An Interview with Trumpet Player Kiku Collins
by Marjorie Gueron, Black Owl Music Reviews
BOM: What drew you to want to play trumpet?
KC: My brother was playing the trumpet, so I actually had to
share his when I was about 8 years old. A year later I got my
own trumpet, when my folks realized I liked it and actually
played pretty well.
BOM: what sets your music apart, from say Barbara
Butler and Susan Slaughter or Laurie Frink or Ingrid
Jensen?
KC: Every player is different, regardless of gender. I’m
definitely a mellow player by nature, I prefer simple lines and
a full sound. I like to play like a singer.
BOM: how is it different being a jazz trumpet player
than say being a classical trumpet player?
KC: I actually come from a classical background. I usually
don’t categorize myself as a jazz player, though that seems to
be my title these days. I like to play with the freedom of jazz
KC: My brother was playing the trumpet, so I actually had to
share his when I was about 8 years old. A year later I got my
own trumpet, when my folks realized I liked it and actually
played pretty well.
BOM: what sets your music apart, from say Barbara
Butler and Susan Slaughter or Laurie Frink or Ingrid
Jensen?
KC: Every player is different, regardless of gender. I’m
definitely a mellow player by nature, I prefer simple lines and
a full sound. I like to play like a singer.
BOM: how is it different being a jazz trumpet player
than say being a classical trumpet player?
KC: I actually come from a classical background. I usually
don’t categorize myself as a jazz player, though that seems to
be my title these days. I like to play with the freedom of jazz
with the classical discipline and sound that I developed over the years.
BOM: What was your first gig as a professional musician?
KC: At a church, in grade school. And some of my earliest gigs taught me to improvise over
hymns.
BOM: I know you toured with Beyonce’, a great singer and entertainer, how did
you first meet Beyonce?
KC: I actually auditioned for her. It was an amazing experience and brought some things
out of me musically and stage-wise that I hadn’t been brave enough to tap on my own.
BOM: When can we expect a new studio album from you Ms. Collins?
KC: I’d like to start my new album very soon, but life has been hectic. There are some
melodies in my head that I need to lay down. That’s how it starts. Ideally I would love to
have another album by the end of 2008, if not sooner.
BOM: How long a period of time were the songs on your CD, "Here With Me,"
written & recorded?
KC: It was actually about a year, though I thought it would be done sooner. Tracks just
seemed to morph over time, some compositions ended up not being used, and new ones
emerged at the last minute.
BOM: Give me some background on a few songs. Let's start with "Here With Me."
KC: Here With Me struck me the first time I heard Dido sing it years ago. It hit me one day
as I tried to think of a cool cover tune for my album. I knew I wanted one, but nothing
struck me until I went through some Dido tracks. There were a few I liked, but this one I
could almost hear on a flugel the moment I thought about it. It seemed a perfect fit.
BOM: "The Messenger?"
KC: The Messenger seems to be the hit with the serious jazz lovers. I am a huge fan of jazz
ballads, the simpler the better. I love the positive, yet melancholy story it tells.
BOM: "Confidential Obituary?"
KC: This was a surprise tune. I remember not wanting to write/record that day. This is what
came out. I’m constantly told that this is the kind of song waiting to be placed in a film.
BOM: What's your next project?
KC: Life.
BOM: Please tell me 6 CDs you just couldn't do without!
KC: That’s not a fair question!!!
Portishead – Dummy
Miles Davis – Birth of the Cool
Blood Sweat and Tears – Blood Sweat and Tears
Cassandra Wilson – New Moon Daughter
Frank Zappa – Strictly Commercial
Sly and the Family Stone – A Whole New Thing
(and I’d sneak in Tony Scott – Meditation)
BOM: What was your first gig as a professional musician?
KC: At a church, in grade school. And some of my earliest gigs taught me to improvise over
hymns.
BOM: I know you toured with Beyonce’, a great singer and entertainer, how did
you first meet Beyonce?
KC: I actually auditioned for her. It was an amazing experience and brought some things
out of me musically and stage-wise that I hadn’t been brave enough to tap on my own.
BOM: When can we expect a new studio album from you Ms. Collins?
KC: I’d like to start my new album very soon, but life has been hectic. There are some
melodies in my head that I need to lay down. That’s how it starts. Ideally I would love to
have another album by the end of 2008, if not sooner.
BOM: How long a period of time were the songs on your CD, "Here With Me,"
written & recorded?
KC: It was actually about a year, though I thought it would be done sooner. Tracks just
seemed to morph over time, some compositions ended up not being used, and new ones
emerged at the last minute.
BOM: Give me some background on a few songs. Let's start with "Here With Me."
KC: Here With Me struck me the first time I heard Dido sing it years ago. It hit me one day
as I tried to think of a cool cover tune for my album. I knew I wanted one, but nothing
struck me until I went through some Dido tracks. There were a few I liked, but this one I
could almost hear on a flugel the moment I thought about it. It seemed a perfect fit.
BOM: "The Messenger?"
KC: The Messenger seems to be the hit with the serious jazz lovers. I am a huge fan of jazz
ballads, the simpler the better. I love the positive, yet melancholy story it tells.
BOM: "Confidential Obituary?"
KC: This was a surprise tune. I remember not wanting to write/record that day. This is what
came out. I’m constantly told that this is the kind of song waiting to be placed in a film.
BOM: What's your next project?
KC: Life.
BOM: Please tell me 6 CDs you just couldn't do without!
KC: That’s not a fair question!!!
Portishead – Dummy
Miles Davis – Birth of the Cool
Blood Sweat and Tears – Blood Sweat and Tears
Cassandra Wilson – New Moon Daughter
Frank Zappa – Strictly Commercial
Sly and the Family Stone – A Whole New Thing
(and I’d sneak in Tony Scott – Meditation)
| Copyright © 2007 Black Owl Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited. External sites are not controlled by Black Owl Music, LLC. |