New Music Now Spotlight: Mark Saltman/William Knowles
Published: January 04, 2008 9:58 M EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior (Juniorscave.com)
Jazz / Modern Jazz
For all the Jazz lovers out there, I have a special treat for you. This next act certainly has a neck for what Jazz music is all about with their melodic rhythmic smooth take on the legendary genre. One interesting point about this act is that when listening to their tracks one is easily mesmerized by the smooth vocals or the various instrumentals that seem to have a voice of their own. Who am I am talking about? I am talking about the act known as Mark Saltman and William Knowles.
Residing in Washington, DC, Mark Saltman/William Knowles is showing the world that Jazz Music spawns from all over the world. We recently had a chance to review their EPK (Electronic Press Kit) on Sonicbids, a music resource community. Instantly, we fell in love with their music. Here is an interview of the group that we wanted to present to our readers.
Isaac-Joseph: Hello, I want to tell you first of all that I am very happy to be featuring you in our Internet Publication. Could you expound on the members of the group and how you guys came together?
Mark Saltman + William Knowles: Thanks a lot- we are very happy to be able to chat and share with you.
(Mark Saltman)- William and I met at Umass where we were in the composition program. We started playing together, along with a few other folks who we liked; Charles Langford was there also.
(William Knowles)- I met Alvin at undergrad school, Howard U. He asked if I knew Blues in F, we’ve been friends ever since. Mark Prince was at Howard also- and we met Lori, Rob and Junebug later on.
Isaac-Joseph: One of the best parts about your music in my opinion is how all the various instrumentals seem to blend nicely to create a collective of melodic jazz. How are you able to work together as a group with so many instruments involved and still produce delightful music?
Mark Saltman- A lot of it has to do with as William calls it ‘the pen’- it is mightier than the horn- and we try to work with people that understand melodic playing.
William Knowles- Mark and I have been at this for a little while now, with some of the same folks. We continue to evolve our playing but keep the focus on melody.
Isaac-Joseph: What is it about Jazz music that you feel draws you to it?
Mark Saltman- For me, it’s a mix of places you can go, colors you can paint and the groove.
William Knowles- It gives you the freedom to speak your mind without much restriction. I personally like the restrictions of form and harmonic structure- I like the pliability.
Isaac-Joseph: Do you feel that Jazz Music still has the impact that it once did 50 years ago? Why or why not?
William K- I think in the earlier years it was more about good music and the writing was much better. The industry has really had their way with us. It chooses some kid to be the next hottest thing- A great player on a crappy tune is not compelling- and great players are really a by-product of good music. The writing gave us a myriad of compelling melodies and textures to play from.
Mark S- I’ll second that- we really have to be about more than quick and flashy- but that is what is selling.
Isaac-Joseph: Although Jazz music began in New Orleans, it is truly now
Universal. Do you think that your venue (living in Washington, DC) has hinder you in making Jazz music or do you think that it is not the place you reside at but the artist himself/herself that makes the music?
William K- It’s a level playing field. You can reside on an obscure mountain and still have satellite radio, but you need to have access to a community of musicians; people who are willing to talk to you and take you under their wing.
Isaac-Joseph: Where do you feel Jazz music is heading or evolving into?
Mark S- Great Question! Jazz is kind of in a period much like Classical music has gotten into. The vast majority is focused on the past- which can‘t be ignored- but we also need to consciously move forward with fresh tunes- the beautiful thing is that we can incorporate all kinds of ideas into the music and make new things- so there are definitely places to go- its really a question of can we get by the road blocks.
William K- Melody has to come back- the writers’ day will come again! It’s the only way to have a true voice. Millions of cats can play fast and impressively, but what’s that got to do with good music???
Isaac-Joseph: Iconic legends such as Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis to name a few are household names. As you make your own music, what lessons have you learned from these musical giants?
MS- Individualism- Trane, Miles, Lady Day- each one was unique and had their own special voice and their own ideas.
WK- They are some of the best! All of them are great interpreters of melody.
Isaac-Joseph: How important is fame? Is this something that you aspire to or making the music and getting it across the most rewarding for you?
MS+WK- We’d like to be well enough known to bring people out of the house- to be able to record and play regularly in nice venues- but having said that- the music is of prime importance.
Isaac-Joseph: Your latest effort is entitled “It’s About The Melody”.
Elaborate on what can we expect from this album and the process that it took to make it?
WK- You can expect our unique sound; melodic, groov‘n, and subtly complex. We’ve been producing our own records and improving the process with each one. This was our first effort with lyrics and a vocalist, because we wanted to include the human voice as part of our sound.
MS- It always takes living through things and having feelings you need to express. Every record takes a lot of effort, but I think that we have some important things to share and hopefully relate to folks.
Isaac-Joseph: What can we expect from you all in the year 2008? What are some of the new developments you are all working on that will tickle your fans fancy?
MS+WK- We just completed a new record that we are really proud of- and are trying to figure out how we will put it out. We are going to be distributed in Europe as part of a compilation on Arizona records. We are hoping to be on tour somewhere near you, but we’ll see if we can work that out as well.
Isaac-Joseph: We call this our Shout Out time. Give any shout outs to those who matters most:
MS- I have to give one to my wife, Diann.
MS+WK- and some of our friends- Tamir Damari, Howard ‘cat master’ Saft, Rev Allen White, and Dahlia ‘don’t call me doogie-except Mark’ Sokolov.
Isaac-Joseph: As we wrap this one, I would like for you to leave us with some words of wisdoms for everyone reading this spotlight:
Mark Saltman- Find your own voice and be yourself- form our teacher Yusef Lateef. And Parroting is for the birds-(pianist Lawrence Wheatley) - Parroting is okay- but only when your learning to fly. (That parts from me, now that I’ve given it some thought.)
William Knowles- You can’t shine a turd so stop listening to crappy music! This one is from Fred Irby my old teacher.
MS and WK- Thanks so much for taking the time to listen!!!
Instrumentation
William Knowles- Piano/composer
Mark Saltman- DoubleBass/composer
Lori Williams-Chisholm- Vocals
Charles Langford/Rob Landham- Saxophones
Mark Prince/Jimmy Junebug Jackson- Drums
Alvin Trask- Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Discography
Its About The Melody- Blue Canoe Records (07)
Sandcastles- CAP records (03)
Dreamcatcher- CAP records(99)
Stop Look and Listen- Pianochoir (95)
