¿Que Pasa?: Who would you most like
to work with and why?
Nils:
I
am very happy with those I play with right now here
in The Netherlands and abroad, all great musicians,
I feel really privileged to play in that legue. I have
worked with many of my Idols already, and that is also
a consequence of my collaboration with the bands which
are metioned above. Furthermore,
I would just like to play with every band/artist in
the world that swings like crazy!!! Whether they are
famous bands/musicians or not...
¿Que Pasa?: ¡Gracias Joe
Cuba!, is of course a tribute to the congaplayer!
Joe Cuba himself. It's a fantastic album and
it was really difficult to choose one favourite so I
chose,
Ariñañara,
Entrada, Que Pollo, and Lo Bueno Ya Viene. They are
truly well composed, with a magnificent percussion element.
I immediately felt the need to get onto the dance floor.
If you had to choose one track, which would it be and
why?
 |
Nils:
Thanks
for your nice words, to stimulate the dancer
in you, that's the idea... I like all tracks,
but if I had to choose one, it would be Ariñañara.
The day we recorded it I was incredibly tired
[we had jammed all night before] so my brain
was completely swiched off, I could only follow
my heart. The music was also not rehearsed...Together
with Marc Bischoff, Alain Perez and Pepe Espinosa
that day |
there
was some magic going on, at least that's what I believe.
| ¿Que
Pasa?: When you spoke to Joe Cuba,
did you feel nervous or excited?
Nils:
Not
at all! He was actually like a boy, the way
he talked - always glowing from exitement about
music. Of course to hear from the maestro himself
that he likes the recording is extremely exiting.
¿Que
Pasa?: You say you had a love for Latin
music, what made you decide to produce records? |
Nils:
After
being sideman for a lot of years with many bands such
as Nueva Manteca, Cubopcity Bigband, Drums United
and many others I felt an urge to do also my own thing.
So ¡Gracias Joe Cuba! is 100% my own vision.
I called my musical dream team for the reording sessions.
Wow I was blown away by the outcome, also the arrangers
Marc Bischoff, Alain Perez and Jan Hartong really
contributed a lot. See the line-up at www.nilsfischer.com
and www.timbazo.com .
¿Que
Pasa?: Are you still teaching at the World
Music Department at Codarts? Is there any place that
you would like to teach, if yes, where would it be
and why?
Nils: Yes, I teach at Codarts, and
also in Germany at the Pentaton Percussion School.
I love teaching as a matter of fact everywhere and
all levels, it is so much fun to share your craft!
¿Que
Pasa?: What do you think you might be doing
if you were not playing and producing music?
Nils:
Music
is my life, I couldn't imagine anything else. I am
happy and blessed that I have a chance to live my
dream!
¿Que
Pasa?: What would I expect see at one of
your concerts?
Nils:
First
off all, that would depend on which groups concert
you attend. Anyway, I think you would always see passioned
music, with a lot of energy. That can be loud and
sometimes soft...
With Timbazo it is 100% bailable but also interesting
for the listeners, I believe. I do not go the easy
way and play commercial stuff. Musical depth is important
for me, and that can be appreciated either way, dancing
or listening. The same goes for my new project, CaboCubaJazz.
Here we melt Cape Verdean music with Cuban music.
We are recording a CD right know and we have been
touring already.
¿Que Pasa?: How would you
compare your music to other Latin music?
Nils:
There
is so much Latin music, hard question! Let me put
it like this: I just follow my heard when I play,
record or produce. As I said, I don't approach music
commercially. I like all the different "déjes"
of Latin music but I would rather not go for salsa
romantica or bachata for my own projects. What I like
is progressive, interesting music which is connected
to traditions as well. Innovation is the tradition
of good music !!! The Latin music market is so conservative
at times, people only want to hear what have been
hearing already. I really love Fania allstars, but
now we are 30 years ahead. It makes no sense to just
copy the old stuff, I would say with my music I try
to do something new. Otherwise I put the old records...
I hope that our version of Joe Cubas repertoire illustrates
all that.
¿Que
Pasa?: Is there any place that you have
not toured that you really would like to go visit?
Nils:
If
have been around quite a lot with different projects
[http://www.nilsfischer.com/Biography.html
] , but I still didn't go internationally
with my own project Timbazo - we didn't leave
Holland yet, and we are ready to do the globe,
hahaha! It would be great e.g. to play in Colombia,
Puerto Rico, Cuba and of |
|
course
United Kngdom as well and the US...well everywhere.
Wait a minute, we are probably heading for Norway
in 2010!
¿Que
Pasa?: Timbazo was nominated for the Mixed
Magazine World Music Award 2009, how did you feel
?
Nils:
Of
course it was great, also to be in the selection for
the 2008 Latin Grammy. We ended also 2nd at the JPF
music awards in Nashville, US.
¿Que
Pasa?: Do you have a defining moment?
Nils:
Concerning
music, that was defenitely my trip to Cuba when I
was 19 years old.
Before I left, I said to myself: "If this is
going to be a success, I go for it totally later on
and become a professional."
At
a later moment, that was when I was asked to replace
Nicky Marrero in Nueva Manteca [a big step forward],
the latest one is the production of my own CD, I experienced
that besides all the great projects I have the honor
to work with it is also fantastic to follow completely
your own ideas.
¿Que Pasa?: How do you manage
conflicts and pressures?
Nils:
Music
is a great profession, but is also a hard one. Yes
you have to deal with conflicts and I had to learn
the is impossible to please everybody.
A good work ethic and social abilities, good communication
however definitely helps to prevent and solve conflicts.
I just try be prepared when I go to a gig and to do
the best I can, to prevent pressure...
¿Que Pasa?: If you had to
go to a remote island and could only take one item,
what would it be and why?
Nils:
Again,
musically speaking: a conga of course! second item
would be mp3 player...
 |
¿Que
Pasa?: What's in your CD player?
Nils:
Luis
Enrique's Ciclos
¿Que Pasa?: What is a
typical day in your life?
Nils:
Let
me give you four examples.
For
all four goes that I additionally try to develop
new ideas and listen to music a lot. |
1.
Practise in the morning, rehearse with a group, play
at night.
2. Teach from 10.00 - 18.00, than night off, play
or rehearse at night.
3. Practise in the morning and do the rest of the
day office work.
4. Doing nothing and spend the day with my family.
¿Que Pasa?: Are you planning
any further releases? And how long does it take you
to record one album?
Nils:
I
am almost done with the planning for a new Timbazo
CD. I got some goverment support for it, but it is
still a big investment to produce a salsa CD all by
yourself.
Companies don't invest anymore, the market is down.
There is so much piracy out there. That's why it is
so hard to bring out CD, the music lovers destroy
there own
music - deliverers, the artists. To come with your
own Cds became like an expensive hobby even o many
top artists, while it is there profession, what they
are best in!
Anyway that's why I have to take my time...but the
next Timbazo CD will come for sure!
Meanwhile
it is my pleasure to announce the CD release of my
new project CaboCubaJazz. As I said before, we combine
Cape Verdean music with Cuban music.
Check out www.cabocubajazz.com !
¿Que
Pasa?: Where do you see yourself in 5 years
time?
Nils:
Continue
the way just like today [and playing better : - )
], and hopefully with even more music than now, concerts,
bands, touring.
And with at least one new TImbazo CD!
For
futher information on concerts or to order a CD, check
out:
www.nilsfischer.com
www.timbazo.com
www.timba.com/artists/timbazo
www.cabocubajazz.com
e:info@timbazo.com
For
Nils Fischer CD review please go to CD review page.
©
Interview by Angie Parkinson,
November 16, 2009
Share
