Lori Paul - I've always been a reflective person so the study of human nature and our place in the universe captured me early on. When you go from employing your craft to exploring your art, you have to ask yourself "What do I have to offer?" and ultimately "What do I want to say?" This requires a willingness to examine your fears and desires, set your intention and hopefully create more consciously.

John - I know you're a big lover of Joseph Campbell, more than anything else in his PBS series with Bill Moyers the thing that stayed with me most was 'don't get too attached to the metaphore in religion' we seem to be a society that wants to argue about wether the red sea did actually part instead of just getting the message behind it.

Lori - I think Joseph wanted us to realize that all the great religions intend the same goal and that interpreting our various scriptures as historical events reduces their value and creates conflict where none need exist. He believed we should celebrate the miraculous diversity of humanity while recognizing that we are in fact one world, one people.
He also encouraged us to "Follow our Bliss" and that's the best advice anyone's ever given me.

John - You're a big reader, whats your latest book?

Lori - I'm currently reading "Your Aura & Your Chakras~The Owner's Manual" by Karla McLaren which is a practical guide to various meditation techniques which I am finding invaluable these days. I just finished "Death In Holy Orders" a fictitious work by British mystery author P.D.James. I usually have a variety of books on the go and also subscribe to The Utne Reader.

John - Your CD 'Now Or Never' has an interesting title it sounds like one of those 'fish or cut bait' things. Did you really feel like it you didn't do it at that point that stage of your life would drift away?

Lori - The title came from a Billie Holiday song, one of my favorite cuts on the album. It was a tongue in cheek choice reflecting the conflict I felt in producing the project…I wanted to finish it but I wanted to keep working on it at the same time. The permanence of the final product is the best and worst thing about it!

John - How did you feel when you heard that knowone got the Smooth Jazz License in Vancouver?

Lori - I was disappointed but I hold out hope that it will happen at some point in the near future. I have no doubt that it would be well received by Vancouver listeners and many local musicians who would benefit by it.

John - Some of the six applicants had problems with some musicians about what smooth Jazz was. A few didn't want to be associated with it even though a smooth jazz station would of meant some airplay where they get very little now. Have you encountered this form of snobbery in Jazz, this "oh what your doing is not real Jazz"?

Lori - Musicians in general can be a little touchy when it comes to defining what they do by industry-imposed categories. Since smooth jazz is sometimes perceived as being mellow, instrumental music, some musicians want to avoid guilt by association so they distance themselves from it even though, from a programmer's perspective, they might fit that format. I've played with many great jazz musicians and I've never felt like I was being judged unfairly or spoken down to by any of them.

John - How's the Smooth Jazz scene in Vancouver or is there even a Jazz Scene?

Lori - I don't think you could speak of a smooth jazz scene in Vancouver though QMFM has been playing smooth jazz for the past decade. We have a number of gifted jazz musicians in this city but precious few venues to present them, unfortunately.

John - Thanks I miss doing Night-Lite at QM-FM.. We spent some time at the CRTC hearing together, you seemed to soak up what was going on, I noticed some people almost snoozing in the back row, did you look at it as a learning experience?

Lori - I enjoyed the experience and thought it was interesting to hear what the various local factions felt they could offer.

John - The CRTC chose an Urban license instead of the six Smooth Jazz Applicants, do you think Vancouver needs an urban(Black version of Z-95) station more than Smooth Jazz?

Lori - There is a wealth of urban music coming out of the states that we don't hear unless we tune into Seattle stations but I think that smooth jazz would likely appeal to a wider audience locally.

John - At least there's a Smooth Jazz station in Hamilton and this summer Calgary will be the second.

Lori - Let's hope it's a trend!

John - How's the new album Coming? And when we will hear it?

Lori - It's in the works and will likely be released in the fall. It's an album I've co-written with local guitar hero Tim Hearsey so I'm really excited about it.

John - Isn't it sometimes hard to get funding to get things to the next level?

Lori - It is, but you have to believe in the work and find a way to get it out there. It's a privilege to make music so I don't complain about these aspects of the process, though I admit it's a challenge.

John - I know you teach vocal lessons, what's the biggest thing that most vocalist just don't get?

Lori - Vocalists don't get that audiences are not scrutinizing every aspect of the vocal; they just want to be moved by the music. We don't "make music" we let the music happen. It's the old illusion of control that keeps most of us from transcending our training.

John - What's the high point so far in your career?

Lori - I was nominated Female Vocalist of the Year by C.A.R.A.S in 1986 and that was a thrill for me.

John - Whats the low point?

Lori - I lost my voice in the early 80's and had to cancel a months worth of work and it really humbled me. It was also devastating financially for my band so I felt bad for everyone. It was a dark time.

