11 minute read

John Coltrane

Jazz Escape

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played the solo on that one and it was beautiful. Playing with him is great and when I hear it now, I have pleasant memories of George.

SJM: Jeff, what do you remember about “Say Love” and “Road Song ” from “West Side Stories?”

Jeff: I was lucky enough to work with Eric Benet on his first record when he was with EMI. He was with his sister and the name of the album was actually “Benet.” He was so talented even at that time. He would come up with these background parts and just let me know how much of an incredible talent he was. He was also great with improvisation too and taking a song to levels that I couldn’t even imagine. Say Love was a great song that had the vocalist and instrumentalist both shine at the same time, which is sometimes hard to do, but Eric knew how to make it work. “Road Song ” was a song that I think I remember writing when I came back from the road. It has a feeling to me of what it would be like on a bus travelling somewhere or going on a trip, and the melody was one of the more memorable ones for me.

Paul: Jeff are you sure it wasn’t because you wanted to be Wes Montgomery? (laughs)

SJM: So let me put you all on the spot: Everette and Jeff, what is your favorite song or performance by Paul?

Everette: There are a couple for me. The first song I ever heard was “I Came to Play.” Lately it ’s been “Never Too Much” is one and “ Two for Ten Thousand.” Its hard to choose with Paul.

Jeff: Paul played on “PYT ” by Michael Jackson and the part that his played is such a signature Paul Jackson Jr., guitar part. The song starts out with him and it sets the stage for that song. 46| SmoothJazz Magazine Let the music take you… Sep/Oct

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SJM: Everette and Paul, what ’s your favorite song or performance by Jeff?

Paul: That one is tough because there is so many. I like his version of Ain’t Nobody because it ’s acoustic piano and I really liked that. Probably one of my favorite songs he’s ever written is “He Had a Hat ” because of the into and how intricate it was. One song that I love by him that is a practice song for me is “ The Underground.”

Everette: As Paul was talking, I had to come up with new favorites because he took my titles. I love “PCH,” The bassline is one that I always loved. Jeff has such a library of tunes and you start to think “its hard to be that prolific and not be similar ” but Jeff is able to stay creative. He’s the same guy that went from Raindance to PCH to Soul Party and he comes up with different grooves.

SJM: Paul and Jeff, favorite Everette song or performance?

Jeff: For me it ’s Old school, hands down, I love that song.

Paul: I love All Jazzed Up and I like Going Through Changes because the changes are atypical. He’s a very lyrical player, he also did a great job on Where Were You When I Needed You and What ’s Going On. When I listened to those songs I wonder about why he did those things and it ’s just so cool to listen to him play like that.

SJM: In this interview, one thing that comes across is the camaraderie you all have. When you all tour together, what ’s one thing you all do together?

Paul: Eat! (laughs)

Everette: We really don’t have a lot of time on tour to do a lot of things. I really don’t leave my room except to go to the venue or eat or work out. Sep/Oct Let the music take you… SmoothJazz Magazine | 47

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When we were at Blues Alley, we did get a chance to eat together a couple of times, but I’m a homebody. Paul and Jeff like to get out and go take walks, but unless I have golf clubs, I won’t go outside. I think a lot of the camaraderie exists because we’re not spending all of our time together.

Jeff: A lot of times, when we are on tour, we hardly have time to do anything, barely eat, so we try to make the most of things.

Everette: Well we do hang at the gigs, during sound check and after. Well actually its more like Paul and I hang after the gig, and you look for Jeff and he’s outta there! (laughs)

SJM: Final question for each of you. What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you.

Paul: One thing for me, is that I have a hobby of training protection dogs. I’ve trained a few of them, and I have three currently. That is something that if I had more time, I probably would do it more often.

Jeff: We have cats here and I spend a lot of time with them and I’m a fan of science fiction books.

Everette: Anyone that knows me knows my love for golf. I don’t think I have anything else that would be surprising. Golf is the only hobby that made me go outside! My wife and my daughter play as well.

SJM: Thank you so much for all of your time. Again, we wish you success on the new album! Paul: Thanks so much! Jeff: Thank you! Everette: It was a pleasure. 48| SmoothJazz Magazine Let the music take you… SeplOct