November 1, 2019 In NY Artist Q&A

NY Artist Q&A: Marius van den Brink

For this series of bloggy interviews – the NY Artist Q&A- , I’ve shared questions with young artists and musicians living in New York. This time: pianist Marius van den Brink. He moved to New York only a few years ago to study at Suny Purchase University. And, since we are both Dutch, obviously we connected 🙂 I’m excited that he wanted to be part of this little Q&A – couch session. In addition to the questions, we met up and played a few songs in my place in Brooklyn together.

NY Artist Q&A: with Marius van den Brink

* WHERE ARE YOU FROM, WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT HOME?

I’m from the Netherlands, I was born in Borger in Drenthe in the countryside.
The thing I miss most for sure is my family and friends. I also miss the Rotterdam vibe.

* FAVORITE PLACE IN THE CITY

Mezzrow, its an amazing intimate jazz club in the Village.

* FAVORITE NEW MUSIC

Andy Laverne – Faith
Now vs Now – The Buffering Cocoon

* FAVORITE OLD MUSIC

I like to listen to too many different things from Joe Henderson, Cedar Walton, Mulgrew Miller, Herbie Hancock to Steely Dan, Nina Pastori, Ara Dinkjjan

* WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-MUSIC THING TO DO

Traveling, I love traveling.

* WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON MUSICALLY

I’ve been touring this summer with the New York Gypsy All-Stars through Europe and playing concerts in Greece with the Maria Manousaki Quartet. I’m also working on my debut album which will hopefully be released early 2020.

* WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST FANBOY MOMENT?

I guess handing out all these signatures after my first concert with the Gypsys. That was something totally new for me haha.

* CRAZIEST GIG EXPERIENCE

I’ve played some gigs in prisons for prisoners in the Netherlands. That was something.

* WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

Hopefully still touring around the world surrounded by amazing musicians and friends.

* YOUR WEBSITE

www.mariusvandenbrink.com

* LINK TO A VIDEO OF YOU

If you like this series of bloggy interviews, check also the one with cellist Mariel Roberts

November 3, 2018 In NY Artist Q&A

NY Artist Q&A: Nadje Noordhuis

For this series of bloggy interviews, I’ve shared questions with young artists and musicians living in New York. This time: trumpeter and composer Nadje Noordhuis. I’ve met her through my friend and former neighbor Leala Cyr and I’m excited that she wanted to be part of this little Q&A – couch session. In addition to the questions, we met up and played a few songs in my place in Brooklyn together. She brought her pedals and we both jammed for a bit, and here is our collaboration.

Q&A with Nadje Noordhuis

* WHERE ARE YOU FROM, WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT HOME?

I’m from Sydney, Australia. I miss my family and my friends most of all, followed by the beaches, the wine, and seafood.

* FAVORITE PLACE IN THE CITY

My favorite venues are the 55 Bar and the Jazz Standard. My nostalgic favorites are The Hungarian Pastry Shop, and Tom’s Restaurant (the Brooklyn one). I need my local coffee shops in Ditmas Park, and MoMA.

* FAVORITE NEW MUSIC

My musical taste is pretty eclectic – I’ve been getting into Penny & Sparrow, Townes Van Zandt, Gabriel Kahane, and Ghost.

* FAVORITE OLD MUSIC

I am a big Nick Cave fan. He was the first concert that I ever went to at age fourteen, and I just saw him at Barclays last month. He’s my absolute favorite.

* WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-MUSIC THING TO DO

I love hanging with friends for a home cooked meal – that always hits the soul. I love to Skype with my niece and nephew. And I knit, and read, and go for walks in Prospect Park. Any chance I get to hang upstate, especially up near Woodstock, I take!

* WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON MUSICALLY

I’m learning more about how to use my crazy pedalboard – every time I play, I discover something new. And discover what I thought I could do but can’t actually replicate. It’s a beast. But I love it. I’m also playing a lot of piano, and writing more tunes. 

