¿Que Pasa?: Do you come from a musical family and at what age did you start playing the piano?

Sebastian: Actually, I do not come from a musical family, although thanks to my parents it was possible for me to start early with having piano lesson by the age of 6. Later on they also supported me in having Jazz and Latin Jazz piano lessons besides my classical training. That was at the age of 12 years. But at the beginning nobody was planning that I would become a professional musician.

¿Que Pasa?: I know you are classically trained, so when did you become interested in Latin music and jazz?

Sebastian: Although I used to live in a small German village, we were lucky to have a very good music school where we also had a jazz piano teacher who had a big love for Latin music. By chance, one day I replaced my older brother in his lesson with that teacher– and after that lesson, we did some montuno (a particular style of piano playing common to Cuban/Salsa music).

I became addicted to that style of music. So, at the age of 12 years I started to get deep into Latin jazz music and I kept studying with that teacher whilst still having my classical training. ¿Que Pasa?: I am curious as to how someone presumably brought up with German culture and influences should become so interested in Latin music – how did this happen?

Sebastian: I was lucky because of my first Jazz piano teacher – he created a whole Latin Jazz atmosphere at school. We listened to the CDs of Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri and played all their tunes. We built up our own little Latin Jazz community – it was a little strange for a typical German Village – but it happened, and I am very happy that it did. It was mainly the energy of the music from Eddy that caught my attention and I got addicted to the Latin rhythm which I did not understand at the beginning, but I felt this tremendous spirit – so I started to study and to understand the music on the CDs.

¿Que Pasa?: What prompted you to move to New York?

Sebastian: The city had always held a special magic for me. I knew it would be hard to go to New York, as the life is very expensive there. I was lucky, I got a scholarship - not for making music, but for finishing my law studies – and instead of studying law, I made the most of the opportunities and started my career as a professional jazz musician. That was a very important turning point in my life. The energy and the spirit of the city of New York gave me the courage to believe in myself, my musical talent and my vision for the future.

¿Que Pasa?: Do you feel an affinity with Latin music and culture?

Sebastian: Yes, my feeling for Latin American culture is very strong. I do see differences between European and Latin American cultures and their ways of thinking for sure, but I love the Latin American spirit and their energy and enthusiasm for music – it’s infectious and captures a very big part of my soul. Music is a bridge that connects European and Latin American cultures which I think is fantastic and very refreshing.”

¿Que Pasa?: Describe the first band you played in.

Sebastian: I was 13 years old and we were more or less an Eddie Palmieri cover band, but trying at the same time to make our own songs in similar style to that of Eddie Palmieri. During that time I had my first attempt as a composer. We were all good friends, and we had a lot of fun - I mean, I was very young and the youngest of the band so it was just amazing for me, doing this cool music with older musicians – that was freedom!

¿Que Pasa?: Would you call yourself a cross over band or do you not like that term and if not what term would you like?

Sebastian: I’ve never heard that term before in connection with my music but, thinking about it, in some aspects it is a cross over band – bringing different cultures together. But composing, playing and listening to music I pay more attention to the energy that is transferred by the music. Sure I use a lot of Latin rhythms, but at the same time I have studied jazz and European harmonies and concepts, and the result is my way of just bringing good energy to the people (hopefully) – in a way that is cross over, combining Latin, jazz and modern European music.

¿Que Pasa?: Who are your musical influences? Chick Corea and Chopin have been mentioned in association with you!

Sebastian: Right at the beginning Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri and Gonzalo Rubalcaba were my main influences from the Latin and Jazz side. In Classical I played a lot of Chopin and Schumann. Nowadays I play a lot of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett from the Jazz side and in classical music Messiaen, Ligeti and still Schumann. Very important for me is the interaction with the other musicians from the Berlin, New York and Cuban scenes – there is very refreshing energy there.

¿Que Pasa?: Are you trying to blur the line between classical and Latin? For instance, have you any experiences of people coming from classical to Latin or from Latin to classical as a result of your music?

Sebastian: What I try to do is to be very honest with my music to show the pure energy and to give the people my own unique style of music. I do not want to copy or imitate somebody else or their style, I just want to make my own music and as I am influenced by classical and Latin jazz, the result is always a mixture, but this comes more from the heart than from the brain – I do not know if people from a classical background generally get interested in Latin music through my music. I would guess probably not as the music is very advanced and if they are not familiar with the original rhythms it would be hard to understand the connection or where it comes from. What I really want is for people to just feel the energy and recognise that you can make your own deep music and live your own life without imitating anybody.

