“Jazz Monthly Feature Interview” Keiko Matsui

Smitty:  I am so stone fired up about my next guest at JazzMonthly.com.  She’s truly loved around the world.  She clearly defines the description of an international artist.  Her music is definitely on another level in terms of inspiration, intensity, and overwhelming appeal. Case in point her magnificent new record that is appropriately called Moyo (Heart & Soul).  Please give a very warm welcome to the lovely and so amazing Ms. Keiko Matsui.  Keiko, how are you?  Welcome to Jazz Monthly.

Keiko Matsui (KM):  Fine, thank you.

Smitty:  Welcome to Jazz Monthly.

KM:  Thank you very much. I’m so glad to be here.

Smitty:  Yes, I’m so glad to have you here. It’s always great to talk with you!

KM:  Thank you.

Smitty: I can say with certainty that your great new record has a very special place in my CD player.

KM:  Oh, that’s a great comment.  Good to hear.  Thank you very much.

Smitty:  Oh, you’re so welcome.  And, you know, I could tell in listening to this record….a lotta times people will ask you “Well, what were you feeling when you made this record or when you did this song?”  But whatever those feelings are when you did this new record, I could tell that there was just a great deal of excitement….

KM:  Mm-hmm.

Smitty: .…and a lot of deliberate emotions with this record.

KM:  Yeah.  Yeah, there was. Yes, I’m feeling lots of passion and lots of emotions and lots of great moments.

Smitty: Very cool.

KM:  And I felt like with making this album.…the progress of this album, I had a great time, it’s a really special time.

Smitty:  Yes, now, you went to South Africa to record a lot of this record, right?

KM:  Hmm, yes.  Before that I went to South Africa to start composing.

Smitty: Yes.

KM:  And I went there for two weeks, about two weeks there, and some tunes came to me in South Africa and I went back last September to start recording and we had a great rhythm section in South Africa.

Smitty:  Oh wow, yeah.

KM:  We started from there.

Smitty:  Yes, I tell ya, that rhythm section was incredible.  Man!

KM:  Mm-hmm, really special, very unique style too.

Smitty:  Yes indeed.  When I first listened to the record, I played each song two or three times before I could move on to the next song, you know?  It was that good.

KM:  Really?

Smitty:  Yes, it was that good.

KM:  Oh wow, nice to know that.

Smitty:  Yes, and I love all the great players that you had from the U.S.:  Gerald Albright, and you got to hang out with your long time friend again, Paul Taylor.

KM:  Yeah, we had like a kind of reunion type of feeling and because of each tune, I searched for a special person and that was them, and it’s so nice to work together again and, yeah, everybody has such very special talent, so I was very fortunate.

Smitty:  Track #8 “Allure” featuring Gerald Albright on sax is one of my favorite songs and I love “Black River” featuring Paul Taylor on Sax. What a great song!

KM:  Thank you. Actually, you know, I’m at the rehearsal studio and I’m going to the Ukraine tomorrow and this is the first tour in this year and I’m going to add “Black River” first.

Smitty:  Oh wow, how ‘bout that?

KM:  Yeah, so we are going to practice today.

Smitty:  Hey, I know how to pick ‘em, huh?

KM: Yes.  (Laughs.)

Smitty:  Well, “Black River” has such a classy groove, you know?

KM:  Mm-hmm.

Smitty:  It’s one of those songs that is just totally embraceable.  I love it.

KM:  Oh really?

Smitty:  Yes, love that.  And you’re going back to the Ukraine like you mentioned and they have a special love for you over there, don’t they?

KM:  Yeah, somehow, the temperature was almost -0 there and this time it’s warmer, but like last February we went to Eastern Europe to tour and I couldn’t imagine that almost two thousand people are waiting for me at each theater.

Smitty:  Wow. That’s true love!

KM:  A great feeling and they remember the tunes a lot.  (Both laugh.)  And especially in Russia because the figure skater Irina Slutskaya is skating to my song, so people remember from that too.

Smitty:  Oh wow, yeah, that’s right.

KM:  Yeah, there are lots of loyal fans so I’m very happy to see them again.

