January 05, 2006
INTERVIEW: Gary Burton at The Kimmel Center
In early January, the Kimmel Center’s Mervon Mehta, VP of Programming and Education, posed a few questions to vibraphonist Gary Burton about his return to the touring circuit and his upcoming visit to Philadelphia. Burton, who performs with Generations on the Kimmel Center Presents Jazz Series on January 27, recently left his post as long-time president of Berklee College of Music in Boston.
MERVON MEHTA: Now that you’ve left your administrative duties at Berklee, what is life like for you in a purely musical or artistic capacity?
GARY BURTON: On the one hand, I thought I would feel partly retired after leaving my academic job, but almost immediately my performance schedule doubled and I was right back into a life of concert touring, like I used to do in my twenties. It's been pretty exhilarating.
MM: As an administrator you were committed to searching for the next generation of jazz musicians and talent, I assume the same holds true for you now as a performer?
GB: Both as an academic administrator, a teacher, and a band leader, I have always been drawn to finding new talent. Something about young players exploring new things inspires me.
MM: Danilo Perez curates the Mellon Jazz Up Close series here with us at the Kimmel Center. It seems the future of jazz is in good hands with people like Danilo, David Sanchez and Julian Lage and others? Is this an accurate assumption?
GB: Indeed, the future of jazz is in very good hands. I'm very impressed by all the talented young players coming up in the jazz world. Some have been my students (Danilo Perez), some have been musicians in my bands (Julian Lage), and there are many others I admire.
MM: There seems to be a wave of popularity and interest in jazz being generated by the current crop of crossover jazz artists ...Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, Peter Cincotti . Is that going to have a positive impact both in creating new listeners and consumers as well creating music that will be part of the legacy of jazz?
GB: There have always been artists whose work borders on both the jazz world and pop music world, and I think there is a very positive result, bringing jazz to the attention of more potential listeners. I always am looking for avenues for reaching out to more people who haven't yet given jazz a try. Like classical music, it takes a little more investment of time and understanding before it provides rewarding listening. But, get someone truly interested in jazz, and they stay a fan for life.
MM: Philadelphia has a long and storied history as an incubator for jazz artists from Coltrane to Dizzy to McCoy Tyner to the Heath Brothers. What does playing in Philly invoke in you?
GB: Besides the historic figures in jazz who began their careers in Philly, I have my own memories of playing in Philadelphia starting in the 1960's with Stan Getz, then later many return visits with my own groups, sometimes playing concerts, sometimes jazz clubs. I have always enjoyed the audiences and the city, though I seem to always get lost trying to drive around in Philly! This time I'm going to get around by taxi.