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We love Gretchen Parlato for the very special tone of her voice, for her original phrasing, her pronunciation and her stylistic choices as a visionary jazz singer. Her association with New York’s finest musicians in the 2000s and 2010s has certainly not hindered the development of her unique style. We owe her 5 albums as a leader, and among her many record collaborations, 3 come from this close collaboration with Beninese super-guitarist Lionel Loueke, including the recent Lean In released on the Edition label. In all likelihood, the material from this recording will be at the heart of the duo’s new concert this Sunday at Le Gesù. PAN M 360 talks to the duo singer, who joined us on tour a few days before the Montreal stop.
PAN M 360 : Many things happened since our last conversation several years ago, because you found it a family and focussed on your motherhood for a while And now you’re back on the road with Lionel Loueke, with whom you’ve recorded your most recent album. So could you please present this excellent collaboration?
Gretchen Parlato : Yes and thank you! So Lionel and I will play a duo in Montreal. And we’re performing music from the latest album indeed. And also, you know, we’ve known each other for 22 years. So we have a lot of musical history and friendship and repertoire to share as well.
PAN M 360 : Lionel used to live in your neighborhood in Brooklyn,didn’t he?
Gretchen Parlato : He now lives in Luxembourg, because his wife is European. And I’m living in Los Angeles, so it’s really special that we can get together.
PAN N 360 : Interesting coincidence : I just interviewed Angelique Kidjo, who is from Benin as Lionel, and is one of the main figures of the festival Nuits d’Afrique.
Gretchen Parlato : Oh, that’s great! Yes. I think they know each other.
PAN M 360 : Yeah indeed, they know each other, they told me a few years ago. So you know Lionel for a long time, so how did you build this collaboration and artistic relationship ?
Gretchen Parlato : So we met at our audition for the Thelonious Monk Institute competition. And this was 22 years ago, in 2001. We played as an ensemble for a couple years, and then we realized we loved to play as a duo. So the project started in Los Angeles, we both moved to New York at the same time in 2003. And then it just continued to develop with him, he would be a member of my groups, I’d be a member of his groups and we always talked about focusing on a duo project. But you know, life just took its path and it took us this long so I think now it actually is very cool because we have 22 years of music and friendship and life experience to put into this music so it has an even deeper meaning and connection now.
PAN M 360 : And can we be a little more specific about the the music form that bring you together ?
Gretchen Parlato : We met as students and we just I think he’s so he’s so unique. He just blew me away for the very first time I heard him. And he continues to do so every time. So it’s very special. Every time I hear him, I feel like I’m hearing him again for the first time getting that same feeling. But I think, you know, he’s someone who’s so supportive, and I trust him so much. But he also, there’s so much challenge and so much risk taking. And it’s like, you’re, you’re flying, you know, when when, when singing with him and playing with him? Because you never know what will happen in a very good way. We have different backgrounds, but we have a similar approach and a similar desire, you know, of where we want to go and where we want to take the music. Yeah, that’s helped us connect.
PAN M 360 : There’s a very interesting place for improvisation, that means you’re on this territory called jazz.
Gretchen Parlato : I know, you’re right. It’s hard to even put a label on this music we do but it’s definitely in the jazz realm. We both come from the jazz genre, and then we can work however anyone wants to, you know, place it is fine. And yes, there’s a lot of improvisation. There’s a lot of, you know, never playing the song, the song exactly the same way. It’s like there’s, there’s a structure and a form. But within that we really have fun taking it to different places every time.
PAN M 360 : Would you have some guests in Montreal?
Gretchen Parlato : Sometimes my husband, Mark Guiliana, is able to come and sit with us un drums. It will depend on his agenda, I mean if it fits at the right moment.
PAN M 360 : Is it tough to both of you handle the family as traveling musicians?
Gretchen Parlato : It’s funny as you ask that because I have actually my nine year old son leaning on me with headphones watching a show. So I think he’s old enough to, to be self contained. My son can sit backstage and watch our set and just come up and sing a little bit with us at the end. So he’s a part of the music. And like I said, he also can kind of be on his own when he needs to, but it’s kind of really fun. I think Mark and I both are able to balance being parents and then being artists, and we’ve done that since our son was born. And it definitely was, you need a lot more help obviously, when you have a baby or toddler but now that he’s nine, it’s pretty cool. Because there’s a lot more that he can do and participate in. We’re having a good time. We take complete joy in the fact that we can travel together as a family.
PAN M 360 : It must have been a huge change in your life!
Gretchen Parlato : When I got pregnant, I didn’t know how I would feel about my lifestyle as a mother, but it was very clear to me that I wanted to do everything I could to focus on motherhood. That’s what I did and I’m so glad I did and, you know, now my son is nine so we’ve had all this time together and we’ve been able to balance it. Anyway, it’s a good thing that I’ve been able to take time off as a mother, it’s been a privilege. But I haven’t disappeared completely!
PAN M 360 : You’re originally from Los Angeles, and you moved back on the West Coast after all those years based in New York area. Why ?
Gretchen Parlato : I grew up in Los Angeles, and after I spent almost 20 years on the East Coast in New York and New Jersey. I always had a desire, you know, once it was time to kind of settle and become a mom that I would go back to Los Angeles and be in California and raise my son in the environment where I grew up. So I planted that seed, you know, with Mark, because he’s from New Jersey, which is very different. We were already on the East Coast, but after our son turned five, Mark was into the idea of moving to the West Coast. So I think everyone’s really happy and, and healthy. We’re doing well, it feels good to be back in California. But I love and miss New York, too. So we definitely get there a few times a year.
PAN M 360 : Other musicians moved back to the West Coast, guys like David Binney, for example.
Gretchen Parlato : Yeah. I think that that definitely helped Mark feel good about the decision knowing that a lot of his peers did the same thing. So there’s definitely a scene in LA and a whole community to be in touch with. So it’s, it feels good.
PAN M 360 : Also, are you actually running other projects?
Gretchen Parlato : I’d say for this moment, it is really the the main focus to kind of extend this duo longer. We have a little run now. I should say not more, but I also can play with my own quartet, and continue music that I did when I lived in NYC, kind of piano trio plus me. Mark and I also talk about doing something together. But at this point, the focus is the duo with Lionel. And then there are ideas of other things that are just ideas for now. And then another, like you said, some more in the fall, we’re looking into next year, you know, in the spring, and maybe beyond, we’ll see how long we can, you know, continue this.
PAN M 360 : Of course, Lionel also have a big agenda.
Gretchen Parlato : I just feel so grateful that Lionel has the time because as everyone knows, he’s very busy. He’s mostly with Herbie Hancock, and that’s kind of the greatest gig you could ever have. Lionel has been there for many years now. So far, we’ve been able to balance that out, so it’s, it’s great! I think gratitude is the main theme of my existence right now. Just be grateful for what we have. And then we’ll see what the next brings us.
PAN M 360 : Does this state of mind have an impact on your own singing?
Gretchen Parlato : The voice, it gets better, it gets deeper, it gets more mature, as we age emotionally and spiritually. It’s a one-way ticket to a higher or deeper level, if you prefer. It’s reflected in all the music we play, in every note we sing, in every word we say.