Smitty:  Yes, well, I know they’re looking forward to you coming back.

KM:  Hmm. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it too.

Smitty:  Yes, well, you know, in a way, you’re celebrating somewhat of an anniversary this year.

KM:  Ah, actually, right, right.  My first album, I mean, of  this music tenure, right?

Smitty:  Yes, how ‘bout that?

KM:  Yeah, and so my first album was released in ’87 so this is the 20^th anniversary.

Smitty:  Yeah, 20 years.

KM:  Yeah, a long time.

Smitty:  Yeah, and I remember something special about your first album, A Drop of Water?

KM:  Hmm?

Smitty:  I remember when you released that one in the U.S., you wrote a letter….

KM:  Yes, I did.

Smitty: .…and I noticed that you wrote a letter this time too with this new record….

KM:  Mm-hmm, yeah.

Smitty: .…but the letters are totally different now, aren’t they?

KM:  (Both laugh.) Yes, and this time, I mean, it’s really a personal letter I wrote and it came from this experience going through Moyo.

Smitty:  Yes.

KM:  So, yeah, that’s the feeling I have now.

Smitty:  Yes.  So talk a little bit about the title Moyo.

KM:  “Moyo” means in Swahili language “heart and soul,” and also there are so many meanings, like courage or passion and spirit, that kind of thing. And the tune came to me, but I really felt these words matched to the tune and it became the album title.

Smitty:  Yes, a great song too. 

KM:  Thank you. And Richard Bona, I met him about a year ago and this is my first time working with him. He played a great part too.

Smitty:  Yes, he’s an incredible bass player, isn’t he?

KM:  Yes. He is a genius.  He can play everything and his voice carries so well.

Smitty:  And he’s a lot of fun too.

KM:  Yeah and after this recording….actually, with Richard he did it in New York in the studio. But after this recording, we had an opportunity to meet with everyone in South Africa again on December 4th and Hugh Masakela was there and Richard was there and I was there, so almost like we shared the same space one by one, actually.

Smitty:  That had to of been a great experience.

KM:  That was an interesting coincidence and we were talking about how I want to bring everybody for the tour.

Smitty:  (Laughs.)

KM:  And I might try that for some special event, I think.

Smitty:  Oh, that would be hot. Wow!

KM:  Yeah.

Smitty:  That would be really good.  And I was thinking about 20 years going by.

KM:  Uh-huh.

Smitty:  You’ve created such great music over those years.

KM:  Thank you for your support.

Smitty:  Oh yes, it’s been a wonderful 20 years and it’s like walking along with a friend for 20 years, you know?

KM:  Yes. Oh yeah.

Smitty:  And you’ve done a lot of films and one of the things I especially love is your humanitarian efforts.

KM:  Yes, I have and it’s very inspirational and rewarding.

Smitty:  You’ve done a lot of things to benefit cancer research….and for breast cancer.

KM:  Right.

Smitty:  Talk about how rewarding that has been for you.

KM:  Since I am able to continue to create music and able to tour, and I’m healthy, I always feel very fortunate with a lot of gratitude, so always I’m thinking if I can give back through my music it’ll be great and sometimes you encounter very special meetings with people….I had the opportunity to meet a person and it was really great. I like to dedicate my music, so that’s why I did breast cancer awareness and the bone marrow thing and Africa Against Hunger, and that kind of opportunity came to me and we did a tour, sometimes a tour, sometimes we do special events and everyone benefits from it. That’s what’s so rewarding about it.

Smitty:  Yes, that’s great. Always a wonderful thing when you can help other people.

KM:  Mm, that’s what I think musicians love.

Smitty:  Well, I must say too that going back to your new record, one of my other favorite songs on here is “Into the Night” with Gerald Albright.

KM:  Ahhh. (Laughs.)

Smitty:  Oh, what a tune!  When you listen to the title track and then you listen to Track 2 “A Great Romance” and then Track 3 comes in….

KM:  Yeah?

Smitty:  .…it’s just a continuance of amazing music and your hands must be moving so fast on the piano, it’s just unbelievable.

KM:  (Both laugh.)  That’s what I’ve been enjoying so much.

