Gato and the melody

alfstone · April 16, 2016, 06:34:53 AM

Few days ago the great saxophonist Gato Barbieri passed away. It was very sad news, for me.

In one of my previous lives

I was a journalist too, and at the end of the Seventies I was lucky to get an interview here with Gato Barbieri, during an Italian tour.

He was a very kind, elegant man, he spoke slowly, *poinding* almost every word, often with closed eyes, as to concentrate on what he was saying...

BUT

I owe to him one of the most important concepts in my musical life.

Those were the days of free jazz, and I asked him about those furious improvisations. His answer was: "It really doesn't matter how fast, or complicated, or difficult, is what you play, moreover when improvising. What really matters is the MELODY. Build a good melody, and people will never forget you and your music".

...well, believe me or not, EVERY time I play, I do it with that concept in my mind.

Muchas gracias, Leandro.

Alfredo