COME hear Pablo perform at the inaugural Coffs Coast Jazz Festival November 11-13 at the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium.

Q: Congratulations on the launch of the inaugural Coffs Coast Jazz Festival 2022. What can festival goers expect as part of the experience?

A: Thank you, we’re very excited to be able to host a jazz festival in Coffs Harbour.

I think it is a great opportunity for music lovers to experience top of the line performances in different styles of the genre, as well as masterclasses and jam sessions for those musically inclined.

It will be a chance to immerse yourself in the genre and its history for a weekend.

Q: Tell us a bit about your musical background, what was it like growing up in Buenos Aires? What are your career highlights and how did music take you across the globe performing?

A: Buenos Aires is a very big and busy city, people are always out and live music was everywhere when I was growing up.

It could be mesmerising and intimidating at the same time. I was inspired to pursue music from a young age, I remember I didn’t want to study classical so the other option was jazz.

I had had private lessons by then so I was good enough to get accepted at one of the two Jazz Conservatoriums in the city at the youngest age possible, being ten years younger than the average student there at the time.

Despite all the wonderful experiences I have performing, some of my favourite highlights are still the times that I was able to work with remote communities like in the Chilean Patagonia or the Peruvian Amazon amongst others, performing and running workshops with people and especially kids there.

Seeing how meaningful what you’re doing is to them beats a big concert any day of the week.

Music is an amazing thing, I didn’t have much of a plan for most of my 20’s to be completely honest, but I was lucky enough to be able to join more established projects that allowed me to travel across South America, Europe and eventually Australia and Japan in the recent years.

Now I have established my own projects and tour under my own name, hopefully one day I’ll be able to provide younger musicians the same opportunities I had.

Q: I hear you will be performing in the style of ‘jazz manouche’. Could you explain this genre to me and why I should give it a listen? Who or what inspires you?

A: This is a wonderful style of music that’s very close to my heart.

It’s a version of swing music that was born around the 1930’s in France from the influence of the music that was coming in from the USA and the folkloric language of a particular group of people of manouche (gypsy) descent.

It’s also a great way for non-jazz listeners to dip their toes in the genre, as it is light-hearted and happy and very accessible to everyone.

The music of Django Reinhardt has of course been a major influence for me, as well as some modern masters like the Rosenberg trio and Giacomo Smith.

Q: As well as being an accomplished professional musician, you are also an inspirational teacher and educator – teaching at the Coffs Harbour Conservatorium and Bishop Druitt College.
What drives you to inspire the next generation of musicians?

A: I have always enjoyed teaching music.

I think it is partly because I’m so passionate about learning.

I’m always studying and learning new skills and I love to share that process with others. I believe learning is a way of life, and you are never too good or too old to be doing it.

I particularly enjoy the privilege of being able to help people achieve their goals and potential.

I think everyone has something incredibly valuable to say and share with the world, and when they do, it gives me great joy to know I played a small part in making that happen.

Q: As well as performing in the Coffs Coast Jazz Festival, you will be presenting a “melody in improvisation” workshop. Is anyone welcome to this workshop? Where do I begin to improve my improvisation skills?

A: Everyone is welcome. The workshop will be divided in stages that will go from simple to complex so people of all levels can get something out of it.

There will also be a chance in each stage for people to participate in improvisation exercises if they choose (so bring your instrument!).

Or just sit back and listen and get immersed in the content.

If you’re a beginner improviser, I’d say start by starting.

Put on a record of your favourite improviser and start playing along, trying to copy like a child learning to talk.

Put on a backing track or improvise by yourself.

Take some lessons with professionals that can steer you in the right direction and save you a lot of time (and I mean a lot of time) but above all, just do it!

Q: In your opinion, what does the future look like for jazz music in Australia – in particular the Mid North Coast region? How can we collectively support arts and culture in Coffs Harbour?

A: I’m pretty optimistic about the future of music in the region.

Every year I see more top of the line musicians coming to settle in the area and world class performances being offered.

I think as a community the best thing we can do is to go out more and support live music and the venues that make it happen.

It’s been shown in other places around the world that if we encourage a culture of music appreciation we’ll all benefit from a vibrant cultural scene that will not only entertain us, but also keep our community healthier and even bring economic prosperity to the region.

Q: Thank you Pablo for your time – it has been wonderful getting to know you and your music. Is there anything else you would like to add? In one sentence, what advice would you give your younger self?

A: Just keep playing, even when things get tough, and listen twice as much, a musician is limited not by what they can play but by what they can hear.

For more information and ticket availability, visit https://www.coffscon.org.au/event/coffs-coast-jazz-festival-2022/.