PASCAL SCHUMACHER QUARTET
Hailing from the mallet subdivision of the percussion family, the vibraphone, or vibes as it is known, is jazz’s warmly resonant backbone. Hailing from Belgium, Pascal Schumacher is known as jazz’s wildly inventive wunderkind. Together, they are set to treat Sydney to some good vibes.
Can you tell us about the first time you picked up a vibraphone? To be honest I don’t remember; it must have been at the Luxembourg Conservatory. I know that the sound of the instrument always had a magical effect on me! As a kid I mostly played the drums – I played along with Guns ‘n Roses and Gary Moore CDs; then I studied classical percussion and specialised in contemporary music on vibraphone and marimbaphone.
What was it like writing a soundtrack to a silent Marlene Dietrich film? I am still in the process of composing it. It is so much fun to spend all that time with Marlene. At the moment, about two hours a day!
What is the biggest misconception about your music? Hmm, I think there are no misconceptions… people conceive it the way they conceive it!
Who is your jazz icon? There are so many icons. Difficult to point one out! If I have to choose one I would say Charles Mingus; he used his instrument and his instrumental genius to achieve pure artistry.
What should Sydney expect of the show? We’re going to bang the cans. I always like to bang metallic objects to get sounds out of them. I think it’s a way of life and if people want to join they should!
Jun 14-15, The Basement, 7 Macquarie St, Sydney, $25-35, 9251 2797, thebasement.com.au
