In Conversation with Paula Atherton
February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer. Her sophomore album ‘’Groove with Me’’ came out this year on her own label, Dream On Records. It is packed up with ten tracks blending Funk, R&B, Smooth Jazz and Latin sounds and also an amazing line up of Smooth Jazz talents such as guitarist Chieli Minucci (Special EFX), trumpet player Greg Adams (Tower of Power), pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs and keyboardist Bill Haller (Rippingtons).  Regular members and other side musicians bringing their talents to this project include bassist Schuyler Deale (Jeff Lorber, Billy Cobham, Michael Bolton), drummer Lionel Cordew (Mike Stern, Special EFX, Jeff Lorber), percussionist Emedin Rivera (Special EFX, Dave Valentin, Paquito D’Rivera), bassist Stanley Banks (George Benson), guitarist Darin Brown (Enrique Englesias, Willie DeVille), guitarist Steve Briody (Randy Brecker, Dave Valentin), and keyboardist John Deley (Dido). This New York-based artist makes you want to groove with her. It was a genuine pleasure to chat to this lady.

Akbar Nour: There are not so many sax female performers on the Smooth Jazz scene. How do you explain it?

Paula Atherton: As far as female sax players go, they were always around; they are being allowed to come to the surface at this point. There are not very many women instrumentalists on the Jazz scene in general, or that are well-known rather; that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.  Women are doing everything musically that men are doing.  There is plenty of working female Jazz musicians that are not famous.  They are still considered to be a novelty in some cases, which is unfortunate because it puts a kind of spin on their work that might be viewed as “not as good as” or “not as serious as” comparable work done by a male counterpart, when we know that’s just not true.

A.N.: ‘’Groove With Me’’ is only your second self-released album, after the self-released debut album ‘’Let Me Inside Your Love’’, released in 2004. Why did it take so much time (around five years) and why did you release it on your own record label?

P.A.: This CD was recorded in our studio, in between clients. The studio was busy during that time, which helped pay the bills, but made getting studio time difficult.  We also have a lot of special guests, and a few producers.  It was a pretty big undertaking.  I would have liked for it to be done and released much sooner, believe me!

A.N. : You are not only an accomplished sax/flute player, but also a soulful vocalist as noted on four of the thirteen tracks of ‘’Groove With Me’’ (‘’Whenever You Come Around’’, ‘’Send Down An Angel’’, ‘’Falling and There Ain’t Nothin’’). How did you come to combine these two talents?

P.A.: Voice is my first instrument.  I got a flute in fourth grade, and sax followed (they are much related). I spent a lot of time singing and then later playing Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Parker, and many other horn solos when I was studying improvising.  Also transcribing them.  It all comes from the same place, for me it’s about song writing, and which instrument the song is meant for.  The way airplay is in the US (on contemporary or Smooth Jazz stations), the vocal tunes, other than by a pop star, don’t get much airplay (in other words, they don’t really include new singers on the play lists) that’s why I usually do an instrumental version of each vocal, so I can at least get the song played.  That’s why you’ll notice two versions of ‘’There Ain’t Nothin’’.  That was written as a vocal, and almost didn’t get on the CD!  That’s on as a bonus track.  I felt the vocal version was better, so I really wanted it to get on. ‘’Whenever You Come Around’’ has an instrumental version, but we felt the vocal had so much personality that we had to include that.  ‘’Say it Baby’’ has a vocal also.  I just write a song the way I hear it, and they figure out how it’s going to wind up, on what instrument, etc.

A.N.: You are a widely acclaimed horn player. What does ‘’Groove with Me’’ represent in your life and how do you define this album musically and personally speaking?

P.A.: I’ve described it as a “retro-soul” recording.  I think it has elements of Funk, Soul, Jazz, Latin and R&B.  There is a lot of playing going on, no programmed drums but real drums, real instruments and real musicians playing them.  What a concept! It was really fun writing and recording this project.  I think it’s kind of hard to tell where you are when you’re right in the middle of something. All I know is I am proud of it, and I hope people like it.

A.N.: ‘’Groove With Me’’ is a great album. You have gathered an amazing line up of key musicians such as guitarist Chielli Minucci, trumpeter Greg Adams, pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs and Bill Heller. Do you have any stories to tell our readers during the record’s making process?

P.A.: I have to say that each one of the musicians you cited, as well as everyone else that played on this recording, really brought something special to it. Chieli came to our studio and played a great solo, Greg totally played great on both cuts, really made JB jump.  Onaje’s approach to “Send Down An Angel” is just so perfect, beautiful chords and playing.  I wanted a keyboard player to produce “Light as Air” because it was so piano/keyboard heavy, and I knew Bill would make it happen.  It’s great to live in NY and be nearby wonderful musicians. I really thought about each guest, and chose them for what they would bring to the recording.  I think it worked out well!  As far as stories, everyone is so good and worked so quickly, there wasn’t much time for a story to develop; I do have a story that I will tell as an answer to another question.

A.N.: There’s a song ‘’Winds of Change’’ (Yes We Can), whose title reminds me of Airborne’s latest CD release. Is this track a tribute to President Barack Obama?

P.A.: I didn’t know that Airborne had a track or CD of that title until after I had released mine!  I named the song out of respect for him, and the amazing spirit of hope that took over the country at that time. I am a positive thinker, I always try to look for the good in someone, and I think and plan big.  Thinking small never got anyone anywhere.

 A.N.: The regular members of your band are also high profile musicians: Schuyler Deale, Lionel Cordew, Emedin Riviera, Stanley Banks, Darin Brown, Steve Briody and John Deley. Any stories on these musicians while recording the CD?

P.A.: Schuyler had a lot to do with this recording.  We did a lot of pre-production at his studio, and then brought things here and finished it.  The story I wanted to tell was about “Whenever You Come Around.”  I came to Schuyler’s studio with the song, and played it for him.  I wasn’t sure where to go with the groove.  He listened and said, “Sly and the Family Stone!”  I said, “OK, I get it”...and that song set the stage for the rest of what I wrote for the CD.  I get to work with Schuyler, Lionel, Darin, and Steve on a somewhat regular basis.  I haven’t worked with John recently, except for the recording.  I love what he did on JB!  These guys are all wonderful musicians and friends of mine, amazingly talented.  Stanley was a special guest, and it’s always great to see him and play with him.  Working with people like this, it was easy to make things sound good!

A.N.: What are your next projects?

P.A.: I’m in the process of doing gigs to promote “Groove with Me,” and writing for my next CD.