What are my musical roots? They’re an odd mixture. I started playing saxophone at age eight when I lived for four years in Wichita Kansas, and the first song I learned was “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” The director said I jazzed it up too much and needed to slow down. The first song I learned on guitar was “Crazy Train” by Ozzy. Randy died a few months before I got my first guitar at Christmas at 12; and, he gave me the ideal role model by example. That was, a musician on the road dedicated to the music and not dedicated to the vices of the road. I started taking jazz lessons at 13 and my teacher, Paul Brewer, got me into Trane and Dexter. I got Dexter, but Trane eluded me until I heard Ernie Watts play in the soundtrack to “Fabulous Baker Boys” in the old Bianca’s jazz club. That movie and Ernie’s playing changed my life when I heard it in Bianca’s after having started playing in the blues jam sessions there at 16. The Bronston Blues Band used to hide me in the kitchen when they came around. I played in Terry McCann’s band years later for about 7 years. Before that, I was Doc Blue’s first guitarist and saxophonist. I have several “musical step fathers,” and I grew up with them helping me and giving me chances to play. More specifically, they are Danny White, Gene Bell, as well as Terry. So, to answer your first question of “What are me musical roots?” I have to say heroes and my musical family, of which the list could go on and on: Paul Brewer, Bruce Kitzel, Larry Hollis, Lee Rucker, Kent Kidwell, Brian Gorrell (my musical brother), and so on.

Making the next show better is easy – practice more.

What’s the highest honor a band can get? Seeing George Jones cry when Alan Jackson played “He Stopped Loving Her Today” at the last Kennedy Awards is the highest “award” you can get. Now, why do bands fizzle out?

Seems to me that bands fizzle out when band members put their egos ahead of the music. It also could be personality conflicts, drug use, or they record while performing much less. It all seems to come down to money. On the other hand, it could just be that it’s time to move on. Too many instances come to mind and nobody knows all of it but them.

My most embarrassing moment? It was more funny than embarrassing to me. I was playing the song I wrote, “Sunset Song,” on the state capital steps for the last S.P.I.R.I.T. rally last November in between speakers that morning. Well, it was very cold and extremely windy; so, only a few notes played on the Native American flute. For the next song I played, “Ghosts of Wounded Knee,” I called the singers over to be wind blocks. Fewer notes were prevented from sounding from the wind blowing so hard, but I’m glad I didn’t play “Four Winds.”

What I would “change” is, just hoping the economy comes back. But, for bands to become more famous they have to do what I’m not willing to do: have a show that even a deaf person would love in the words of Derek Silver (I think he said that anyway). However, nobody should take my advice on becoming famous; I’m too into the concept of art for art’s sake and I don’t use words – I’m an instrumentalist.

However, I’ll share what changed me over to jazz from the “Fabulous Baker Boys” when I was 19. Consequently, the one person I’d like to meet would be Ernie Watts, who I heard play in the soundtrack to “Fabulous Baker Boys” in the old Bianca’s jazz club two decades ago now.

http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/f/fabulous-baker-boys-script-transcript.html

Suzie:

 “l know one thing.

While Frank put his kids to bed,

little brother Jack

was dusting off his dreams.

l was there. 

l saw it in your face.

You're full of shit.

You're a fake.

Every time you walk in those places,

you're selling yourself cheap.

l know all about that.

l find myself at the end of the night with some creep,

and l tell myself it doesn't matter.

You kid yourself you've got

this empty place inside to put it.

But do it long enough

and all you are is empty.

 Jack:  

l didn't know whores

were so philosophical.

 Suzie:

At least

my brother's not my pimp.

l had you pegged for a loser

the first time l saw you.

But you're worse.

You're a coward.”

My music, I hope, helps to make the world a better place. I hope someone can come hear me and feel better when they go home. I like the idea Johnny Griffin has that I read once, “Shoot them bullets of love,” Or the sentiment expressed by Herbie Hancock, “Jazz is about transforming pain into joy.” Shostakovich said once about living under Stalin’s regime, that music is people’s last hope. Those are awful big shoes to try to fill, but how many times in people’s lives would the difference be made for the better if in a moment of vulnerability they listened to something that didn’t make them feel worse and maybe pushed them over the edge? If it can’t ever be about helping someone in those delicate moments, then what’s the point?  Yes, I believe there’s an artistic responsibility to help the world by letting the music, a spiritual power, speak through you to others.  

Native American music for me is inspired by the land, its beauty, and its mystery. Many of the songs on “Black Kettle’s Vision” and “Coyotes” were written on the land with her. I have much more of an active part in writing jazz, but let me pass on what Joe Davis, one of the greatest unknown tenor players, told me when I drove to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to take a lesson from him before he died. He said it, the music, comes into the heart as he pointed to his heart; then, he said the mind merely translates it. As to what it is that comes into the heart, I can only describe it as a spiritual power. It’s mystery.

 I have written and produced about 50 songs on “After All These Years,” “Breakfast At Jim’s,” “Black Kettle’s Vision,” “Coyotes,”  and "Freedom."

The jazz songs were all done in the studio, while the Native American songs were all done at home. I’m currently in the process of recording three new jazz singles at the U.C.O. Jazz Lab.  I’m just saving up to finish it all a little at a time.

Last of all, people can listen to my music, purchase it, and learn more about me including upcoming shows at www.brentblount.com