Drummer Interview
Interview – Alphonse Mouzon
Drum photo of Alphonse Mouzon
Photo credit: Emma Alexandra Mouzon
LAST NAME: Mouzon
FIRST NAME: Alphonse
Place of Birth: Charleston, South Carolina
Date of Birth: November 21, 1948
Current Location: Northridge, California
Website: www.tenaciousrecords.com
SOCIAL NETWORKS
Facebook : www.facebook.com/alphonse.mouzon
Twitter: twitter.com/alphonsemouzon
Myspace: www.myspace.com/alphonsemouzon
MY GEAR
I play Canopus drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks, DW stands and foot pedal and Yamaha trumpets exclusively.
INTERVIEW
WMS: How did you start playing?
AM: I started playing drums when i was 5 years old. I played drums because I loved banging on things and the great feeling that it gave me. It was very relaxing and therapeutic for me as a kid. I made my drums out of boxes and large vegetable & fruit cans.
How did you learn how to play drums/percussions?
I was self-taught as a kids but when I was in high school, I learned music theory and how to read music and drum music, and learned how to play the tympani.
What were your musical influences?
I was influenced by my high school music teacher/saxophonist Lonnie Hamilton III then Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones and Jimmy Cobb.
Tell me 3 songs every drummer should know?
That depends if the drummer plays jazz, rock, country or funk music. It’s a hard question to answer. No all rock drummers can play jazz and not all jazz drummers can play rock!! But all drummers should be able to keep a steady time and have a great groove and swinging feeling when he or she plays!
There are a lot of educational tools, which ones are essential in your opinion?
I have my own unpublished drum method book that I teach from, that is essential to playing all styles of music. I also have videos and CDs of my drumming for my students to study and learn from.
I would like to know how you developed your own playing style?
By listening to all kinds of music!!
What’s your routine before playing live?
Get enough rest and sleep and eat a healthy meal 3 hours before I play. Then warmup for a 10 minutes on a practice pad with my drumsticks.
What’s your routine before playing in the studio?
Learn and know the music before going into the studio, then the same than before playing live : get enough rest and sleep and eat a healthy meal, warmup for a 10 minutes on a practice pad with my drumsticks.
What advice would you give to our students?
Stay clear of using any kind of drugs. Learn the music business. Learn about copyright laws. Study the musical compositions of Alphonse Mouzon 🙂
Where do you teach today?
I teach at home and via Skype at alphonse_mouzon.
How long and how often does one has to practice before they get a good level?
When I was a young kid, I used to practice my drums for at least 4 hours a day.
Which exercise in particular has to be practiced?
I practice all of my rudiments at different volume and speeds!
Do you still practice your instrument today? What kind of exercises?
Not as much as i should be practicing. I find myself practicing more these days on piano, flute, trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn, euphonium than on my drums. Sometimes I would practice my electric Fender bass, acoustic guitars and electric guitar. I practice my drums when I teach and when I’m on stage.
Do you think a drummer should also play a melodic instrument?
Yes I do. It makes them a better listener and musician.
How was the life of an afro-american musician in the 70s?
Life was great in the 70s for me. I was famous in jazz by the time I was 20 years living in New York and traveling all over the world, which I still do today.
You collaborated with the most famous US jazz musicians, such as Miles Davis, Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, how did you meet them?
I was a founding member of Weather Report as they original drummer in 1970. I had already recorded with saxophonist Wayne Shorter on his albums before we played together in Weather Report. I met Miles Davis in 1972 when I was playing with pianist Mc Coy Tyner in New York City. I met Jaco Pastorius in 1975 when we recorded on guitarist Al Di Meola‘s album”Land of the midnight sun“.
Tell us about your collaboration with Jaco Pastorius.
Like I said earlier, Jaco and I first recorded together with guitarist Al Di Meola in 1975. Then in 1976, german trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff hired Jaco and I to play and record with him « live at the Berlin jazz festival » on a album called “Trilogue“.
How did records were produced in the 70s?
Pretty much the same, except that we had real musicians in the studio playing together at the same time and we didn’t have Pro Tools to fix mistakes. Singers had to sing flawlessly as there were no Pro Tools to correct their pitch.
Do you still produce your music the same way today?
Yes I do it some degree but I use Pro Tools when I need to.
Today, your daughter is taking over, Emma Alexandra is singings on your last album, do you encourage her to be a musician too?
My daughter Emma Alexandra Mouzon is a brainiac who attends a top private Ivy League called Dartmouth College. Emma loves music and loves singing on my records and in my band – but she will be a neurosurgeon or the chair person/CEO of a fortune 500 company after she graduates from college.
MEMBER’S QUESTIONS
Matthew: What are your projects for 2015?
I have two new cds called « Smooth As Silk » and « High Noon ». Both CDs are funky, bluesy, smooth, and contemporary jazz with an all-star cast: Emma Alexandra Mouzon, Emma Alexandra Mouzon, Larry Coryell, Julian Coryell, Jeff Richman, Jeff Golub, Chuck Loeb, Paul Jackson jr, Wallace Roney, Shunzo Ohno, Ernie Watts, Bob Mintzer, Nelson Rangell, Paul Taylor, Warren Hill, Don Menza, Charles Owens, Welton Gite and Philip Ingram.
Jérémie: What’s the most beautiful musical collaboration in your career?
Working on my « High Noon » and « Smooth As Silk » CDs with my daughter Emma Alexandra Mouzon and the other all-star musicians that I mentioned before, and also working with Emma and an all-star cast of musicians on my 2011 top ten CD entitled « Angel Face », and working with Emma and my son/her brother Alphonse Philippe Mouzon on his CD that I produced entitled « The Main Attraction » on Tenacious Records.
