During the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival, JazzTimes set up a make-shift video production studio backstage inside the old barracks of Fort Adams. During three afternoons, a succession of artists-including Mike Stern, James Carter, Arturo O’Farrill, Scott Robinson, Pat Bianchi, Fred Hersch, Kate McGarry, Billy Childs, Bria Skonberg and many others-came in to talk about the festival, jazz education, their creative process and their own projects. You can also see more of these video interviews at the JazzTimes YouTube channel.
In this interview from Newport, pianist Frank Kimbrough talked about growing up in North Carolina and about his musical development and important mentors during his formative years there. He shared insight into his creative process, which involves isolating himself. Kimbrough was performing at the festival with the Maria Schneider Orchestra with whom he’s worked for many years and he talked about what he’s learned from Schneider over the years. Kimbrough also performed solo at the festival and he discussed the difference between playing solo and playing with a trio. His trio album Solstice, with Jay Anderson on bass and Jeff Hirschfield on drums, will be released in the fall of 2016 on Pirouet Records.
The 2016 Newport Jazz Festival is scheduled for July 29-31.
Interview by Irene Lee. Video production by Paul Park. Editing by Lee Mergner.
Frank Kimbrough on his early musical development:
Frank Kimbrough on his creative process:
Frank Kimbrough on Maria Schneider:
Frank Kimbrough on playing solo vs. in a trio:
