Saxophonist Andrew Rathbun

Toronto-born saxophonist and composer Andrew Rathbun makes music inspired both by a traditional folk pathos and a lifelong study of jazz. His melodies are simple, yet indelible and his compositions shine with the modal virtuosity of 1960s bebop.  One of Rathbun’s projects, an extended suite titled “True Stories,” presents Margaret Atwood’s intimate poetry amidst the lush and powerful instrumentation of a jazz orchestra. Rathbun, along with his large ensemble, is performing this and other works tonight (Monday April 4) at Brooklyn’s Tea Lounge (one of FP’s Top 5 Cafes of Park Slope). The performance will feature vocalist Julie Hardy and top local jazz musicians. Rathbun sat down with FP contributor Alaina Ferris to answer a few questions about his musical experiences, ideologies, and tonight’s event.

What is your musical history and how did you end up where you are today?

I was really lucky in that, when I was young, I went to a school that had a musically rich program – I attended an hour of private lessons each week at the school. That influenced my musical development a lot – started this musical quest. My teachers would mention all these musicians, so I’d set out to the library, borrow as many cassettes as I could carry, listen to them, copy them, learn them, and then go back next week…this became my modus operandi. You know, when you’re young, your cauldron is empty, and I wanted to fill it as fast as possible. I started playing clarinet in fourth  grade and then picked  up the saxophone in ninth grade. Later, I attended New England Conservatory of Music and am now getting ready to finish my D.M.A. at Manhattan School of Music.

How would you describe your music?

My music is very songful –  it is a melodic setting of poems to rich instrumentation. It is jazz meets Joni Mitchell (although I think it’s arrogant of me to mention myself in the same sentence as her). But truthfully, I think a lot of where my music is coming from is the idea of crafting a singable melody set to the unique palette of the orchestra – the brass, flutes, clarinets and all of their shadings – there are a lot of coloristic opportunities that the orchestra provides.

Andrew Rathbun, Fiasco

Who are some of your influences?

Well, in addition to Joni Mitchell (whom I didn’t discover until later), Bill Evans…especially his performances with Miles Davis. Django Bates and Kenny Wheeler (with whom I’ve collaborated). Also, when I was a kid, I was really into prog. rock.

Andrew Rathbun

Tell me about your Margaret Atwood project.

My mother, who is an English teacher, introduced me to Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. And although Atwood is known primarily for her fiction, I became very interested in her poetry. When I contacted her, she was really supportive of my project – essentially gave me a carte blanche to do what I pleased. This led to my extended suite, “True Stories,” which was released by the label Fresh Sound New Talent. In the past, I have also worked with Japanese-American poet Cathy Song – whose poems I originally encountered in the subway, reading “Poetry in Motion.” I set her text to music in my project, “Jade,” which embodied the tumult of an Asian to American transfusion – the suite invokes Cathy Song’s poem, “Lost Sister.”

What can we expect from your concert?

Come hear some approachable, singable music in a different light with beautiful instrumentation. The performance features vocalist Julie Hardy. Hardy’s performance is particularly wonderful because she changes modes – sometimes she’ll sing above the orchestra as the driving force of the song, but sometimes she sits back and blends with the instruments.

Any closing remarks for our readers?

If I could say anything, I’d say it’s really great when people come support live music.  You know, it’s really strange that someone will be reading this interview on the internet – the internet could easily be the downfall of live music. But if people read this and then come out of their caves, then the internet’s function becomes more active and positive. When people come support my music in person, it helps me to create more of it.

Alaina Ferris is a singer, writer and food enthusiast. Her last piece for FP was Top 5 Prospect Heights Cafes. She will release two albums this year: one with Shadow Pilot, a trip-hop/downtempo collaboration with her brother, Joseph Drew Ferris; another with Small Dream Ada, her chamber/rock band with Denver-based composer (and FP contributor) Tyler Gilmore. She currently lives in Brooklyn where she teaches private music lessons.