John - You opened for BB King that must have been an event.

Lori - It was incredible. In fact I have a picture that a friend took of BB, and me, which hangs on my wall. Sadly, I have ridiculous hair in that shot so I can't bring myself to feature it on my web site! (www.loripaul.com)

John - you were on the Mysterious by Billy Newton Davis, what ever happened to him?

Lori - I'm not sure. I never actually met him as I was called in for a group BG session (Background vocals) but I enjoyed the experience of working with the late Brian McLeod, who produced that album.

John - Where were you on Sept 11th?

Lori - I arrived at my day gig at the Arts Club Theatre that morning unaware of what had happened. Janet Wright, the great Canadian director/actor bumped into me in the reception area and said, "Did you hear the World Trade Center is gone?" I said "What!?" and she replied, "It's gone and so is the Pentagon…they expect at least 10,000 casualties…" It was utterly devastating. Even when the actual number of people killed dropped to under 5,000, I felt raw with the knowledge that we were all so vulnerable.

John - To get back to our first question, I found that last year you were asking the big questions that a lot of people only started doing after sept 11, is this discerning side of you what drives you, you seem to put a lot of thought into that next step.

Lori - I think I tend to ponder the mysteries of life more than most people because I have time to indulge in the practice! I have no children to parent, no husband to consider and only a few familiar demons that I invite in for a little plaguing every so often. Performing is a relatively small part of my life whereas being present and authentic in the moment, this is the real challenge. This is what informs and enriches the goals I have as a human being and as an artist.

John - do you think sept 11th will have a lasting effect?

Lori - No more so than any tragedy people experience and live through.
It was shocking but when you think of the horrific things that happen all over the planet, where thousands lose their lives to wars, famine or natural disasters, I think you have to recognize that these are the facts of life as they always have been and always will be. It's the unpredictability of life that disturbs us most, it seems to me.

John - Ever go on one of those New Age or Psychology workshop weekends?

Lori - No, but I have studied metaphysical subjects for the past 2 decades and consider myself fairly well informed on various aspects of this vast topic. I have found tremendous solace in the wisdom of ancient systems of divination but don't try to convince anyone else of the validity of these practices. I do suggest they keep an open mind though, consider the possibilities, and trust their own experience.

John - Though I haven't done a weekend self help thing in years I do have fond memories of those days, I have to admit most of the time my life would change, well for a few weeks anyway.

Lori - It's the practical application that's tricky!

John - Sure is if we could apply the knowledge we'd all be on mountain tops going "Ummm". The charts are holding a lot of us older folks hostage with teen queen and boy bands, do any of them grab you?

Lori - I enjoy the production quality and the harmonies but I have to say that I can't tell one boy band from the next. As for the teen queens, I'm disturbed by the emphasis on sexuality and explicit lyrics but I would have loved it all when I was a young girl!

John - One of my guilty pleasures in High School was Toto, I know these guys were great musicians, Jeff Porcaro was one of the best steady drummers out there and Steve Lukather is according to Eddie Van Halen a wizard but my friends still gave me hell for buying their debut in the late 70's, do you have a few of those, were you hiding the 'Saturday Night Fever' or 'Dirty Dancing' 8 tracks in your purse? Ha Ha !!

Lori - I had a fondness for Abba that I would deny now but my real guilty pleasure is Led Zeppelin. I get chills when I hear "Black Dog" to this day!

John - Ditto to both. What are your desert Island albums and books?

Lori - Well this is always an impossible task for me…to limit my listening to ten albums when I love so many different artists and styles of music but here goes (in no particular order)…

1. The Beatles White Album or Abbey Road
2. Stevie Wonder Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life
3. Bob Marley & The Wailer's Greatest Hits One Love
4. Joni Mitchell Hejira or Court & Spark
5. Aretha Franklin Greatest Hits
6. Marvin Gaye Greatest Hits
7. Rolling Stones Black & Blue
8. Ry Cooder Bop Til You Drop
9. Billie Holiday Live at Storyville
10. Al Green Greatest Hits

I realize I'm cheating with all these Greatest Hits albums and alternative choices but it's as close as I can come to a decision. Even this is hard to sign off on as there's no Prince, Sade, Charlie Parker, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews…and I listen to these artists all the time, old albums, new albums, whatever I can get my hands on. At one point, I would have had more great vocalists and fewer songwriters but I am gravitating to ward great songs rather than performers these days.

