재즈 베이스 거장 에디 고메스 “빌 에번스와의 연주는 메이저리그 같아”

Jazz bass virtuoso Eddie Gomez described his recent performance with singer Bill Evans as being on par with playing in the Major League. Gomez, who is renowned for his high level of skill, consistently inspired and motivated him. Later this month, Gomez will perform at the Busan Berryess Jazz Club and next month at the Seoul Seoksu Art Hall.

During an interview with the Chosun Ilbo and Munhwa Ilbo, Gomez reflected on the 11-year journey with Evans, marking the 60th anniversary of their first encounter. They first met in 1966 at the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City, where Gomez was playing saxophone in the Gerry Mulligan band. Evans praised the sound of Gomez's bass after watching him from the audience.

After a few weeks, Gomez received a request to join his trio and he agreed. Gomez described the 11 years of performing with Evans as a "continuous learning process" similar to a liquid seeping in. Each high-level performer he encountered taught him something new, contributing to continuous growth. Gomez emphasized that the most important thing for him is "listening well."

He stressed the importance of filling every available space rather than just playing, and the interplay of instruments creating music, likening it to weaving fabric on a loom. Only by spending a lot of time together do individual sounds come together into a cohesive flow. Gomez's approach to bass playing extends beyond just accompanying, playing more like a melody when supporting the piano and drums, or stepping in and stepping back as needed.

When asked about his playing style, Gomez joked, "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking." Instead, he often quoted about music being like singing and dancing, where the entire band sings and dances together. For him, the essence of music lies in moving the body and conveying emotions. Gomez also mentioned that he still finds the standard pieces "Nardis" and "My Funny Valentine" fresh due to their improvisational nature.

He explained how the same note can sound different depending on the time of day, who he is playing with, and the overall atmosphere. The main focus should not be on himself, but on making the music shine. Gomez will perform these two pieces during his second Korean tour in 2024. He expressed gratitude for the Korean audience's appreciation and anticipation for his future performances.

Celebrating his 82nd birthday on October 4th, Gomez emphasized that he finds each day and the next performance more important than the past.