An interview with Dave Douglas, multi-award-winning trumpeter, composer, record label () owner and founder of the Festival of New Trumpet music with Joanne Kee of Jazz Australia

JK: Apart from being an amazing performer you have a finger in many musical pies from your recording label Greenleaf to FONT, your Festival of new trumpet music through to your jazz education.  What have been some of the highlights of setting up FONT?

DD: Community – That is the key word that comes to mind when I think about Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music). When I moved to New York in 1984 there was really no grass roots musician-led initiatives to bring creative musicians of different types together. If I can work in a community of musicians and support emerging players, celebrate some great pioneers like Wadada Leo Smith, Bobby Bradford, Laurie Frink, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Henderson, that ultimately serves the larger goal of encouraging the continued strength and growth of our culture.

Seeing a team of dedicated musicians coming together to organize something for others, that is the ultimate reward.

Of course, there have been countless musical highlights over the years! Too numerous to mention, although I will say that the double bill of Ornette Coleman and Charles Wuorinen will always go down as one of my favorites!

JK: Has FONT opened up new areas of musical exploration for your personally?

DD: One of the big goals of FONT Music is to willfully break down the separation between trumpeters and musicians of different gender, race, age, background, and style of music. We work hard to broaden and mix all sorts of human experience.

For me, FONT Music has provided certain challenges creatively. FONT Music was the inspiration for my recreation, with Roy Campbell, Jr., of Don Cherry’s Symphony For Improvisers in 2005. Also, it was at a FONT Music celebration of Lester Bowie that I created the band Brass Ecstasy, which went on to tour and record over the course of several years.

One year we celebrated Woody Shaw and it was inspiring for me to see how many players, of different styles, counted Shaw as one of their major influences!

DAVE DOUGlas

JK:  You also have an incredible commitment as an educator,  What advice would you give an aspiring musician?

DD: My conversation with young musicians usually starts with the question, What do you want to do? I feel like half the battle is just to figure out what it is you are going for, and then begin the arduous task of finding it. Of course, once on that path, things change, grow and adapt. But the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, as they say. And in music, in fact, the journey is endless. So we should start walking!

JK: I notice that you are always exploring different territory such as engagement with other artforms. Do you have to think or play in different ways with forms such as dance or spoken word?

DD: For me, I feel a musician has to absolutely adapt when working with film, dance, poetry or other art forms. I often think of it like another member, or members, of the band. If I don’t leave space for the visual element, for example, how can it coexist with the music?

I look for these sorts of challenge, as they serve as a catalyst for me to write differently and to play differently.

JK: What are 3 things that inspire you as an artist?

DD: That tree outside my office.
My family.
Cooking.

JK: What plans do you have for the future?

DD: I will be visiting Australia to play with Monash Art Ensemble at Wangaratta ! They commissioned and recorded a suite called Fabliaux, and the record will be out on Greenleaf Music. I look forward to revisiting that music.

I will also play a duo concert with Paul Grabowsky. I look forward to that very much.

My latest quintet recording is called Brazen Heart. It is dedicated to love and survival. We will be playing many dates through this Autumn. Linda Oh, Matt Mitchell, Jon Irabagon, and Rudy Royston are the members and they will be touring with me to Wangaratta.

Dave Douglas is performing exclusively at the Wangaratta Festival, Jazz and Blues

Wangaratta info

Festival of New Trumpet Music – FONT

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