¿Que Pasa?: I notice you use a poem by Pablo Milanés (todos los ojos). Why did you choose these lyrics and, as he is known for his revolutionary anthems (as well as for his love songs), are there political messages in some of your songs?

Sebastian: Actually to use this song was the idea of Olvido, she played me this song on our tour in China, and I at once loved the song and the way Olvido was singing it. The most interesting thing for me at first was how to approach an existing very deep and very good song, how to give such a song something new. If you pay attention to the harmonies you will recognize that only the last bars retain the original harmony. I start the song from a very different stance (musically) from Latin America. I use a typical Stockhausen voice and give the song a completely new harmonic structure. The lyrics are so deep that I hesitate to comment. If my music has a political message it is one to modern society that I always have in my songs and my concerts. It is a (subtle and small) revolution against those who do not reflect on life and who just try to live to please other people or follow certain rules without questioning if what they do is good. I want people to wake up – sure it is hard to give this message via music, but if you do your own honest original music and give high energy to the people they will feel the message in their soul, that´s what I try to do.

¿Que Pasa?: You took the role of German cultural Ambassador on a tour of Africa. How did this come about and have you good memories of this trip?

Sebastian: It was thanks to the Goethe Institute, that we were elected to accompany the German President on his trip to Africa, perhaps because they knew that my music would be better for the African people than some heavy modern classical music. This trip was just great and a huge honour! The treatment of the band was incredible. The interchange with the African musicians was lovely, and to see countries like Benin and Ethiopia was amazing –I have the best

memories, and could tell a lot of stories.For the Latin American musicians who travelled with me it was a very special experience because from Benin the slaves were transported to Latin America, - we actually visited the beach where the boats started. As well as these experiences it was very touching to see that the people really loved our concerts – that felt very good.

¿Que Pasa?: Which Latin bands do you like?

Sebastian: I love Irakere, Los Van Van, Eddie Palmieri, Orishas and Batacumbele to name just a few.

¿Que Pasa?: what other music do you listen to?

Sebastian: Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Ligeti, Messiaen, Brahms, A tribe called Quest, Incognito, Mars Volta and a lot more.

¿Que Pasa?: Are there other important influences on your music?

Sebastian: Yes life itself is the most important factor.

¿Que Pasa?: Do you have your own band or do you team up with different musicians for different projects?

Sebastian: The main focus is on my music. But I have different projects where I play with my musical concepts and visions. I always use the same magic circle of musicians who I have played with and known for several years. They come mainly from Berlin, New York and Cuba.

¿Que Pasa?: Your latest album is recorded with Olvido. Can you tell us something of her background?

Sebastian: Olvido is a fantastic singer, with a deep feeling for my music. She started early singing in the famous Band “Azucar” and Opus 13. She is the daughter of the famous signer Jacqueline Castellanos.

¿Que Pasa?: I presume she is Cuban. Why and when did she leave Cuba?

Sebastian: Yes she is a 100 % Cuban. She left Cuba 6 years ago. Her whole family was already in Europe and she was invited by Sony to make a music video. She stayed in Barcelona before moving to Germany in 2003, where I met her thanks to my drummer Lukmil Perez.

¿Que Pasa?: Do you ever play live for salsa dance crowds?

Sebastian: Honestly, not with my music, because of the rhythms. I rearrange the rhythms, for example into a son montuno in 7/4, 9/4 or something else, so it would be hard to dance to. But I get invited by salsa bands as a special guest which I like, and I love to see the people dancing and having fun – it’s wonderful.

¿Que Pasa?: What are your plans for next year and what would you like to achieve?

Sebastian: For this year and next we have so far planned tours to Colombia, China and Japan. I will also record some music. What I really want to achieve is to be able to play my music at all major festivals and clubs in the world and to bring my energy to the people – that would make me very happy! I really would love to write music for modern Latin dance companies in the future. That is something that I have had in mind for along time.

¿Que Pasa?: Finally, as this is a salsa website – do you like dancing?

Sebastian: YES, I love dancing – but I expect that I am not as advanced at dancing salsa as the visitors of your web-site, but I really enjoy it.

Loves

Sebastian

PS: For Sebastian CDs review please go to CD review page.

(For further information on concerts or to order a CD, check out Sebastian’s website on
www.sebastianschunke.com and www.termidor.com )

© Interview by Laurinda Young
Edited by Lin Skyte 19 June 2007