“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord”
Psalm 150
I HAVE BEEN A JAZZ JOURNALIST FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I’VE HEARD AND SEEN JUST ABOUT ANYONE FOR THE PAST 40. RARE IS THE ARTIST THAT TRULY GRABS MY ATTENTION THESE DAYS. IS IT BECAUSE OF MY AGE, OR BECAUSE I HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF LISTENING TO SO MUCH MUSIC THAT IT TAKES A LOT FOR ME TO WANT TO LISTEN TO SOMETHING A SECOND TIME? IT MAKES ME WONDER.
WELL, THE FIRST TIME I HEARD AN ALBUM BY PIANIST/COMPOSER YELENA ECKEMOFF, I WAS QUITE IMPRESSED. THE SONGS, ALL ORIGINAL, WERE, WELL, ORIGINAL. SHE HAD A UNIQUE AND ALLURING TOUCH ON HER PIANO.
THEN THERE IS THIS UNIQUE CATALOGUE OF ALBUMS. ALMOST EVERY ONE THAT SHE PRODUCES IS A CONCEPT FOCUSING ON VARIOUS TOPICS, RANGING FROM SEASONS OF THE YEAR, TO ANIMALS AND EVEN PLANTS. MOST INTRIGUING ARE HER TWO ALBUMS INTERPRETING THE GREAT DAVIDIC SONGBOOK, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BOOK OF PSALMS IN THE BIBLE.
TAKING THE SPIRITUAL MESSAGES IN VARIOUS PSALMS (SOME YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL), SHE MUSICALLY ADAPTS THE MESSAGES AS FRAMES FOR THE LYRICS. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SHE HAS BROUGHT IN SOME OF THE TOP TIER MUSICIANS FOR PERFORMING HER WORKS, INCLUDING CHRIS POTTER, MARK TURNER, BILLY HART AND PETER ERSKINE, ALL FANS OF HER UNIQUE AND INVENTIVE STYLE.
WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION FOR A COMPOSER TO FOCUS ON TOPICS OTHER THAN ‘ROMANCE’ OR ‘SOCIAL JUSTICE’?
LIKE MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN RUSSIA DURING THE PERIOD OF GLASNOST, YELENA EXPERIENCED A RELIGIOUS CONVERSION FROM THE ATHEISM TAUGHT TO HER FROM HER CHILDHOOD. EMBRACING CHRISTIANITY, SHE WAS AT ONCE CONNECTED TO THE ROOTS OF HER COUNTRY’S HISTORIC ORTHODOX AND BAPTIST FAITH.
COMING TO AMERICA, SHE HAS SETTLED INTO AMERICAN LIFE AS A MOM AND COMPOSER, EVEN PAINTING THE COVERS OF HER ALBUMS.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW THIS REMARKABLE WOMAN, AND LIKE HER MUSIC, SHE WAS WARM, SPIRITUAL AND HUMBLE…
OF ALL OF THE ARTISTS ALBUMS I’VE REVIEWED, YOUR ALBUMS HAVE RECEIVED MORE “RINGER OF THE WEEK” AWARDS THAN ANYONE ELSE
(laughs) That’s nice to hear.
I’m so grateful that God has given me this opportunity. I work very, very hard, but even if no one would listen to it, or no one would like it I would still do what I do, because God is the audience.
********
“I work very, very hard, but even if no one would listen to it, or no one would like it I would still do what I do, because God is the audience”
********
YOUR CAREER SEEMS TO HAVE BOTH A MUSICAL AND A SPIRITUAL TRAJECTORY.
LET’S START WITH THE MUSICAL DRECTION. HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT JAZZ IN A COUNTRY LIKE RUSSIA, WHICH FOCUSES ON CLASSICAL, TRADITIONAL OR MODERN ROCK?
My mom was a classical pianist, and I was in a school for musically gifted children, which of course was classical.
When I was 14-15, I heard some of my friends talking about The Beatles and jazz, but I never got why they liked it. I didn’t think there was something wrong with them, but maybe with me. (laughs) So I started to listen to it.
When I had a crush on a boy who was a drummer that played jazz in an experimental class in college, that caused me to listen to different kinds of music, like with drums. Every time I heard something new that I liked, I would be influenced by it, and would incorporate it into the way I would write my music.
