Interview with trombonist Emiliano Sampaio. An interview by email in writing. 

JazzBluesNews.com: – First, let’s start out with where you grew up, and what got you interested in music. How exactly did your adventure take off? When did you realize that this was a passion you could make a living out of?

Emiliano Sampaio: – I started playing guitar when I was 14. I was on vacation from the school and got an Iron Maiden album. I was fascinated by the energy and the sounds and asked a friend guitar player to teach me a little during the holidays. Then it never stopped and I always wanted to learn new things on guitar, new kinds of music, etc. And I believe this curiosity will stay like this my whole life.

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JBN: – How has your sound evolved over time? What have you been doing to find and develop your own sound?

ES: – I think developing the own sound is a natural process that every musician experience. First we try to copy our idols and after years of copying lots of great musicians you start to somehow develop your own sound naturally. I still connect a lot with the very beautiful melodies I heard when I was a kid at school or at home. Simple songs that my mom would listen to. All these melodies stayed in my spirit and will always be with me.

JBN: – What routine practices or exercises have you developed to maintain and improve your current musical proficiency, in terms of both rhythm and harmony? 

ES: – I believe it is very important to have a routine that you can enjoy. And I try to see my days as a long beautiful routine. I like to write music in the morning (1 to 3 hours), then I play guitar and trombone (1h each instrument), and I still need time to cook, to make sports, see my girlfriend, and have a normal life! That’s it, it sounds simple but it needs a lot of discipline to make it work for years and years.

JBN: – Have you changed through the years? Any charges or overall evolution? And if so why?

ES: – Life means to stay in constant change. And we are happier if we embrace it. Through the years I see waves of focus, sometimes I am writing more than playing, sometimes I am conducting more, sometimes I am playing more guitar… it always depends and I try to enjoy these waves of work!

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JBN: – In your opinion, what’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?

ES: – It depends a lot on the project. To compose means to invest a lot of hours, days, or months trying things, repeating, exploring… it is a lot of work and inspiration is part of it but only to a little extent.

JBN: – There’s a two-way relationship between audience and artist; are you okay with delivering people the emotion they long for?

ES: – Music is great because it is made of sound! It is open for interpretation and this makes it magical. I am always glad and surprise when people come to me and describe their emotions by listening to a specific piece of mine. Sometimes they describe scenarios, emotions, histories and all kinds of things that I never imagined. This is fantastic!

JBN: – How can we get young people interested in jazz when most of standard tunes are half a century old?

ES: – This a one million dollar question! I believe one good secret is good education. To present not only jazz, but many different kinds of music to young people when they are kids. It is important that they read, watch movies, and have a broad artistic experience. This can make better people for the future!

JBN: – John Coltrane once said that music was his spirit. How do you perceive the spirit and the meaning of life?

ES: – For me life has no meaning or better said, being alive and living is already the meaning of life.

JBN: – If you could change one single thing in the musical world and that would become reality, what would that be?

ES: – All kind of music would have equal chances to have exposition in the media. It would mean, radio would play music of all kinds, not being important if it is classic, jazz, pop, folk, etc.

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JBN: – Whom do you find yourself listening to these days?

ES: – I have lots of great musicians as friends and I always get many CDs as presents. They stay at the side of my bed and I enjoy a lot listening to them each one of them.

JBN: – Let’s take a trip with a time machine: where and why would you really want to go?

ES: – I would love to listen to Duke Ellington´s big band live!

JBN: – Do You like our questions?

ES: – Your question are very open and not always related to music, what makes things more interesting!

Interview by Simon Sarg

Note: https://jazzblues.eu/2023/03/19/useu-jazz-blues-association-festivals/ You can express your consent and join our association, which will give you the opportunity to perform at our Jazz and Blues festivals, naturally receiving an appropriate royalty. We cover all expenses. The objectives of the interview are: How to introduce yourself, your activities, thoughts and intellect, and make new discoveries for our US/EU Jazz & Blues Association, which organizes festivals, concerts and meetings in Boston and various European countries, why not for you too!! You can read more about the association here. https://jazzblues.eu/2022/11/19/useujba/