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Jazz Police Interview With Pat Mallinger |
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Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor
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Tuesday, 22 November 2005 |
 Saxophonist Pat Mallinger returns to his native St. Paul this weekend to perform at the Artists Quarter. Now based in Chicago, Mallinger’s jazz roots run deep in the Twin Cities. The Jazz Police nabbed Pat online, and he graciously surrendered for the following interview.
JP. How (and when) did you get interested in jazz?
PM. Listening to the Grass Junior High Jazz Band when I was in seventh grade inspired my professional interests from dentistry to being a jazz musician. My first records came from a piano teacher across the street named Norma Cashill. She loaned me all her Dave Brubeck albums. I recall rushing home from school to spin those sides and try to emulate Paul Desmond. Also lessons with my Uncle Tommy Bauer inspired me to do the same, go home and imitate his sound.
JP. Did you attend high school in St. Paul? Who were your music teachers and mentors in the Twin Cities?
PM. Yes. I did attend Henry Sibley High School. My most influential teacher was Bob Klein who led the renowned Grass Junior High Jazz Band. I was inspired by earlier saxophone players in that band, Jim Brown and Chris Stuhlman. My most instrumental saxophone teachers were [Uncle] Tommy Bauer and Brian Grivna. Other mentors from that period, who lived blocks away from me, included saxophonist Ray Komishke and drummer Connie Villars. I also attended many shows featuring saxophonist Eddie Berger.
 Photo by Andrea Canter
JP. What have been your most crucial influences?
PM. Listening to many different types of music from classical to folk, bluegrass, rock, Native American music, ethnic music, and of course jazz. My early jazz influences were Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Paul Desmond, Dexter Gordon, and Miles Davis.
JP. Are you still involved with the Jazz Mentors Sextet? What are some ways communities can encourage inner city youth to enjoy and explore jazz?
PM. Yes, I am now in my eleventh year as an original member of the Ravinia Jazz Mentors. Each year we are involved in performances and clinics in 10 Chicago inner city high schools. I believe any outside organizations that can enhance the much depleted music programs in public schools are critical. A great example is the Ravinia Jazz Outreach Program where professional jazz musicians go the schools and inspire the students through performance and instruction. The mentors then pick a scholar jazz band that rehearses with them twice a week for three months in preparation for their performance at Ravinia. Then in the summer Ravinia Festivals send the scholars free of charge to the Jamey Aebersold Clinic in Kentucky. Other ways communities can support jazz include supporting community jazz bands with funding and rehearsal space, and also supporting and organizing jazz concerts with local jazz musicians that allow youths under 21 to attend. The Twin Cities Jazz Society played a role of this nature when I was a youth.
JP. What projects are you involved with now?
 PM. I am currently performing twice a week with my band. I co-lead Sabertooth and we play on Wednesdays at Andy's Jazz Club at 5:00. We also are beginning our fourteenth year playing each Saturday Night at the famed Green Mill Lounge in Chicago. We play from midnight to almost five in the morning--real jazz hours! I also am in the Chicago Jazz Ensemble lead by Jon Faddis. I have been playing some lately with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As far as recording, I would like to put out some new material with my Quartet with Bill Carrothers. I have a great set of recordings from the Green Mill last summer. I have also investigated bringing that band in the studio. But we may record live again in the spring! I appreciate live recordings much more than studio recordings, unless perhaps the studio is set up and run similar to a live setting.
Many thanks to Pat Mallinger for his responses to the Jazz Police investigation. You can see and hear Pat Mallinger live at the Artists Quarter in downtown St. Paul (7th Place and St. Peter Street, lower level of the Hamm Building), November 25-26, sets begin at 9 pm. Pat’s latest CD, Moorean Moon, was recorded live at the 2000 North Sea Jazz Festival (2005, Blue Jack Records) and will be available at the Artists Quarter. Click here for a review and more information about Pat Mallinger. |
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