Blues is all about legacy for Jean-Jacques Milteau
The winner of Grand Prix Jaaz de la Sacem - 2002 for his instrumental work and whole musical career, Milteau says his first trip to India is a "big rendezvou."
New Delhi, Nov 13: Jean-Jacques Milteau, the French, harmonica
player is in no mood to do 'world music', for he wants to carry forward the legacy of Blues music.
"I would not like to do world music without any reason. I don't want to mix Blues with anything. It could be a little trendy or fashionable but I don't feel it, Milteau says.
"Blues has it own legacy and it has to be respected by everyone for it. Blues, which evolved from African-American songs and chants, has overcome the technological advancements. People come back to Blues because it's root music and people find themselves too attached with it," opines 55-year-old Milteau.
Tracing his entry into the music career, Milteau says, "I never had interest to make career in music. It just happened!" Milteau "discovered" harmonica in 1965, listening to Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and the Blues with Sonny Terry, Rice "Sonny Boy Williamson" Miller and other contemporaries.
"Blues, for me came in as a reaction to the old kind of fashion of those times and I loved it," he reveals.
He started playing with different bands before travelling in Europe and in America. As his interest for musical experiments grew, he sailed through the seventies sprinkling warm and blue notes on dozens of recordings by the cream of French singers like Eddy Mitchell and Charles Aznavour.
Milteau, who won "Victoire de la musique", the French equivalent of a Grammy, for his album 'Explorer' says, "Harmonica was the cheapest musical instrument then. Moreover, it was small and became my musical companion." "Harmonica is an instrument to express yourself," he adds.
His albums - 'Routes' and 'Bastille Blues' helped him to expand his musical horizons from American blues and country to African rhythms, Irish jigs and French musette.
The winner of "Grand Prix Jaaz de la Sacem - 2002" for his instrumental work and whole musical career, Milteau says his first trip to India is a "big rendezvou."
"India is a great country. I always wanted to see this beautiful country. I am lucky to perform here and hope Indians like my kind of music."
When asked about his exposure to Indian music, he admits, "I heard Indian classical music in a couple of concerts in Paris. I found it technically complicated." Milteau who is "not aware of different kinds of Indian music" hopes to listen to it during his stay here.
Ask him about the future of his "companion" and he says, "A few years back I would have said harmonica has no future. But now, lot of youngsters are experimenting it with different kinds of music."
"So, in the future I can say Harmonica will never be an official instrument. It will be a toy and will continue to be a companion," he says with a shine of hope in his eyes.
~ GDN
New Delhi, Nov 13: Jean-Jacques Milteau, the French, harmonicaplayer is in no mood to do 'world music', for he wants to carry forward the legacy of Blues music.
"I would not like to do world music without any reason. I don't want to mix Blues with anything. It could be a little trendy or fashionable but I don't feel it, Milteau says.
"Blues has it own legacy and it has to be respected by everyone for it. Blues, which evolved from African-American songs and chants, has overcome the technological advancements. People come back to Blues because it's root music and people find themselves too attached with it," opines 55-year-old Milteau.
Tracing his entry into the music career, Milteau says, "I never had interest to make career in music. It just happened!" Milteau "discovered" harmonica in 1965, listening to Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and the Blues with Sonny Terry, Rice "Sonny Boy Williamson" Miller and other contemporaries.
"Blues, for me came in as a reaction to the old kind of fashion of those times and I loved it," he reveals.
He started playing with different bands before travelling in Europe and in America. As his interest for musical experiments grew, he sailed through the seventies sprinkling warm and blue notes on dozens of recordings by the cream of French singers like Eddy Mitchell and Charles Aznavour.
Milteau, who won "Victoire de la musique", the French equivalent of a Grammy, for his album 'Explorer' says, "Harmonica was the cheapest musical instrument then. Moreover, it was small and became my musical companion." "Harmonica is an instrument to express yourself," he adds.
His albums - 'Routes' and 'Bastille Blues' helped him to expand his musical horizons from American blues and country to African rhythms, Irish jigs and French musette.
The winner of "Grand Prix Jaaz de la Sacem - 2002" for his instrumental work and whole musical career, Milteau says his first trip to India is a "big rendezvou."
"India is a great country. I always wanted to see this beautiful country. I am lucky to perform here and hope Indians like my kind of music."
When asked about his exposure to Indian music, he admits, "I heard Indian classical music in a couple of concerts in Paris. I found it technically complicated." Milteau who is "not aware of different kinds of Indian music" hopes to listen to it during his stay here.
Ask him about the future of his "companion" and he says, "A few years back I would have said harmonica has no future. But now, lot of youngsters are experimenting it with different kinds of music."
"So, in the future I can say Harmonica will never be an official instrument. It will be a toy and will continue to be a companion," he says with a shine of hope in his eyes.
~ GDN
posted by Giridhar Narayan | 06:52
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