I’ve always been a composer, so naturally I was interested in other styles. I was in an experimental jazz studio in Moscow for a couple of years, but this music was not popular in Soviet Russia. They allowed those things when I was 19-20, and we’d listen to traditional things like Duke Ellington and Joe Pass. We would listen, and then try to play like that.
WHEN YOU CAME TO AMERICA, WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF AMERICAN JAZZ MUSICIANS, AND WHO DID YOU FIRST CONNECT WITH?
Unfortunately, when we first came to America, we didn’t have any money; we weren’t sponsored by anybody, so it was very hard. We also had three small children, which we were separated from for one year and two months. But that’s another story.
We were working really hard trying to adjust, learn the language, earn some money and get on our own feet. At that time I didn’t do anything musically.
But we were very dedicated, and soon enough my husband got for me a mini-studio. It was crazy because we didn’t have any money, but somehow we did it, even with raising children. It was difficult I finally had some sort of creative output for my creativity, and I was also playing some classical concerts to earn some money.
It wasn’t until later that I was able to meet with other musicians, like a drummer, cello player or bass player in my own state of North Carolina, and we did that for a few years.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO PLAY WITH AMERICAN JAZZ MUSICIANS?
It was frustrating, because these first musicians were not of the class that I really would have liked to work with. But, the local drummer introduced me to ECM Records. I had no idea about this “new” music; I had only studied traditional jazz like Erroll Garner or Lester Young. I didn’t know about modern jazz until 2005.
I was still composing, so when I learned about the modern jazz I felt that was where I belonged, as I was thinking the same way. I didn’t even know what style I was doing until I heard it.
*********
“when I learned about the modern jazz I felt that was where I belonged, as I was thinking the same way. I didn’t even know what style I was doing until I heard it”
*********
YOU’VE PLAYED WITH MODERN MUSICIANS LIKE PETER ERKSINE OR MORTON LUNDE. DID YOU FIND THEM OR DID THEY FIND YOU?
My first bass player, who was a fine person, told me that I needed to look for better musicians than himself. So I started looking and found Mads Vinding on My Space. His space said “Do you want to have my bass on your tracks?”. I couldn’t believe my eyes; of course!
So I started to record mu piano in my home, and I sent it to him. He recorded his bass and sent it to me, and we put it together, and it sounded really good! That’s how we recorded Cold Sun.
I was then looking for a drummer. He recommended one in Denmark, but when I heard his recording of my music, I thought “this is not much better than my local drummer” (laughs)
Many of the musicians I wanted could not be reached. They hide their contact information, but Peter Erskine was not like this. He was very open. I sent him some things I had done with Mads Vinding, and he liked it a lot. He did the work on COLD SUMMER, and it was wonderful.
YOU HAVE HIRED SOME OF THE TOP TIER MUSICIANS LIKE ERSKINE, MARK TURNER, CHRIS POTTER AND BILLY HART, DID YOU EVER FEEL INTIMIDATED BY THEM?
I don’t think so, because I would select them for each project. I would ask myself “who would be best for this particular project?”. I knew that when I selected (tenor saxist) Mark Turner I would figure out which music I had where he would shine the best.
MOST OF THESE MUSICIANS PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF YOU BEFORE, SO WERE ANY OF THESE JAZZ VETERANS SURPRISED BY YOUR UNIQUE STYLE OF MUSIC?
(chuckles). Different musicians had different thoughts about working with me. Generally, most of them looked me up to see what I’ve already played. I guess most of them liked it.
The more I worked with all of these musicians, the more output I had.
Peter Erskine was very important to me, because after working with him the other musicians would hear it and say “Why not?” (laughs)
********
“Peter Erskine was very important to me, because after working with him the other musicians would hear it and say “Why not?” (laughs)”
********
HAVE YOU EVER GONE ON TOUR?
I play a lot of classical programs, but I’ve never wanted to be on a tour. I have three children to raise.
I’m more interested in composing. I easily get so bored; if I’m done with a project I start looking for the next one.
I’ve played “live” with Miles Anderson in London several times, but it wasn’t that important to me.
