Jazz Monthly.com Interview with will downing

“Jazz Monthly Feature Interview” Will Downing

Smitty: I must say that I am very, very happy to have a very special guest with me here at JazzMonthly.com. He’s a true entertainer and over the years he has always kept us in the mood for love, he has mastered the fine art of the soloist. He sings with the heat of the night and the bright sunshine of the day. His great new record is nothing less than that. It is called After Tonight. Please welcome one of my favorite entertainers, the incredible and amazing Peak recording artist, Mr. Will Downing. Will, how ya doin’, my friend?

Will Downing (WD): I’m doing very well, man. You had me looking around.

Smitty: (Laughs.) Come on!

WD: Man, I was ready to lay some carnations across my chest.

Smitty: (Laughs.) Oh, that’s too cool, man. Man, it is great to talk with you and to have you back here at JazzMonthly.com.

WD: Oh, man, it’s good to be back, it’s good to be alive, good to be working, good to be putting out some good music.

Smitty: Yes indeed and you have done just that, my friend, wow, because this record, man, I tell ya, if you have never been in the mood for love, this record will put you there. Wow!

WD: Well, I think so. I mean, I’ve tried to be consistent in my messages over the years and consistent musically, and I think that this record is no different from anything I’ve done in the past, you know?

Smitty: Yeah.

WD: Just ten good songs.

Smitty: Yes it is. Ten great songs with some great musicians of support with you, and happy to see my boy Roy Ayers there on the record with you.

WD: Oh yeah, great Roy.

Smitty: Yeah, man, and then our friend, Mr. Gerald Albright.

WD: Always.

Smitty: Yeah, man. It’s a great record. Now, before we get too deep in the record, I just wanted to ask you, for myself as well as all of your fans around the world, how you doin’, man? I know you’ve had some health issues and you’ve gone through some things that you’ve been dealing with and yet rise and shine, here you are once again with a great record, but how you doin’?

WD: Well, 2007 has not exactly been one of my better years as far as health is concerned. In the early part of 2007 I contracted something called Polymyocytis (PM) and it’s a muscle debilitating disease, and basically what this disease does is it takes away all of your muscles. I mean, it reduces you to nothing, really, where you cannot function on your own. You need an aide to do everything. I mean, when I say everything, I mean everything.

Smitty: Wow, unbelievable.

WD: And thank God it’s not something that stays with you, but it really does a lot of damage to your body and then it’s up to you to kind of rebuild all of your muscles to get back into a normal sort of lifestyle, and that’s kind of where I am now. It hit me, like I said, in the beginning of 2007, right in the middle of us recording this record, so when I was able to, we recorded. The whole trick of this thing was I recorded probably about 70% of the record from a wheelchair and from a hospital bed.

Smitty: Oh, man.

WD: Just one of the toughest things I’ve ever done in my life.

Smitty: Well, we are certainly ecstatic that you are coming back and you’re back and you’re doing your thing, and one of the things that I want to point out about you, Will, is that given the fact that you had this debilitating autoimmune disease is the fact that you were able to not just complete this project—because you were in the middle of it, like you said—but the amazing thing is that you produced once again a top shelf project here, and that’s incredible and it says a lot about the person you are and the great entertainer you are as well. So, man, I tell ya, I know I speak for all of your fans around the world. We are just ecstatic that you have come through this and that you have greeted us once again with a fantastic record, man. This is amazing.

WD: Well, thank you, man. I mean, I’ve always believed in a certain standard and if I didn’t think that I could achieve the standard by which people have grown accustomed to hearing from me, you probably would not have heard the project. So thank God He spared a good portion of my voice when we were in the recording process and I was able to finish it, but we used all that I had to make this thing happen, but I’m very pleased with the project and when people hear it, I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Smitty: Yes indeed. I second that, my friend, because I tell ya, this record is way up there. I mean, you didn’t lose anything in terms of creativity, emotions, character, and it bespeaks the person that you are and the person that we have known and loved over the years.

WD: Thank you.

Smitty: So this is just great. It makes me feel good, man

WD: Thank you.

Smitty: And you wrote a very moving letter to your fans as well, explaining this and talking about the record, and I tell ya, that was great. And it talks not only about who you are as a person, but also your involvement, because I know you had mentioned that you wanted to let all of the wonderful people who support you know that you are alive and well and you’re getting better every day, but you also did this record to reach people and help them to see that when you’re going through something of this magnitude, that you can have the will to come out of that and continue to be yourself and do what you do every day.

