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| The Jimi Hendrix Project |
| Third Stone From The Sun |
| The Jimi Hendrix Project What do you get when bring together four seasoned professional musicians with an idea to interpret the music of Jimi Hendrix in a jazz format? You get a set of amazing jazz renditions of some of the most influential music ever recorded, and The New York Optimist was at The Iridium Jazz club on 51st street and Broadway in Manhattan last month to witness this unique performance. |
I had the chance to interview Donald Edwards the percussionist from the group to get a
better insight on this amazing musical project.
TNYO: Donald Edwards thank you for giving us this interview first question I would like
to ask why are you a drummer? How long have you been a drummer / professional
musician?
Donald Edwards: Whoa - well that’s always a hard question, I try to separate the serious
years from the not so serious years, I guess you could say professionally 20 years.
TNYO: I couldn’t help but notice that the Jimi Hendrix Project consisted of a tightly
knit set of Jimi Hendrix renditions was that the main purpose of this show?
Donald Edwards: Yes the Project was our interpretation of his music.
TNYO: I brought my brother to the show he is a rhythm guitarist and he was transfixed
on your percussion I have to agree you’re an incredible drummer.
Donald Edwards: Wow now that’s a compliment.
TNYO: Sure is you deserve it, sounded like a combination of jazz, rock, and easy riding
rhythmic drumming.
Donald Edwards: Even Jimi Hendrix’s drummer Mitch Mitchell was, well you know they
were doing the rock thing but he was a jazz cat at heart he dabbled in the jazz a little bit
so ya you know he had both sides also.
TNYO: Have you been together for a long time as a band?
Donald Edwards: No that was the first project actually and it was a request of the
manager at The Iridium who books the bands, he went to George and said could you put
together a Hendrix project. George began arranging the music he put together one
rehearsal and it went better then we expected.
TNYO: Wow one rehearsal and then you did the show.
Donald Edwards: Yes we rehearsed it the night before.
TNYO: Pros!! Can you tell me a little bit about the guitarist Jerome Harris?
Donald Edwards: Donald Edwards: I don’t really know a lot about him
but I know he’s played with Jack Dejohnette, basically that was Jack Dejohnettes band,
and Jerome and the other musicians have all played in Jack Dejohnettes band. (He plays
guitar. he plays bass. he also sings!) he’s the kind of guy you want in your band cause he
can do anything and he’s just a really great musician.
TNYO: Do you play with a lot of different bands - are you a studio musician?
Donald Edwards: Actually I own a recording studio and yes I play with a few bands.
I tour around with different groups and do straight ahead jazz, some funk stuff.
TNYO: Will The Jimi Hendrix Project play another show anytime soon?
Donald Edwards: Yes we will. George was looking into what we did and is figuring out if
its something people would really want to check out.
TNYO: I noticed the guitarist was sticking to traditional jazz riffs although he sounded
amazing I would have thought being Jimi Hendrix influenced he might of went more with
that sonic distorted sound Jimi was famous for.
Donald Edwards: Well that was the whole idea, to do Hendrix’s music in the realms of
what we do. I think Jerome is a jazz musician, were all jazz musicians and we play a lot
of Jazz but we all come from other backgrounds and have listened to a lot of different
kinds of music. The whole idea was to keep that jazz flavor in the music - the abstract
part of it and Jerome helped us achieve that.
He kept the jazz flavor but kept that edgy gritty Hendrix feeling.
TNYO: Is there anything that directly connected you guys to Hendrix or did you pick the
songs and say lets do this set.
Donald Edwards: I think George listened to a lot of Jimi’s music and I think he chose
the songs that would work well with what we do. Although Hendrix probably didn’t
approach it this way I think Hendrix may have been thinking about or hearing it. Its
definitely part of his music he has a bluesy and Jazzy side to his music, and maybe
George chose the songs accordingly to bring that side of it across.
TNYO: I play guitar too I was thinking that If I were to do this kind of approach to his
music I would have added some sound effects to the guitar, Jerome kept the sound clean.
Donald Edwards: Well it was the first gig; I think after listening to it we may say this is
what we may like to do with it next time.
TNYO: The sound totally worked it was a great show.
Just a few more questions, Music – what are your plans with it, is this what you will be
doing fro the rest of your life?
Donald Edwards: Yes, I have been supporting myself (playing music) and I have been for
a long time.
There are other aspects as well; as I said before I have my own recording studio I do a
lot of production. There are a lot of different facets of this industry that I have got
involved in. I am also involved in a project where I am the link between a European
promoter and American musicians. I present musicians to different promoters for
many projects.
