WALLACE RONEY Internet Interview Transcript

[David Holloway]

This is the transcript from the Wallace Roney interview on the internet.
I thought I would add some of my thougts on the event.

First off, Wallace flew into Newport Beach the morning of the concert
from New York to play the concert and fly back to New York the next
morning. He had just gotten off the stage, with little time to relax
before he was due for an autograph session at a concessions stand. I
watched as he talked with a fan for 30 minutes after autographing his CD.
I think that fan will talk about that day for a very long time!

He was, understandably, a little tired by the time we went on-line. I
also learned that he is hypo-glycemic. Dispite all that he was, as you
will see, very open with his answers. I regret that I am not a fast
enough typist to have been able to input the full flavor and content of
his responses. I have however, edited the transcript to the best of my
memory. However, we had great difficulty keeping the modem line up and
unfortunately this means that some of his answers were lost. One of the
things you will notice is the use of capital letters, especially when
refering to Miles Davis. This was done at Wallace=92s request. He
obviously has a deep, deep respect for Miles.

I hope you enjoy the transcript. It was an event I will never forget,
sitting with Wallace and his wife talking about jazz.

David_Holloway says, "Good evening everyone, and welcome to the TPIN
chat-line. This is the second in a series of on-line question and answer
sessions with some of today's top trumpet players. Please refrain from
typing anything until the question and answer period begins. At that
time, please send your questions to MPA using the whisper command. Type ?
for help. Michael will forward all questions to the artist. Tonight the
TPIN and MusiChem are proud to bring you one of today's top trumpet
player's, Wallace Roney. We are coming to you live from the Newport Beach
Jazz Festival where Wallace has just finished playing his set. With that
said, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Wallace Roney.

MPA says, "Wallace, who are your major musical influences?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Miles, Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker, Dizzy,
Coltrane, Bud Powel, MILES!"

MPA says, "If you could custom-create your own all-star band of all time
who would you pick, and why?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Charlie Parker, Dizzy, Art Tatum, Art Blakey, Oscar
Pittford, Duke Ellington. Do you have a problem with that?"
MPA says, "problem?"
Wallace_Roney says, "There's no problem."
MPA says, "no problems here."

Wallace_Roney says, "Duke Ellington, is the link between Stravinsky and
Gill Evans. Dizzy Gillespie is the greatest trumpet player between Louis
and Rafael....and MILES"

MPA says, "What kind of musical statement are you trying to make with
your recordings and performances?"
Wallace_Roney says, "As much as Leonard Bernstein and and Arron
Coppland."

MPA says, "What would you like the future to hold in store for Wallace
Roney musically?"
Wallace_Roney says, "If I could have a time machine and could step in the
future and hear pure JAZZ (African-American) innovative 2016 and still
incorporate Louis, Bird, Miles, Coltrane, Tony, Herbie, 2016, that's what
I would like 1996 to sound like."
Wallace_Roney says, "Also Legion of Super Heroes, with Super Boy."

MPA says, "Will there be another Miles Tribute Band (VSOP) tour? If so,
when?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Every time I play the trumpet it is a tribute to
Miles. But with that particular band YES, YES, YES.!!!"

MPA says, "Who are some of the musicians you are currently working with
and how and why did you choose them?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Clarence Seay is a student of the greatest basists
in history and Ron Carter's personal student, Eric Allen, looks and plays
like a young Max Roach. His idol is Max and Tony Williams. He's a
brainiac. Antoine loves John Coltrane. Nobody has gotten close to
Coltrane except Wayne Shorter so he loves Wayne Shorter. And Wallace is
just playing chess. I also box. Not because of Miles, because of my
father."

MPA says, "This isn't always making sense, what is the reference to chess
about and what is Antoine's last name?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Antoine is my brother"
Wallace_Roney says, "And I play chess on the board and off the board and
in the boxing ring."

MPA says, "I see. ok: For your younger fans, could you please offer your
perspective on a few of the most important rules to follow in the music
business? Sort of your own recipe for success."
Wallace_Roney says, "I don=92t have a recipe for the music business, I hate
the business. But for the music, study all of the European classical
literature. That's the BASICS..Then you can go more advanced..Asian, or
more importantly, Afro-American...that's Jazz ...trying to cover all of
the influences within a 4/4, 6/8 ninango African rhythm that's
jazz....JAZZ!"

