Take the Ragan Whiteside of Life!
February 7, 2008 - Ragan Whiteside has not only one musical side, but numerous ones, as she is an accomplished flutist, singer, songwriter and even a web designer, as she designed her own web site.

 
     
 

This multi-talented artist started music at the age of 5, studied classical music and focused on flute. However, instead of becoming a classical music flute soloist, she turned to contemporary jazz, R&B and funk. And that was definitely a good move, as she came up with a class act, her debut album "Class Axe", a breathtaking piece of work, entailing 11 soulful tracks with a neo-soul flavor. So let us have a look at the Ragan Whiteside of life!

Akbar Nour : Hi Ragan, great to have you on www.smoothjazznow.com . I had the pleasure to interview both great flutists David Crawford and Dwayne Kerr. When talking of the difficulty of playing flute, David Crawford told me: "The flute is light and sweet in sound and is very difficult to project as a lead or dominating instrument". What do you think of it?

 
  
   


Ragan Whiteside : I agree. It can be difficult. It took me a few years to develop ways to overcome those difficulties. Every player is different, but I've found that the right type of material, the right microphone, and the right combination of musicians, helps the flute jump right out in front.

Akbar : If I scratch my head, the main name of a smooth jazz female flute player that comes to my mind is Shannon Kennedy. And even Shannon is not representative of this trend, as she mainly plays saxophone. On one side, playing a difficult instrument and being a female player may be a challenge. On the other side, it may be easier for you, because you do not have too many contenders on the market (laughs!).


 
  

Ragan : (laughs also!) It's funny…you would think it would be easier because there isn't a lot of flute in "smooth jazz", but I find it to be a challenge. Instead of being on an even playing field like guitar players and sax players experience, flute players are going up against an entire genre which historically, hasn't embraced the flute. But I intend on changing that… (smile)

As for being a female player, I definitely enjoy the challenge. When I walk on to an all-male gig, guys usually say "aww, that's cute…she has a little flute with her". However, by the end of the gig, I have earned their respect as a musician, regardless of gender. I guess you could say that I thrive on being the "under-dog"!

Akbar : As many flute players, you have a classical music training that started when you were 5 years old (!). Even your debut album "Class Axe" starts with a short introduction from the German classical composer Felix Mendelssohn. When and how did you switch to contemporary jazz and R&B?

Ragan : About 3 weeks before I graduated from college (as a classical performance major) I realized that my heart just wasn't in it anymore. I felt like I wanted to stretch out more (creatively) than I was being allowed to in conservatory. So, after graduation I went back home to NY, where I attended a show featuring Bob Baldwin and Marion Meadows. I sat in the first row and I was hooked! The energy on that stage took me to another place, and I knew right then what I wanted to do with my music. After the show, I introduced myself to Bob Baldwin and we got into a long conversation about jazz and classical music. He mentioned that he was going into the studio to record some radio jingles and I asked if I could tag along. Next thing I knew, I was in the studio for the first time, playing flute on one of the jingles, and Bob has been my mentor and producer ever since. I have always had a love for jazz & R&B, so it was a natural transition for me.

Akbar : Furthermore to playing flute, your voice resonates on most of the tracks you also composed. You also designed your own web. So what is your next challenge?

Ragan : My next challenge is to become a marketing guru for independent jazz artists! Being an indie artist, I have found that you have to be somewhat unconventional in your approach to getting your music out there. I want to learn the most creative and cost effective ways to market independent music, and share that knowledge with others in the struggle.

Akbar : OK now, let us come to your debut album "Class Axe". In my opinion, this album is quite representative of you, not only of the musician, but also of the person. It is classy with its cool and well-crafted flute sound and graceful musical and vocal arrangements. Furthermore, this album looks like a personal diary featuring your impressions and thoughts on life. I think of the various musical punctuations or "funktuation" (your smash hit) as you call them, you first start by quoting the word "psyche", then appears your baby voice with your parents. You carry on with your mature and deep thoughts in the track "I have been thinking". How and why did you decide to integrate these various sequences in the album?

Ragan : When creating a studio album, it is important to connect with the listener, the same way it is important to connect with the audience when performing live. I wanted to add a personal touch, something that would make people laugh, love, and think.

Akbar : You are still new to the smooth jazz stage. Do you still sometimes think that you could have been a celebrated classical music flute soloist? Do you perform sometimes classical music concerts?

Ragan : That's an interesting question… I guess I would have to say, if my heart had been in it, it could have been a possibility. But since my passion has led me down another path, I guess I will never know. I still practice classical music to keep my chops up, but I rarely perform it publicly (maybe once a year).

Akbar : Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ragan : In 5 years, I would like to be on an international tour promoting my third album. I would also like to have an artist or two on my label roster.

Akbar : After a successful debut album, what's next in your musical projects?

Ragan : We are in the early stages of composing songs for the next album, which will be released early 2009. Also, I was a guest artist on the "NewUrbanJazz.com" album, featuring Bob Baldwin, Marion Meadows, Freddie Jackson, Phil Perry, and many others. It is scheduled to be released in February 2008.

Akbar : Dear Ragan, thanks so much for your time and I wish you a great 2008.

For more information: www.raganwhiteside.com