[March
2003]
SAYYEAH :
Hello Dona OXFORD ! Thank you for accepting my request for an
interview !
It’s an honor for me to perform an
interview with who I would call « the Queen of Keys »
!
This interview will be published on my website, http://sayyeah.online.fr.
First of all, I will not ask you who you are, or where do you come
from, because your biography is allready online,
on your
website http://www.donaoxford.com.
I recommend the people to read this one. But to sum it up, I would
say you are a awesome piano player and singer,
a « Boogie
Woogie Woman », with a huge adressbook, full of blues artists
!
So first question, I’ve heard you have moved to
Chicago.
Why leaving New York City ? Because, as Popa CHUBBY says,
«
There is no room for the Blues in New York City » ?
Are you
switching from the « New York City Blues » to the « Chicago Blues »
?
DONA OXFORD
:
Well, I left New York City for a few
reasons.
First
of all, Popa Chubby and I, both feel that the former Mayor,
Rudy Gulianin ruined the music scene in New York City,
because he created many laws that hurt the small club owners
and made NYC too expensive for them to exist.
And then, September 11, 2000, really did much damage to the City
and there was no longer anywhere to work.
I left because I
could no longer make a living in New York.
It made me very sad to leave my friends and family, but I needed to
work.
SAYYEAH :
What places do we have to see in Chicago ?
DONA OXFORD
:
I’m
not sure what you mean, but Chicago has been very good to me.
It has been the best move I ever made.
When I first arrived
in Chicago, I was fortunate enough to play with great legends like
Son Seals,
Jimmy Johnson, Sam Lay, Jody Williams and the
great Buddy Guy.
It has also helped my own solo career.
I have more exposure
and am able to travel to other major cities in the mid west, like
Detroit,
Minnneapolis, St. Louis, etc.
All these
cities are very close to Chicago and easier to get to than when I
lived in New York.
SAYYEAH
:
What are your plans for the year 2003 ?
I see on your website
that you are presently playing around Chicago, but will you come
and play in Europe ?
(European fans would be really happy to
welcome you).
DONA OXFORD
:
I have a
new Booking agency and I am really starting to tour across the
United States.
We are going to record a new album in October
and hope to get to Europe next spring.
SAYYEAH
:
Some of your fans play the piano, and would be interested in
knowing what kind of equipment do you use…
DONA OXFORD
:
I use 2 different keyboards. I use a Hammond XB2 organ with a
Kurzwiel Piano Module.
And sometimes I use a Roland RD
600.
SAYYEAH
:
You have taken part in two Popa CHUBBY’s CDs, « Brooklyn
Basement Blues »,
and « New York City Blues #1 ».
How was the experience ?
DONA OXFORD :
It was a wonderful experience. Popa Chubby is so easy to work with.
He explaines exactly what he wants. He doesn’t give
you too much time to think, which is a good thing,
because
then the music comes from the heart.
SAYYEAH
:
How did you meet Popa CHUBBY ? What can you tell us about him
?
DONA OXFORD
:
I don’t remember exactly where I met Popa Chubby, But
I’ve known him for about 10 years.
I’m sure we probably met at Manny’s Car Wash, a famous
jam in New York.
We have many mutual friends and have
attended many of the same parties.
Popa Chubby may seem like a tough guy, but deep down inside he has
a really big heart.
When you see him with his twin
daughters, you can see what a sensative guy he really is.
He
adores his kids and his wife. It’s beautiful to see.
SAYYEAH
:
You probably know Mike LATTRELL, who plays the keyboards in the
POPA CHUBBY band.
Did you play together ? What about him
?
DONA OXFORD :
Mike is one of my best friends !! One of my first memories of Mike
was about 7 years ago.
I had recieved a review in the prestigious KEYBOARD MAGAZINE and
Mike saw the review.
Although he hardly knew me, he got my
phone number from a mutual friend and called me
to let me
know about the review.
I was so impressed that he took the time to call me and that he was
so nice and didn’t feel any kind of competition.
We
have both recommended each other for gigs with other bands and have
played a 4 fisted boogie woogie together many times.
I love playing with Mike. And I love watching him play. I think we
learn a lot from each other !
SAYYEAH
:
About Popa CHUBBY, will you take part in one of his future record
?
DONA OXFORD
:
We have no plans to record at this time, but I would be happy to
play with him again.
SAYYEAH :
You used
to be a « sidewoman », playing with great musicians, such as
Shemekia COPELAND,
Arthur NIELSON, Popa CHUBBY, and
more…
But now, as we can see with you two latest CDS, « Rowena said » and
« RAW»,
you are definitely a frontwoman !
What about this change ?
DONA OXFORD
:
I’ve always had my own band. Arthur Neilson was MY guitarist
for 10 years.
I would sideman with a lot of other bands, as a way to pay my rent.
But now that I have a new booking agency and am working with
my own band so much,
I don’t need to sideman.
I prefer being a front woman.
SAYYEAH :
If you
had to recommend some records to us,
what would be your top
five ?
DONA OXFORD
:
Johnnie Johnson – Johnnie Be Bad
NRBQ – NRBQ at Yankee Stadium
Solomon Burke – Soul of the Blues
Taj Mahal – Señor Blues
Albert King – Blues Power
SAYYEAH :
I would
like to congratulate you for your website, http://www.donaoxford.com , which is really good.
I
encourage the people to log on !
I see you propose a lot of
mp3 files. What is your opinion about the music on the Internet
?
DONA OXFORD
:
Well unfortunately the recording business is really tough and the
record labels only support
artists that can make over 100
million dollars.
So the Internet can be the only way for an artist to find an
audience.
I support independent music and artists !
SAYYEAH
:
There are two questions I always ask to the people I
interview…
The first one is :
- What question
would you like to ask to yourself ? (and what would be the answer
?)
DONA OXFORD :
from a
French series, "Bouillon de Culture" by Bernard Pivot.
01. What is your favorite word? Yes
02. What is your least favorite word? Republican
03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Artistic Passion
04. What turns you off? Ignorance
05. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck
06. What sound or noise do you love? Applause
07. What sound or noise do you hate? Baby or animal crying
08. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Auto Mechanic
09. What profession would you not like to do? Soldier
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome, Now lets get to work.
SAYYEAH
:
And the second question is :
- What question has NOT to be
asked to Dona OXFORD ?
DONA OXFORD :
There is really no question that I would avoid. I am very open
about my life and would answer almost any question.
SAYYEAH
:
Finally, would like to say something to your fans ?
DONA OXFORD
:
I am in this business for the fans. I would not be here without
them.
I’d like to thank all my fans for their love and
support. I hope to keep making music that they enjoy. Please feel
free to visit my website and e-mail me your comments.
SAYYEAH
:
Well, thank you very much Dona OXFORD for spending your time on
this inteview…
Keep on playing the blues, and please,
please, come playing in Europe !
DONA OXFORD
:
J'avais l'habitude de parler français couramment, mais j'ai oublie
la majeure partie du language,
parce que je n'ai personne a
parler.
Merci pour votre entrevue. Vive le
Blues.