It’s rare that I play standards but I did a gig the other night where we were just calling tunes and it felt really refreshing. In a jam the other day someone requested a really old song called “I Don’t Want to set the World on Fire,” which is an amazing tune. In a lot of ways they don’t write them like they used to and I love that about standards. AAJ: There seems to be an ever-growing number of musicians from all nationalities going to New York and to Boston to play and to study; do you think New York is becoming more open to jazz musicians from other countries? JC: That’s an interesting question. It definitely is open. I don’t know if that’s a new thing. Maybe jazz is becoming more popular in other countries. I know a lot of musicians from all over the place and they’re down at Smalls [Jazz Club] I think musicians are always open to other musicians if they can play and it doesn’t really matter where they’re from.
jazz from Europe, Australia or South Korea?
JC: I would love to make another record but I’ve been sort of putting off writing. I’ve been traveling a lot, JC: Yeah, I think so. I’m learning so I haven’t had a lot of time. I’m more and more about other bands going to take some time off around and musicians. There are more Euthe holidays to go to my parents’ ropean labels now than there used house in Kentucky. They’re both to be. I think it’s grown a lot. musicians and they have a nice Yamaha Grand Piano and I get inspiAAJ: Is the old distinction between red when I play it. I’ll spend a few American jazz and European jazz days there just to try to write. for example as strong as always or do you see a change in the way peo- I also want to tour a lot with one of the Mercy bands. I also want to ple view the music? write some new things for the FelJC: I think the lines are blurring lowship. We’ve got a week at the with the younger players, for sure. The Village Vanguard coming up It’s definitely becoming more like and I vowed I would write somea One World sort of music. I love thing new to bring in so I’ve got to hearing all these cultural influendo that in the next few weeks. Theces. But I think that study of the re’s a lot going on and I’m pretty tradition is important. I hear piaexcited about it all. no players from Israel and they’ve really checked out bebop and [stride pianist] James P. Johnson and [composer Bela] Bartok and [singer/pianist] {{Ray Charles}] and all of that is important, even if you bring your own identity and your culture to it too.
AAJ: Is there a growing awareness AAJ: What are your up-and-coming in America about contemporary plans?
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