November 19, 2009

Ed Roth ~ The Musician’s Musician

Interview~

By Maya Dawn Henderson

ED ROTH has been here all the time, yet he's only just arrived; after many years of building his way up the long road of success and serving his musical apprenticeship with big names such as; Sheena Easton, Glenn Hughes, Rob Halford, Coolio, Sophie B. Hawkins, Ronnie Montrose, and (DWTS’s) Mya, the top-notch keyboardist has truly come into his own. Cherished and revered amongst his musical colleagues, Ed, (a.k.a. Edward Harris Roth), has always exhibited a studio musician's knack for functionalism, while exuding a keyboard voice entirely his own, with soulful harmonic tones and complex, earthy, rhythmic signatures. He has cut a zigzagging forward path, shuttling between almost every genre of music.

Specializing in organic instruments, like his Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, the acoustic piano and old analog synths, he jokes that his friends say that “his clock stopped in the 70’s”. His Bohemian gypsy musician look parallels that statement. Long, dark curls try unsuccessfully to hide his green eyes. He’s worn the same antique sawfish necklace for as long as he can remember. Yet, his laid back, Brazil meets California-style doesn’t supersede his extreme, almost militant professionalism, which probably explains the communal respect and all around likeability among his peers. As sought-after as he’s become, his ego is quite imperceptible. It’s his modesty shines that through his persona, as Roth credits much of his own success on the renown players that continuously surround him. Meanwhile, his discography reads like a veritable who’s who of rock ‘n’ roll.

AAM: You work with so many genres of music ~ what is your personal favorite to play?

ER: Hard to say, I love the soul and groove of R&B, and the freedom and emotion of jazz, but it has to have a little edge on it that rock always brings. When music comes from the heart instead of the wallet, it doesn't matter the genre, it will always move me.

AAM: Who are the recording artists that inspire you ~ who do you listen to in your free time?

ER: I’m all over the map, from straight ahead jazz to the Stones. I still love Joe Sample, Bill Evans, Crusaders, Bobby Womack, Steel Pulse, Dead Can Dance, a lot of Brazilian music, and a lot of older stuff. Some cool new music coming out today too, like Zero Seven and Derek Trucks. One of my favorite radio shows is Sunday blues on KLON.

AAM: How much time do you spend traveling throughout the year? What kind of gigs do you play?

ER: “I fly somewhere almost every weekend to play concerts. Almost everything is a fly date these days. I would say I am out between 3 to 5 months of the year. Although the actual traveling can be brutal, I have been to some crazy and interesting places: three tours of Japan and three tours in Europe this year, all kinds of places in Mexico and Central America, including an unexpected (forced) tour of the federal building in Medellin, Columbia”.
“Over the years, I have played private parties for cartels, I’ve done weird political rallies, strange corporate events, biker rallies, white trash nostalgia festivals, prog-rock festivals with fans wearing pocket protectors and flood-pants, reggae festivals with tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, fans, old school R&B festivals and even secret military bases. I have survived tour buses being repossessed (while we were using them), three riots, a Mexican jail, the Columbian Federal Police, accidentally watering a Russian police man’s boot, numerous fracases and altercations. I’ve even gotten in trouble for eating with the wrong hand in the backwaters of Malaysia. Trust - it’s never a dull moment”.

AAM: Let’s talk about your ‘old school’ gear. What is your typical rig/set up?

ER: “I am a vintage keyboard guy, but that gear doesn't always travel well. Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer Electric piano, Hammond B3, Clavinet, and always a wah wah pedal, but usually only in the studio. Live, sometimes I will get a real B3 and Rhodes, but usually, I will use a Roland RD 700 for pianos and rhodes sounds (with the expansion cards, it is the closest I have found to the real thing ), and a Roland VK combo for second keys stuff. It has a drawbar organ built-in and some workhorse strings, brass, pads and a few synths. Real easy to get around on and sounds great. Depending on the gig, I might use a Motion sound Pro 3 mini-leslie. Not nearly as loud as a real leslie, and missing some of the balls, but about 60 pounds lighter, and tiny”.

