Bill Cunliffe Interviewed by All About Jazz

He's known across the world for his excellent piano pieces, has hosted countless sold out jazz concerts, and is a Grammy award-winning arranger. He is, of course, Night Is Alive's own Bill Cunliffe. But what exactly is a day like for someone who is busy either writing, producing or presenting some sort of new form of jazz? Read part of the transcript below of the interview conducted by All About Jazz and see for yourself!

"All About Jazz: Your recordings to date have explored so much aural territory—from contemporary jazz blended with classical/art music, to contemplative piano improvisations, to a Grammy-winning large ensemble arrangement, to big band and symphonic works, to explorations of pop music, Latin music, the blues, children's songs, Christmas music, standards, film music... and you've authored some fabulous jazz books...so how would you describe your musical journey thus far?

Bill Cunliffe: Well, I think I pursued, especially in the early part of my life, many, many different roads, partially because I'm a curious person. I think that's the main reason, actually. And anytime I heard something that I thought, "Wow—I want to see what that's about," I would jump right in there. These days I'm narrowing my focus quite a bit and thinking primarily about playing piano in a trio format and big band stuff. That's what I'm mostly focusing on these days.

AAJ: In light of that journey, what do you see on your immediate horizon?

BC: Well, I've done a big band project that's going to come out in February and it's pretty interesting. Actually next week at Vibrato I'm premiering one of the pieces which is a celebration of our presidential election. It's got three movements in it. The three movements are "Hillary," "Bernie" and "Donald," and it will survey what people are thinking about these people. It's not a point of view. I don't have a point of view in this piece. It's primarily just a description of what I hear going on around me. So, I mean, I love the large ensemble stuff—I'm continuing to do that. I think trio is really my favorite thing to do. I have some guys in New York: Martin Wind (bass) and Tim Horner (drums), and I really enjoy playing with them. We're doing more and more things. I think the trio is the most fun that a musician can have because there's interaction and you can really do your thing. I teach at Cal State Fullerton, and I will set the kids up like a six-piece band. I will set them up in a group and they'll practice playing duo with each other. We all go around the room and play a little duo, then they play trio with each other, and then they play quartets with each other. You know, just going around the room—free, with no agenda. And without exception, trio is the easiest and the most favorite format for them to play, because you are being given things but you also are able to express yourself. And I think three is a magic number. I like interaction. You can put musicians in three categories: those that are primarily generators of ideas, musicians that respond to others, and musicians that are in the middle, (doing) both—that's where I would be. I'm as much a receiver of ideas as a generator."