Akbar : Well, you have been since almost 30 years in the music industry. You started to play guitar when you were 11 and then, as a teenager, had Jim Hall, Pat Metheny and Joe Puma as teachers, before attending the famous Berklee College of Music. How did it happen and who was your main influence?

Chuck : Well, I was very lucky to have grown up very near to New York City, so there were a lot of incredible musicians to study with, Going to Berklee seemed like the logical next move after graduating from High School and it was a fantastic experience. My biggest influences when I was young were Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Wes Montgomery, John McClaughlin and of course Jim Hall.

Akbar : At the age of 22 you joined jazz sax legend Stan Getz Band. What has this amazing experience brought to your play? Who was "The Sound" as a band leader?

Chuck :It was a life changing period and experience for me, because not only did I get to play with a living legend of Jazz every night all over the world, but I also met my wife Carmen Cuesta while on the road with Stan. That was amazing to have Stan Getz as our best man at our wedding!

Akbar : In the 1980's you worked mainly as studio musician and a composer for film scores, jingles and TV themes. You also started to produce various high profile jazz musicians such as Spyro Gyra, Bob James, Larry Coryell and gained recognitions for your producing skills? To make things easier, most of the producing work was done at your home, not true? So you had your own family and your music family at the same time (laughs!)

Chuck : Yes -- that was a real blessing. Although we did some session at outside studios, as time went on and the equipment became more sophisticated, we were able to work at home more and more. It was great because Carmen would make incredible meals and we would take a break from working to sit together with some of the best musicians in the world for lunch and dinner!

Akbar : You also joined Mike Manieri's famous band, Steps Ahead (1985-1987) with the late Michael Brecker. It is such a huge loss for contemporary jazz. Is there anything you shared with Michael that you would like to share with our readers?

Chuck : Well, that was truly a life-changing experience. I consider Michael to be a true jazz legend, and he was such a gentle soul also. One memory I have is sitting in a hotel at a jazz festival one day and it wasn't a great hotel. I said to Mike - "You should have a deluxe 5 star hotel! You're MICHAEL BRECKER for God's sake!" But he was so humble -- he just said "Let's go do the gig." And laughed. What a cool guy.

Akbar : And then eventually in 1988 you released your first solo CD "My Shining Hour" and this solo debut album was definitely your shining hour, as you topped the charts with three various singles. Why such a long wait to launch your solo career?

Chuck : Well, it wasn't totally by choice. It took a while to find the right recording situation, and also I was very busy doing other things in the studios of New york and helping to raise a family. But in retrospect I think it happened at the right time, because by that time I had a better idea of what kind of records I wanted to make, and how to do it.

Akbar :You stayed with the record label Shanachie for 10 years and then left them for Heads Up, for whom you released your latest album "Presence"? Why this change?

Chuck : I guess the best way to put it is that things change over time, and people move in different directions, and it was the right time for a fresh start. I was very happy in my time with Shanachie, and I am also extremely happy to be with Heads Up -- a fantastic company and a great roster of artists.

Akbar : I should say that "Presence" is an awesome album. Everything is present in it: 11 great tracks, an amazing cast of musicians, your wife Carmen on the samba track "Lleva Me" (Carry Me), rich and nicely crafted musical arrangements and so many other things, that make this album a very balanced and accomplished one. And there is this tune "Presence", a tribute to your wife Carmen's father, Anastasio Cuesta. How important for you was/is his presence?