Chronicle of Weather Report” check it out if you don’t know it yet!

I’m very happy he accepted to do this interview with me, it was a real pleasure to talk to him. Enjoy!

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