Chris Greene and New Perspective
Some people call what we do "jazz". Some people call it "jazz-funk'. Some people call it "fusion". I prefer to avoid the discussion altogether and just call it music. However, if pressed, I'll call it "organic rhythmic guerilla jazz".
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
I originally conceived New Perspective in 1994 to fuse together the jazz I had studied in school with the R&B, funk and hip hop that I listened to growing up in Evanston. Currently, my goal for New Perspective is simply to combine my experiences (which include my influences) with my love of performing music for people in the present moment. As the courses of two different days or two different conversations are never the same, no two New Perspective shows will ever be the same. Our history of music spans from our first lesson on our instrument to whatever happens to be on our minds en route to a particular gig.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
We live to play live. We'll play in any room that will have us. Right now, we perform in Chicago, but we're making plans for a tour of the Midwest very soon.
Your musical influences
(Including but certainly not limited to): Prince, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Steve Coleman, Maceo Parker, insomnia, Stevie Wonder, Debussy, A Tribe Called Quest, Vangelis, James Brown, sexual frustration, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, John Coltrane, Ani DiFranco, Chaka Khan, Wayne Shorter, Richard Pryor, happiness, the Roots, Quincy Jones, DAngelo, Rakim, unrequited love, Lao Tzu...
Anything else?
I compose and play alto, tenor and soprano saxophones. Damian Espinosa (an incredible composer in his own right) plays piano and keyboards. Vic Jackson plays the bass guitar. Drew "Blaze" Thomas plays drums and percussion.
