Our written interview with trombonist and composer Ed Neumeister․
Jazz Blues EU: – Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with Jazz Blues EU. Tell us about your music. When did you start performing?
Ed Neumeister: – When I was 9 years old. Playing in a Marching Band in Oakland California.
JBEU: – What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
EN: – New York City is my home town. I consider New York the center of the creative music scene.
JBEU: – What performers have been your inspiration?
EN: – John Coltrane, JJ Johnson, Albert Mangelsdorf, Booker Little, Bela Bartok, Bach, Stravinsky
JBEU: – What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
EN: – Booking gigs.
JBEU: – What do you base your success on?
EN: – Hard work, Perseverance and Naiveté.
JBEU: – Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians?
EN: – I have been fortunate to have performed alongside some of the best musicians on the planet. Luckily, I’ve have the gift of being able to pay attention, so consequently, my education has been primarily “on the job training”. Even though I have been playing music for my whole life, I still consider myself a student of music. I like to instill this way of thinking to my students…. We are all students, I just have more experience…..
JBEU: – How does it influence your creative process?
EN: – I have learned greatly from performing with and speaking to other creative musicians about the creative process of composing and improvising.
JBEU: – What was your latest musical release?
EN: – The last release is Covers, as you know. The two previous releases are Explorations and “What Have I Done?” both with my working quartet of Gary Versace-piano, Drew Gress-bass & Tom Rainey-drums. I am especially proud of “What Have I Done?”.
JBEU: – Do you have any news to share? Could you share the story behind your latest new CD Ed Neumeister Quartet + 3 – Covers and what inspired its creation?
EN: – “The idea for doing Covers came about because I love expressing beautiful melodies, and it was pointed out to me that I haven’t recorded any standards in a while.” So, I put together some treatments of some favorite rock, pop, and R&B tunes from his youth, including some from Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and Otis Redding – also adding an original composition “Okay for Now” and Taylor Swift’s “The Last Great American Dynasty” (from her Folklore album).
Since I grew up with the Beatles, and vividly remembered when The White Album was released, those tunes were a natural fit. The thought to add “Dear Prudence” came from when I performed Jerry Garcia’s version of the song to great response every night with the Bay Area band Reconstruction (w/ Garcia, Merl Saunders, Ron Stallings, Gaylord Birch and John Kahn).
“In past years, I’ve focused on more modern approaches – sometimes angular, abstract, experimental. But the intention is always with the priority on the groove. Whether free form or structured, the groove is always the master, or should be. Sometimes the groove is super obvious and other times more elusive on the surface, but ever present and deep in the musical texture. And I’ve always loved playing good melodies while putting my own personal touches in the statement of the melodies and in the arrangements themselves. We’ve done that on Covers.”
“On this project I wanted to delve into my history, especially my younger days when I hardly knew what jazz was. I’m still not sure…but that’s a whole other conversation.”
Ed Neumeister – trombone Gary Versace – piano/organ/accordion Drew Gress – bass
Cameron Brown – bass Tom Rainey – drums Caroline Davis – flute/alto saxophone
Ingrid Laubrock – tenor saxophone Billy Drewes – soprano sax/Bb clarinet /bass clarinet
JBEU: – How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
EN: – I am more of a composer who sometimes writes songs (without words). So, my compositional approach varies from piece to piece. It’s often more of a classical approach, using motives and development. But, I do write songs as well, usually starting with a germ of an idea, an emotion or “vibe”.
JBEU: – As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
EN: – My financial necessities are usually covered with teaching and playing commercial music jobs (more teaching these days) as well as giving masterclasses etc,. It’s important for me to be able to finance my creative endeavors rather than striving to survive with the income from the creative pursuits.
JBEU: – What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
EN: – Technology not so much, as I am still a pencil paper composer. But the computer and music software is certainly parts (tools) of my process. I find social media to be necessary, to keep some kind of profile, but it’s not something that I am particularly fond of.
JBEU: – Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
EN: – Well, I’ve had some very memorable tours: Mel Lewis, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Gerry Mulligan etc,. performing concerts all over the World. And touring as a soloist throughout South America, Australia and Europe. More recently, touring with my own ensembles has been extremely rewarding….. playing my music with my favorite musicians night after night. Touring does get more and more challenging these days. The traveling part, not the performing part.
JBEU: – In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
EN: – From my vantage point, it’s making it more and more difficult to be financially viable as a creative musician.
JBEU: – Musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music?
EN: – Mostly through social media and my newsletter, but to be honest, I’m not sure about my fans, because I find the communication between us to be limited. I’m not sure why except that I am more into the creation and less into reaching out and staying in touch with fans or potential fans. This is something that I’m working to improve.
JBEU: – How can fans find you? Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
EN: – https://www.edneumeister.com/
https://edneumeister.bandcamp.com/
I LOVE IT when fans contact me and let me know they are “listening” and even offer suggestions about what they would like to hear more of etc,. My pallet is pretty wide.
Note to fans: “Be in the moment, the most important place to be”.
Thank You! Ed Neumeister. www.EdNeumeister.com
Interview by Olivia Peevas
