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By ucombo, October 9, 2009 11:21 am

Jason Parker, a jazz trumpet player from Seattle, has been living the dream of many independent musicians and paying the bills at the same time. Working in the music industry for over 20 years, Jason leads The Jason Parker Quartet, one of the busiest jazz bands in Seattle, and plays in a host of other bands, including Clave Nagila, Water Babies, The Nate Omdal Nonet and more.

Jason has released four of his own CDs and played on countless others. He is releasing the second CD with The Jason Parker Quartet, entitled “No More, No Less”, this month. It was recorded on April 8, 2009 at MOUSe Recording, Seattle, WA. Its official release date is October 24, 2009.

Ucombo Music Reviews editor Meg Dilts had a conversation with Jason Parker on his early musical training, the making of his first CD, and his career.

Meg: Hi Jason, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. You’ve been on the music scene for over 20 years. Have you always played in a jazz band?

Jason: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me! I appreciate the opportunity to tell your readers a bit about myself and my music.
I started playing the trumpet at 8 years old and my first exposure to jazz was in my high school big band. The teacher was really into old Basie charts, Sammy Nistico, Maynard Ferguson, etc. He really got me playing jazz. Then I attended the Interlochen Arts Academy for two summers during high school, which really help me progress as a musician. I entered college as a music major, but quickly realized that I didn’t have the drive that the other music students did. They spent all their waking hours in the practice rooms, but I just wanted to be a college freshman! So I played in a few rock bands and pick-up bands, but turned my attention to the radio station at the college, which played lots of jazz. It was a way for me to stay close to the music without all that practicing! After college I put the horn down, had a very successful career in radio, and didn’t think much about playing. It was only after I turned 30 and had a bit of a mid-life crisis that I went back to the horn. A Seattle bassist named Ev Stern has been leading a Jazz Workshop for years and convinced me to come try it out. I did, was hooked, and haven’t put the horn down since. That was 10 years ago.

Meg: When did you start your musical training? You are a trumpet player,
has it always been your instrument of choice since the beginning?

Jason: Growing up we listened to equal parts classical music (my dad’s choice) and folk music (my mom’s choice). From an early age I was taken with the cello, and that’s the first instrument I wanted to play. In 2nd grade, when they made everyone in my school choose and instrument, I chose the cello. But I was told I was too small and would have to settle for a violin. I wasn’t happy about it, but decided to give it a try. But about 2 weeks before the first music class, they called us all into the multi-purpose room and sat us down for a concert. I was right up front, and remember sitting at the feet of a man who looked like a giant, wearing a daishiki and a huge smile, and playing the heck out of a trumpet. I sat watching him mesmerize the whole room, and decided then and there that I wanted to be a trumpet player. That man: Dizzy Gillespie!

Meg: As a professional musician, do you teach besides performing? Do you
find teaching students musically rewarding?

Jason: I do a little bit of teaching. I’ve never enjoyed having a ton of private students, but I love teaching classes to groups of kids and do so for a few organizations in Seattle. I find working with groups and teaching them how to play as a band is very rewarding and inspiring. My favorite thing about jazz is that it is a conversation, and seeing young folks get that and actually start listening to each other is one of my biggest rewards.

Meg: Your quartet, The Jason Parker Quartet, is one of the busiest jazz
bands in Seattle. When was it formed? How did you meet the musicians in
your band?

Jason: I have been leading some form of the JPQ since 2001. The current group has been together for about 2 1/2 years and are the greatest human beings I’ve ever played with. I met Josh Rawlings, the piano player, when I hired one of his bands (Soul Kata) to open for my band Water Babies. We hit it off and when the piano chair in my group came open he was the only person I wanted. Luckily he said yes! He introduced me to Evan Flory-Barnes (bass) and D’Vonne Lewis (drums), who he plays with in a couple of different groups in Seattle (The Teaching and Industrial Revelation). I brought them in to help me record our first CD and we’ve been playing together ever since.

Meg: “Jason Parker Quartet  No More, No Less” is your fourth CD. Is it the
first CD release of your quartet?

Jason: This is our second CD. The first, called “The Jason Parker Quartet”, was released in 2007 on Broken Time Records.

