THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE JAZZ QUESTIONNAIRE: Paolo Chagas

Portuguese-born woodwind player and musical experimentalist Paolo Chagas features on the impressive duets album Forest Stories with pianist Tania Giannouli, who has recently answered our Questionnaire here.

But Chagas -- who also works with electronics, studied at the Conservatory of Lisbon and has engaged with pop, classical and jazz artists -- is also a very interesting character who deserves the opportunity to share something of himself here. So here goes . . . 

The first piece of music, jazz or otherwise, which really affected you was . . ?

Black is Black (Los Bravos)

When did you first realise this jazz thing was for you?

About 12 years old

What one piece of music would you play to a 15-year old into rock music to show them, 'This is jazz, and this is how it works'?

“Harlem Nocturne”

Time travel allows you go back to experience great jazz. You would go to . . ?

To the end of 50’s in New York

Which period of Miles Davis' career do you most relate to, and why: the acoustic Fifties; his orchestrated albums with Gil Evans; the fusion of the late Sixties; street funk of the Seventies or the Tutu album and beyond in the Eighties . . .

The fusion of the late Sixties

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

Lots of classical, avant-garde, jazz, rock and world music…

The best book on the jazz life you have read is . . .

“Findings” (Steve Lacy)

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

Frank Zappa

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

Pierrot le fou (J. L. Godard)

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

Astronome (John Zorn)

One jazz standard you wished you had written . . .

“Stardust”

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

The cover of the Mothers of Invention album “Weasels Ripped My Flesh”

Three non-jazz albums for a desert island would be . . ?

“Radio” - Naked City

“Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar” - Frank Zappa;

“Quatuor Pour La Fin Du Temps” – Olivier Messiaen

Your dream band of musicians (living or dead) would be . . ?

Wolfgang Mozart, Paul Hindemith, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, Demetrio Stratos, John Zorn, Scott Thunes and Guy Evans

And finally, is there a track on your most recent album you would love people to hear. And, if so, why that one?

“Spring’s Chronic” because is a perfect piece of music ;-)