As for books, again, it tortures me to break it down to the top ten but I'll say, for today (again in no particular order)…

1. Joseph Campbell The Inner Reaches of Outer Space or The Hero's Journey
2. Jane Goodall In The Shadow of Man
3. Lama Surya Das Awakening The Buddha Within
4. Lucinda Vardey God In All Worlds
5. Thomas Moore The Education of the Heart or Care of the Soul
6. Tom Robbins Skinny Legs and All
7. e.e. cummings Complete Poems
8. Lao Tsu Tao Te Ching
9. J.R.R.Tolkien Lord Of the Rings
10. James Herriot Complete Works

Again, I read other great fiction authors over and over again but couldn't find room on the list for them. I had a hard time choosing only one of Tom Robbin's books and simply couldn't single out one of James Herriot's as his books were a mainstay of my childhood and continue to provide the perfect escape when the world overwhelms me.

John - Did you see the Ken Burns PBS Jazz Documentary? What did you think?

Lori - I was knocked out by Ken Burn's documentary, mesmerized by the archival footage and delighted by the commentary provided by the jazz greats. I thought Winton Marseilles was incredibly articulate and particularly charming.

John - Has your PR experience helped your music career?

Lori - Perhaps, but I've always loved people and enjoyed the social nature of performing so I find working with the public in any capacity edifying personally and professionally.

John - I've always been impressed on how comfortable you are in front of a huge crowd, is that really you, is that experience telling you the audience is not so scary and probably wont bite you on the nose?

Lori - Performing is one thing and public speaking is another. My comfort level is directly related to my preparation so when it's my show, I just sink into the songs and enjoy myself. When it's impromptu conversation that's required, I tend to be a little nervous but ultimately, I have learned to trust my instincts. Audiences want you to succeed so they can relax and enjoy the presentation. Once you recognize this, fear falls away.

John - One of my good friends used to judge people by wether they like Johnny Carson or Letterman, lets just say he took a liking to you if you chose the latter, you strike me as more of an Oprah person than a Jerry Springer!!! Ha Ha!

Lori - I am very impressed with the choices Oprah has made on her journey. I have no comment on Jerry Springer as I tend to follow the old adage "if you can't say something positive/constructive, say nothing". Orpah's commitment to personal development and social responsibility inspires people struggling with the complexities of modern life whereas talk show hosts who exploit people's misery for television ratings are beneath contempt, in my opinion, and best ignored.

John - What do you do when your just hanging?

Lori - I enjoy gardening and time spent outdoors. My favorite way to spend an evening is with a home cooked meal, a close friend and a good movie.

John - who are your favourite local(Vancouver) Jazz Divas?

Lori - My good friend Dee Daniels performs locally occasionally and I also admire the work of Jennifer Scott, Kate Hammett-Vaughn and Christine Duncan. These women are all gifted musicians so I would like to encourage your listeners/readers to check them out should the opportunity present itself.

John - who's the most underated musician in Vancouver? Besides you of course..ha ha !!

Lori - Well, that's a tough question…as far as the jazz scene goes, there are musicians who are very well respected by the people who know their work but who don't have the international recognition they are worthy of. Two of my personal favorites would be Tom Coclough (a Vancouver-based multi-instrumentalist who is brilliant on my first album playing sax & clarinet) and Luis Felipe Giraldo who is a gifted pianist and vocalist from Columbia, now residing in Vancouver. There are others who I could mention in the same breath but those two come to mind as deserving larger audiences.

John - I remember hearing Elvis Costello talk about working with Paul McCartney years ago, he said that he felt that McCartney had gotten lazy and would release songs that were half finished, do you find it hard to get into 'the Zone' when writing. Are you ever truly happy with the finished product, can you let it go, once it's finished?

Lori - I cringe when I hear musicians judge other musicians for things as subjective and mysterious as the songwriting process. To use a derisive term like "lazy" to describe one of the most prolific popular songwriters of our time seems sacrilegious to me. It's up to the artist to determine what the intention of the song is and to decide when it's finished. For another artist to comment on that decision smacks of projectionism. I think Elvis' comment says more about Elvis than it does about Paul! Sometimes a song suffers from too much polishing and loses its organic beauty. I am happy with a number of songs I've written and I consider them finished. I do sometimes struggle with production decisions, wondering if I should add another track of percussion or change the solo instrument but that's part of the joy of the creative process, the choices are endless!

John - Do you think Smooth Jazz will grow in Canada?

Lori - I think it already has a huge market but people don't think of it as smooth jazz. Artists such as Sade and Erykah Badu have songs that fall into the category but they are not thought of as smooth jazz artists per se. Like any genre, there is good and bad. Sometimes, smooth jazz is maligned as innocuous but it's an undeserved reputation. I know that people like you John, who are devoted to exposing wonderful songs to audiences everywhere play a crucial role in the healing of the planet through the gift of music. Thank you for this chance to express my gratitude to you and to your listeners.