Sunday Spotlight: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

JaneBunnett.com

Sunday night's 8 p.m. act has, historically brought the house down in previous years of the Erie Art Museum's Blues and Jazz Festival, and this year's selection Jane Bunnett & Maqueque should be little different.

I spoke to Jane briefly as she was loading her car and preparing to cross the US-Canadian Border with her 7 fellow female musicians; here's what she had to say about her music, her influences, and the festival.

Cory Vaillancourt: Tell us a little bit about the heritage of your sound.

Jane Bunnett: It comes from the heritage of jazz and afro cuban music; I'm a jazz improviser, and that's my first love, and that's what I studied - Parker, Coltrane, the whole jazz world. But I went to Cuba in 1982, and the music Heard had a strong correlation with Coltrane's work, both rhythmically and spiritually.

CV: And what do you know of our fair Erie?

JB: I played the festival quite a few years ago, and it was one of the best, most fun festivals I've ever played. Very dreamlike.

CV: What are you listening to at the moment? 

JB: John Coltrane's "Live at the Half Note: One Down, One Up;" Rashaan Roland Kirk's "I Talk to the Spirits."

CV: And how are you enjoying your new project?

JB: I'm surrounded by really great young creative energy, and no matter how crappy things go, once the music starts, and we start to play i forget all of it.

 For a full lineup, and more, about this year's Erie Art Museum Blues and Jazz Festival, check this out. And keep checking back in here at eriereader.com for more Q-and-As with some of this year's illustrious Blues and Jazz performers.