It’s talkative! He’s in an unusual and unique position in terms of his musical influences, for somebody that has studied and played the music of all the classical greats and all the jazz greats. Don’t waste your time [with an] instrument being mindless. Of course, it is your prerogative if you want to keep an audience with you or not, but we both are very interested in keeping an audience with us.
It made the process all that more personal and enjoyable.With that said, a push and pull between the consumers of music and the creators of music is not a bad thing.
It’s a really unusual convergence of styles that we so often separate and categorize.In a recent interview with WFMT, Benedetti discusses the process of preparing for a new concerto, discovering Marsalis’ vast musical influences, and her best advice for young artists.Benedetti and Marsalis’ collaboration is highlighted in a Decca Classics album that is now nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Composition and Best Solo Instrumental Performance. It can lead you down any of those paths on a journey of discovery. That kind of discussion is always tricky and can be messy, because you’re never sure until you hear some notes what somebody means by, “Oh, I want this to be liked,” or “I want this to be popular or represent a contemporary feel.”People can say all kinds of things, and they’re saying it within their sound world and perspective. The Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer has explored a range of repertoire throughout his career. 19 images We worked together on it so much and I have never had that experience before.“There is too much to learn in the world.”She said: “I come to Scotland many times a year because I do a lot of performances there, so it is always wonderful for me to see my family and play for such a familiar crowd and in familiar concert halls.At eight, she became the leader of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.Nicola’s Scots tour dates also include Inverness Eden Court on Friday, Edinburgh Usher Hall (Saturday) and Aberdeen Music Hall (Sunday) before a penultimate date at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on September 29.“We are very happy but we do not have to be married to show that we are happy.“My parents are just accepting of the fact that marriage is not a big priority for us at the moment.Nicola said: “It’s actually been eight years Leonard and I have been together.She said: “Wynton has finished writing the first version of it which we worked up this summer but since then he has rewritten much of the piece.“I have never composed anything and if anything it’s put me in a state of awe more than I was before of what composers do and how they do it.”“This is all Italian and fired and uplifting music.“He has always loved violin and fiddle music and there’s definitely an ode to Scottish music and American fiddle music as well.“He also is one of the greatest jazz musicians around. “It’s not only a very competitive world but it is very judgmental because there are so many bars you are constantly trying to live up to.Nicola admitted that brings plenty of scope for friction.“He is one of the most phenomenal minds I have ever come across and I try to learn as much as possible.“The pressure is constantly on you to develop as a musician and play as good as possible.Nicola will perform the new violin concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra in November before touring it around the world during the next two years and the pressure is on.As a young classical musician, she continues to face incredible scrutiny from aficianados.“It’s very rare to be invited inside the whole process of the creation of a piece. [Laughs] He has such a deep fascination of folklore of any and every nation – the Celtic traditions, but also the blues traditions, and he also grew up playing funk music. We had so much dialogue on that. [These musical styles] are sewn together in a way that is uniquely his voice.Benedetti: He wanted to know before he started writing what would be my vision of a concerto. That was the biggest relief surprise — we were absolutely on the same page.