Gretchen Parlato is known as a vocalist who won the Thelonious Monk Competition and continues to exert a tremendous influence on the music scene. However, her greatness extends far beyond that. She has had a significant impact on later generations not only through her singing, but also through composing her own songs, arranging cover songs, and developing lyrics and concepts for her works. In fact, Gretchen's historical significance as a role model for jazz vocalists in the 2010s and beyond, who write, compose, and arrange their own music and create a free sound that fuses various genres, deserves to be discussed more.
What's particularly noteworthy is the brilliance of her lyrics. Reading them reveals that she sings not so much about love or romance, but rather about life and philosophy. Moreover, she has skillfully woven her own position and life stage into her expression. She sings not only about herself as an artist, a woman, and a mother, but also about these things, not as personal, private anecdotes, but as universal language. She has also sung about her own growth and maturity.
And in this latest work, "The Wise One," she has written songs from her own perspective as a woman in her 50s. Rather than trying to maintain a youthful appearance or emphasizing her unchanging nature, she is documenting her own maturation as she ages. Becoming middle-aged, growing older—we spoke at length with Gretchen about this truly Gretchen-esque album.
The concept of 'The Wise Ones'
—Could you tell us about the concept behind "The Wise Ones" ?
I think the title "The Wise Ones" is a question I ask myself, and also a question I ask the listeners. The title reflects the fact that I've just turned 50. I've definitely passed the halfway point of my life. I've
started to think about the phrase "older and wiser," and I've also started to doubt whether it's true. Do we become wiser as we get older, or do we become more stubborn and colder? Perhaps "wise ones" also refers to young people who are unbound by anything and think they are invincible.
I'm now thinking about who I am, while cherishing both youth and old age. That became a major theme of this album.
—Did that way of thinking come to you from reading a book or from some other source of inspiration?
I draw inspiration from many things, but I think I've been greatly influenced by my favorite Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh . I believe this theme is like a seed that has been planted through years, even decades, of practice.
I think the works I've created so far have very well reflected myself and my life at that time. And as I continue creating, everything gradually starts to make sense.
For example, there's an album called "In a Dream ." After we recorded the album, Aaron Parks said to me, "You've used the word 'dream' in the lyrics of every song." But I hadn't realized I was doing that. I was like, "Really? I did that?" And when I looked back, "dream" was in every song. I wasn't doing it intentionally, but it became something very special. And I believe that it's because some kind of energy, or a force greater than human, is working in a positive way.
The same thing happened this time. As soon as I started to focus on the project "The Wise Ones," the music suddenly started flowing out of me. It was a really good feeling.
—Does the participation of many guest artists relate to the overall concept of the album?
My initial thought was that I wanted to bring in Alan Hampton as producer and collaborate with him. He's not only a songwriter, but he also plays bass, guitar, and sings. Plus, he was a co-producer on the album's sound and concept. So, it all started with wanting him to participate as a guest, as a collaborator. As we
progressed with the production, it expanded from there, and I started thinking, "Who else could I share this experience with?" Of course, Mark Guiliana. Then it led to Gerald Clayton, Robert Glasper, Amber Navran, Becca Stevens, and Meshell Ndegeocello.
Robert Glasper's participation
—You just mentioned Robert Glasper's name. How did your collaboration with him come about?
I just asked Robert to do it (laughs). We have a friendship. I met him in the early 2000s. Alan and Robert have been friends since high school in Houston. So there's a really long history there. And there's respect and affection between us all. So I simply said, "Hey Robert, I have an idea," and he was like, "Sounds good, let's do it." And it was
his idea to write new songs together. We wrote "Rainbow" and "Block the Sun" together, and we did Stevie Wonder's "If It's Magic" with an arrangement we'd never recorded before.
Connection to 'The Lost and Found'
—With Robert Glasper involved, it reminds me of 'The Lost and Found'. When you were making 'The Wise Ones', did you ever go back to thinking about 'The Lost and Found'?
Absolutely. I think that was one of the ideas behind this album. 'In a Dream' and 'The Lost and Found' were works where I wanted to revisit the sound, energy, and album ideas from those albums. Robert was involved in those. A pretty big part of the idea for this album was to continue what we started with those works.
Looking back on 'The Lost and Found' now, what kind of album would you say it was?
I think every piece of work reflects who I was at that time and what was happening in my life. I was
really lucky with "The Lost and Found"—I got to play with Derrick Hodge, Robert co-produced it, and Taylor and Kendrick were also there, so that project had a special energy.
I think Robert's presence was especially important. Reinterpreting cover songs is his achievement. That's why I absolutely wanted Robert to participate in "The Wise Ones." Plus, I have a lot of affection for "The Lost and Found." It's a very special album to me. So I hope that people who loved that album will also love this one.
◎ Capricorn
--I see. So, first, could you tell me about the song "Capricorn"?
This song was born thanks to Alan Hampton . He brought this song to us. He came up with the melody, chords, and song structure—everything.
Then, our friend Matt Parker helped us write the lyrics. As for the lyrics, I think Alan thought of Capricorn as a metaphor for a new beginning, since it's the sign that marks the start of a new year. When he played the song for us during rehearsal, I immediately knew that we had to start the whole album with this song. Lyrically, the sign of Capricorn itself, the sense of newness, the feeling of a cycle returning—everything was perfect.
◎ Never Come Down
—"Never Come Down" is a very interesting song. Could you tell us what the song is about?
"Never Come Down" was born from a percussion loop that Mark Guiliana had created. In fact, "Lean In" with Lionel came from the same idea. In both "Lean In" and "Never Come Down," the percussion you hear is by Mark.