AAM: What's the most important thing about playing music to you?

ER: “As obvious as it sounds, music is all about listening. If you are listening to the other players, no matter the genre or what the gig is, be it a part pop gig or an improve with players gig, you can always raise up the music by jelling, grooving, adapting, or leading. If you are not listening because you are busy throwing shapes, posing, or phoning in your part, you aren't really a player”.

AAM: What are you doing lately? What’s next for Ed Roth?

ER: “I have a funky instrumental band with Chad Smith of the Chili Peppers called the ‘Bombastic Meatbats’. I am deeply involved in the writing and production of the band. Great stuff; funky and soulful, with a nice rock edge. I have a funky instrumental solo album that I have recently finished that I am negotiating with several labels about putting it out. I also have a straight ahead jazz record I am finishing that has some new takes on some pop tunes, some tunes from the 70’s and 80’s. It is all about great musicians stretching it out.
I am also a member of the band CTA, featuring Danny Seraphine, the original drummer and founding member of the band Chicago, with Marc Bonilla on guitar. It is an all-star band doing some new songs, and some updated versions of some old CTA and Chicago tunes. I am also working on finishing a ‘cop show’ funk record, with my old friend producer/writer, Mike Baardi. It’s just what it sounds like, 70’s vibe, cop show with funky- sounding organic tunes.
Dance diva, Kristine W. has a chill jazz record coming out soon that I played the keyboards on. I also did the arrangements. The stuff is killing, but some tracks may seem a bit blasphemous to some people, like the flipped version of ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Real strong record, made the old way ~ piano, upright bass, and drums, done live, together - in one room.
I just did a run of dates with Kenny Aronoff on drums, and had a real blast. We will start writing soon for a funky/fusion recording project starting in late December. The spring should bring back together some old friends for a run of US dates: Ronnie Montrose, Jimmy Paxson, and Myron Dove. Ronnie is definitely one of the greatest guitarists to walk the earth, and it will be a joy to get back together on the stage with him”.

After speaking with Ed, it was easy to see why the most adoring of his fan base are his own peers – he listens. Not content at any time to rest on his laurels, Roth has been involved in quite a few important projects and his musical curiosity has never dimmed. In fact, it’s his curiosity and openness to all kinds of sounds that have put him into a category to himself.

See and hear more Ed at www.myspace.com/edwardharrisroth ~ onlinekeyboardsessions.com ~ www.myspace.com/bombasticmeatbats

Ed's got the style, Ed's got the grace. Ed's got the funky clav, rhodes and B3 up in your face! This man can do it all... with love and soul... My friend always take the music to a higher place."

...Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot, Bombastic Meatbats

“Ed is truly one of the most diverse musicians I’ve had the pleasure to play with. We’ve done the hard rock/metal thing with Implellittteri and Beautiful Creatures and we’ve done the pop/R&B thing as the backing band for several singers at a private event. I’m amazed at how busy he stays. In a time of uncertainty in the music biz, he’s going from rehearsal to gig to session and then going across the country, or the world ~ for a gig with The Brothers Johnson, Danny Seraphine’s CTA or any other number of acts. He’s also a great friend that I’m very glad to call MY friend.”
...Glenn Sobel, Beautiful Creatures, Impelletari

“Ah yes, Mr. Edward Roth ~ A musician’s musician who covers so many musical bases, that it is really amazing. At any moment Ed can conjure up the intricacies of Chick Corea or Herbie Hancock's piano styling's, the rock solid melodies of Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, the earthiness of Booker T. Jones, or the sensitivity of Paul McCartney's Beatles era imagery. That's just the tip of this musical iceberg. He makes every song and every musician sound better by his contributions. Each time I've seen Ed live, be it with the "voice of rock" Glenn Hughes or that "Red Hot Chili Pepper" Chad Smith, he has been flawless, and when I've performed with Ed, he has made me a better drummer”.
...Frankie Banali, Quiet Riot, Steppenwolf, W.A.S.P. BACK