ONE OF THE JOYS OF JAZZ IS THAT, UNLIKE CLASSICAL MUSIC, FANS ARE STILL ABLE TO SEE THE CREATORS OF THEIR FAVORITE MUSIC PERFORM IN CONCERT. 83 YEAR OLD BENNIE MAUPIN, WHO HAS GRACED ICONIC ALBUMS SUCH AS MILES DAVIS’ BITCHES BREW, HERBIE HANCOCK’S HEADHUNTERS AND LEE MORGANS’S LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE, IS CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS LEGENDARY DEBUT ALBUM THE JEWEL AND THE LOTUS BY PERFORMING THE ENTIRE ALBUM AT THE WILSHIRE EBELL THEATRE FEBRUARY 9
WE HAD A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH MR. MAUPIN, WHO PUT THE ALBUM AND CONCERT IN PERSPECTIVE OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER
YOU’RE DOING A CONCERT THAT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR DEBUT ALBUM.
THIS ALBUM WAS QUITE A DEPARTURE FROM YOUR WORK WITH MILES DAVIS AND HERBIE HANCOCK. WHAT WAS YOUR IMPETUS AND INDPIRATON FOR THIS PROJECT?
I was given an opportunity to record on ECM
Manfried Eicher never said anything to me as to what I should present. He just opened up the opportunity, and the rest is history.
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT CHOOSING THE MUSICIANS FOR THE ALBUM?
We all knew each other from New York
I was also working at the same time with Herbie Hancock and Buster Williams, so they were my choices to participate
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU LISTENED TO THE ALBUM?
I don’t know the last time that I actually listened to it.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY AT THE CONCERT?
I’m going to play the music from The Jewel and the Lotus.
I don’t know quite who’s going to be in the band. None of the original members will play
AT 83, WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE?
To make this concert something that gives the public something that helps them.
I see music as being medicinal
I’m working on my autobiography, but I look at this book on my mentor (Sonny Rollins), Saxophone Colossus, and it’s so big! It’s two books in one! A massive amount of work.
YOU HAVED LIVED AND PLAYED IN SOME OF THE DYNAMIC MUSIC CHANGES IN JAZZ-BEBOP, HARD BOP, FUSION, MODAL AND FREE. WITH ALLOF THOSE YEARS OF LISTENING, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU TAKE IN A BAND?
Guys that I know, I’ve heard play in other situations. In New York, the community was active but it was very small, so I got to know some of these guys, play with them and just develop a rapport. We went to each other’s jobs and have opportunity to jam together. in some of the settings that were available. It was a very strong “Loft” period, which were where the music was happening
If you’re there and around, sooner or later you might be in the right spot
DO YOU STILL EXERCISE?
Of course; if you don’t you’ll die
The body is made to move. From the various things I’ve been exposed to, studying Hatha Yoga and the various things that inspire me give me life extension
I started the saxophone when I was 15. I’ve had some great teachers and have been given a lot of good tips, I saw a lot of examples, some were positive, others were negative; but you learn from everybody
TAKE A TRIP TO THE WILSHIRE EBELL FEBRUARY 8, AND SEE IF YOU CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM ONE OF THE TRUE MASTERS OF JAZZ