| |
 |
|
|
Andy Bey
With the Neville Brothers • Saturday, June 21st • 8:00 pm • Pantages Playhouse Theatre • $38 (plus agency fees)
With Jodie Borle, Melissa Stylianou, and Steve Kirby/Larry Roy • Saturday, June 21st • 11:00 pm • Exchange Event Centre • $23 adv./$25 door
Dane Goulet: If you could pick one song from your repertoire to play right now, what would it be, and why?
Andy Bey: If I could pick one song, it would be “Someone To Watch Over Me.” It’s a very personal thing for me. I mean, I’ve heard many people sing this song. But a recording that I heard by Sarah Vaughn – back in 1956 with George Gershwin – her version of that song was perfect. Feeling wise, the way she interpreted it, the sound of her voice, the spontaneity. But I have many favorites besides that.
Dane Goulet: On your latest release, it seems that you’ve returned to the standards. Is it because of the timelessness of them?
Andy Bey: It’s not about returning to them. I would prefer to do some of my own material, at the moment that’s some of what I’m working on. I’ve always been a writer, I’ve been writing since the seventies. I wrote “Celestial Blues.” But I’ve always done standards, from the time I was a kid. When I worked with Horace Silver, I also sang a lot of his music. When I was working with Gary Bartz, I was singing his music. I’ve always done what I’ve done. Because it’s not about going back, you do what you do at that moment, in that situation. I never really left standards. People hear what they hear. They want to categorize you, and say you’re this or you’re that. I never left the business. They talk about a renaissance. That’s ridiculous. Maybe they weren’t listening.
Dane Goulet: What are your impressions of Canada?
Andy Bey: I like Canada. I have a sister who lives in Canada (Salome Bey). I’ve been to Toronto quite a bit because of my sister. I like Vancouver. I’ve been there a number of times. But I’ve never really done an extended tour (of Canada). A lot of the paperwork can be a bit tiring. The border has never been the easiest thing since I’ve been coming to Canada, since the early ‘60s. I’m also doing a project with a young musician there named Mark McLean.
Dane Goulet: And what about the future?
Andy Bey: I don’t consider myself to be the greatest songwriter in the world, but I would prefer to do some of my own music. I don’t even listen to the radio. Not that there’s not music out there that I love. But I’ve listened to so much music over the years – I’m just trying to focus on something new. I don’t need Carnegie Hall to survive. It’d be nice if I played Carnegie Hall, but I’m not really striving for that. I’m at an age right now where it’s not about proving anything.
Download “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Andy Bey's latest CD, Ain't Necessarily So
|
 |
Each week leading up to the 2008 GROOVE-FM Jazz Winnipeg Festival, jazzwinnipeg.com and Uptown Magazine will profile a different festival artist an offer a free mp3 download.
This week writer/music anthropologist Dane Goulet speaks with the legendary Andy Bey. |
 |
|