SO THAT IS YOUR MUSICAL TRAJECTORY. YOU’RE ALBUMS ALSO REFLECT A SPIRITUAL TRAJECTORY. THESE TWO ARCS SEEM TO MEET ON MANY OF THEM. DID YOU GROW UP ORTHODOX, BAPTIST OR ATHEIST?
I was brought up in Russia as an atheist, like everyone else. The good thing was that none of my family was in the Communist Party.
My school was a special school; I was not as brainwashed as in other schools. We were treated as future artists.
I actually thought that it would be nice to believe in something, because I was afraid to die. (laughs)
When I met my husband, we both accidentally stumbled on to a Baptist church in Moscow. There were some large Baptist churches in Moscow, but the one we went to was not “official”. There was no sign on the church; there was just a door, and you had to know it was there.
We walked in, and there was a huge auditorium with a lot of people. The had a class for those who wanted to learn about Christianity. Because we had a baby, we took turns going, with one going and one staying home with the baby.
My husband and I are both very educated, so we both had to be convinced; it wasn’t like we could “just believe”.
*********
“I was not as brainwashed (in Russia) as in other schools. We were treated as future artists”
**********
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST THING THAT CONVINCED YOU?
I got a translation of a book by CS Lewis, and he pointed out that even if you get all of the details ***of an airplane, write them down , and put them in a sack to shake them, do you think an assembled airplane would come out? (laughs) Of course not.
It made sense; after that I could not believe that everything in life was random. There had to be a purpose.
*********
“(Chrisianity) made sense; after that I could not believe that everything in life was random. There had to be a purpose”
*********
HOW HAS YOUR FAITH INFLUENCED YOUR MUSIC?
I compose a lot, and I compose to express my feelings. It was the happiest day of my life when I first actually believed.
After one of the classes at church, I couldn’t wait; I called my husband on a pay phone and said “I know that God exists!”. It was one of the happiest days of my life.
There have been other happy days, like when I’ve delivered my babies, but also then, and when we were baptized in Moscow. I felt like it was such a celebration . When we came to America, we were frustrated with baptisms here as they seem like more of a ritual.
Because I’ve always expressed myself in music, by beliefs found a way to come into the music.
********
“I called my husband on a pay phone and said “I know that God exists!”. It was one of the happiest days of my life”
*********
YOU’VE NOW DONE TWO ALBUMS ON “THE GREAT DAVIDIC SONGBOOK”, AKA THE PSALMS. YOU’VE DONE THEM BOTHE WITH AND WITHOUT LYRICS. WHAT HITS YOU ABOUT THE PSALMS THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR OWN MUSIC TO THEM
In our church, there was a very good choir with very good music. It was different, and I was impressed with it. I wanted to do something like it, so I thought I could put the Psalms to music.
I started to do it, but I only had access to a “Good News” bible, which is not a proper translation but an economic translation.
When I came to America, a preacher told me that there was a big difference between a King James Version and Good News Bible. For example the King James says “Blessed is the man” but the Good News has “Happy is the man”, so there’s a different feel and meaning. (laughs)
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO THE PSALMS?
It is the only part in the Bible that is created to music.
I really wanted to express my gratitude and happiness in becoming a believer.
It was find to find a Bible, but my husband and I are an unstoppable team (laughs)
YOUR ALBUMS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT “RELIGION” PER SE, BUT YOU CREATE ALBUMS DEDICATED TO ALL OF GOD’S CREATION, SUCH AS ANIMALS, THE SEASONS, AND EVEN FOOD!
I’m doing more than just making music; I am embarking on a journey . For awhile I just leave onto that project.
For example, when I did the one on the lions, I was in Europe, and every where I went I looked for lions. When we returned home, I had composed 14 songs for lions!
When I put the album together, the bassist Arild Anderson wanted me to cut out some songs, as the album was too long. But I told them “no” because every song means something in my story. So, we did all of them.
********
“I’m doing more than just making music; I am embarking on a journey”
*********
GOD MADE EVERYTHING
There is so much to cover.
Nature is a powerful inspiration for me, as it comes from God. “The heavens declare the glories of God”
BESIDES THE BIBLE, WHAT 3 BOOKS HAVE YOU READ THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD READ?
