Musicians on Their Music

As most of you know, I’ve been writing musician profiles for various publications for the past 35 years. The musicians who were interviewed candidly discussed their beginnings, development, experiences, philosophies, struggles, and above all, their joys as music makers. The following are some excerpts from my first book – JAZZ BEAT, Notes on Classic Jazz – originally published in 2013 and now available on Amazon as an eBook and paperback. Clint Baker - “I’m not a goal-oriented person, but music has helped me find my way. Music has its own rewards. I became a band leader, not because I had great aspirations to be one, but because I wanted to know how music works and not what it does for me. Jazz is like public speaking; it works best when you leave spaces. You need to have good fundamentals and understand music theory, be able to make a statement, and draw people into what you are doing. Versatility and commitment are extremely important.” Bria Skonberg - “I have always been an ambitious person, and the move to New York was the most ambitious thing I’ve ever done. It’s been a huge transition, and the learning curve has been steep but quick. Who knew immigrating to another country and forging an obscure career would be so tricky. The good news is that I