Meg: What is the story behind making this CD? The title is “No More, No
Less”, where did you draw the inspirations from?

Jason: This new CD is a product of the countless gigs and time we’ve spent hanging together in the last 2 1/2 years. I’m fortunate to be able to keep the group together, as working bands are a rarity in jazz these days. But with a working band comes a familiarity and a level of communication that is hard to replicate with a thrown together band. Josh, Evan and D’Vonne are some of the most in-demand players in Seattle and I’m thrilled that they’ve chosen to stay with me all this time.
The inspiration for the title was the desire to present the band, as is, with no frills, no studio tricks, no sugar-coating – no more, no less! We’re at our best when we play live and our passion is visible to the audience, and that’s how I wanted the record to sound too.
The inspiration for the playing comes from each other. I can’t tell you how inspired and inspiring these cats are, and each time I play with them I feel myself lifted up, musically and personally.
And the inspiration for the first track comes from my wife, my Bashert, Darrah.

Meg: Thanks again for talking to us, Jason. The best of luck in the new CD
release.

Jason: Thanks so much Meg! For this, and for all you do to spread the word about independent musicians.

To preview the new album, go to http://oneworkingmusician.com.

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By admin, August 17, 2009 2:52 pm

Hailed by listeners as “The only UK rapper I’d spend money on,” Jovel Walker, also known as Random Impulse just released his newest independent album “Full Metal Alchemist”. Ucombo Music Reviews editor Meg Dilts had the opportunity interviewing him on August 5th, 2008.

Ucombo: We’ve had the pleasure listening to the tracks on your newest release “Full Metal Alchemist”. I’m very much impressed by your clear sense of descriptiveness shown in the songs and your unique rapping style.

Ucombo: Could you tell us about the inspiration and story behind making this wonderful new project?

Jovel: you want the truth? anime! i’m a super nerd and i watch Japanese religously. The concept behind the album is based on a theory i took from the anime “full metal alchemist” (hence the album tittle) which is alchemy is understanding matter, breaking it down, then reconstructing it as somthing else, so what i did is take all my musical influences break them down, then take all the bits that i found amazing and used it to make something completely different. Nerdy as hell right?

Ucombo: You sold an astonishing 10,000 units of independently with your first debut release “Word On The Street” in a short space of 6 months. What do you consider to be the most important factor in making that possible?

Jovel: Id have to say plain old drive and determination if im honest. theres SO many ways to get yourself out there and rather then just think about doing something, i actually DO it. Whether it be hitting the roads of oxford street selling cd’s or messaging 100 people every day on myspace, i get on with it, and it all helps. theres no smoke, mirrors or miracle walk through guides im afraid peeps, just work your ass off

Ucombo: You were signed to extremely successful garage label Social Circles alongside underground superstars such as Dexplicit, Donae’o, ms dynamite and sticky as early as 2003. You must have only been around 17 years old at that time. Could you tell us more about your early musical life? How did you get started?

Jovel: I got into music really late, i spent my days studying to be a genetic engineer, then my friend showed me jay-z’s blueprint two and it changed my life. next thing you know i was on stage with dizzee rascal at the 2003 peoples choice awards. I cant explained the actual trasition from science to music, it just flowed and i picked it up really quicky. I’ve still got loads of catching up to do though music wise: i still havent heard any of 2pacs or biggies albums, i havent even got around to hearing nas’s illmatic yet!

Ucombo: Who are your most important musical influences?

Jovel: firstly id have to say alex turner from the arctic monkeys: hes my writing idol. At close second is jay-z, if it weren’t for him i wouldnt even have started. there are so many more people that I look to for inspiration but i’d have to say those two are at the core.

Ucombo: Any future project plans?

Jovel: hell yeah dude! im doing my “collaboration runs” now that the albums out, ive got a song due out produced by terror danjah with me and dizzee rascal, an indie-based 7 track free mixtape/ep called indie-pendance day and of course the new album which is easily my best work to date so keep your eyes peeled!

Ucombo: It’s been our pleasure listening to your songs and thank you for letting us interview you. Look forward to hearing more music from you and best of luck to your new release.

Jovel: the pleasure was all mine dude, thanks for having me!