Jazz Monthly.com Interview with Alan Hewitt

“Jazz Monthly Feature Interview” Alan Hewitt

Smitty: Well, I am just stoked about my next guest here at JazzMonthly.com. He is a great friend, a monster keyboard player, he has a rap sheet that lets you know he is not one of the usual suspects, he’s a platinum award winning artist, he has a great new CD out that’s called Metropolis, please give a wonderful welcome for the incomparable Mr. Alan Hewitt. Alan, how ya doin’, my friend?

Alan Hewitt (AH): Good, Smitty. Boy, what an intro!

Smitty: Oh yeah.

AH: You should be saying that about yourself.

Smitty: Aw, come on!

AH: Man…that’s really nice.

Smitty: Well, you’re so welcome. And you got it goin’ on, so what can we say.

AH: We are good friends, we could say that.

Smitty: Yes indeed, my friend. And I am loving this new record, man. Metropolis.

AH: Oh, I’m glad. You never know. You do it and you put it out and you like it. But then you never know if other people are gonna like it, but I’m pleasantly surprised.

Smitty: From the very beginning, it’s got such a phat groove and the rhythms are just there.

AH: Cool. Yeah, I tried to make the whole project a continual thought. I connected a lot of things and tried to get a vibe. I was more interested in getting a vibe happening on the whole thing than anything else, and then everything kinda fit into place.

Smitty: Yeah. Did it ever, man. This is a magnificent piece of music, man.

AH: Ooh!

Smitty: It’s very cool.

AH: Thank you.

Smitty: You didn’t just start doing this stuff overnight. Talk about how this keyboard appeared in front of you and you started playing this thing.

AH: Well, it’s kind of a transition to transition to transition, and that’s kind of a full circle. Basically started out on drums and played there for a long time. I started out when I was 12 and my dad would go to the gigs with me because I wasn’t old enough. Because I played with all the older guys, and then gradually started touring with other bands, you know, R&B bands, dance bands, still being a drummer but working on keyboards, and I used to play vibes back then too. And then eventually went to Berklee.

When I was at Berklee I started really working on piano more because I wanted to go into composition, and by doing that, that worked out good because when I was playing in the groups, I was singing and playing drums, and Elektra Asylum, a label in New York, came and saw us and wanted to sign us but didn’t really want me behind the drums, so we did some demos for them and they really wanted me out front, but I didn’t want to be out front just singing, so I said “Okay, this is the time to switch to piano,” so that’s what I did, and that’s where that transition to piano started. From that point it was good because I’m able to do everything that I need to as far as composition and scoring for other stuff, and the drums because everything’s rhythm based pretty much, so it all kinda works in the long run.

Smitty: So then the keyboard was a no-brainer?

AH: The keyboard was something that I just worked at. It did come natural and I didn’t really do the massive training on that as I did on the drums. So, I don’t know. Listening and playing along and listening to other people and that kind of thing. The vibes are kinda cool because I can use the drums and the keyboard stuff together.

Smitty: Yeah, I like that combination. However, you haven’t said much about this singing thing, man. Talk about the singing because I haven’t heard you sing a single note.

AH: Well, I did a couple albums vocally. (Both laughing.) At one point I just decided “Are you gonna be a jack of all trades and master of none or try to master a few things?” And how much time is there in the day? Practice piano, practice drums, practice vocals…there just isn’t enough time…..And try to write for TV and stuff, so I dropped the vocal thing. (Laughs.)

Smitty: Okay. Maybe one of these days we’ll talk you into singing a couple of syllables at a performance or something.

AH: You got it!

Smitty: You’ve worked with and produced music for so many great artists, legends out there Earth, Wind & Fire, Donny Osmond…Talk about your experience of working with such great musicians on that level.

AH: Yeah, it’s really truly amazing because you dream of working with these kind of people, and I don’t know if you’d call it manifest, but it happened and I was lucky enough to be able to work with guys from Jonathan Butler, Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice (White)…we have the same birthday, so to work with him was incredible. He would come over to my house and to my studio, and really at that time it was a pretty humble studio (both laughing) and we would sit and write tunes and for hours and talking in between and it’s really wild. That was really my training for working with other artists too because you have to really control your enthusiasm and not get so caught up in being star struck. Because really they’re idols. Earth, Wind & Fire has always been a big deal, so it was really nice, and of course I worked with several rock guys and Gavin Christopher, do you remember him?

Smitty: Yes.

