#12 - David Binney: Composition, LA vs NY, Day Jobs & Making a Living in Today's World

Today I’m speaking with saxophonist and composer David Binney. Originally from Los Angeles, David lived in New York City for nearly 40 years until recently returning to the LA area. He has over 20 albums out as a leader, and has worked with an unbelievable cast of musicians in a wide array of circumstances. We discuss how he balanced having a day job with being a musician when he first moved to New York, how the advent of the internet has changed the music scene and recording industry, the things he thinks are key to making a living in music today, his composition process, and much more.
Listen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple...
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Listen on Google Podcasts: podcasts.googl...
RSS Feed (copy link into your favorite podcast app): feeds.buzzspro...
Connect with David:
Instagram: / davidbinney
Website: davidbinney.com/
KZbin: / ven2ra1
Facebook: / davidbinneyfan
Connect with Bernie's Bootlegs:
Website: berniesbootlegs...
Instagram: / berniesbootlegs
Facebook: / berniesbootlegs
Twitter: / berniesbootlegs
KZbin: / berniesbootlegs1
About David, courtesy of davidbinney.com:
"Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist David Binney is one of the most prolific jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, David was singled out by JazzTimes as one of a handful of “players who have created an alternative jazz scene… all of whom are playing adventurous, original music.”
David’s distinctive saxophone sound and innovative compositions have been heard from basement clubs in New York to jazz festivals in Europe and the world. In addition to his extensive work as a leader, he has been sought after as a sideman, appearing on record with Medeski, Martin & Wood, Uri Caine’s Mahler Project, and hundreds of others. David has also appeared on stage with Aretha Franklin, at Carnegie Hall, and with Maceo Parker, to name a few. He has produced all of his own 22 albums, and many others including two of the Lost Tribe releases, Scott Colley’s The Architect of the Silent Moment, and 8 Donny McCaslin releases, including the highly acclaimed Casting For Gravity, Fast Future, and Beyond Now.
He also put together and produces the band that became the band on David Bowie’s Blackstar.
David started his record label, Mythology Records, in 1998.
He has won the DownBeat Critics Poll 3 different times in the Alto Saxophone category. And placed in Producer, Album etc.. As well as in the JazzTimes polls and polls worldwide.
He has had front cover features in DownBeat, JazzTimes, and many other publications."

[@marcoyanez5874]

Very underrated musician... David is one of the most creative jazz musician in the last 25 years and the “great magazines and great critics say nothing about this. I really love everything he does. Unfortunately his playing and mainly his composition are being copied by other musicians. David Binney deserves much more recognition in the world jazz circuit

[@ObZzErVeR]

Binney is the best... Very insightful interview, he's got an interesting perspective on music, cool to see his answers to questions I've been curious to know

[@steverickenbacher7110]

Thanks for this. David is one of my favorite artists on the modern day jazz scene. Back when I had a girlfriend who lived around the corner from him, I used to see him looking out the window of that apartment at 72nd and Riverside occasionally. I wasn't positive it was him until he released that album with the outside of the 72nd Street and Broadway 1,2,3 subway station on the cover. LOL

[@DavidBinney]

It was me. 31 years at 72nd and Riverside!

[@steverickenbacher7110]

@@DavidBinney Hey David - We miss you in NYC, but I'm sure all of us are happy that you've found happiness out west. I figured out it was you based on that album cover I mentioned above (can't remember the title for the life of me - I believe it was a Criss Cross recording - RIP Gerry Teekens). That particular girlfriend and I saw you on more than a few occasions at the 55 Bar during the mid to late 00s. One particular night (after waiting outside in line for a while) with the Welcome to Life sextet (you with Potter, Taborn, Rogers, Colley and Blade) was incredibly killer! I should've bothered you to say 'hi' after one of the sets, but it wasn't to be. LOL

[@DavidBinney]

@@steverickenbacher7110 Oh man you should have definitely said hey! I was always looking for people to hang with in that neighborhood too because most of my friends that were there had moved out.

[@gradhd4359]

Fantastic interview

[@oe3phen]

Saw him in Santa Monica at Trip earlier this week do an improv set with Andy Sanesi, John Beasley, and Tim Levebvre! It was doooope, he was awesome. The LA jazz scene seems pretty amazing from a fan's perspective, though there's a crapton of driving involved for the musicians I'm sure, and sometimes criminally small audiences for the level of talent on stage.

[@ebodelbianco5773]

cosmic

[@remi.bolduc]

It's great to hear Dave discussing his journey in music. He is an amazing player and a very thoughtful individual and you will have to look very hard to find an alto player who plays the horn as well as he does.

[@maxteakle8716]

Yes! Binney! This is great!

[@Shira2]

Awesome interview! David is fantastic! Listen to his music!

[@alexquinn506]

So much good content. Great advice

[@aguzman11189]

Great interview! :)

[@RicardoGrilli]

Excellent, man!

[@davidesangiorgi6933]

This interview goin smooth and cool, that seem during 5 minutes than 46!! I would add another hour, cause Binney had a lot to talk still (too many beautiful records and solos to speak about) and i love the way he think and see things. Hope in the future there will be another session with David, for now we wait for his new releases...anyway Anacapa is a damn beatiful album!!!!!!

[@brettlessard2532]

Thanks for this, from Canada. Loved the Here and Now record, saw him in Toronto, and picked up the new one "Aerial". Don't think he'll be touring up here again for awhile yet

[@pleasedontdestroythiseither]

10

[@stalbrmusic498]

Intro Song?

[@cemevin]

Four by miles Davis

[@stalbrmusic498]

@@cemevin thank you!