For me, seeing so many visitors from around the planet, just days after this site went online, reinforces the notion that music is indeed the universal language

In 2007 I did my first music interview, and so far they tend to fall into three groups:  extraordinary players, legendary studio musicians, and a few impressive young talents.

Up until 2013, all of my interviews were print interviews, but as a music lover myself, I always had a yearning to let others actually hear what I had the privilege to hear — that is the genesis of this site.

As you would expect, my print interviews have been tightened up, edited, organized, and stripped of conversational tone on the part of the interviewer.  However, what you’ll hear on these audio files are the unvarnished conversations. My early interviews were recorded with a simple in-ear microphone. Later I switched to a headset and you’ll notice an improvement in the audio quality.

On several of my extended interviews, for various reasons (time, audio quality etc.) I couldn’t include everything in the audio file, so if you want to learn everything that was said, you’ll need to read.  On the other hand, you can only hear Derek Trucks’ reaction when I told him about seeing Jimi Hendrix as a teenager — so each form has its upside.

Beginning in 2013, I started doing non-print audio interviews.  I have, however, retained my association with AllAboutJazz.com, the Internet’s most visited jazz website, where my print interviews can be read.  In addition to having my interviews here on this site, they will also be available for streaming at AllAboutJazz.com.

I never liked the idea of writing reviews, because I want to remain positive, honest, and enthusiastic.  So for that reason I stuck to interviews, and have restricted myself to musicians who move or impress me (or both.)  For that reason, I am selective about whom I interview.  So given that, plus the incredibly busy schedules that musicians maintain, and the complication of living in Europe, I won’t be churning out interviews.  In any case, I hope you enjoy the interviews, be they audio or print.

NOTE 2018: In 2017 John McLaughlin embarked on his Farewell to America Tour with fellow guitarist Jimmy Herring.  Given the significance of this event I interviewed both of them.  In addition to my audio interview here, I also did a print version for AllAboutJazz which was their most read article of the year in 2017. (155,000 views as of May 2019)

That was a nice way to celebrate my 10th year of music interviews.  Because I have interviewed so many of my own favorite musicians, some multiple times, I’m more selective than ever about interviews.  Seeing how well my last print interview did, I must acknowledge that lots of people still prefer print interviews.  For that reason I have been gradually transcribing some of my audio interviews and publishing print versions.

NOTE June. 2020: I’m no longer actively pursuing interviews, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility if somebody happens to blow me away. Nonetheless, in 2018 I did transcribe three more of my audio interviews for publication on AllAboutJazz.  They too have done quite well.  John McLaughlin on the Mystery of Creativity has 236,000 views, Ronny Jordan a Pioneer of Acid Jazz 148,000 views, Guitarist Mike Seal 101,000 views.

NOTE August. 2022: Two years ago (Aug 2020) I began writing a column for AllAboutJazz — “So You Don’t Like Jazz” and  occasionally a few other articles.  If you’re interested there is a “print article” page visible from the main page.  Currently I’m heavily into video and photo editing and production.  A.I. software makes it possible for machines to do an incredible amount of tedious tasks involved with photo and video enhancement etc and that’s what I’m excited about right now.

Writing from my little village in the German Alps near the Austrian border, thanks for stopping by,

Alan Bryson

MY BOOK FOR MUSIC LOVERS

If you’ve read or listened to my interviews, then you know I’ve asked several musicians questions about what they would like to see if they could go back in time.  Day dreaming about time travel seems to be a fairly universal pastime among music lovers.

I decided to take it a step further than day dreaming, and so I wrote a bit of fiction for music lovers.  It’s the story of  Nathan Ballew  who has a brush with death and finds himself back in 1962 with his memory from 2013 fully intact.

The only drawback, he’s in the body of an 11-year-old.  So what would you do in this situation?  You you can read a few sample chapters, or download the Kindle book here.