Marc Copland interviewed by Pablo Held

The first time I became aware of Marc Copland was when a good friend of mine showed me the album “Softly…”. I was immediately drawn to Marc’s personal approach to harmony and his ability to tell a story on the piano. To this day this album remains one of my favorites of his. Discovering Marc’s music really matched with some of my other interests during that time, i.e. the music of Bill Carrothers, Bill Stewart, Hubert Nuss - all these guys share a deep sensibility for colors in the music.
A few years after that I wound up on the same label as Marc: Pirouet Records. Pirouet’s artistic director Jason Seizer was the one that put us in touch when he brought Marc to a gig of mine. I still remember the stories Marc told me that evening as they have been incredibly helpful to me.
As you will see in this conversation, Marc is really great at telling stories and he’s ready to share, inspire and hip you to things.
a few pointers 👉
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[@barrylyndongurley]

Thanks Pablo for this interview with Marc Copland. I believe it was September of 1979: I went to Blues Alley in DC. to hear Bill Evans, but Bill was called away because of a family emergency. I saw Marc's name on the sign outside and thought I'd check him out. It turned out to be a huge blessing. Marc's music was incredibly satisfying in every way: touch, tone, extraordinary harmonics and beautiful right hand lines etc. Since then, I've enjoyed him on record and in live performance many times. For me, Marc is one of the best in the world.

[@PabloHeldmusic]

Thanks for sharing this, Barry!

[@docnelson2008]

Thank you for another delightful and profound interview. Marc has had an amazing career but seems remarkably grounded and philosophical despite all the critical acclaim.

[@edcherry9282]

My dad and I were in Washington dc visiting family..one night we decided to go to the jazz club blues alley .. marc copeland and one of my favorite guitarists nathen page were onstage killing..duo, great music, tasteful and swinging..

[@jarrahjones4913]

Thanks so much for this amazing interview, Pablo. Marc's recordings with Dave Liebman on Hathut records really turned my world upside down when I heard them - and still do! There's nobody else like him. :)

[@PabloHeldmusic]

thanks Jarrah. I saw that duo live in Cologne... so inspiring!!

[@jarrahjones4913]

@@PabloHeldmusic Oh wow, that must have been sublime!

[@vadimneselovskyi]

So inspiring, Pablo! Thank you for the interview!

[@PabloHeldmusic]

thanks Vadim!! Hope all is well with you

[@paulpesonen]

Just wonderful ! Thank you Pablo

[@PabloHeldmusic]

Cheers Paul!!

[@Jzh733]

Priceless. Thank you!

[@ItamarErezMusic]

Great interview, thanks for sharing!!

[@PabloHeldmusic]

Thanks Itamar. I'm glad you liked it!

[@SergioValenzuela]

Marvelous, very insightful interview, thank You so much!.I wonder in which album is the version of my foolish heart we hear in the end ?

[@colindowell6427]

Thanks for all of your interviews, they are amazing and always lead me to great music that I haven't heard...Shirley Horns travellin' light is wonderful.

[@PabloHeldmusic]

Thank you Colin! I’m glad it works that way and we’re all learning together

[@paulgerards6494]

No "cut off" grEAt !! THX !!

[@teelurizzo8542]

Thanks for sharing, quite fascinating interview.

[@PabloHeldmusic]

thank you so much!

[@Benfreidkin22]

Thank you Pablo!!!

[@PabloHeldmusic]

You’re welcome Ben!

[@antonini94]

thank you thank you thank you!!

[@PabloHeldmusic]

you're welcome! thanks for watching

[@antonini94]

@@PabloHeldmusic i'm doing my final project about marc copland for my master in jazz piano, and this interwiew is gold. In your opinion, it is possible ask to marc copland a private lesson, or he doesn't teach anymore? thank you in advance

[@PabloHeldmusic]

@@antonini94 oh cool - he teaches for sure! reach out to him. Hope it works out for you!

[@antonini94]

@@PabloHeldmusic thank you so much!!

[@paxwallace8324]

All I know is that 'Herbie's solo' on My Funny Valentine 64 at Lincoln center with George Coleman is one of my favorite musical events I've ever heard in any genre. Re: Miles fu¢k!ng with Herbie.

[@paxwallace8324]

I'd listened a lot to 'Blue and Green' from the Insight duet with Peacock and it's like Marc Copeland is translating that music so the Higher dimensional aliens can hear it. I mean sometimes Copland has the effect on me that Bird had on that cat who threw his sax off the bridge. Once he gave me his address in New York when he was playing with Peacock in Seattle and I carried that piece of paper in my wallet for 15 years I think . I never used it

[@barisofluoglu6443]

I couldn't catch the name of the track that Marc is mentioning at 31: 45. Could anyone help me with that

[@PabloHeldmusic]

Hey Baris - Marc is talking about "Masqualero" from the Miles Davis record "Sorcerer" on Columbia

[@barisofluoglu6443]

@@PabloHeldmusic Thank you Pablo!
Great interview, thanks a lot for doing this

[@PabloHeldmusic]

thank you. I enjoy it very much!

[@thick_air]

What is the Carnegie Hall concert Marc mentions at the beginning of the interview?

[@jackshneidman7946]

Marc got the venue for those records mixed up. Copland was talking about the Miles' records Four & More and My Funny Valentine which were both recorded on the same night at what was then known as Philharmonic Hall (now known as David Geffen Hall) at Lincoln Center and not at Carnegie Hall.

[@duarteoliveira6089]

This was before Gary died right?

[@PabloHeldmusic]

yeah we recorded this before Gary passed.

[@dfwherbie8814]

You didn’t get to ask him why he only works with white musicians lol