David Sanborn Interview: No Limits To Music
Aug. 27, 2008 - David Sanborn is a stellar sax player, who has won numerous Grammy Awards. Besides being a world-acclaimed solo performer, he is also a musician always ready to venture into new musical projects and collaborations. He recently performed at the 42nd Montreux Jazz Festival (July 11th) with the Tower of Power horn section.

That evening was packed up with other stars including vocal legend Roberta Flack. The following day after his performance, I had the opportunity to interview this great artist, for whom “music is like an open sky.”

Akbar Nour : Hello David, it is an honour for us at www.smoothjazznow.com to interview you. I attended your concert at MJF yesterday and it was an amazing performance. On the one hand you were “here” performing in front of us with the Tower of Power horn section rooted in the present and on the other hand, you were “gone” into the past, reconnecting to your musical roots and paying tribute to some of your heroes such as Hank Crawford, Charles Chaplin (your cover of Chaplin’s “Smile” during the concert) and many others. How did this project come up?

David Sanborn : Well, I was actually downloading a lot of my old CDs onto my iPod and I ran across some old Hank Crawford CD’s I had. I found myself going back and listening to them over and over again. I said to myself, that’s kind of where I really started.  I just like the feeling that music gave me so much. I did not want to go back so much, as I wanted to bring my experience of that music up to the present. I think that was the love I had for that music; it wasn’t only Jazz, Gospel, R&B, it was all of them and that’s how I think it all really started for me.

Akbar: You came here several times in Montreux in 1981 and 1997.  You also took part in the 2001 international “MJF Tour” with amazing artists such as George Duke, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau and Roberta Flack. Why is Montreux so special for you?

David: Claude Nobs (the MJF founder) has been such a passionate advocate for the music and he has managed to turn this festival into an event that has worldwide recognition and credibility. He has attracted musicians from all different walks of life and what I really like about this festival most is that there is such a great mix of music: Jazz, Gospel, R&B, world music etc.

Akbar: Well, is MJF a kind of musical laboratory where you can experiment news sounds and performances with new musicians?

David: Yes, that is exactly right, because I have never done this before, what I did last night. You try things out and you get ideas when listening to people you never heard of before. It stimulates your imagination. So that is a very important aspect of this festival.

Akbar: You started your career in the 70’s as a sideman musician for various R&B, pop and rock stars such as Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, to name a few. What is your best memory of that period?

David: I have so many good memories of it. I was really fortunate to play with so many great people. I worked with a lot of singer/songwriters. Being able to be with these people day after day, seeing them interpret their own material and getting an insight into that process was just invaluable for me. Stevie Wonder used to come at the sound check with a new song every day. You know, that kind of work ethic was so impressive. These are the experiences I remember the most.

Akbar: Then in 1975 you stepped forward as a solo sax performer with your debut album “Taking Off” which was a great title for your solo CD! Then came up global recognition and success from the music industry and a growing fan base. You also received several Grammy Awards and you even extended your musical territory by embarking in the 90’s in various broadcasting activities with a late-night TV show “Night Music” and a radio program, “The Jazz Show. Where does this musical versatility come from?

David: Well, I am just interested in so many different things. I grew up in an atmosphere that a lot of musicians I am here with have known. We did not differentiate between the various styles of music. It was irrelevant whether it was called Jazz, Blues, Gospel or pop. Whatever it was, it was all music to us and so that idea that all of this music was all connected was very important to me. Not only important to the music I made, but also if I had an opportunity to reflect that attitude in the world at large with the media, I would take advantage of whether it was a radio show or a TV show. So, it’s all a reflection of the same kind of attitude about music. Music is like an open sky.

Akbar:  How did you come up touring with David Bowie or Bruce Springsteen for instance? Did they come to you?

David: Well, it is just all kind of one thing leads to another. I met somebody, who became David Bowie’s musical director and he recommended me to Bowie, who also used to play saxophone. So, it was the right time for that. That was kind of luck and circumstances.

Akbar: Despite playing such a diversity of styles, you are regarded as one of the most influential sax players in Contemporary/Smooth Jazz. In your opinion, what would be your main contributions to this genre?

David: Well, I cannot answer that question. I do not know and it is not something that really enters into my consciousness. I just think about what I am doing. I do not think about what I have done. So it is impossible for me to evaluate, to look at myself objectively at all.

Akbar: More recently, before the release of your upcoming album “Here and Gone” to come out on August 29th, you appeared as a guest musician on rapper Guru’s track “Living Legend” (probably a title composed for you, laughing) and on singular pop band Ween’s track “Your Party.” You have received so many requests to take part to gigs or albums as a guest soloist. What are your selection criteria?

David: Both of these projects were interesting to me. I had followed Ween, their career and their other records. I have always enjoyed them. I have also been familiar with Guru, from some of his other projects. So when they approached me about it, I said yes, because they sent me the stuff they wanted me to play on and I said, “That sounds really interesting.” If it is something I feel I can do with a degree of honesty, then I will do it.

Akbar: What I really appreciate in you throughout your career is this attitude. I mean, you have always refused to take a commercial approach. You have always done what you wanted to do. And that was probably the best way to impose your self on the music stage.

David: Well, it is only the way I know. I do not know if it is the best way. If you go to my accountant, he will tell you a different story (laughing). Sometimes things I have done have been very successful and other things haven’t been but it has always been with a degree of honesty. All I can say about this is that I try to be as true to myself as I can. Then what happens and how people will receive it, I have no control of. I just try to do my best.

Akbar: Alot of sax players refer or quote you as a reference. Do you think that your musical approach has changed the way of playing saxophone?

David: To me it is just a process of trying to do, to improve. I mean just to be able to be more precise about playing what I hear in my head. I think technique is just for you to play a lot of what you hear. As you grow and learn to change as a human being, what you hear now is: experience the world, it is going to change. So it means that you will never get to the end of it. So it is not something that I really spend a lot of time thinking about like how I have changed, because mostly I don’t have to. I just do what I do. That kind of self-analysis is not particularly useful to me because it doesn’t lead me anywhere else. I sometimes listen to records that I have made, but usually I don’t listen to records I have made, because every time I hear them, I always think, “Well, I wish I would have played better.

Akbar: So, you’re a perfectionist?

David: Yes, a little bit. So, I wish I would have played that different. To me having good playing experiences is carrying the feeling that I have accomplished what I have to do. Sometimes it happens more successfully than other times but it is always a process.

Akbar: My preferred album is “Straight to the Heart.” Is there an album that you particularly like?

David: No, there are songs of different albums that I particularly like and relate to but there is no album that I particularly prefer.

Akbar:  There are a lot of sax players performing right now. Do you have any preferences?

David:  I really like Chris Potter a lot and Branford Marsalis is always interesting to me. Outside of that, nobody pops into my mind right now.