WD: Well, I think that’s real important. Obviously this happened to me for a reason and I’m not sure why, but I think you’re supposed to share your testimony with people for those who have their down days, people who don’t think they can make it, or folks that may be going through the same exact thing. They can look at me as inspiration as I look to other people for the same sort of thing. Trust me, I went through my days, I went through my period of “Why me?” Trust me, there was many a day I cursed God out like a champ, you know, like “Hey, man, what have I ever done to you and why aren’t you helping me? Come on.” I’ve gone through that, I’ve gone through my pity party, and come to the realization that this is the situation that you’re dealing with right now, make the best of it and do the best you can with what you have.

Smitty: Yes, well, I know I speak for so many in saying that you have been an inspiration not only with this record but you have long been a supporter of various illnesses and diseases and things like stroke and that kind of thing.

WD: Absolutely.

Smitty: Yeah, and this is one more time, you know? And, man, you have reached back and got what it took to shine and inspire others as well as yourself, and we applaud you for it.

WD: Thank you, sir.

Smitty: Yeah. Now, tell me, was making this record a part of the healing process for you?

WD: Oh, without a doubt, without a doubt. I mean, listen, if you sit here and sit sedentary, you’ll go crazy.

Smitty: Yeah, man. (Laughs.)

WD: So thank God I had a project to do.

Smitty: Yeah.

WD: There’s a couple of messages in the songs that we’re doing. There’s one song on there called “God Is So Amazing” and that song basically came from me being in this position and doing something that I wasn’t able to do the day before, and that’s what kind of keeps you going, you know, that you see hope, that there’s a possibility that you are getting better and you’re seeing it, and that’s where the song came from, saying “God, man, thanks for bringing me back. Man, I’m gonna sing about it.” So there are certain messages in each song that you can use for inspiration.

Smitty: Yeah, man. Well, I love the beginning of this record, Track 1, “Will’s Groove.”

WD: Okay.

Smitty: Man, when I first put the record on, it was very early in the morning and the first thing I heard was you talking, and that in itself told me “My boy is back!” You know? And it’s a “Hey, I wanna do this thing like this” and it flows so fluidly into the song and your voice was such a great prelude to the rest of the record, you know?

WD: Well, yeah, that’s “Will’s Groove” and that basically came about from a telephone conversation that I had with Rex, Rex Rideout.

Smitty: My boy!

WD: I had this idea, I just had this bass line in my head, so I just called him up and said “Hey, Rex. Man, I got this idea for this jam.” He went “Oh, man, okay, Will, sing it to me.” As I started singing the bass line, he said “Now put that down on tape and get it to me immediately” and he’s on the West Coast.

Smitty: Yeah.

WD: So I cut it and got it to him and then he surrounded it with the music and he sent it back to me, I added some more backgrounds to it, I sent it back to him, and we just made this amazing song.

Smitty: Yeah, man, and speaking of Rex, is he a great cat or what? What a producer and a great guy.

WD: Yeah, man, you know what? There’s very few people on the planet that say what they mean and mean what they say.

Smitty: Yes. I totally know what you mean.

WD: And someone that you can really call a friend. Rex and I have known each other for 15 years and he is truly a friend.

Smitty: Yeah, yeah, he’s one of the best, man, if not the best, I tell ya. I am such a fan of him and love everything he puts his hands on because he’s amazing, incredible, and you can’t help but love the guy, you know? (Laughs.)

WD: Yeah, he’s got great musical sensibility as well.

Smitty: Yes indeed.

WD: And that’s what this needs, you know what I mean? We don’t just follow the trends. We try to go with our heart and musically we walk the same path. That’s why I trust him explicitly with my music. You know, I just say “Hey, man, do what you do” and he always comes out on top.

Smitty: Yes indeed. And when you’ve got someone like that in your camp, man, your level of trust and confidence is just amazing.

WD: Oh, absolutely.

Smitty: Yeah, and one of my other favorite songs on here is “After Tonight,” the title track, and that is such a true song of how we feel about someone close to us, you know?

WD: Well, it’s a song where I always call a relationship song. When you meet someone and you always let them see your A side.

Smitty: Yeah.

WD: And you’re always putting yourself up, saying “Hey, listen, I don’t know about these other clowns you’ve been with, but I’m the guy for you” or vice versa.

Smitty: (Laughs.)

WD: Or the girl’s saying “I’m the one for you, this is what I can do and this is how I feel about you,” so it’s a song about a brother rapping to a sister, saying “Hey, listen, I know other people have tried to step to you before, but after tonight, it’s just gonna be you and me.”

Smitty: Yeah.