AH: Yeah, he was the “One Step Closer.” Do you remember that song?

Smitty: Oh yeah.

AH: Yeah, great singer. He was one of the guys in the early days that I worked with that I thought was just excellent, and Donny Osmond was unbelievable and the stuff I did with him, we actually did that with Def Leppard.

Smitty: Wow!

AH: And then, of course, Jonathan Butler, I did some production writing with him. Also, on my last record he did a song for me (“Sweet Thing” from Noche de Pasion) so it’s, just kind of a thing that’s just surreal.

Smitty: Yeah, exactly. And it doesn’t stop there because you have done film scores and songs for World News Now, Entertainment Tonight, ESPN, Oprah, Animal Planet, you have a monster of a resume.

AH: Well, thanks. It just adds up. Over the years I’ve just kept writing music and writing more music, and what happens is somebody will call, “Hey, we need an upbeat inspirational tune.” “Well, I just happen to have five or six. Do you wanna take a listen to them?” And they’ll listen to them and they go “Oh, can you write a bunch more like that for us?”

Smitty: (Laughs.)

AH: And that’s how it really starts because a lot of shows are edited so fast, they just don’t have time to get a composer to create two or three weeks from that show. They want it now. Everything’s instant, as well as everything in the world, but it’s really getting that way more and more. On movies it’s a little different, where you’re able to take the time and do each cue as they give it to you, but on a TV thing that doesn’t happen too much anymore.

Smitty: But it does help you to hone your craft and take you to another level when you’re working in all those different arenas.

AH: And, really, writing, unless you just keep it up every day, it goes away, so it’s almost like exercising any muscle. You gotta keep doing it or it goes away.

Smitty: Absolutely. You were on the All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise, the Rick Braun Cruise; did we have a kicking good time, are what?

AH: We sure did. That was great. I really had a ball.

Smitty: Talk about that experience for you. What are some of the most memorable things that you remember about the cruise?

AH: I just thought there was a great camaraderie with everybody. We all got together, we ate dinner together, we hung out and we would go on shore together….you’d hang with different guys like Nick (Colionne), he’s a close friend. I’d hang out with some of the other guys, Euge (Groove), Mindi (Abair) and Marion (Meadows), and so it’s just really nice to get to know some of these great musicians that I didn’t know before the cruise.

The cruise was a real family atmosphere of musicians and all the people that work with the musicians, such as yourself and all of the other industry people; getting to know everyone from the radio stations and the record company people. It was fun!

Smitty: Yeah, it was really cool. What about from a fan’s perspective, what was that like being able to hang with the fans?

AH: That was amazing in itself because I’m actually kinda new to the Smooth Jazz scene. To meet all the fans and to see and feel their passion for the music was unbelievable. They are some of the best fans I’ve ever seen and that makes you want to play for them even more. Everybody was there for one thing and one thing only: they were there for the music. There were so many great performances and to cap off each night with the incredible jam sessions was just amazing. Nick Colionne was a great host! The fans and the musicians got to hang and jam until three o’clock in the morning! It’s was just music, music, music!

Smitty: It was just a party, wasn’t it?

AH: Yes.

Smitty: You must have made quite an impression, so much that you’ve got invited to come back again for the Brian Culbertson All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise.

AH: I’m real excited about it as well as all the other artists because I talk to them often, and we’re thinking this is going to be even bigger and better. There’s some different musicians added to this next cruise, so we think this is going to be really stupendous. Tony and Mark threw a great party last year and it looks like this one will be even better. Smitty: Absolutely my friend! You’re on a really nice label, 215 Music. David Chackler and his team, he’s a cool cat.

AH: Well, Chack, I’ve been working with for probably eight, and not just jazzing but world music stuff, some classical things, and he has been behind me all the way pretty much offering different opportunities and I’m loyal that way. When somebody does that, I like to return the favor, and he’s a wonderful guy and has some great stories. I just like talking to him because he’s been around. Fleetwood Mac was one of his bands, Queen was one of his bands, the lead singer for Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks lived in his guest house. Those are just some to name a few, and it’s wild because without even knowing, back when I was a drummer I played with this band, Kid Brother, that was on one of his labels, MCA, and later on I looked at it and I saw his name on it.

Smitty: (Laughs.)

AH: And I go “You know that I was the drummer in that band?” He goes “Wow, small world.” That was just totally bizarre, it was a good band out of Reseda (California).

