{"id":3149,"date":"2010-11-11T20:56:00","date_gmt":"2010-11-11T20:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/?p=3149"},"modified":"2025-05-06T20:58:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T20:58:22","slug":"jasons-jam-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/2010\/11\/11\/jasons-jam-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Jason\u2019s Jam Session"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jason Palmer \u2013 The \u201cGuy and Madeline on a Park Bench\u201d Interview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trumpeter\/Composer\/Arranger Jason Palmer is one of the most in-demand jazz musicians of his generation. He has worked with such icons as Roy Haynes, Jimmy Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, Common and Roy Hargrove. Jason took first place in the 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The June 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine cited Palmer as one of the \u201cTop 25 trumpeters of the Future.\u201d His debut recording, \u201cSongbook,\u201d with Ravi Coltrane and Greg Osby, was released to rave reviews in 2008. And his second CD, \u201cNothing to Hide,\u201d just dropped in September of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason\u2019s group has been playing Wally\u2019s Jazz Caf\u00e9 in Boston every weekend for the past decade. The quintet has also been featured at the Tanglewood Jazz Fest, the Stone and the Jazz Gallery in NYC, the Studio in Hartford, Connecticut, as well as numerous venues across New England. In 2007, he was commissioned by the Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC to premier a new composition based on Sudoku at the Jazz Standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides performing, Palmer maintains a busy schedule as an educator\/actor\/board member at JazzBoston. Plus, he was recently hired by Berklee College of Music as an Assistant Professor of Ensembles. Here, he talks about playing a title role in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, a jazz-driven romance drama marking the impressive directorial debut of Damien Chazelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kam Williams:<\/strong> Hi Jason, thanks for the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Palmer<\/strong>: My pleasure, Kam, and thank you for your interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW<\/strong>: What interested you in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP<\/strong>: A little over three years ago, Damien visited Wally\u2019s, the jazz club that I perform weekly at in Boston, in search of a lead for his film. He asked me if I was interested and I thought the project sounded really interesting. I was excited about the idea of being a part of a film that featured the musical genre at I love. I must say that in most cases when I\u2019m approached at Wally\u2019s by an individual that\u2019s interested in collaborating, they\u2019re usually not too serious about it, so I don\u2019t expect any follow ups on their end. But this wasn\u2019t the case with Damien. From the start I got the sense that he was motivated and on top of things. That piqued my interest as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> You\u2019re a jazz trumpeter. How much acting experience did you have prior to shooting this film?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I had no experience acting at all. Still, there are some aspects of performing jazz that are similar to acting. What I mean by this is that when I\u2019m performing I believe that I am obliged to leave all my troubles aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW<\/strong>: Which do you find more challenging, acting or play music?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I think that they both have their challenges. I wouldn\u2019t rank one harder than the other. I think that we are in a day and age now when musical performances on stages are apt to end up on Youtube or any other social media. Musicians are highly conscious of this. For a period in my life, I felt a pressure to perform beyond my expectations because if I didn\u2019t, that particular performance might end up online for all to see and judge. So that pressure was there. With acting, it was so new to me I didn\u2019t really feel the pressure in the beginning. That was also due to the fact that in acting for this film, I had the option of doing another take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW<\/strong>: Were you surprised by how well-received the film has been?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP<\/strong>: I was surprised because I knew that the film started off as Damien\u2019s thesis project at Harvard. I wasn\u2019t aware that the film was going to be submitted to film festivals. Due to my performing and teaching schedule, I also didn\u2019t get a chance to see the film in it\u2019s entirety until after I had learned of some accolades that the film had garnered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> I noticed that you both d gigs with your quintet and teach trumpet at a couple of conservatories? How hard is it to juggle those careers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> It\u2019s a challenge but it\u2019s not anything that I can\u2019t handle. I think that communication is key when juggling these two things. When I\u2019m out on the road, I schedule make up lessons ahead of time so flexibility on both ends is key to managing a career in music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Who are your favorite trumpeters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> How much print space do I have [LL] I\u2019ll just say that I embrace every trumpeter in jazz from Louis Armstrong to Don Cherry. All musicians who play with heart and display integrity hold a special place in my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> How would you describe your sound?