Another superb interview/discussion w/legendary jazz leader NIcki Mathis

"Try to perform with musicians who will also listen to you, know your song's story, and allow you to tell it your way."



Djata: NIcki, exactly what distinguishes jazz singers from other music genres like opera, rhythm and blues, country, and so forth?

NIcki: For me, jazz is in the moment, kind of evolving as it is delivered - free, or at least it's supposed to be; I believe opera is entirely structured, as in note for note the way someone wrote it & doesn't allow for individually inspired changes; rhythm and blues have what it suggests, a different rhythm, and blues, a sort of a wailing of despair, and can be sassy; country, I don't know much about, but I enjoy Willie Nelson, and think he's pretty hip & jazzy at times, and look what Gladys Knight did to Neither One of Us. I think the difference in each is time and feel...soul?

Djata: Do you think that any particular phrasing or texture of a song’s interpretation is gender specific?

NIcki: No. I read that Luther Vandross was inspired by Dionne Warwick; Frank Sinatra's phrasing was inspired by a black female singer who's name escapes me at the moment…

Djata interrupts, “Josephone Baker?”…NIcki: No, but she was one of Josephine's peers, & not Bricktop. I remember now. Her name was Mable Mercer‏. She was famous in France for many years before she came back to the states, in the late Seventies. She was still thrilling NYC audiences with her delivery from her chair/throne.

Djata: In terms of relating with other musicians, both male and female, in creating music, what is the history of female jazz singers as either members with or leaders of orchestras and groups of whatever size?

NIcki: ...History of female jazz singers? time doesn't permit me to begin to express, but let's just say they were involved every step of the way, but hardly mentioned/recalled - while their male counterparts are. Who knows that in the beginning, Lucile Armstrong played in the band with Louis, and later encouraged him to go out on his own?

Djata: NIcki, is there anything that you would like to say to young females who may be entertaining the idea of being a jazz singer?

NIcki: The same thing Eric Dolphy said to me: Sing everyday. I would add, sing everything, jazz, rhythm and blues, opera, country. . . be conscious of the story you're telling, and listen to yourself. Try to perform with musicians who will also listen to you, know your song's story, and allow you to tell it your way.

please stay tuned…