Smitty: Chack is a very knowledgeable guy, he knows the business, and he knows how to handle his business.

AH: Yes.

Smitty: I admire that about him and this is a great label. I really like what he’s doing over there with 215.

AH: I do too and I think it’s gonna get better and better.

Smitty: Let’s talk about this great record, speaking of 215. It’s called Metropolis. First of all, man, I love this artwork, from the actual disc itself with the nice engravings, to the color schemes and everything. It’s a beautiful record.

AH: Well, thank you. I’ll have to give kudos to Matt (McGlynn) for that design….he did the designing on it, and the photographer (Rob Shanahan) I had was fairly cool. We were standing out in the middle of Sunset Boulevard near the Key Club, and people are yelling at us and he’s just like “We’re doing a “Rebel shooting.” He just did it on the fly without setting up any lights or anything because I told him that I had an idea of what I wanted. I wanted the lights to be kind of surreal looking where I’m in the middle of the street with the traffic going by and you can see the signs in back of us. So he did it and I was really happy it. Usually I don’t use photos, in case you didn’t notice. (Laughs.)

Smitty: I noticed that. It’s a cool concept. Very creative.

AH: Everything kinda all came together in this one, which is cool. It doesn’t always happen that way. (Laughs.)

Smitty: I love the way you opened this record with the first track. You were talking earlier about capturing and continuing the vibe throughout the this album, and what better description? The intro is “Vibe” itself and I love that song. I mean, it’s a perfect intro to the rest of the record.

AH: Great.

Smitty: Because when you go from there to “Joyride,” it makes a smooth connection and the listener just continues the ride.

AH: Yeah, that’s exactly what we wanted to do. We wrote a bunch of intros and it actually was my co-producer’s (Paul Klingberg) idea to have these segues in between all the songs. We had a lot more of them. It just got to be too much. So to kind of set a mood for each song….I think there’s one on “So In Love” and “Liquid Blue” also. And that’s enough because I just felt on “Joyride” it just came in so abruptly, so with having that “Vibe” at the beginning of it, it’s just kinda fun and it gives me a chance to warm up before I get into it. I do that live too with that particular intro.

Smitty: My favorite track is the title track (“Metropolis”).

AH: Oh, do you like that one, “Metropolis”?

Smitty: Oh, oh my God, yeah, man.

AH: Oh, gooood.

Smitty: Steve (Madaio) is a bad boy on that horn (trumpet).

AH: Oh yeah.

Smitty: He’s such a great part of the song, but then at the same time he’s a great complement to your keyboard playing.

AH: Yup, that’s why I like to use him because he really helps to set that mood. And also he’s a neighbor. (Both laughing.) It’s great. I can just call him up and bring him over. And then on “Hot Fun in the Summertime” we brought in one of the trombone players from the other Earth, Wind & Fire band….there’s two Earth, Wind & Fire bands. The other band, they’re called L.A. All Stars.

Smitty: Yeah, Wendell Kelly.

AH: Yeah, so Wendell’s on there too.

Smitty: Yeah, he’s played with some great bands too.

AH: Oh yeah.

Smitty: Wendell’s a bad boy.

AH: He is.

Smitty: Yeah, and “Liquid Blue,” once again there’s Wendell, and Steve’s got a nice vibe with the horn.

AH: Oh yeah. I love the Jazz Crusaders and that was kind of a little bit of a tribute to them and I wanted Wayne Henderson to play on that. I called Wayne and we were gonna do it and it just didn’t work out schedule-wise. But I had the Crusaders in mind for that song because I just like the way they voice their horns.

Smitty: Well, this is a funky record, man. I really like the vibe.

AH: That’s a compliment coming from you, Smitty.

Smitty: (Laughs.) I really mean it, it’s just got that funky groove. I love to put this on when I’m doing a night drive.

AH: Oh, good!

Smitty: It’s a great night drive record and it’s a great….

AH: I didn’t pay him, folks! (Both laughing.)

Smitty: Oh, you’re so funny. And there’s a couple of dance tunes on here too. You can get up and get down with this.

AH: Which ones would you think?

Smitty: “Swingin’ On Sunset,” baby!

AH: Oh yeah.

Smitty: I love that groove!

AH: Yeah.

Smitty: This is a great all-around record and you got my boy, Steve Oliver, on the last track (“Soleil”).

AH: Yup, another neighbor.

Smitty: He’s always got that upbeat vibe and he can kick it with a guitar, can’t he?

