Next up for Chats with the Cats, we are featuring bassist, Murray Wall.
Murray grew up in Australia and speaks of the musicians he followed from a young age.
"Growing up in Australia, I was mostly impressed by Americans that I heard live - Ray Brown with Oscar Peterson in 1962, Sam Stewart with Rose Murphy, Arvell Shaw with Louis Armstrong, and Red Callender with Nat Cole, although I was just twelve then. These was one bass player from there that I loved, Lyn Christie, and I met him recently here. I remembered all the band members he played with and the names of the songs from more than 50 years ago. So I guess that impressed me."
Whilst he had some Bass lessons to begin with, for the most part Murray is self taught, learning from Jazz records.
"I learned Oscar Pettiford's solo on "Blues in the Closet" with Bud Powell. I was very moved by his sound. You learn things along the way. In New York I took some lessons with Dennis James. With the bow he can make you cry. Also Gene Ramey told me stuff that really helped me - develop a tough - feel dynamics."
Murray moved to the US in '75 for 6 months, frequenting the Angry Squire but speaks about how things have changed since then. "I think the school thing has affected the jazz scene. There's a lot of well trained kids out there who are willing to work for nothing because they need to play in public. A sixty dollar gig in 1979 accounted for a considerable portion of your rent - not any more."
"You come to New York from wherever and you think you're pretty good. But there are twenty people here who do what you do, only better. That's when you have to get serious. I got lucky to work with Jon Hendricks for five years, then Ken Peplowski got me with Benny Goodman, which was a big boost professionally. After Benny died I joined Walt Levinsky's Memorial Band, which consisted of fourteen perfect sight readers and me. I grew up playing dance music, so I was good for that kind of band. Being a jazz player, you find out that sometimes you're hot and sometimes you're not. But you learn how to survive."
When asked about what he's listening to this month, Murray remarks that his favorites don't change much.
"I still mostly listen to Charlie Parker. I like the cellist Emanuel Feuermann for sound and feeling. I like Bebop the best. I like my band with Grant Stewart,Joe Magnarelli, Richard Clements, and Taro Okamoto.
Murray plays with his band at 11th St. Bar every Monday night and mentions how KEYEDUP! has helped them.
"We had the gig at 11th St for about four years before KU! came in to help us. It was a struggle to keep it going. Everybody was getting better offers. We have a lot of people from the neighborhood who loved us, plus young musicians from all over the world. Jazz has to be in the local joints where it is not too expensive. It shouldn't become a tourist music. That is why KU! is so important. You can't get to hear Barry Harris, Charles Davis, or Dwayne Clemons for the price of a drink and a small tip (not too small).
KU! is doing this all over the city. In this video age the live arts - music, dance, and the theatre - are what matter and KU! one of the benefactors that help keep these things alive!"
You can look out for Murray on an upcoming record with the fabulous singer, Joy Brown or every Monday night at 11th St. Bar 8-11