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I think it\u2019s a combination of all the trumpeters and musicians that I\u2019ve been influenced by over the past fifteen years. I believe that in today\u2019s musical climate musicians have to play many styles convincingly and sometimes alter their sound to stay true to the style that\u2019s being played. This is what I try to convey whenever I take the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been asked so many questions, I can\u2019t really think of anything at the moment. I\u2019m pretty much an open book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> Sure, that\u2019s an emotion that I\u2019m not immune to. I\u2019m not a swimmer yet, so you can imagine how I must feel about large bodies of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I\u2019m happy today, I was happy yesterday and the day before, and I hope to keep that streak going!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> Right now, I\u2019m on a \u201cThis American Life\u201d kick. There are some really funny stories on that NPR radio show that have had me rolling lately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> The use of patience and action coupled with the belief that everything happens for a reason that we are meant to learn from gets me through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Nancy Lovell Question: Why do you love doing what you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I love seeing the smiles on people\u2019s faces and sensing the joy from them after a show. I believe that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been put on this earth to do. I also love helping student musicians realize their potential and self-worth when I\u2019m working with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy by Robert Jourdain. http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/038078209X?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=038078209X<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> On my iRiver, I currently have the music of Kurt Rosenwinkel as well as Janelle Monae\u2019s Archandroid in heavy rotation. I hope she wins a Grammy. http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B002ZFQD0E?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002ZFQD0E<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> What is your favorite dish to cook?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> I have a variation on a Costa Rican dish that I make maybe once a week. It consists of grilled swordfish, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, garlic, spinach, oregano, basil, salt, a little cayenne, thyme and rosemary, all on a bed of quinoa infused with lemon juice. I also started making lamb saagwala. That\u2019s a challenge, but it\u2019s fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW<\/strong>: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP<\/strong>: I haven\u2019t really gotten into that yet. I shop at Marshall\u2019s, Banana Republic, and online at J. Crew occasionally. I also like places like Brooks Brothers, but I\u2019m pretty thrifty, so I may splurge there only once a year or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> An end to global poverty and inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW<\/strong>: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP<\/strong>: My eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW<\/strong>: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> Sticking a key into a socket and getting electrocuted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP:<\/strong> Stay persistent and don\u2019t be afraid to be told \u201cno.\u201d All it takes is one \u201cyes\u201d to get things rolling for you. My career has been on a slow steady incline for some time now and I have to take it in stride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Tavis Smiley question: What do you want your legacy to be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP<\/strong>: I do my best to pattern my life after greats such as Clifford Brown and Dizzy Gillespie. I want to be known as a person who made an important contribution to this music that we call jazz. I would like for my teaching methods to live on after I\u2019m gone. That\u2019s why I\u2019m writing a book right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Thanks again for the interview, Jason, and best of luck with all your endeavors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP<\/strong>: Thank you, Kam, and the same to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To purchase Jason Palmer\u2019s CD \u201cSongbook,\u201d visit: http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00113F0E6?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00113F0E6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To purchase Jason Palmer\u2019s CD, \u201cNothing to Hide,\u201d visit: http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00422BE8O?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00422BE8O<\/a> Or: http:\/\/www.jazzloft.com\/p-52740-nothing-to-hide.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason\u2019s blog: http:\/\/jasonpalmerjazz.wordpress.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To see a trailer for Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H2NWRydVjA8<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jason Palmer \u2013 The \u201cGuy and Madeline on a Park Bench\u201d Interview Trumpeter\/Composer\/Arranger Jason Palmer is one of the most in-demand jazz musicians of his generation. He has worked with such icons as Roy Haynes, Jimmy Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, Common and Roy Hargrove. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[2132,2130,2131],"class_list":["post-3149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-downbeat-magazine","tag-jason-palmer","tag-jazz-musician","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3149"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3150,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3149\/revisions\/3150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}