We asked Raph Clarkson about his upcoming show with the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO) and found out all about his inspirations, what music to expect and his dream fantasy band...
Hi Raph, tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a musician and composer?
I was very lucky growing up, in that my parents were both musicians and were hugely generous and passionate in helping to instil a love for all things music in me. I always loved playing the trombone and being creative, and so it was a natural progression for me from school to a university music degree to professional life, made possible by that family start but also all the hugely inspirational teachers and the supportive musical communities I experienced on the way. I still make a lot of music with people I’ve known since school and university – that’s going over 20 years back!
These days I play trombone in all sorts of different projects, ranging from jazz and improvised music to ska, reggae, New Orleans street bands and contemporary classical music.
Ultimately I love playing and being creative with people – and I think that’s where my relatively recent life as a composer comes from too. My first real foray into writing my own music came with my ensemble The Dissolute Society which was established in 2014-15, and from there I’ve made a number of albums where I have written compositions for jazz ensembles, with my creative work also branching out to include writing for children’s voices and orchestra.
You’re one of the key artists in the UK jazz scene – who do you admire and who inspires you and why?
Ever since I met her I’ve been hugely inspired by Laura Jurd. Her joyful musical personality shines through whether she is playing the trumpet, composing , arranging, or producing records. She has a wonderfully unique and authentic voice on the trumpet as an improviser. I’ve been very lucky to collaborate with Laura on a number of projects and I always feel like I learn a lot about music and what makes it meaningful and beautiful, from listening to her play.
Another person who is a magnificent, generous, creative musician is the trombonist and sackbut player Emily White (check out her amazing YouTube channel!). Equally at home in an orchestra, or an early music group, or as a soloist, or for that matter as a creative soul writing music and exploring her instrument through improvising and collaborating with composers, it is her musicianship and passion for sharing music as much as her versatility that is so inspirational.
Why are you excited to be working with WYJO?
I love working with young musicians – so often they are totally immersed in the excitement, passion and joy for music, with a real thirst for learning and the exploration of what is possible. WYJO are no exception! They have a history of collaboration with all sorts of brilliant creative musicians and so it’s an honour for me to be collaborating with them.
I love sharing my musical ideas and hearing how other musicians interpret and respond to those ideas – our first sessions have been really dynamic and interactive and I’m learning new things about my pieces and my ideas as a result. What more could you want?
What kind of music will the audience hear in your concert with WYJO?
I have an eclectic taste when it comes to music and being creative, and I wanted to share that with a big mixture of music I’ve written for various settings, projects and albums: including music for my contemporary ensemble The Dissolute Society, my South-African inspired band Equal Spirits, and also music written originally for children and orchestra/ensemble as well as personal celebrations of and dedications to important musical figures in my life: my dad, and the great British jazz pianists Keith Tippett and John Taylor. Alongside my pieces and arrangements you’ll hear some collective improvisations – tipping that to the ‘organised chaos’ of Mingus and Tippett amongst others, a musical way of being that I really love. We’ll also play some South African jazz and traditional classics to sit alongside my Equal Spirits music which has been a recent focus for me.
There are grooves, there’s joy, there’s heartfelt reflection – and there’s some (voluntary) audience participation!
Imagine you’re doing a world tour – who would be in your fantasy band and why?
OK, I’m going to do a sort of 9 piece line up mixing a rhythm section with brass and strings…
Ella Fitzgerald – vocals (My favourite jazz vocalist – extraordinary phrasing and emotion in her voice)
Kenny Wheeler – trumpet/flugel (A huge musical inspiration. Both his writing and improvising able to explore the delicate balance between joyful flight and the flipside, pain and sorrow just under the surface)
Me – trombone (Because I want to be in the band!)
Micaela Comberti – baroque violin (My mum! A brilliant, sensitive and gifted musician whom I would have loved to collaborate with)
Stuff Smith – violin (My favourite swinging jazz violinist – played with Nat King Cole amongst many others)
Gustav Clarkson – viola (My dad – just a wonderful, generous musician and fabulous player, and who I was very lucky to record some music with)
Bela Bartok – piano (I absolutely love his approach to harmony and his integration of the folk music he loves into his compositions. A brilliant pianist as well. I want him in my rhythm section).
Tigran Hamasyan – keys/synth bass (Bartok has the piano chair so the awesome Tigran who mixes unbelievable technique with passion for his Armenian roots as well as a love of math rock grooves – is going to rock the bass chair!)
Elvin Jones – drums (amazing conjuror of majestic and rich rhythmic sound worlds – groovy as hell – on some of my favourite ever records – e.g A Love Supreme)
I am not sure at all what kind of music we would play. But I am having a fun time trying to imagine it! Maybe this is the creative spark for a future project ….
