FEW ARTISTS CAN CLAIM A CAREER TRAJECTORY THAT GOES FROM PLAYING AT DISNEYLAND TO CHICK COREA’S ELEKTRIC BAND, BUT ALTO/SOPRANO SAXIST ERIC MARIENTHAL HAS BOTH BRAGGING RIGHTS TO BOTH. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE HIM IN THE SAX SECTION IN GORDON GOODWIN’S BIG PHAT BAND, AS WELL AS LEADING HIS OWN BANDS ON EITHER TOURING GIGS OR ON ONE OF HIS JAZZ CRUISES.
I FIRST SAW HIM WITH THE BPB, AND WAS IMPRESSED BY HIS SEARING WORK ON SOPRANO AND ALTO. A FEW MONTHS LATER HIS ABILITY TO FIT IN WITH THE FUSION FOCUSED COREA BAND WAS LIKE LIVING IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE, BUT MARIENTHAL HANDLED IT LIKE HE WAS BORN FOR THIS ROLE.
WE RECENTLY HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH ERIC, WHO, AS ALWAYS, IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROJECT. AS WITH HIS MUSIC, THE CHAT WAS INFORMATIVE, WELL CRAFTED AND FILLED WITH INSIGHT.
ONE OF YOUR FIRST GIGS WAS IN DISNEYLAND!
Yes, a lifetime ago. It was after I graduated from Berklee.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN AT BERKLEE THAT YOU COULDN’T HAVE LEARNED ANYWHERE ELSE?
Berklee afforded me the opportunity to play with a lot of people. That was one of my favorite aspects of the school, just the fact that there were a lot of eager musicians my age who wanted to play.
Consequently, we had jam sessions all of the time, and we’d play each other’s compositions whenever we’d get together, which was just about every night. There was this great appetite for not only playing in general, but for stretching and trying new things. That’s a unique thing about being in a music school.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM YOUR MAIN TEACHER JOE VIOLA?
Joe was such a master of the instrument; he made it very clear the right way to approach the instrument technically, and what was NOT the right way. Just watching to him and listening to him play when we were together I learned how to hold the instrument and how to position everything, like my diaphragm, my throat, hands, neck strap, how to articulate and how to play as efficiently as possible.
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“(Chick Corea) had us in his band because he wanted to hear us play his music; he just wanted us to be ourselves in the group”
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WHAT DID YOU LEARN PLAYING IN DISNEYLAND?
(laughs) What I really learned is to never judge a book by its cover. Never dismiss something out of hand because of a preconception
Initially, the idea of playing a steady gig at Disneyland wasn’t exactly a jazz player’s dream. It started off as simply a very good full time steady paycheck, with insurance benefits and the whole thing.
I quickly found out that the level of musicianship was incredibly high. Wayne Bergeron, Gordon Goodwin and Sal Lozano were all there; a lot of great players and the band was really great.
I got the opportunity to practice; I got in three hours a day just practicing on my own at the stairwell. I picked up a lot of doubles, the piccolo in particular. It ended up being a lot of fun.
I did it right up to the time I got the gig with Chick Corea.
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“The band really did pride itself on being prepared. Nobody wanted to disappoint Chick or each other”
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SO DID CHICK SAY, “I SAW YOU AT PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN” AND HIRE YOU?
No (laughs)
In 1986 Chick decided that he wanted to add a saxophone to the Elektric Band, which was a quartet at the time. John Patitucci recommended that he come hear me. At the same time Chick had a keyboard friend named John Novello, and I was in John’s band
When John Patitucci recommended me for the Elektric band, John Novello told Chick that I was in his band. We were playing in a club in LA every Monday night. Chick was invited to come hear us play.
He came to hear me, he sat in. The next day he called me to offer me the gig.
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“(Chick Corea) never told anyone in the band how to play something or what to do”
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DID YOU KNOW HE WAS COMING TO CHECK YOU OUT?
It was a complete and shocking surprise
WHAT WAS YOU MINDSET WHEN HE JOINED YOU ON STAGE, THEN?
I’m not sure that I was in my right mind! When I recognized who he was walking in the door, I went through a long moment of disbelief, shock and fear. Everything you’d imagine when you see your idol, realizing that he’s coming to hear you play.
It was one of the most exciting and frightening moments of my life. I was 27.
WAS THAT YOUR “BAPTISM BY FIRE” AS A MUSICIAN?
Without a doubt.
