Pierre Chrétien: Vintage Keys and an Unexpected Career Path

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

03/16/24

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68m

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Pierre Chrétien is a Canadian bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and composer who has had international success with his bands The Souljazz Orchestra, Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and his project Cinephonic, and in this episode you’ll learn about all of these and hear highlights from some of these albums on the Marlow Records label. http://www.marlowrecords.com/artists.html

Pierre shares how left his career as an Engineer to devote himself to a full-time career as a performer. He also demonstrates some rare vintage instruments at the beginning of this episode, which he’s also an expert at repairing. Pierre is so creative and some of his gorgeous album covers are linked to the episode notes on my website, which of course links to Marlow Records. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/pierre-chrtien

Did you know that this podcast is in Season 4, and that I send out a weekly email newsletter where you can get access to Sneak Peeks of upcoming guests and be inspired by highlights from the archive? https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter Speaking to such a diversity of people shines a light on the persistence required to attain mastery in any field. I try to constantly improve every aspect of this podcast, since I take care of all the many jobs of research, production, and publicity. I really do need the help of my listeners to keep this project going; please can you buy me a coffee (which is linked to Paypal)? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

Mike Essoudry (drummer with Atlantis Jazz Ensemble) episode: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/mike-essoudry-drummer

Please follow me on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:14) marimba

(05:33) Vintage Vibe electric piano, Mellotron

(10:01) Cinephonic albums

(13:05) Le Combat from Visions, the second Cinephonic album

(17:01) film score influences

(18:09) Musser Ampli-Celeste

(19:52) Atlantis Jazz Ensemble, vintage keyboards

(21:45) Pierre childhood and youth, Engineering degree

(25:07) Souljazz orchestra, tours, graphic design

(29:09) Kingdom Come from album Inner Fire Souljazz orchestra

(33:20) harp

(34:14) please buy me a coffee to support this series?

(34:52) Atlantis Jazz Ensemble

(37:46) Joyful Noise from Celetial Suite Atlantis Jazz Ensemble

(42:48) Mike Essoudry drummer

(43:06) Atlantis Jazz Ensemble

(47:10) Blue Nile Atlantis Jazz Ensemble

(52:15) Marlow Records, recording to analog tape

(53:43) writing process, musical influences

(55:47) changes in music distribution, benefits of Bandcamp, problems withSpotify

(58:19) decision to leave Engineering and become full-time musician

(01:00:57) other projects, Tezeta for orchestra

(01:04:26) Pierre’s teen years

Previous Episode

Edison Herbert Guitarist: Influences and Career Opportunities

March 9, 2024

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67m

This week’s guest is the British guitarist Edison Herbert, who plays melodic and soulful groove-based music that will lift your mood. We are featuring his compositions from a couple of his albums and you’ll learn about his personal journey in music that has led to his career as a full-time performer. He talked to me about some of his mentors and influences including George Benson, and his perspectives as a Black artist navigating the music scene in the UK. I found him to be warmly engaging and candid and we circled around to topics that impact all of us, such as dealing with self-knowledge, creativity, and the need to be persistent and keep true to what’s important to us .

Edison Herbert Website: https://edisonherbert.com/ Can you buy me a coffee through Paypal to support this channel and this series? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks! Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website (link here takes you to Video, Podcast and Transcript): https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/edison-herbert

Video of I Wanna Wake Up with You on Edison Herbert's YouTube: https://youtu.be/_vJk8MNuFSA?si=1VyD8fjZd7AiemEi Did you know that this podcast is in Season 4, and that I send out a weekly email newsletter where you can get access to Sneak Peeks of upcoming guests and be inspired by highlights from the archive? Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:26) Edison’s start in music (05:12) Edison’s albums (07:21) I Wanna Wake Up with You (13:39) Unforgettable Nat King Cole, US tour, grant funding (19:11) touring life in the UK, different aspects of music business (23:18) intro to Is She Is She Not (24:29) excerpt from Is She Is She Not (26:12) George Benson (31:35) musical influences Wes Montgomery, Grant Green (33:23) Loves in Need of Love Today (38:09) please support this independent podcast! thanks (38:47) Black musicians in the UK, African diaspora Black music traditions, racism (45:13) Edison’s family (46:17) musical influences in Edison’s style (48:55) Edison’s guitars (50:10) Guildhall school, Randy Brecker, London jazz scene, Guildhall (54:36) school teacher experience and deciding to pursue music (56:51) staying healthy as a musician (01:01:57) advice for learning a musical instrument and creating a music career

Next Episode

Avi Kisha Sarod player: Community and Innovation

March 23, 2024

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79m

Avi Kishna is a Dutch sarod player based in Amsterdam, of Indo-Surinamese heritage. You’ll get to know the sarod as an instrument and hear Avi’s perspectives on Dutch society and his interesting collaborations. Among his mentors is his inspiring father, Ramdew Kishna, a multi-talented musician, director, and painter, who played a pivotal role in shaping Avi's musical journey along with his guru, Koustuv Ray. As a young man, Avi embarked on a successful career as in sales and marketing, but during this time he pushed music aside, and I found it deeply touching to hear how he was able to come back to music with the wisdom of having left such an important part of himself behind. You’ll hear about Avi’s project working with schools in Amsterdam to help provide music programs in underserved communities and this episode features some of his sarod music. Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel, and I’ve also linked the transcript here to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/avi-kishna

Can you buy this podcaster a coffee to support this series? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks!

Here you'll find the links to Avi's projects like Raga Reflections, where to stream and buy his music, upcoming performances, including a video with dancer Shailesh Bahoran (which we talk about): https://www.sarodbyavi.com/

Link to Muziek Educatie Centrum Amsterdam: https://www.muziekeducatiecentrum.nl/jeugd-fonds-sport-cultuur-amsterdam

Follow me on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman

Episode with sitar player Mohamed Assani: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/mohamed-assani

Episode with bansuri player Milind Date:

https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/milind-date-bansuri-player

Complete Catalog of Episodes: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:42) the sarod

(11:57) Indo-Surinamese heritage and history

(16:16) South Asian music in the Netherlands