Jazz India Circuit - Jamison Ross speaks about business of his music

Produced and presented by pioneering entertainment company Teamwork Arts, the 2017-18 season of the Jazz India Circuit is all about getting into the groove, the subtleties of rhythm and the power of percussion with legendary jazz drummers headlining an electrifying series of concerts across the country.

With the focus of JIC 2017-18 season being on percussion, the circuit’s finale hosted Grammy-nominated percussionist, Jamison Ross.

A composer, an arranger, a vocalist and drummer, Jamison takes listeners on a musical journey that unifies his drumming abilities and vocal assets. Jamison gained worldwide acclaim as a featured musician in Tribeca Film  festival’s winning documentary CHOPS, a film that followed the school’s jazz ensemble as it prepared and performed in the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Festival Competition. As one of the youngest winners of the prestigious Thelonius Monk Jr International Jazz competition in 2012, he has earned a name for himself even though he has been in the professional jazz circuit for only a decade. Loudest Contributor Gayathri Natarajan had a chance to speak with Jamison, as he was preparing to go on stage.

Gayathri: How is your India experience so far?

Jamison: It is my first time in India. I love it here! People here are so warm, and loving. The hospitality is amazing! We’ve just arrived here a day before the show, and have done the sound check so far. I’m looking forward to exploring Delhi in the next couple of days.

Gayathri: What is it that you are looking forward to sharing with the audience at the JIC Finale edition?

Jamison: I’ve played in a lot of countries. So, I’ve kind of been in this position before. I let the crowd tell me. We have some music that we like to perform, but on stage, it is flexible. That’s what Jazz is all about, it is flexible, it has got a level of freedom in it, it adapts to whatever the moment decides. When I go out there, I’m always sussing out the moment, the people, the smiles on their faces, their energy. If it feels good, we continue the groove. We have played a lot of shows, so we are a cohesive unit. Now this cohesive unit moves with what is taking place on that night. The sound check was great, I feel good. I feel that tonight, we will be able to move that energy of the audience!

Gayathri: What is your experience with Indian Music?

Jamison: The melodic content of Indian music is so good. I heard some Punjabi music, some romantic music and also classical music. The melodies are beautiful. They are anything but linear. I love that. I would love to come back to India more often. May be visit some schools, and explore. I know how difficult it is, to study Jazz, in large colleges. With the music schools and colleges that I see in India right now, you guys have it going really good. Now is the time.

Gayathri:  How is the Business of Music in 2018? You have been releasing music with Concord since 2015. How has your experience been?

Jamison: Let us just say that the record label industry is dying. As in it is a dinosaur. Concord helps musicians record and release their records. They stand as the traditional model for making music and for making a record popular and to get people know what it is. I’ve learned a lot from working with the label, the business side, marketing, the press and production. I’ve learned a lot. But now I’m ready to be on my own!

Gayathri: Do you think the industry is ready for a completely independent revolution or do you think those 2 biggies will still exist?

Jamison:It will never be independent. People need to provide opportunities for people to play music. But it needs to be Music first! We are in a situation now where nobody is buying CDs, records. It is pretty bad. The streaming services are taking off too. But the record labels own percentages of those services. The record labels own, and they are pushing streaming. I see this in meetings all the time. As a young artist, to be honest with you, I get it. But CDs are still necessary, just like live shows like today are necessary. The touch and feel of it. That’s a book right there, we can write a whole book about this. But I do think that you need record labels too, because you need people who still believe in Music. Say, for instance, my career takes off, I make a lot of money eventually and all of a sudden I start a label of my own. If so, I would like to put music first, take an artist, understand them. I can understand what it is to be an artist, to make music and make it a success, rather than a suit-and-a-tie guy doing it, worrying about the money.

Gayathri: Do you have anything to say to young artists like yourself out there, making music?

Jamison: Find out who you are as fast as possible. Don’t be afraid of who you are too. Individuality is a big piece to really being an artist. Everybody is playing music, I mean everybody! You have to be really keen on finding your direction, and need to utilize your history and lineage of music that has come before you to do it. If you do that, you have more depth in your approach, your art. Your process will have a lot more substance that way. On the way to finding yourself, understand the shoulders of the giant that you are standing on. For example, if you meet a very knowledgeable person, their eloquence and articulation and vocabulary comes from them reading a lot. They have a lot of substance behind their knowledge. It is the same thing with music. I play Jazz, so I SHOULD know about the great jazz artists and the history of music. So understand the shoulders that you stand on, and you will find your way on your own. Marking the finale of Jazz India Circuit 2017-18 edition, Loudest will be bringing insights from more artists, the festival, and its origin. Watch this space for updates.