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The Talk of Town: Canadian jazz saxophonist Darren Rahn
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Posted by: editoron Friday, November 20, 2009 - 10:30 AM |
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John Stevenson
The Talk of Town: Canadian jazz saxophonist Darren Rahn
creates a stir with new smooth jazz CD.
Interview by John Stevenson
British Columbia-born Darren Rahn has spent nearly all of his life involved in music. He’s been playing the saxophone from the age of 12 and has undertaken studies of the instrument at Adams State College and the University of Northern Colorado.
“Once In A Lifetime” released on the NuGroove imprint, was nominated Album of the Year at the last year’s Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Apart from being a fine instrumentalist, Darren has also produced fellow smooth jazz artists such as the late Wayman Tisdale and Dave Koz.
Darren chatted to me very recently about his latest CD, Talk of the Town, which certainly lives up to its title given the rave reviews its received since its release.
John Stevenson: You come across at times like a Canadian Boney James. What distinguishes your blowing from all of the other similar-sounding jazz saxophonists out there?
Darren Rahn: Well, first of all, thanks for the compliment! I’ve really spent a lot of time as an artist trying to make sure that I have my own identity as a saxophonist. There are so many great sax players out there, so I think that it is crucial to have my own sound and style. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what distinguishes one player from another – but there is one thing that is obvious... When you hear someone play, I believe you should be able to tell who it is within the first few seconds... That is what really matters... Having your own unique voice and your own unique story to tell on your instrument – and that is what I have really strived for.
JS: Where are you based at the moment? Do you return to Canada from time to time?
DR: I am in Denver Colorado – It’s a real great place to live and raise my family... And yes, I do return to Canada from time to time. I love it there and I’ll be coming to Toronto in April for the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. I’ll be performing there and also have been nominated for three awards – so cool!
JS: What inspired you to become a jazz saxophonist?
DR: Well.... I just LOVE the saxophone – and Jazz! To me, the sax is an extremely expressive instrument... One of the few instruments capable of mimicking the kind of inflections you hear in the human voice. And jazz is one of the most spontaneous and creative styles of music. It’s a perfect combination.... And hearing guys like John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, Gerald Albright.... Those guys were so inspiring to me as I learned the saxophone. Hearing them play really influenced me so much!
JS: You’ve assembled quite an arsenal of battle-seasoned vets on ‘Talk of the Town’. What was it like to record with the likes of Bob James, Jeff Lorber and the late Wayman Tisdale?
DR: Wow... I can’t tell you how honored I am to have those guys on my record.... All musical heroes to me. They bring so much vibe, personality, and creative genius to these songs on my record. I have listened to Jeff Lorber and Bob James as long as I can remember, and having them on my record is a dream come true. And speaking about my dear friend Wayman Tisdale.... He was “one-of-a-kind” in every way. So amazing musically and personally. I miss him so much... But I am so thankful that we got to do this collaboration on my record. He is so amazing on that bass – and he really killed this track – I mean funky, nasty, stinky..... Vibe for days! This collaboration was one of his favorite things that we ever did together – and mine too. I am grateful beyond words for his contribution to my record and to my life.
JS: Do you think its easier for young jazz musicians like yourself to break into the mainstream with the new technologies that we are surrounded with, or does this technology make things more challenging for you?
DR: Although I am into technology ‘big-time’, I don’t think that it has made “breaking into the mainstream” any easier. I think that making it in this industry requires good old-fashioned hard work. There are indeed some overnight internet sensations.... But that is certainly not the norm. I believe that hard work and perseverance are still the key components and technology has not changed that part of it, although, technology is reshaping the industry, that’s for sure. And we’re starting to see new models coming forward in the music business that are the result of all the amazing technologies available now.
JS: How has the CD been received Stateside, and what plans do you have for taking your music beyond the shores of the US?
DR: The CD has met with an amazing response. I am blown away at the reception it’s had. People seem to love it start to finish and that really makes me happy. I always want to put my best foot forward and at the end of the day, it’s for the people... So to see the great response really makes me happy. Outside of the US we’re also getting a great response... Of course in my homeland – Canada (eh’), there’s been a lot of support there – and the WAVE in Toronto has been SO supportive of the new record. It’s also being distributed all over the world – Japan, Thailand, China and many other places.
JS: You score some solid nostalgic points on the Chaka Khan cover of ‘Whatcha Gonna Do for Me’ and on Patrice Rushen’s dance-floor classic ‘Forget Me Nots". Were you the one behind these groove-oriented selections?
DR: Yeah, these are tunes that I have just loved for so long. I didn’t do them for any other reason. I just always loved them and wanted do my own versions of them.
JS: What advice would you offer to aspiring smooth jazz artists?
DR: Simple. Work very hard and find your own musical voice and identity. There is no substitute for that. If you do those two things, then your chances for success increase exponentially. Oh, and here’s one more thing that a great musician once told me and it is SO true – don’t look for big doors to open. Just make sure that every time a small door opens, go through it. Sometimes we are fortunate to have big doors open, but that is not the norm. The small doors are the key to your future.
JS: There’s a new manual out that’s the equivalent of the ‘fake book’ for smooth jazz musicians. Will this in your view replace or add to tried and true repertoire that musicians for well over 40 years have been weaned on?
DR: I don’t think it will replace standard jazz repertoire. But I do think that some great songs in our genre will be added to it over time. You can already find tunes by Grover Washington and Jeff Lorber and others in those books... Over time we will see more of them, but I believe that the “Jazz Standards” will always remain the staple of North American jazz.
JS: Who has most influenced your present musical direction?
DR: I can’t really pinpoint one person that has influenced me most. As a saxophonist I can tell you so many players who influenced me – I listed some of them earlier. John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Michael Brecker, Stanley Turrentine, David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Branford Marsalis, Dexter Gordon, Eric Marienthal, and the list goes on... I could fill a whole page! And that’s just saxophonists – I have many great influences on other instruments too... Pianists, vocalists, bassists, etc... I do have some people that are sort of mentors however. The most influential there is my dear friend and bassist, Mel Brown. A true friend and also one of the most brilliant musicians and businessmen to ever walk our planet! He has been a great source of inspiration. I also receive a lot of inspiration for what I do from my family, my friends, my life experience and also my faith – all very important factors in my musical expression. Really, my music is a reflection of my soul. It’s a very personal thing and I am SO thankful that I have music to express all these things. Without music I don’t know what I’d do!
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