Smitty:  Yes, I could tell that you were really having a great time with this record and you must tell me, because you were using some different pianos, right?

KM:  Actually, mostly on the acoustic piano. Actually, Yamaha brought great pianos, but I recorded in South Africa….some tunes I recorded in South Africa and some tunes I did in Japan, and also in Los Angeles too.

Smitty:  Yes. I could hear those great sounds from those different pianos. It was just really beautiful.

KM:  Thank you very much.

Smitty:  It was very nice. So you’ve got a special tour coming up.  I mean, you’ve got a lot of dates.

KM:  Yes. I’m really, really excited to start the tour and see everyone.

Smitty:  And everyone’s gonna be excited to see you too! One of the things I said, too, was I have got to get out to one of your shows while you’re in the U.S. because, wow, I can just imagine these great songs and those fantastic grooves from your rhythm section in a live setting.  It’s gotta be just a beautiful experience.

KM:  Yeah, I’m very excited….actually, we have to practice four new songs, but I’m really looking forward to it and I love the sound on the album, so I have to make a great live version too.

Smitty:  Oh yes, I’m sure it will be.  It’s always great when you’re playing live.

KM:  Thank you.

Smitty:  Always a lot of fun.

KM:  Yeah, it is exciting and also, I think, for the band members it’s challenging too.  Some parts are very unique because of the African musicians.

Smitty:  Yes, absolutely.  Well, Keiko, I must say that this is one of the top albums that I’ve heard so far this year.

KM:  Thank you.

Smitty:  And I just know that you’re going to be embraced around the world with this great music, as always.

KM:  Oh, thank you so much.  That means a lot.

Smitty:  Yes, and on behalf of everyone everywhere, I just want to say thank you for your remarkable strength, your caring spirit, and for continuing to do what you do making such marvelous music.

KM:  Oh, thank you so much.

Smitty:  Yes indeed.

KM:  And this time the album will be released first in the U.S. So I’m telling all my friends in Japan to please get Moyo from the U.S.

Smitty:  Yes, that’s a nice change and this is a special record too in that this is the first record that you produced yourself.

KM:  Yes, yes, right, so very special to me in my life.

Smitty:  Yes, was that something that you really looked forward to doing?  Producing the one yourself?

KM:  No, this is because the situation became different.

Smitty:  Yeah.

KM:  And just when I started thinking about the concept and to go to South Africa to start recording, I was just thinking about the tunes and how to record and where, and then I realized that, oh, maybe this time it is a great opportunity for me to produce my album, for the first time.

Smitty:  And you did it and it’s great.

KM: Thank you.

Smitty:  How ‘bout that?

KM:  Yeah, that was quite an experience and also, I felt like, this is so special and while writing down the credits, I mean, all the people who supported this album….it was like movie credits.  (Both laugh.)  Yeah, I was joking to my manager, it’s like South African unit and American unit and Japanese unit, and it became a big project and it’s so special to me.

Smitty:  Yes and now you’ve finished it, it’s very impressive and it’s going to be released April 24th.

KM:  Right.

Smitty:  And now you can enjoy getting out and playing some of it live and listening to all the wonderful comments about it now.

KM:  It’ll be great.

Smitty:  Yes indeed.  Well, I know radio will embrace this record because it’s too good for them not to.

KM:  Oh, thank you so much.

Smitty:  Yes.  Well, enjoy your time in the Ukraine.

KM: I will, thank you!

Smitty:  And I look forward to seeing you when you come back to the U.S.

KM:  Yeah, yeah.

Smitty:  Yeah, we’ll have to definitely get together when you come in to do a live show.

KM:  Yes, yes, so please let us know when you can come.

Smitty:  Okay, I certainly will.

KM:  Great.

Smitty: We’ve been talking with the incredible and amazing Keiko Matsui.  She’s about to release a fascinating new record on April 24th.  It’s called Moyo.  This one is a must for your CD player.  I must tell you that you will thoroughly enjoy this great record.  Keiko, thank you once again and look forward to seeing you later on in the year.

KM:  Okay, great. Me too.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.keikomatsui.com and www.shoutfactory.com and www.myspace.com/keikomatsuimusic.

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