Published: November 04, 2008 3:13 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight
Adrian Hester
Adrian Hester
Our next interview is from the jazz bassist/composer, Adrian Hester, who shares a part of his musical world with our readers. If you are a Jazz lover like me, then you will instantly fall in love with the music of Adrian Hester. Join us in this spotlight that promises to entertain. Please Enjoy!
Isaac: Elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.
Adrian Hester: My name is Adrian Hester. I am a jazz bassist/composer from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I have a B.A. in music business with an emphasis in jazz bass. After graduation, I continued my studies of jazz theory and bass performance with Dr. London Branch. Dr London Branch has performed artist such as Kenny Burrell, Kid and Cliff Jordan and Eddie Harris.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were
inspired to do your own thing?
Adrian Hester: Ray Brown.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
Adrian Hester: Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino, Jim Hall, and Pat Metheny.
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
Adrian Hester: Ray Brown, Ron Carter.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s)
would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
Adrian Hester: Two ballads, "Remembrance" and "If Only."
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
Adrian Hester: Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall & Ron Carter.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support?
Adrian Hester: I have donated performance time for the March of Dimes, Arts Committees and Educational fund raisers.
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's
particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to
write about?
Adrian Hester: I'm not sure which topic. However, since I write instrumental jazz I guess that I could come up with a suitable melody to fit one of our world's issues.
Isaac: Why should people listen to your music?
Adrian Hester: It's been said about the jazz that it's easy to listen too and the duration of the songs are not so long that they loose the attention average listener. Also, I made sure to include several styles of jazz on my first CD like up beat to moderate swing, cool jazz, blues, bossa and ballad to appeal to a broader listening audience.
Isaac: Your music is relaxing and chill. What inspired you to toss out these awesome
lyrics and cords?
Adrian Hester: I prefer instrumental jazz because I like to let the instruments do the vocalizing. As far as the typical and not so typical sounding jazz chords are concerned, they're there just presented in a relaxed and chilled style.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would
you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
Adrian Hester: Usually I get the chord progression together first. I feel that any and all chord progressions are like a blank musical canvas waiting for musical inspiration and creativity. I either play the chord progression for my wife Sarah, or send a copy to a couple friends, one a jazz guitarist and the other a composition major, to see what they think. Then, I'll play the melody with it and follow the same process with either or both people until the song is completed.
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?
Adrian Hester: Depends. I'll ask for a suggestion for a chord or melody not or two, but that is usually it.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
Adrian Hester: Not me.
Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?
Adrian Hester: Most likely the first one.
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
Adrian Hester: Depends on how many measures I put in a song or if it is a ballad or up beat swing, etc. I've spent several days picking out a melody, where other times the melody was almost there waiting for the chords to support it.
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
Adrian Hester: Forget about music theory when you write and just write from your heart. Add the theory after the song is completed.
Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.
Adrian Hester: Yea, to Steve Thompson, Levi, Jonathan Bass, Dr. London Branch, my wonderful wife Sarah and most of all to God our Heavenly Father from whom all talent cometh.
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
Adrian Hester: I'm in the process of recording my next CD. The instrument line up is different, but the songs call for it.
