Lenny White Interview: Artists Are Light Bearers

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3 жыл бұрын

Throughout history art and music have brought people together, reflects Jazz-legend Lenny White. The problem is though: “Artists have lost purpose. They need to have purpose again. I can’t think of a better purpose to do something artistically that brings people together.”
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Lenny White became interested in music at a young age. His father would take him to concerts in the local jazz scene. As a self-taught drummer he started off his career playing in legendary clubs such as the Aphrodisiac, Slugs and The Gold Lounge.
“Can music be the impetus to reunite the United States?” White’s answer is optimistic: “As an artist I want to be a healing force. Right now though, because of COVID, they are asking us not to congregate. It’s unnatural. You should congregate. Congregation is how society reflects all the things it needs to reflect.”
In 1969, White first appeared on Miles Davis' historic recording Bitches' Brew. As a member of Return To Forever during 1973-76, White gained a strong reputation as one of the top fusion drummers, but he was always versatile enough to play in many settings. White was soon working with some of the Who's who of jazz including Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Gato Barbieri, Gil Evans, Stanley Clarke, Stan Getz and Chaka Khan among others. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and has won three of them. Beside that White has been teaching at Columbia University and Harvard Law School among others.
“I believe that artists are light bearers. We bring light into the darkness of life.” But the problem, according to White, is politics. And especially the polarizing part that politics has played within society today. “If you take the politics out of anything, anything could be the impetus to make things right.”
Lenny White was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in November 2020.
Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard
Edited by Rasmus Quistgaard
Produced by Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2020
Supported by Nordea Fonden
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Пікірлер: 26

@Francesco6961 Жыл бұрын

A beautiful human being, and a genuine artist. Happy birthday upcoming, Lenny White! 19 December!

@FrisellFan01 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing way of looking at things........I am glad to hear Lenny speak in this way.....

@gravityalwayswins1434 3 жыл бұрын

Soft spoken thoughtful mature gentleman here. Absolute beast of groove at the kit. Lenny ..Lenny.. Lenny. Lenny White, THANKS for all the joy your grooving has brought me over the decades.

@haroldbrooks4235 Жыл бұрын

He's done along with many others so many great things for my spirit for the last 45years+ musically. My favorite musician

@enricoferraresi 3 жыл бұрын

Great Lenny!

@ivettepalacin8599 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with what Lenny says about art and music healing people, an important way to look at it

@haroldbrooks4235 Жыл бұрын

Lenny is absolutely amazing and correct on his outlook on this matter. KZfaq has definitely been the greatest thing for many of us musically. I thought that great music was dead until KZfaq showed me that there are people in Russia, India, China & Japan. All over Europe and Africa that have grabbed the torches of past great musicians like Lenny White and Co. Music absolutely can bring people together because we see it for ourselves

@brandonpolanco2956 3 жыл бұрын

well done

@Novacynthia 3 жыл бұрын

Yesss to all of the above You soo right Lenny White!! 🥳 Sending Smiles of Light to You~✨💖✨

@R1eLars1 3 жыл бұрын

Inspirational words - THANK YOU Lenny ...

@rockyoumentally 6 ай бұрын

One of the great artists.

@brycenew 3 жыл бұрын

OHHHH YESSSS 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

@carpediem4179 3 жыл бұрын

The way he talks that's the way he feels , the way he feels that's the way he talks, i love lenny's artistic approach in a wide perspective, he has right, music is painting , thanks for your wisdom lenny,

@MatthewLesniewski 3 жыл бұрын

He couldn't be more right.

@nem0763 3 жыл бұрын

So I just learned he is 71. I'm usually not shocked by that kinda thing, but my lord. I'm 30, and I'm pretty sure I look older and more tired and worn out than him.

@mitchsell2321 3 жыл бұрын

Nice

@hollygardner5076 3 жыл бұрын

I have often wondered when I would hear someone, anyone, who would look at the art world and seek those that dare to create art that isn’t conforming to the Political Narrative. And it does seem that unless it conforms to the political climate of today is will not be in a museum.

@madraven07 3 жыл бұрын

The best part of what he had to say was said from a place of humility. Today too much emphasis in art is placed on subjective reality - perhaps we needed that for a while but it’s so dull now. Let’s look to the unifying universal truths, not tired clichés of romantic love or partisan politics. That’s what will give us purpose.