From the top of my head, the first book that made a big impression on me was a Russian translation of a book called Amadeus, which was a biography of Mozart. I learned about Mozart from a very human point of view.
As a child, there was a translation by Volkov and it had a big impact on my childhood. He wrote a series of books that had a big impression on me. They also had wonderful illustrations by a Russian illustrator that made me want to go to the “Emerald City” and the “Yellow Brick Road”
I like books by Anton Chekov. He wrote mostly short stories. I like Dostoevsky, even though he is a little too intense. I love to listen to audio books in Russian, because even though I live in an English speaking country, I love the Russian language
*******
if there is no skeleton of the melody and harmony I would not like the improvisation as much.
*******
IS THERE ANY MUSICIAN, LIVING OR DEAD, THAT YOU WOULD PAY $1000 TO SEE PERFORM?
That is a tough question. Maybe Duke Ellington, because he composed such great tunes, and I would love to see how he did it “live”.
WHO IN WORLD HISTORY WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT DOWN FOR AN EVENING AND PICK HIS OR HER BRAIN?
I would like to talk to Bach. His music is completely divine, but what I know about him is that he was a bit of a scandalous person. He liked to drink beer, and he got into fist fights. I would love to talk to Bach, because I just cannot understand how he got that divinity in his music. He was such an emotional person; he did not think twice before he acted! (laughs)
********
“(Bach’s) music is completely divine, but what I know about him is that he was a bit of a scandalous person. He liked to drink beer, and he got into fist fights. I would love to talk to Bach, because I just cannot understand how he got that divinity in his music”
********
SINCE YOU ARE A COMPOSER, WHEN YOU LISTEN TO SOMEONE’S MUSIC, WHAT DO YOU LISTEN FOR?
Mainly the melody, because melody is the soul of every musical composition.
On my latest record, you may think that I like the free improvisation on it, but everyone plays ****together and listens to each other and it comes out very interesting. But, if there is no skeleton of the melody and harmony I would not like the improvisation as much.
A lot of musicians are proud of themselves that they don’t prepare for the recording sessions, that they just come in and play. And something good could happen that way, of course. But people love tunes like “Greensleeves” and “Fur Elise”, or Beethoven’s 5th. If these melodies did not exist, what would the people listening cherish?
When I was little, my mom took me to a lot of concerts. I remember these compositions with a great melody that would develop. And I would always wait for the melody to return.
*********
“melody is the soul of every musical composition”
*********
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST JOY?
Musically, when I play music, I’m always nervous. When it’s over I’m glad that it went well (laughs)
Composing gives me a lot of joy.
When I’m composing, I feel like this is where I want to be. This is where I feel the most beautiful.
*As a woman, I’m kind of short and fat (laughs), but when I compose I am beautiful. (laughs)
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY AT YOUR FUNERAL SERVICE?
I want them to remember me for who I was, and I don’t know what that would be. I don’t want flattery or cliches; I want them to be sincere
********
“As a woman, I’m kind of short and fat (laughs), but when I compose I am beautiful. (laughs)”
**********
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MUSIC THAT SOUNDS FRESH AND IS ALSO INSPIRATIONAL, GIVE THE ALBUMS BY YELENA ECKEMOFF A TRY. AS A FOLLOWER OF GOD, SHE KNOWS THAT IT ISN’T JUST “RELIGIOUS” MUSIC THAT IS SPIRITUAL. SINCE GOD HAS CREATED EVERYTHING, AS ABRAHAM KUYPER ONCE SAID, “THERE IS NOT A SQUARE INCH OF OUR HUMAN EXISTENCE OVER WHICH CHRIST, WHO IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL, DOES NOT CRY ‘MINE’!”
YELENA ECKEMOFF HAS TAKEN THIS WORLD VIEW TO MUSICAL HEART, CELEBRATING EVERYTHING UNDER GOD’S DOMINION WITH MUSIC THAT FOCUSES ON LIFE WITH AN ETERNAL FOCUS. AS CS LEWIS ONCE SAID, ‘ANYTHING NOT ETERNALLY FOCUSED IS ETERNALLY OBSOLUTE”. MRS. ECKEMOFF HAS CREATED MUSIC TO LAST.