Chick was the sweetest and most inviting person. There isn’t a person on the planet that was more encouraging than Chick. With all of my sense of intimidation, either that night, at rehearsals or at a recording session where I went through a lot of self-doubt leading up to all of those times, Chick couldn’t have been more encouraging,
He was such an open and creative spirit
He never told anyone in the band how to play something or what to do
He had us in his band because he wanted to hear us play his music; he just wanted us to be ourselves in the group, and he made that very clear in both the words that he said and the way that he interacted with us musically. It taught us all how to play in a group, to communicate and improvise together
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“You just dive in with both feet and keep your ears open”
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WHEN YOU WERE FIRST WITH THE BAND, DID YOU PRACTICE IN A STUDIO, OR JUST JUMP ON STAGE?
The first time that I played with him after I got the gig was in the studio for the first record. That was Light Years, which was a more “produced” record. All of the subsequent records were “live”, either in performance or in the studio. We just played together with no overdubbing or anything.
Those were incredible heart-pumping defining moments. You just dive in with both feet and keep your ears open.
WITH SONGS SO INTRICATE, HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’VE ARRIVED TO GET THE SONG DOWN? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BEFORE CHICK SAYS, “LET’S HIT IT”?
He would send us the music in advance.
We’d arrive in the studio and play through it, and when we felt ready to make a take, we’d do it.
On one of the songs for Inside Out we rand through it one time and he said “That’s great; let’s record”. So we did and went on to the next song
The band really did pride itself on being prepared. Nobody wanted to disappoint Chick or each other. There was never a single time in 35 years where somebody showed up to a rehearsal (which we didn’t do very much) or gig where we weren’t prepared with the music, where the music wasn’t memorized
Here we are, playing the music of one of the great musicians of all time, so the last thing any of us wanted to do was to not honor the situation that we were in
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“It was more than a relationship; it was a very loving family”
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It was more than a relationship; it was a very loving family.
It remains that way; we communicate all the time. I just got back from a tour in Japan with Weckl, and John and I talk to each other practically every other day. Same with Frank; it was very tight knit.
We all realized what an honor it was to be in that situation.
There were 100s and 100s of concerts that we did, and there was never once where I didn’t look over at the piano and think to myself, “Wow! That’s Chick Corea right there!”
Never did I ever become complacent, or not in awe of Chick and the whole situation and band.
There are plenty of horror stories of people playing with a musician that they respected and it was not the best situation for this or that reason.
But with Chick, not only was I playing with a legend of that caliber and the music as great as it was, but it was a wonderful and inviting situation on every level.
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“I never did choose to make music my career; It’s just that I never chose not to”
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IT’S GOT TO BE LIKE A TSUNAMI TO BE IN A RHYTHM SECTION WITH CHICK AND THE LIKES OF PATITUCCI AND WECKL
And don’t I know it! (laughs)
And on most of the songs I’m the one who follows Chick. He’d play one of the world’s greatest solos, and then it was my turn!
I had to quickly get over that potentially intimidating situation, not only because Chick was inviting, but here is John, one of my best friends that I’ve known since I was 18. Then there is Dave, one of the greatest drummers of all time, as is Frank, one of the greatest guitarists.
In a situation where on its surface it would seem intimidating, in reality it was the farthest thing from it. It was like I couldn’t wait to get into the playing, because being in that situation made you play better than you ever thought that you could.
It was such a supportive, musical and listening situation. It was like when you’re sitting at the dinner table and you’re talking and everyone is keying in on what you’re saying, and really curious, really contributing in the way that you’d hope.
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“I couldn’t wait to get into the playing, because being in that situation made you play better than you ever thought that you could”
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YOU ALSO FIT IN WELL WITH A BAND SUCH AS GORDON GOODWIN’S, WHICH IS DIFFERENT IN THAT IT’S A BIG BAND.
It’s not a polar opposite
There are similar situations in that Gordon’s band is also a group that performs on a very high level, the music is great and amazingly well written. There too, the “older guard” members of that band have all been friends forever. Being with Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Sal Lozano, Brian Scanlon, Kevin Axt…and Gordon is as much fun on a social level as it is on a musical level
YOUR OWN ALBUMS HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCT PERSONALITY. IS THAT A CONSCIOUS DECISION?
Just like at the dinner table, sometimes you’re talking about surfing and the next time it’s rock **climbing. Just because you play music doesn’t mean you’re always going to be playing the same kind of music.
Some people tend to focus on a particular style, and that’s cool. I personally have a lot of musical directions that are fun to pursue
John Patitucci once told me that each record is snapshot of where you are at that time. So, don’t freak out too much about trying to perfect this, or get that exactly right. Just perform, and go on to the next thing.
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“Being with Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Sal Lozano, Brian Scanlon, Kevin Axt…and Gordon is as much fun on a social level as it is on a musical level”
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WHEN DID YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD SAY “I’VE GOT MY OWN SOUND”?