MPA says, "Where and with whom have you studied? ""
Wallace_Roney says, "Sigmud Hering, (Philadelphia Orchestra), Langston
Fitzgerald (Baltimore Symphony), Donald Rhinehard, that's for people that
respect tight written paper. My real studies, came from Sigmund Hearing,
Clarke Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, and MILES DAVIS."

MPA says, "What and how do you practice?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Schlosberg, Arban, Clarke, Gillespie, Clarke Terry,
MILES DAVIS."

MPA says, "Do you spend much time composing music? If so, how do you go
about it?"
Wallace_Roney says, "When I was a kid, I though I would be a great
trumpet player and a good composer. Geri Allen, was a great, GREAT
pianist and a great composer and influenced me."

MPA says, "What equipment do you use?"
Wallace_Roney says, "Martin Committee trumpet and PRO-OIL HYBRID. It=92s
the absolutely fastest. I use Harmon mutes and Heim mouthpieces, very
deep"

MPA says, "Any other horns for different types of performing?"
Wallace_Roney says, "No except flugel horn"

MPA says, "How old are you and how many albums have you recorded so far?"
Wallace_Roney says, " I'm 34. I'm born the same day Miles Davis was and
I don=92t know how many albums I've done , but it's a lot."

MPA says, "OK let=92s open it up for questions from the floor...any
takers?"

MPA says, "Mark from Chile asks what is your favorite type of jazz"
Wallace_Roney says, "Modern innovative jazz."

Trent_UNH says, "How hard is it to play under all the critics who say you
are Miles protege??"
Wallace_Roney says, " First of all, if you were an Einstein protege you
would have won a Noble Peace Prize..thank you, I am a Miles protege. The
critics only intention is to hurt artists."

Mark_Chile says, "Do you have any plans to tour South America"
Wallace_Roney says, "Yes..whenever they ask. The last time I played South
America it was disastrous."

MPA says, "Nate from Oakland asked when Wallace will be in the CA Bay
area?"
Wallace_Roney says, "As for the Bay area..whenever you ask for me."

Jack says, "Who are the top 5 or 6 trumpet players today""
Wallace_Roney says, "Clarke Terry, Bud Herseth, Johnny Coles, Eddy
Henderson, Marcus Belgrave.

MPA says, "Michael from Omaha asks what your opinion of Wynton is?"
You hear a quiet popping sound; Wallace_Roney has disconnected.
Trent_UNH says, "oops"
MPA says, "i guess that bothered him!"
<No, this was one of the many technical problems we encountered during
the interview! (David)>
Wallace_Roney has connected.
Wallace_Roney says, "sorry"
MPA says, "no prob"

Wallace_Roney says, "I know you all hate me.."
MPA says, "huh?"
Wallace_Roney says, "..because of what the critics say and because the
MASTER Miles Davis said about me. But check out if you hate me Grahm
Hanes, Terrance Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, Mike Mossman, Roy Hargrove,
Phillip Harper, Eddie Allen, and you will find more than enough great
promising musicians that will sustain Afro-American music known as Jazz
which started as Jazz, Blues, Gospel, later progressive Jazz, R and B,
pop, modern jazz, fusion, R and B, pop and JAZZZZZZZZZ, thank you."

Mark_Chile says, "How do you feel about Wynton?"
Wallace_Roney says, "about Wynton.."
Wallace_Roney says, "he is great trumpet player and my friend"

Trent_UNH says, "Is there a new album in the future of Wallace Roney?????
"
Trent_UNH says, "i hope so"
Wallace_Roney says, "Yes..my next record is a document of all of the
techniques of modern jazz and modern music past and present and will
utilize the techniques on this album to be the catalyst for whatever the
next innovation in music will be I hope you hear it, DIG it and enjoy
it."

David_Holloway says, "Well, I'm afraid we are out of time. I hope that
you have found this event to be useful and interesting. I would like to
thank Wallace Roney and Michael Anderson (MPA) for their time and effort.
Also, thanks to everyone who showed up here tonight. Goodnight"
MPA says, " A great thanks to Wallace Roney for participating!"
Wallace_Roney says, "Thank you"
MPA says, "Thanks also to David Holloway from MusiChem for all his
efforts!"
You hear a quiet popping sound; Wallace_Roney has disconnected.


For more information on this event, please contact:



David Holloway
Vice President, MusiChem, Inc.
musi...@cts.com

or

Michael Anderson
keeper of the list, Trumpet Players International Network
tru...@parnasus.dana.edu