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Improvijazzation Nation - Issue # 57
INTERVIEW with Dave Storrs, of "Louie, Louie Records"
Zzaj: Were
you (like I was) a big fan of "Louie, Louie"? I mean, where did
that NAME come from for your label?
Dave: No the
name came from my dad. For some reason he started calling me Louie. And then my wife
started called me Louie. Maybe they were the same reason.
Zzaj: It appears that you produce music (almost) as
prolifically as I do...
is this your "day job", too? If not, what do you do for
"reg'lar" work?
Dave: Performing rarely pays the bills - I teach drums ( and life
and music ) to a whole bunch of cool kids. And some older ones to.
Zzaj: Since much of the music you produce is improvised, please
expound (a
bit) on how you get in th' right "frame of mind" for improvisation?
Dave: The gear
is paid for, the garage is close at hand, no money involved, know the folks...We go out
there and start playing ...
Zzaj: If you could play with any one mainstream (or underground
mainstream) musician, who would it be & why?
Dave: Don't
think about it.
Zzaj: How important is airplay for the music you turn
out? Press? Which
is more important, press or airplay?
Dave: Airplay is
nice but I have found it had no effect on sales. Press is probably more important.
Listening to the music is the most important.
Zzaj: Who (or what) has influenced your music the most?
Dave: Mingus, Sun Ra, Miles
Davis, Ornette Coleman, Daniel Ponce, Blue Note recordings, salsa, African, Ravel, hitch
hiking, friends, weird gigs ...
Zzaj: Should musicians be "politically involved" - or
are they, by virtue
of the music they produce?
Dave: Yes to
both. Anything from the ground up is very important politically. These daze we should be
fighting to get the corporate system brought down/cleaned up. We need close contact not
this giant hookup to the big 1- 800 number.
Zzaj: Do you master ALL the recordings for "Louie
Records"? If so, what
kind of equipment do you use?
Dave: Dave
Trenkel does it. I am not sure the names so I will leave it at that. He does a great job.
Zzaj: How important (if at all) is "formal training"
for musicians? Were
you formally trained?
Dave: Not real
important. Experience is the main teacher . Teachers, playing, good and bad gigs, more
playing, recording and etc. KNOWING when you are learning something is important.
Zzaj: Since the focus of our 'zine is "indie", or
"home-producers", what
words of wisdom do you have for those just getting involved in music?
Dave: Pursue it like a religion, or "give up all
hope"? Abandoning hope is a form of religion. Get into the now, don't worry
about the money too much and play play play ....
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