THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Gianmarco Liguori of Salon Kingsadore

Guitarist/composer Gianmarco Liguori has cut a sleek but subtle path between tripped-out jazz and spaceflight rock with the band Salon Kingsadore and also on a number of fascinating solo releases (see here).

Given the nature of his music, it was no suprise that recently he played at the Auckland planetarium with Salon Kingsadore. Just sit back, watch the stars and constellations above and let the wide washes of music flow over you. Cool.

Liguori's most recent album is remarkable Duga-3 (reviewed here) which is currently only available on vinyl but will appear on iTunes very soon.

It was time to invite Gianmarco to respond to our Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire. 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

Probably something I heard over shortwave radio when I was a kid.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

Sonic Youth, Kim Paterson

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

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If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

I’m a school teacher at the moment. But I would be happy directing films, or making pizza.

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

“Lux Aeterna” (1966) for sixteen solo voices – Gyogy Ligeti. Once, at school when I was about 9 or 10, we came back to the classroom after morning break and the teacher had blacked out the windows, arranged the classroom with cushions on the floor, and played us 2001: A Space Odyssey from start to finish on an old film projector. During the trip sequence, he was like, “Now watch this. It’s quite spectacular”. I vaguely remember the projector almost catching fire towards the end. Ligeti’s atonal music was perfect for the film.

Any opening sequence of a Fela Kuti tune. His band had the best song introductions ever. I can’t take much of his saxophone playing, but I love the way he plays the organ.

“Tenemos roads” by National Health.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

I don’t really have any musical memorabilia except my musical equipment and records (one of which is autographed by Steve Reich).

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

Space is the Place - The Lives and Times of Sun Ra (John F Szwed). Straight Life by Art Pepper is really good as well.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Drums with Afrika 70.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

Solaris (The original version)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

The Big Lebowski

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

Day of Radiance – Laraaji (aka Edward Larry Gordon), which came out as part of Brian Eno’s Ambient series in 1980.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

That would have to be “Acknowledgement” by John Coltrane.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be

The Sun Ra poster a friend bought me years ago… or maybe a mural painted by Max Ernst.

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

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David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing. .?

Living in a castle somewhere interesting, and recording music.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

The next one will be the best one.