Fred: What do you remember from your collaboration with Larry Coryell and more specifically when recording their wonderful album « Back Together Again »?
Larry Coryell and I are playing and touring together these days when we are available. We play together as a trio and with the group called Miles Smiles, and with the reunion of The Eleventh House. I produced our cd entitled « Back Together Again » and wrote the title song along with 3 other songs of mine on that CD. I was one of the main composer with out band The Eleventh House. I have always had fun playing and recording with Larry Coryell for the past 42 years. Wow how time flies. I have an unreleased cd that I recorded for my label Tenacious Records with Larry Coryell and organist Joey Defrancesco that i will release in 2016.
DISCOGRAPHY
Musicians:
Arturo Sandoval – trumpet
Wallace Roney – trumpet
Shunzo Ohno – trumpet
Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone
Bob Mintzer – tenor saxophone
Don Menza – tenor saxophone
Antoine Roney – tenor saxophone
Charles Owens – tenor saxophone
Cedar Walton – acoustic piano
Kenny Barron – acoustic piano
Christian McBride – acoustic bass
Darek Oleszkiewicz – acoustic bass
Henry « The Skipper » Franklin – acoustic bass
Emma Alexandra Mouzon – vocals
Alphonse Mouzon – drums/acoustic piano/ trumpet/ composer/arranger
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon – drums & composer
Sal Marquez – trumpet & flugelhorn
Chuck Manning – tenor saxophone
David Goldblatt – acoustic piano
Dave Enos – acoustic bass
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon – Yamaha Drums
Sal Marquez – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Chuck Manning – Tenor Saxophone
David Goldblatt – Acoustic Piano
Dave Enos – Acoustic Bass
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Herbie Hancock
Lee Ritenour
Russ Freeman
Paul Jackson, Jr.
George Howard
Gerald Albright
Richard Elliot
Ernie Watts
Eric Marienthal
Nelson Rangell
Paul Taylor
Kirk Whalum
Everette Harp
Brandon Fields
Gary Meek
Welton Gite
Sal Marquez
Tony Dumas & Others
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Tony Dumas
Sal Marquez
Ralph Moore
Ernie Watts
Gerald Albright
Eric Marienthal
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Russ Freeman
Gerald Albright
Richard Elliot
Brandon Fields
Everette Harp
Eric Marienthal
Welton Gite
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Lee Ritenour
Russ Freeman
George Howard
Ernie Watts
Kirk Whalum
Richard Elliot
Brandon Fields
Gary Meek
Welton Gite
Phillip Ingram
Sandra Simmons
Portia Griffin
Lynne Fiddmont
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Gary Meek
Joachim Becker
Michael Schurman
Musicians:
Ernie Watts
Ronnie Laws
Brandon Fields
Gary Meek
Jeff Daniel
Welton Gite
Jana Sorensen
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Ray Parker, Jr.
Brandon Fields
Paul Jackson, Jr.
Nathan East
Jeff Daniel
Welton Gite
Carolyn Dennis
Maxine Waters
Julie Waters
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Richard Elliot
Ernie Watts
Ronnie Laws
Ray Parker, Jr.
Paul Jackson, Jr.
Nathan East
Larry Coryell
Terumasa Hino
John Lee
Mike Mandel
Kai Eckhardt
Geoff Stradling
Torsten de Winkle
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Stanley Clarke
Tom Scott
Brandon Fields
Doug Norwine
Ray Parker, Jr.
Paul Jackson, Jr.
Nathan East
Jeff Daniel
Welton Gite
Alphonse-Philippe Mouzon
Jean-Pierre Alphonse Mouzon
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Herbie Hancock
Stanley Clarke
Lee Ritenour
Michael Brecker
Tom Scott
Freddie Hubbard
Paul Jackson, Jr.
Nathan East
Scott Edwards
Jerry Hey
Larry Williams
Kim Hutchcroft
Ron Clark
Glen Ferris
Douglas LeDesma
Kim Joey Ko
Anita Sherman
Anna Pagan
Carol Holmes
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Herbie Hancock
Lee Ritenour
Freddie Hubbard
Scott Edwards
Paul Jackson, Jr.
Jerry Hey
Kim Hutchcroft
Larry Williams
Larry Tim
Musicians:
Alphonse Mouzon
Herbie Hancock
Lee Ritenour
Michael Brecker
Freddie Hubbard
Hubert Laws
Paul Jackson, Jr.
Nathan East
Scott Edwards
Seawind Horns
The Waters Sisters
Musicians:
Tommy Bolin – Guitar, Soloist
Henry E. Davis – Bass
Jay Graydon – Guitar, Synthesizer
Alphonse Mouzon – Arp 2600, Drums, Farfisa Organ, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Soloist, Synthesizer, Vocals
Jerry Peters – Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Piano (Electric), Soloist
Lee Ritenour – Guitar, Soloist
VIDEOS
McCOY TYNER BAND with Alphonse Mouzon
McCOY TYNER BAND with Alphonse Mouzon
“MORE MILES IN THE SKY”
“A LABOR OF LOVE”
MIND TRANSPLANT BAND
McCOY TYNER BAND with Alphonse Mouzon
ALPHONSE MOUZON BAND IN BAKERSFIELD
MCCOY TYNER – SONG OF THE NEW WORLD
MCCOY TYNER – SAHARA
“THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES”
