Italian pianist and singer Francesca Tandoi is one of the most fascinating vocalists of the new European jazz generation. She feels most free in the classic trio format, and in Riga Francesca will definetely demonstrate the highest level of classical jazz technique and artistic sense. Such music will feel right at home in the Latvian Radio Studio 1, so let’s check the calendars for 23rd of November!
Before concert in Riga, we chatted on the internet about jazz greats, jazz colleagues and the unstoppable progress of jazz.
A big master Monty Alexander called you a supremely tasteful swinging piano player with exquisite vocals, melodic and memorable compositions, and extremely thoughtful arrangements. If I would be a composer, piano player and singer, I would be totally flattered. What about you?
Of course I’m totally flattered! Monty Alexander is one of my biggest piano heroes and his words and his appreciation mean so much to me!
How do you see it yourself – is there something Italian in your music or is it straightly realated to American school?
At this point of my life and career I think my music reflects who I am now with all my influences and, of course, my roots. There’s a lot of Italian music in what I play as well as some traditional jazz coming from the “American” school. There’s much more – classical influences, pop influences, R&B influences. I’m playing a lot of my original compositions lately. Of course the love for swing and bebop is always there and you can hear it loud and clear!
Talking about schools, your main education was at the Hague Royal Conservatory and Rotterdam Conservatory. How Netherlands seemed to you – as one of the main meeting points in European Jazz?
I’m very happy I had the chance to study in the Netherlands. There you can find such great schools for jazz and music in general! You can also find students and people from all over the world and this adds a lot to the learning experience cause it does open your mind, your ears and your heart. I learned a lot from the school and from all the great people and fellow students I met through the years there. The school is very well organized and the teachers are incredible! In Holland there’s a lot of love for jazz and traditionally it was always a “jazz country” and you can feel it everywhere!
You had performed and worked in the studio with several outstanding jazz musicians, including American saxophonist Scott Hamilton. What can you take from the big cats for yourself?
Yes, I had the chance and incredible luck to share the stage with some real great jazz musicians. I think I learned something different from each one of them. It can be a phrase, a song, a way of feeling the time, a good tip about what to play on a certain chord progression, how to behave on stage, how to make a setlist. When you are with some real great musicians you have to open your ears and be able to learn from everything they play or say. When Scott plays you can hear his incredible feel of swing and the beautiful relaxed timing… and the phrases in his solos are just gorgeous!
It seems that most free you are in the classic trio format. In Riga you will perform together with two other great jazz musicians – bassist Matheus Nicolaiewsky and drummer Sander Smeets. Please, tell a little bit more about these guys!
The trio I will perform with in Riga is a very international trio. Double bass player Matheus Nicolaiewsky is a real virtuoso musician and he comes from Brazil. He’s very requested as an accompanist as well as a leader of his trio. The drummer, Sander Smeets is an amazing young Dutch drummer who’s already having a successful career in Holland and in Northern Europe. The three of us met already ten years ago in Holland as students and we always had an incredible bond as musicians and friends. We share the deep love for the same kind of music.
The concert program will definitely include pieces from your new album Bop Web. Or there will be some other surprises as well?
We will play some songs from the album of course plus some new songs that we’re planning to record pretty soon!
How do you think – why swing and bop suites you that good?
That’s the music I always loved as a kid and that’s the first jazz style I fell in love with. When I’m sad it’s enough to put on a a swinging record to feel better right away. It’s the music that makes me happy! And I’d like to give this kind of feeling to my audience as well.
Which jazz album is the one you can listen to any time?
There are many, but the one I’ll never ever get tired of is Oscar Peterson Trio + One with Clark Terry!
What’s the best and the worst thing about playing with other musicians?
Making music with colleagues you love and admire is the most beautiful thing there is. As a leader the worst thing is to having to choose with who you wanna make a band. There will be so many people you wanna play with but it’s not always possible to call them all.
Where jazz is going?
Jazz is going in many different places nowadays and that’s beautiful. I’m trying to find my own personal voice, working on original compositions and arrangements and getting inspired by many different styles of jazz and music but for me the element of swing should always be there. So let’s bring the jazz everywhere we want but let’s never forget the origin of this beautiful music!
Interview by music journalist Kaspars Zaviļeiskis