AH: Yeah, that was the first time I played with him and I had heard, just off the cuff some of his things and I was writing that song and I go “Wow, this would probably be a good song for Steve to play on,” so I gave him a ring and said “Hey, we haven’t gotten together. You wanna come over and play on a song?” And he goes “Oh yeah! Let’s do it!”

Smitty: (Laughs.) That’s the Steve I know.

AH: He’s great. He’s got a great attitude.

Smitty: Yes, he does. I think Steve could play anything he wants.

AH: Yeah, I think so too. And he loves music, he just loves it.

Smitty: Oh yeah. He’s the equivalent of a gym rat at the gym.

AH: Yup. Yeah, you got that.

Smitty: And that’s a cool thing. The record comes out June 6th.

AH: Yup.

Smitty: And where can people find this record?

AH: Probably all the stores. I know on the Internet it’s all over the place, so let me give you a couple. They said it’s at www.jazzmonthlystore.com. You can go directly to the label, www.215music.com.

Smitty: Cool.

AH: You can go to Amazon, Tower Records, Barnes & Noble, Borders, all those regular stores.

Smitty: Yeah.

AH: And I’m sure there are other ones but, yeah, probably the main one would be to go to Jazz Monthly and 215.

Smitty: Yup. Alan, you are shining proof that you don’t have to have this huge name to produce some fantastic music.

AH: Thank you.

Smitty: Yes indeed. You could put this CD next to any other CD because it’s got what it takes to be creative, it’s got the creative vibe, it’s got the chill, it’s got the get up and dance, it’s got everything.

AH: Ooh, I gotta quote you on that, Smitty.

Smitty: (Laughs.)

AH: That’s good.

Smitty: (Laughs.) You crack me up. (Both laughing.) I really love this record, man, and it’s a pleasure to have this in my possession.

AH: Well, thank you.

Smitty: And I have to tell you, before we started the interview, I had to go out and get it out of my car. (Laughs.)

AH: Because you hadn’t listened to it yet. (Laughs.)

Smitty: No, I’ve been doing my night drive thing.

AH: Oh, right.

Smitty: When I get a really good record that I really like, to really absorb it and enjoy it, I do a night drive.

AH: I do the same thing. For some reason, when you’re in the car, I don’t know, music sounds better.

Smitty: It’s just something about it, yeah, and I just get into that whole cruising thing, the whole vibe of the record. I think my senses are a lot sharper in terms of getting a little deeper into the record. I can listen to it on my stereo or in the studio, but it’s just something about that last element, when I put it in the car and I strike out about midnight….

AH: That’s the test.

Smitty: Oh, man. It’s a beautiful thing.

AH: Where do you drive around to?

Smitty: I have some special night roads that I love to take and then when I really get right, then I cruise through the city.

AH: Oh yeah, that’s the way to go. Is there a particular cool street in Houston to cruise?

Smitty: There’s a few, The Strip. There’s Westheimer, and Richmond Boulevard, club scene.

AH: Well, we’ll have to do that when I come to Galveston.

Smitty: We’ll do some cruisin.

AH: Yeah, I’ll come in early.

Smitty: I highly recommend this record, Alan, and I wish you all the success in the world and look forward to seeing you out on the road, and I know I will see you at the Second Annual 2007 All Star Brian Culbertson Cruise.

AH: Yes, you will, Smitty, and hopefully we’ll have some tour dates here in about a week and I’ll be able to let you know about those and maybe you’ll be able to come to some of those dates too, huh?

Smitty: Yes indeed. You know I will. Give me your Web site address.

AH: It’s www.alanhewitt.com.

Smitty: All right. Your Web site has information about a lot of the things that you’ve been involved in, a lot of things we didn’t talk about, because it’s just….it’s almost one of those too-much-to-list kind of things because you’ve had a hand in just about every TV show and so many movies that I couldn’t name them all. You’ve got a cool ride that you’re on and I wish you success on it and it’s always a great hang with you my friend. Let’s hook up soon.

AH: I’d love to, Smitty, and success to you and I know you’re gonna have it!

Smitty: Thank you, my friend. We have been talking with the amazing 215 Records recording artist Mr. Alan Hewitt. You must get his latest record. It’s called Metropolis and it is a magnificent vibe. Alan, thanks again, my friend, and let’s talk soon.

AH: We will, Smitty. Thank you brother.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.alanhewitt.com or www.215music.com.