Sean Steinfeger w/ Ben Wendel.
Tell us a bit about your musical background – your first „hearing music“ memory, your start of practicing the saxophone/piano & the first gig you ever had?
The first music I ever heard was probably my mother singing. She was a professional opera singer for thirty years – I probably heard her voice even when I was in the womb! I believe part of why I chose the saxophone is that it resembles the human voice, so perhaps I’m just trying to imitate my mother’s singing! I started playing the saxophone when I was ten years old. My first gig was playing on the street when I was thirteen years old and getting cash tips thrown into my saxophone case. I loved it!
When was the first moment that you decided to become a professional musician and how did your parents react to it?
I was playing in the orchestra when I was fifteen years old and was overwhelmed emotionally and spiritually by the experience. I began to cry and knew that I wanted to live in that world as much as I could. When I told my parents, then luckily supported me but I know my mother was worried. Since she was a professional musician herself, she knew how challenging a life it can be.
Becoming a jazz musician still has the reputation of being one of the toughest things to start a career and make a living out of it. Could you tell us a bit of your hustle? How many different jobs did you have on your way to become a professional?
I’ve done everything. Taught five years old piano, play weddings, record on commercials and film. It is a very strange and challenging profession but it has always felt natural to me because I love music so much. There was never any doubt and this helped propel me forward in the early years.
If you would have to choose your top 3 saxplayers that shaped your sound the most – who would that be and why?
John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker. Sound, energy, language and love.
Talking about the generation of nujazz (UK jazz artists, folks like Butcher Brown, Makaya McCraven etc), are there any new artists that you’re currently listening to and what is it that you can learn from the young cats?
I feel very fortunate to be able to play with a lot of the next generation of players. Musicians like Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, James Francies, Jeremy Dutton, Fuensanta Mendez, Louis Cole, etc. As musicians we are all on a continuum – we learn from the past, present and future. I am a student for life and love the chance to be inspired by all musicians, regardless of age.
What was one of the craziest memories that you have experienced within your career through jazz music (f.e. touring countries/continents, collaborations, meeting legends etc)?
Too many to name! On the crazy side, I recently played a concert with Randy Brecker and had my appendix burst, but still finished the concert! I’m healed now! On the musical side, I’m grateful for all the times I’ve been able to lead a band at the Village Vanguard. I recently played a sold out show at Disney Hall in Los Angeles with Terence Blanchard – this was a real bucket list experience.
Can you name all the cities where you have played a Blue Note Club?
Tokyo, NYC, Milan!
How did your work with Prince come about and what impact did it have on you?
It happened when I was living in Los Angeles. I actually played bassoon for that gig. It was on television. Prince was a total professional and absolute artist – he heard everything and his presence was magnetic. It had a big impact on me in the sense I got to see how someone of that status carries themselves as a musician and human – I learned a lot.
Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming new album „All One“, what was your approach and is there any difference to your recent releases?
Well the biggest thing about this album is it might be the first of it’s kind to have thirty voices of bassoon and woodwind all played by me to create woodwind orchestras. I’m very proud of how it come together and that I was able to pull off the “magic trick” of creating something like this. I’m also honored to have the musicians that participated: Bill Frisell, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Terence Blanchard, José James, Elena Pinderhughes and Tigran Hamasyan.
What can we expect from your upcoming show at Gretchen on Tuesday 9th May (setup/band members)?
I am bringing a fabulous band that includes Taylor Eigsti, Harish Raghavan and Nate Wood. We have all been friends and recorded and toured together quite a bit, so I call it the “Old Friends” band! There is a special energy and rapport to this group and I’m glad to bring it to Berlin!