JOIN USStanley Jordan has displayed a chameleonic musical persona with his daring music. With bold reinventions of classic masterpieces to soulful explorations through the pop-rock hit, he has taken his listeners on breathless journeys. The artiste, who will perform in the city this weekend, talks to Anila Kurian about his upcoming performance and more.
Are you looking forward to playing here?
Visiting India has always been a dream and I am very excited to be a part of this journey. Classical music is one the greatest traditions of music and it blends well with jazz. I’ve explored this in a recording of ragas with two Indian musicians, Jay Kishor on sitar and Vedang Londhe on tabla.
Any other plans here?
I know that India resonates with deep wisdom and traditions. It also has a variety of distinct spiritual approaches. I look forward to visiting some temples. I would also like to jam with a few artistes after my show.
Any particular playlist for the audience?
I plan to play selections from my albums. I have new materials that I’d like to share as well. To be honest, I like to hit the stage with an open mind and go with the flow. Music is spiritual because it promotes mindfulness by making the here-and-now absolutely irresistible!
You are known for your touch technique. How long did it take for you to perfect that?
I don’t think I have perfected this or any other technique. I think it’s a lifelong process. But I do appreciate being on the journey. I believe that if you approach rehearsals seriously, not as mindless repetition but as a mantra, you’ll benefit from it and develop the craft.
Has travel influenced the music you play?
Till date, I have performed in about 70 countries! On one level, this has given me a lot of fresh ideas and has been influenced by it. And on another level, it has deepened my purpose. I’ve come to appreciate the value of arts more because they keep the human race strong by forging connections that transcend superficial boundaries.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I would change the underlying marketing theory. I would base it less on demographics and more on aesthetic values. Then the purpose of the industry would be simply to convert aesthetic values into commercial values. The business people would have to be just as creative as the artistes and the artistes wouldn’t have to compromise.
Three things you do before going on stage?
Physical warm-up, mental and emotional clearing and a little prayer.
Interests apart from music..
Lots of other interests — but they all seem to lead back to the music. I develop a lot of my own tools and technologies. I use a powerful mathematical programming language called APL, which I think is one of the best-kept secrets in IT. It allows me to seamlessly integrate the rapid development of applications for music production and education with the elegant representation of musical structures. Pretty cool, huh?