I still don’t! (laughs) At 65 years old I’m still trying to get a sound.
You have a sound in your head that you’re always chasing. Other people perceive how you sound, and how you perceive it is real different
I personally feel that I’m closer to having a sound the way that I want it when I’m most on top of my game and have had a chance to practice a lot and all of the stars are aligned. You’re always chasing it; that is what motivates us to continue to play
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“You have a sound in your head that you’re always chasing. Other people perceive how you sound, and how you perceive it is real different”
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IF YOU DIDN’T PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE FOR A CAREER?
That question has never come up to me, so it’s hard to know
***I never did choose to make music my career; It’s just that I never chose not to
I played in school, and then in high school where it was fun and continued to college and got a gig which was fun, so I took the next gig and the next.
Right after I got out of college I had other jobs; I was a bus boy and all kinds of stuff to just make a living.
I’ve never had to face that question.
WHEN YOU WATCH A BAND, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR, AND DO YOU HAVE A PET PEEVE?
Everybody plays how they play
My pet peeve is only when people aren’t playing true to themselves
People ask me “do you like this player better than another player?”
I really don’t
It’s just like when people are speaking; If people are speaking sincerely, whether you agree with them or not you have to respect them because that’s what he believes.
It’s only when someone is playing, and you can tell that it’s not from the heart that it’s less appealing.
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“(playing music) just like when people are speaking; If people are speaking sincerely, whether you agree with them or not you have to respect them because that’s what he believes”
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IS THERE ANY MUSICIAN, LIVING OR DEAD, THAT YOU’D PAY $1000 TO SEE PERFORM?
Cannonball, Miles, Dexter. There’s a few thousand! (laughs)
IS THERE ANYONE IN WORLD HISTORY THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SIT DOWN FOR AN EVENING AND PICK HIS OR HER BRAIN?
Shakespear, Mozart
WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM
“How
ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED WITH HELPING WITH THE ORGANIZATION “HIGH HOPES”?
Yes. This year is our 25th or 26th anniversary. We’ve raised $2 ½ Million for the organization so far, and a whole bunch this past year. It is my main charitable outlet.
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“Just because you play music doesn’t mean you’re always going to be playing the same kind of music”
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WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH “HIGH HOPES”?
The director, Mark Desmond, is a buddy of mine. He reached out to me 25 years ago, and asked me to help. We started real small at the grassroots level, and it just grew and grew.
IS THERE ANY PHILOSOPHY OR RELIGION THAT GIVES YOU A MORAL COMPASS?
Just being a good Christian person allows me to let people be who they are and to be loving and caring. That’s my moral compass.
DID YOU GROW UP AS A CHRISTIAN?
No, I grew up Jewish. I converted to Christianity.
It’s a bit personal. I grew up Jewish, and consider myself a spiritual person who believes that we should all be loving, tolerant and caring of each other. I think that’s both a Christian and Jewish philosophy and a philosophy of people who are loving and caring of each other. That’s how the world should be.
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“I think that’s both a Christian and Jewish philosophy and a philosophy of people who are loving and caring of each other. That’s how the world should be”
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ARETHEANY BOOKS THAT YOU’VE READ YOU WISH EVERYONE SHOULD READ?
I really loved Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth. It’s a great fiction book, but it shows the struggle of medieval times and perseverance of people who are put in situations that are up against incredible odds in a difficult time.
We take so many things for granted now, with all of the modern conveniences that we have. We forget how people got along without them so many years ago.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL 20 YEAR OLD ERIC MARIENTHAL?
Practice! (laughs)
Actually, 20 year old Eric practiced like a madman
It’s like to tell him that everything is going to work out. 20 year old Eric was a very paranoid, self-doubting kid who had no clue of what was going to come or happen. He was pretty freaked out most of the time, and worked hard to see if he could make it work.
I’d tell him to keep working, but things are going to work out just fine.
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“keep working, but things are going to work out just fine”
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WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST JOY?
My family; my three granddaughters. My beautiful wife.
ANY FUTURE PROJECTS?
I’m the music director for all of the Jazz Cruises LLC. That’s my current and future work
We’re also trying to work out a possible reunion for the Chick Corea band.
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“You’re always chasing it; that is what motivates us to continue to play”
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THE LEGACY OF CHICK COREA’S MUSIC SEEMS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE ON, BUT SO DOES THE INSPIRATION OF ERIC MARIENTHAL, PLAYING MUSIC OF HIS OWN THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ALL OF HIS PAST AND FORGE A RICH MUSICAL FUTURE.