We ended the interview here as Donald was headed to Japan with his trio to thrill the
peoples on the other side of the planet but I definitely recommend you stay tuned to
these musician’s websites to see any news on any upcoming shows in your town.
And of course tune in weekly here to www.thenewyorkoptimist.com as we will surely be
keeping track of these artists.
better insight on this amazing musical project.
TNYO: Donald Edwards thank you for giving us this interview first question I would like
to ask why are you a drummer? How long have you been a drummer / professional
musician?
Donald Edwards: Whoa - well that’s always a hard question, I try to separate the serious
years from the not so serious years, I guess you could say professionally 20 years.
TNYO: I couldn’t help but notice that the Jimi Hendrix Project consisted of a tightly
knit set of Jimi Hendrix renditions was that the main purpose of this show?
Donald Edwards: Yes the Project was our interpretation of his music.
TNYO: I brought my brother to the show he is a rhythm guitarist and he was transfixed
on your percussion I have to agree you’re an incredible drummer.
Donald Edwards: Wow now that’s a compliment.
TNYO: Sure is you deserve it, sounded like a combination of jazz, rock, and easy riding
rhythmic drumming.
Donald Edwards: Even Jimi Hendrix’s drummer Mitch Mitchell was, well you know they
were doing the rock thing but he was a jazz cat at heart he dabbled in the jazz a little bit
so ya you know he had both sides also.
TNYO: Have you been together for a long time as a band?
Donald Edwards: No that was the first project actually and it was a request of the
manager at The Iridium who books the bands, he went to George and said could you put
together a Hendrix project. George began arranging the music he put together one
rehearsal and it went better then we expected.
TNYO: Wow one rehearsal and then you did the show.
Donald Edwards: Yes we rehearsed it the night before.
TNYO: Pros!! Can you tell me a little bit about the guitarist Jerome Harris?
Donald Edwards: Donald Edwards: I don’t really know a lot about him
but I know he’s played with Jack Dejohnette, basically that was Jack Dejohnettes band,
and Jerome and the other musicians have all played in Jack Dejohnettes band. (He plays
guitar. he plays bass. he also sings!) he’s the kind of guy you want in your band cause he
can do anything and he’s just a really great musician.
TNYO: Do you play with a lot of different bands - are you a studio musician?
Donald Edwards: Actually I own a recording studio and yes I play with a few bands.
I tour around with different groups and do straight ahead jazz, some funk stuff.
TNYO: Will The Jimi Hendrix Project play another show anytime soon?
Donald Edwards: Yes we will. George was looking into what we did and is figuring out if
its something people would really want to check out.
TNYO: I noticed the guitarist was sticking to traditional jazz riffs although he sounded
amazing I would have thought being Jimi Hendrix influenced he might of went more with
that sonic distorted sound Jimi was famous for.
Donald Edwards: Well that was the whole idea, to do Hendrix’s music in the realms of
what we do. I think Jerome is a jazz musician, were all jazz musicians and we play a lot
of Jazz but we all come from other backgrounds and have listened to a lot of different
kinds of music. The whole idea was to keep that jazz flavor in the music - the abstract
part of it and Jerome helped us achieve that.
He kept the jazz flavor but kept that edgy gritty Hendrix feeling.
TNYO: Is there anything that directly connected you guys to Hendrix or did you pick the
songs and say lets do this set.
Donald Edwards: I think George listened to a lot of Jimi’s music and I think he chose
the songs that would work well with what we do. Although Hendrix probably didn’t
approach it this way I think Hendrix may have been thinking about or hearing it. Its
definitely part of his music he has a bluesy and Jazzy side to his music, and maybe
George chose the songs accordingly to bring that side of it across.
TNYO: I play guitar too I was thinking that If I were to do this kind of approach to his
music I would have added some sound effects to the guitar, Jerome kept the sound clean.
Donald Edwards: Well it was the first gig; I think after listening to it we may say this is
what we may like to do with it next time.
TNYO: The sound totally worked it was a great show.
Just a few more questions, Music – what are your plans with it, is this what you will be
doing fro the rest of your life?
Donald Edwards: Yes, I have been supporting myself (playing music) and I have been for
a long time.
There are other aspects as well; as I said before I have my own recording studio I do a
lot of production. There are a lot of different facets of this industry that I have got
involved in. I am also involved in a project where I am the link between a European
promoter and American musicians. I present musicians to different promoters for
many projects.
We ended the interview here as Donald was headed to Japan with his trio to thrill the
peoples on the other side of the planet but I definitely recommend you stay tuned to
these musician’s websites to see any news on any upcoming shows in your town.
And of course tune in weekly here to www.thenewyorkoptimist.com as we will surely be
keeping track of these artists.