WD: “Trust me tonight, I’m gonna rock your world, I’m gonna turn your life around.”

Smitty: (Laughs.) Oh, yeah, man, I love that song. And “Satisfy You,” wow, that’s smoke there, man.

WD: Oh, man, yeah, I just love that title. What will satisfy you?

Smitty: Yeah.

WD: I got what you need. I’m telling you, all you have to do, especially for the fellas, put the record on, put your arm around your lady and shut up.

Smitty: (Laughs.)

WD: That’s all you gotta do.

Smitty: I’ll second that, man. Because listening to that song puts a lot on your mind of what you need to do, and that sums it up right there.

WD: Oh, yeah.

Smitty: Just put it on and let Will take the rest.

WD: That’s right.

Smitty: And it’s over.

WD: And let your boy handle it. Let me handle it. All you gotta do is sit there, shut up.

Smitty: (Laughs.) Well, I could go on and on. And the song that features Gerald Albright, “No One Can Love You More.”

WD: Oh, yeah, the old Phyllis Hyman classic.

Smitty: Yeah, man, but that’s so profound, you know? What a profound song when we talk about deep feelings for someone, you know?

WD: Mm-hmm.

Smitty: And it’s just beautiful, and Gerald just put that sax line down so well on this particular song.

WD: Well, when I’m featuring Gerald on a record as well as Kirk Whalum, to me they are my two favorite saxophone players. I mean, two different styles but they’re so emotional in their playing.

Smitty: Yes.

WD: It’s almost as if we’re doing a duet, like I’m singing with a woman, because they emote so well. What they do, it’s incredible.

Smitty: Yes, and the other case in point is Kirk on “You Just Can’t Smile It Away.”

WD: Oh, yeah, believe me.

Smitty: Mmm.

WD: Yeah, that’s a song that was written by Bill Withers and not many people would know it because it’s more of an album cut, but I’ve always loved the song and I think the timing was right to record it.

Smitty: Yes indeed. Will, this is a fantastic record, you have just outdone yourself once again, and if I had been on another planet—and some people accuse me of that every now and then (laughs)—

WD: That’s okay.

Smitty: But if I had been on another planet and just came back, picked up this record, I would not have known what you had gone through these past few months.

WD: Well, that’s the way it should be. I mean, this is one of those records where—I’ve always tried to—one of the things that a lot of interviewers always ask me, and it’s kind of a trick question but it’s a way for you to really be sincere about what you’re listening to, that’s if you were stranded on an island and you only had the opportunity to bring—or you only had ten records with you, what would they be? Or if you’re going away and you’re never coming back, you know what I mean? What ten records would you bring with you?

And I always wanted to hear someone say “Will Downing’s After Tonight, Sensual Journey, Soul Symphony,” whatever, “Moods.” I always want to be in that top ten list. I know it’s a little strange thinking that way, but I’ve always kind of like thought of it like listen, make this record the best it could be so that people will remember it the way I remember Marvin Gaye or Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder, you know what I mean? I always want to make a classic record so I always put my best foot forward. I’m really proud of this piece of work.

Smitty: Well, I must say you have done just that, my friend, and I would imagine that there would be a lot of these on some of those secluded islands. (Laughs.)

WD: I hope so.

Smitty: Yes indeed. Now, release date for this record?

WD: October 30th.

Smitty: Man, you know, not only do I anticipate so many people lining up for this record, but I also anticipate just an outpouring of emotion when they see you once again on stage. It’s gonna be a night!

WD: Well, you know what? It’s funny, man. I have that thought at least once a day, man, you know, getting back to the stage and doing what I do, and hopefully in 2008 I’ll be able to come back and perform again.

Smitty: Well, we’re waiting patiently but we’re anxious as well, my friend.

WD: Thank you.

Smitty: Yes indeed. Will, thank you so much for recovered health and for this fantastic record that is such a signature of your recovered health and what you’ve gone through, for your great inspiration and I certainly look forward to seeing you soon, especially on stage, and just to walk up and give you a man hug, you know what I mean?

WD: Hey, man, I’ll take it, bro.

Smitty: (Laughs.)

WD: Thank you so much.

Smitty: Oh, you’re so welcome. We’ve been talking with the fantastic and amazing Will Downing. His great new record is called After Tonight, one that I certainly highly recommend, and I certainly look forward to him out on stage again and I know you do as well. Will, thanks again, best of everything, my friend, and look forward to seeing you soon.

WD: Thank you, sir, and look forward to seeing you too.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.willdowning.com www.peak-records.com