Curtis Stigers’ concert at the De La Warr Pavilion on Saturday, August 3 was a terrific hit for the Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival. The audience, many of whose members had travelled considerable distances, was warm and generous in its applause. Many fans had seen him three or four times and were thrilled to be seeing him again.
Curtis Stigers was born in Boise, Idaho, and always expresses pride in his roots and love of his birth city. Growing up he was exposed to a variety of genres from an early age, which helped shape his own musical career and contributed to his unique style.
While Stigers initially gained fame in the early 1990s with pop and soul-influenced songs, he transitioned to jazz as he matured as an artist. This move allowed him to explore his love for jazz standards and incorporate his various musical influences into a cohesive style. These elements together chart the course of Curtis’ musical journey, illustrating a blend of diverse influences and a passion for multiple genres that have defined his career.
Before his concert on Saturday I was lucky enough to have an interview with Curtis which turned out to be a delightful, relaxed conversation.
Which musician do you aspire to work with that you haven’t already?
Probably my favourite singer ever is Ray Charles and I can’t unfortunately do anything with him because he has gone, but if I had had the chance, oh what a joy. I almost got the opportunity because he worked with the same label that I recorded with. There was a little hint that we would do something together and do a duet of one of my songs. It didn’t happen; that’s fine, I still have his great music. He was someone who really moved me a lot.
Bonnie Raitt is one of my heroes. I think she is one of the greatest singers who ever lived. She has my favourite voice in the world. Her records just kill me. I got to perform with her live a couple of times and someday I would love to record a duet.
She is an incredible guitar player and we have similar backgrounds in that we come from blues and soul music. We also love old-fashioned songs. Her father was a famous Broadway actor and singer, John Raitt, so she has that in her background as well. There are lots of people who would love to sing a duet with her so it may or may not happen.
So, how would one describe Stigers in the best way?
His colleagues in the music industry came up with these descriptions and Curtis was happy to respond with his take on their point of view.
1. Authentic, Passionate and Charismatic
Stigers’ take on this: When I was younger I was worried that critics wouldn’t think that I was focussed enough, but as I have gotten older I have realised that this is who I am. I am interested in jazz music but also folk, the blues and rock and roll. Now I mix all my music into one show and it is me. I just make music that moves me now. I am true to myself.
2. Resilient – demonstrating an ability to adapt and persevere throughout his long career.
Stigers: “I have been resilient quite a few times in my career. When my pop music was floundering a little bit, rather than try harder to keep up with the kids and have hits, I decided to continue to make music that moves me. That was the biggest, most important choice every time, to follow my artistic instincts rather than listen to businessmen in suits. They always tell you what you should play and how you are going to make money. They are usually wrong, I like money as much as the next person, but it is not my way to do something musically artistic because it will make me money: I make my living doing what I love to do.”
3. Humble – despite his success, he maintains a grounded and respectful demeanour.
Stigers laughs and says: “The music comes first and the audiences are important to me. I like to communicate with people, on stage or off.
What has been the best advice that you have been given?
Stigers thinks… “Well that’s a good question. I have had a lot of advice but someone once told me to think about how you look on stage, just dress… just look a little bit better than the audience.”
If you could sit on a park bench and talk with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose?
There are so many. There are two people who come to mind, an American who has gone now, you said alive or dead so I get to choose him: Kurt Vonegut. I have read every book that he ever wrote, every essay that he wrote. There was just something about him that touched my heart, made me laugh and made me cry. There was something about him that made me think that we could have sat and had a wonderful conversation on many subjects. I passed him on the street once in NYC and I regret that I didn’t stop to say “hello”. And the other person that I get to sit with on a park bench, or a coffee shop, is my daughter Ruby. She is a great conversationalist, and we have a lot of fun. She is home for a while and I am just having a ball being able to hang out with her and chat.
What advice would you give a youngster just starting out on a musical journey?
Giving a young musician advice about the music business is very hard these days because it has changed so much since I started. Record companies are a different thing now and I wouldn’t say trying to get a record deal is the thing anymore. What I would say, what I have always said to young musicians, is: play music because you love it and you want to make great music and you want to get better and better at it. Play music to grow and to express yourself; don’t play music to become famous because working to become famous is a whole different thing.
Have you anything left on your bucket list?
Many, many things. I am trying to figure out how to afford, how to pay for, making a record with a symphony orchestra. I have done a lot of live performing with orchestras but to make a recording, is in there, for sure. You have to pay seventy people instead of three people so it costs a lot of money.
His concert was a crowd-pleaser, many of his songs receiving applause on the first few notes. He deserves his popularity and he really does care about his audience and they lapped that up. Niki Stuart representing the charity The Music Well, received donations from the audience to enable the wonderful work that they do to continue.
Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival is only two weeks away and the tickets are selling fast. There is so much to look forward to – both free concerts outside the Kino and in venues around the town as well as the headliner acts.
You can book tickets online at www.ryejazz.com
Image Credits: Kt bruce .