Montreux Jazz Festival: Christian Sands transforms jazz into a powerful ritual

What are the pianists who come to mind, if we talk about influences?

There is not only one name that would inspire me. Similarly, It is rather the opposite: they all influence me. Consequently, The story of music is my teacher. Nevertheless, I can cite names like Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner or Keith Jarrett. Similarly, There are certain things they do that I like and that I adapted to my game. In addition, Keith Jarrett’s lyricism, the harmonic courage of Herbie Hancock or the strength and montreux jazz festival: christian sands power of McCoy Tyner. Moreover, The inventiveness of Erroll Garner. Nevertheless, History is my greatest source of inspiration.

Why these themed albums, water, or recently mourning?

I try to create stories that people can understand. Furthermore, As an artist, we are storytellers. Therefore, It is our work to tell the stories of our people. However, of humanity, and to be honest and open in our approach. Meanwhile, Each album I have created is a reflection of an experience that I have had and that others can identify. Similarly, If you take “Embracing Dawn”, for example, we are certainly talking about loss, but it’s an optimistic album. Therefore, I started this disc in sadness, trying to overcome my sorrow. But at the end of creation, I found the triumph. So this album really talks about triumph. It is a question of going through tests montreux jazz festival: christian sands to become better, to embrace the next stage of your life. This is really the subject. It is not a question of sorrow, but a triumph.

How do you reconcile tradition and innovation in your compositions?

When you think of jazz, you don’t necessarily think of harmonic structures or melodic lines. When we listen to Charlie Parker, who is he playing? When we listen to Thelonious Monk, who is he playing? Additionally, When I write my music, I play for people. I play for the stories we have experienced. Or. when you think of the Latin theme of montreux jazz festival: christian sands “Manteca”, for example, what was going on in jazz: the meeting of two worlds through Gillespie’s music. There is a story behind, a family story, a story of humanity, a story of people.

The young audience, today, is more hip-hop than Be-Bop: do your stories still speak to him?

Jazz, like any music, is always new. And jazz was rap of the time. From swing to be-bop, everything evolves towards hip-hop, rap is one more extension. It is now with poetry, with words. But when you listen to someone like Kendrick Lamar, for example, he reminds me so much John Coltrane. Because there is poetry. There is honesty. There is a thirst to learn. Furthermore, There is a nice way to mix different styles and influences from the whole world. Hip-hop was the same as jazz. He was born out of the need montreux jazz festival: christian sands to express himself when you couldn’t do so otherwise. It’s the same call. I recently read an article in which Kendrick Lamar was talking about music with Quincy Jones, and it was magnificent.

What place can jazz then still occupy in today’s world?

Certain reference roles. Jazz teaches you this verse, the excellence of something. Most jazz musicians. if not all, are very good at their art, it is a know-how that is acquired throughout life. And I don’t think the influence is only sound. It is much greater on how to behave: jazz is cool. In terms of fashion and expression too.

Without jazz, there would not be certain clothes, certain styles. Right now, I’m sometimes interested in fashion, there is this very popular style with wide pants. But you can go back to the costumes of Dizzy Gillespie or montreux jazz festival: christian sands Duke Ellington. There are many things that are not necessarily visible at first. I am convinced that jazz is the most influential art form after classical music. It is the most present human experience that one can express other than by breathing and speech.

You were a kind of prodigy child. Have you sometimes thought of doing something other than music?

Of course. Especially when you have been doing this for so long, it is natural to think of other adventures. When I moved to Los Angeles, I was interested in the theater for a while. And when I was a child, I was painting a lot, I also did sport, basketball and archery (laughs). But I never felt the same excitement as in playing jazz. And when I hear the sound of the cymbal that swings, it always makes me so happy. montreux jazz festival: christian sands So I come back to jazz. It’s my house.

Montreux represents something special?

For me, the Montreux jazz festival represents the ultimate in excellence. It is like a meeting between the greatest creative minds and sounds, gathered in a single place. Moreover, It is a wonderful place where you can occur. I am very honored. very moved to be able to come and express myself musically in this space, and to contribute to it. I make mine this phrase of art blakey: “Any place where we play jazz is a sacred place.” And one of the most sacred places in the history of humanity is here.