* WHATS YOUR GREATEST FANGIRL MOMENT?

I met Kenny Wheeler once but was too shy to play in front of him at a workshop. Years ago I met my heroes Fred Hersch and Matt Wilson, and I’m super thrilled to be touring with both of them next year. I would love to meet Manfred Eicher from ECM. And I think I would pass out if I met Nick Cave.

* CRAZIEST GIG EXPERIENCE

About sixteen years ago in Melbourne, at 8am in a public park, I was crouched in the garden with my trumpet in a gym bag, waiting for the cue of a wave of a straw hat, where I had to leap out and play Amazing Grace for a group of people on a tour of the park. Someone saw me waiting to play and asked if I was okay.

* WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

I honestly don’t know. Things change so quickly, and I am always up for an adventure. So I may be still playing and teaching and writing, or maybe doing something completely different. No clue!

* YOUR WEBSITE

www.nadjenoordhuis.com & www.littlemysteryrecords.com

* LINK TO A VIDEO OF YOU

July 3, 2018 In NY Artist Q&A

NY Artist Q&A: Song Yi Jeon

For this series of bloggy interviews I’ve shared questions with young artists and musicians living in New York. This time: vocalist and composer Song Yi Jeon. I’ve met her first while studying at Berklee College of music when we were studying with people like Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano and George Garzone. And I really love where she is taking her music and I encourage you all to check her new album out that was released last month!

* WHERE ARE YOU FROM, WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT HOME?

I’m from Republic of Korea, which is known as South Korea. I miss my parents, cheap street food. – Currently I’m visiting Korea, so all fulfilled! 

* FAVORITE PLACE IN THE CITY

I have a couple favorite places in New York. Union square, which is the most convenient location to meet people or call people to come. The other one is a coffee shop at my neighborhood, called “Coffee Mob”. Best coffee ever! The last place is the area near Washington Square park. All the jazz clubs, and my (probably not only mine but most of my musician friends) nightlife is there.

* FAVORITE NEW MUSIC

…is more like a new discovery; Charles Mingus and Fred Hersch (duo album with Anat Cohen)

* FAVORITE OLD MUSIC

  • Edward Simon’s Impossible question. It’s an album with David Binney.
  • Guillermo Klein’s “El Minotauro”
  • Byungki Hwang’s “Spring Snow (Chun Seol)” – Korean traditional instrument music

* WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-MUSIC THING TO DO

Eating chocolate, drinking coffee (But I have limit, 1 cup a day!) and I love watching complete tv series at once!

* WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON MUSICALLY

I have a concert about Thelonious Monk. I’m trying to arrange his songs which is not easy at all but I’m learning a lot through this process!

* CRAZIEST GIG EXPERIENCE

I had two episodes at one gig. I had an opportunity to play in Qatar with some Arabic musicians as well as Western musicians. We were about to perform and last minute they told me that I cannot wear a dress that shows my knees. So we had to find a long dress, black tie style, like 30 minutes before the show. Few days after when we were leaving at the airport, passport controller was not letting me to leave, looking at me weirdly. The truth was that my entrance visa was saying that I was from North Korea. Oops…

* WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

I honestly don’t know. I was living in NY until last month, and tried to live day by day and perform and surviving in NY as a musician for the next 10 years was my dream. Now I left NY, much earlier than I thought as a matter of fact, but I’m moving to Europe. I cannot picture myself yet how I would be in next 10 years. Probably I would do the same as I did in NY; keep trying to live day by day, writing music, performing and surviving. And hopefully my music gets growing.

Recently I released a new album. Here is the bandcamp link that people can listen to entire album!

* LINK TO A VIDEO OF YOU

It’s a video of a Korean traditional folk song that I arranged. It’s also a last track of my new album “Movement of Lives”

https://youtu.be/MHz0DEAPO9Y

* LINK TO YOUR WEBSITE

https://www.songyimusic.com/contact