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, Bria Skonberg, Fred Hersch, Chris Dingman, Kate McGarry, Michael League of Snarky Puppy 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, the pianist/composer/arranger Billy Childs talked about growing up in Los Angeles and his music education there. He also discussed the LA jazz scene and his own creative process. Childs, who has done a lot of composing, arranging and producing with singers, talked about his longtime musical relationship with Dianne Reeves and his approach to working with vocalists. At the festival, Childs was performing material from his Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro album and he explained the genesis of that project.
Interview by Irene Lee. Video production by Paul Park. Editing by Lee Mergner.
Billy Childs on his musical education:
Billy Childs on the LA jazz scene and his creative process:
Billy Childs on Dianne Reeves and working with singers:
Billy Childs on his Laura Nyro project:
