Written interview with trumpeter Dave Douglas.
Jazz Blues European Union: – Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with Jazz Blues EU. Tell us about your music. When did you start performing?
Dave Douglas: – In school I played in the bands, though I had no idea what I was doing. First “professional” gig was roughly around 1979 in Badalona, Spain. The band was called the Buffalo Bill Quartet. It wasn’t our idea!
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
I’m from Montclair, New Jersey and the proximity to New York City has always felt like an important base of operations.
What performers have been your inspiration?
It won’t surprise you that I would say, like most musicians, that they are too numerous to mention. I’ve long felt that the evolution in the works of Igor Stravinsky, John Coltrane, and Stevie Wonder is a guiding light. The growth and change.
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
Everything I can think of to say has always been the challenge of being a creative artist. Even with all the difficulties today, I can’t help thinking it has never been any easier.
What do you base your success on?
An appreciation for impermanence. Keep moving. Find joy in today’s work.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
Collaborations are the work. Music is a social activity. It only works as a team. Writing for humans, playing with humans, arguing with humans, this is what nourishes the soul. My fellow earthlings know more about this than I do. I try to glean what I can from the interactions.
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
Music composition is a rich and complex subject, quite like writing prose and poetry. There is an infinite range of feeling and thought involved. I’ve devoted a whole course around the approach to working on this, refining it, continuing to make new things.
I answer all questions and comments I receive via email, and people are free to come and ask me anything. I find it profoundly enriching to think about it and write about it. Even more enriching is to hear the new music made by young musicians.
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
I never think about that.
What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
Technology is also part of the creative practice, and I never forget that in this time of rapid new developments.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
I got my ass kicked by Jeff Watts at the jam session at Montreal Jazz Festival in 1987. I’ll never forget the feeling.
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
How do I feel about streaming and AI? Vigilant. We can only observe how the appreciation of music changes and do what we can to keep making relevant statements.
Musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music? How can fans find you? Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
I like talking to people after the show. I always try to go to the merch table and meet with people. I also answer all emails and inquiries I receive. I hear a lot of new music that way. I listen to everything. I am not always the quickest correspondent, but I respond to everyone.
By Olivia Peevas
