A Few Words With Vij Prakash

Vij Prakash is a trombonist, composer and educator in both the jazz and pop music scenes. In the jazz world, he has his own projects and works as a sideman and held a long-standing residency Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s. In the pop world, he played at Glastonbury and toured with All Saints, Raleigh Ritchie and Shed 7. Currently, Vij runs the music programme at the Cambridge School for Visual and Performing Arts and is is a resident MD with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra

I had the opportunity to sit down with Vij and ask him about all things jazz. (And he even gave me a quick lesson!)

How did you get into jazz?

A combination of a few things.

Listening: My first real memories are of Louis Armstrong compilation CDs my Dad used to buy from service (gas) stations. I started out as a trumpet player so I became obsessed with his sound. When I got a bit older I bought Sidewinder, Seven Steps to Heaven, and Moanin’. These records absolutely blew my mind as until then I hadn’t heard any jazz past the 1930s.

Playing: At school I had bad teeth. That’s not great for life in general but on trumpet it meant I was able to play really high because I had an unusual embouchure. From quite a young age I was put on lead trumpet and was surrounded by some great players and got to experience how it felt to play, a joy which has never left me.

Teachers: I was very lucky to get to learn from the amazing Steve Berry (Loose Tubes) and he is just an absolute vessel for music. Seeing how he was able to be so creative and inspiring in every situation still impacts me to this day.

Why the trombone?

I was a trumpet player for 8 years but after having to go through some pretty serious dental work I had to switch onto something with a bigger mouthpiece. The shape of my mouth was changed. I tried to go back to the trumpet but just couldn’t play like I could before. It was a choice of horn or bone and there was only ever one option for me.

Did you ever veer away from jazz and go a little bit wild?

I really love electronic music. I currently have a live house music trio called Hench Hog (releasing first music this year) and am also the musical director of a 13 piece UK garage outfit.

What’s your typical week like? Gigging, teaching?

About half and half. Weekdays are spent mainly in education, which I am passionate about. I’m the resident musical director at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, I run a music degree programme in Cambridge at the Cambridge School for Visual and Performing Arts. I run the Cambridge Jazz Fest education arm. I do some coaching at Cambridge University too.

I gig as often as possible—with duos, trios, personal projects—the Brass Funkeys, Hench Hog—you name it.

I also have two young kids, which keeps me busy, as you might imagine.

And beyond all that…I have recently opened a new music venue called Arts Club Cambridge.

You’ve opened a new venue? Are you mad?

I suppose so! But I do love variety. You can see that from all the different musical projects I’m involved in—from trad to garage to electronic music. It’s that kind of ethos I want to embed at the Arts Club—allowing creativity to flourish in all its forms. My current programming is “Jazz meets …” (jazz meets electronica, hip hop, folk etc) and I’m trying to show how wide ranging the art form can be. We are also bringing in arts exhibitions, live visuals and fashion exhibitions to really make it feel like a multi-arts space.

You’re British with Indian heritage. How has that played out in the jazz world? Has it ever made things (more) difficult for you?

Fortunately, I have never been made to feel like an outsider. I realize that I’m very lucky in that respect and it is certainly not the case for everyone. In recent years I have had more and more of a yearning to further connect with my heritage and quite how this will play out musically is something I don’t yet know.

I suppose I’ve always tried to bring a good attitude and hard work to all my situations. I hope that people see this over anything else.

What’s the state of British jazz at the moment?

There is so much going on in so many areas. It is certainly a vibrant place to be and there is a genuine cross-generational interest in its many forms. Through my work at Arts Club this is something that I am hoping to really engage with and bring to Cambridge.

When is the next album out?

I have a new album currently at the vinyl press which I’m very excited about. It’s the 7th release with a very long-standing project, The Brass Funkeys. It’s a nine-piece horns and drums line-up. It’s an album we are really proud of and we feel like this is closest thing we have done that really reflects our sound. Out on April 7th!

I am also dropping an EP in the next month or so with my electronic trio, Hench Hog. This has been a real passion project and after about 2 years of experimenting we are finally in a position to share something with the world.

Visit Vij Prakash online at www.vijprakash.com.