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Take Five With...
Take Five With Zack Cross
How would you describe the state of jazz today?
Good. It's like Mos Def says: People talk about [jazz] like it's some giant living in the hillside: [jazz] ain't going to get better till we get better..." (substituting jazz for hip-hop). It's not as hard as people say it is to be a musician. But you have to be ready to work, and I don't mean just be able to play. It requires a lot of marketing and networking skills that schools can't really teach you.
What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?
We need to play music that people want to hear. It is really that simple. Original music is great, but seriously if every song on every new album is a new tune, then the average listener is going to be really turned off. It's a fact.
What is in the near future?
I'm planning a tour for the Zack Cross Trio, hopefully a mid-level east coaster for the summer. We already have a couple of summer camps that we are going to stop at, which I love doing.
By Day:
I just got fired. I took too much time off (that's when we recorded Up/Under). Also, don't eat at the Southfield Store in Southfield, MA.
If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:
Yoga teacher. I love Yoga.
Photo Credit
Courtesy of Zack Cross
