Kenny Warren - Sunday Interview

Photo by Peter Gannushkin

1. What is your greatest joy in improvised music?
   
   Getting lost, sort of high, out of my head. When the music is really deep, you lose your sense of time and you experience a different type of consciousness.
   
   
2. What quality do you most admire in the musicians you perform with?
   
   The ability to be in the moment, let the music lead, and go wherever it takes us. I know a lot of excellent musicians, but my favorite ones to play with are ones I trust not to control the music too much.
   
   
3. Which historical musician/composer do you admire the most?
   
   There are too many to name, but my number one has to be Ron Miles.
   
   
4. If you could resurrect a musician to perform with, who would it be?
   
   John Coltrane. Might be saying that because I'm listening to his music right now, but yeah, I'm sticking with JC.
   
   
5. What would you still like to achieve musically in your life?
   
   I'm working to be a more complete musician and to bring my whole self to every musical experience. All I've ever wanted is to make records and play my music around the world. Looking for ways to sustain that for the rest of my life.
   
   
6. Are you interested in popular music and - if yes - what music/artist do you particularly like?
   
   I love Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, Radiohead, Big Thief, do Meridian Brothers count?
   
   
7. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
   
   For the past couple years I've been dealing with a random genetic thing in my hands called Dupuytren's. Makes me feel old. I wish I could just make that go away. I'd also like to have a better memory for names, and more time for my friends.
   
   
8. Which of your albums are you most proud of?
   
   I think I am most proud of this new trio record Sweet World that is coming out in May.
   
   
9. Once an album of yours is released, do you still listen to it? And how often?
   
   Almost never. I listen to a record so much and with such a microscope in the process of making it. By the time it's mixed and mastered, I'm pretty ready to let it go.
   
   
10. Which album (from any musician) have you listened to the most in your life?
    
    Nefertiti? Tough to say.
    
    
11. What are you listening to at the moment?
    
    Right now... John Coltrane Infinity
    
    
12. What artist outside music inspires you?
    
    I love watching good films. Almadovar, Lanthimos, Kauismaki, Lucrecia Martel, dare I say Daniels! I'm impressed by the scope of making a feature length film. It makes making a record seem much more doable. Speaking of massive art works. I just saw the Taj Mahal. Unbelievable. I'm really not that into perfection in my own art, but wow. The Taj Mahal is perfect down to the last detail.
    
    

Kenny Warren on the Free Jazz Blog:

• Tony Malaby - Turnpike Diaries Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (Self, 2020 & 2021)
• Slavic Soul Party! – Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite (Ropeadope, 2016) ****
• World jazz with influences from the Middle-East