Interviewed by Bonnie Schendell
February 15, 2007
Keyboardist, Alan Hewitt, is a name that is not so recognized by smooth jazz fans, but is a name to get to know. With movie scores, television show themes and commercials, and video game music, this creative musician is someone that you have certainly heard from before. Now it’s time to get to know more about Alan Hewitt.
SmoothViews (SV): Welcome to SmoothViews, Alan.
Alan Hewitt (AH): Thanks! I am so happy to be here.
SV: People that know you know you as a keyboardist, but that’s not where you got your start. Tell us about the instrument that first inspired you.
AH: I started out as a drummer. I call that my first musical life. About halfway through that life, I started playing piano.
SV: What steered you away from the drums toward piano?
AH: One of the first record development deals I got was on Warner. I was originally a singer and they wanted me out front instead of on the drums doing the lead singing. So, I was a pop/writer/singer guy and I really didn’t want to go out there naked! That’s when I started playing piano. I actually had always played piano, but it wasn’t my first instrument. Plus, I knew at some point I had to do it because I was getting so much more into composing.
SV: So it’s a little hard to compose on the drums?!!
AH: Once you are a drummer, you’re always a drummer and it really comes in handy because everything is rhythmic. So, even when I am doing movie or TV stuff, the percussion aspect comes in great. I still do most of my stuff, not all the time, but programming for sure, and sometimes I play some of it. That’s also how come I knew how to play vibes. As a drummer, I also played marimbas, vibes and other orchestral stuff. Last year I decided that I used to play vibes and that I was going to bring them back out.
SV: I understand that you attended Berklee.
AH: I did. I was there for a few years and that was mostly for the drums and vibes, and I minored in piano and composition.
SV: You said you started out as a singer. Was it primarily pop music?
AH: Pretty much. For a long time I was the drummer and singer in every band I was in. I got a lot of attention that way doing pop and R&B. I like it but I just didn’t really want to sing. I still do, a little, but I had to make the decision am I going to play or sing. It’s hard to keep everything up and to do what I do as far as composition for films, practice time for everything like piano and vocal lessons. I had to make a cut and singing was the thing to go! I miss it a little bit and I am getting coerced back into it by my label, so I’m probably going to integrate it more. On this next album I may try to bring in some vocalists to do stuff with.
SV: You have written and produced with a lot of well known artists like Donny Osmond, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jonathan Butler. Tell us about that.
AH: For Jonathan, I was brought in when he was with this label called N-Coded. The label wanted me and my partner to do some remixes on his singles because they wanted them to be more urban and R&B. So we did those and the one we did ended up being #6 on R&R. So they had us do more and Jonathan and I got to be friends. We co-wrote a song for him, and then he did one for me later on. As for Earth, Wind & Fire, I worked with Maurice White. I co-produced and co-wrote a lot of things for Japan with him. I also played some keyboards and we did many re-releases for Earth, Wind & Fire. That was fun because I learned a lot from him in watching him produce and watching his musicianship.
SV: And then Donny Osmond? Where did that fit into the mix?
AH: The guy is very talented. I was asked to co-write a song for his Eyes Don’t Lie album. The song came out cool. It was a pretty high energy tune, very much rock. The guitar player who was part of Def Leppard was part of it, too. I had worked with a lot of those bands in the 80s producing and writing for them. So, I’ve had a pretty diverse career! I like doing a lot of different things and not getting stuck in one genre because it can get real tedious. It’s fun to get stimulated and then you can bring some of that stuff in to what you’re doing at the time, too. I would tend to get pretty stagnant if I weren’t doing a lot of different things.
SV: You have written music for a lot of television programs, like Animal Planet, Entertainment tonight, and a host of others. How did that come about?
AH: Right now I am doing Oprah with some other guys. I do stuff for Comedy Central and for pretty much all the networks. It all came about from certain circumstances. It was something that I had set my sights on and through persistence it all came to fruition, and one thing led to another. In TV and film, if you do a good job, it’s like a referral thing. Everyone tells each other when there is someone doing something well. So that’s how it worked. That and working with other composers.
SV: Is this something you really enjoy doing?
AH: Oh, yeah…I love it! Besides playing live, it’s the most fulfilling thing because you’re getting instant gratification and you can see the results right away and if it’s going to work. It either clicks or not. Sometimes when you’re playing live, you get to a point and think, hmm…not sure about that. People might like it, but you are in this, sort of, zone you get into and you know if it was good or not. Sometime it can be really frustrating if you don’t come up with the right thing, but eventually it comes out right!
SV: You also write music for video games, right?
AH: Yeah, I do some of those. I have to say, though, that with a lot of video games, I don’t like the message, so I am not focusing on that aspect of composing. I don’t think they’re good for kids and I don’t recommend them. I have nephews that have turned out alright, but they get into a zone. They are plugged into something, but it’s not necessarily a good thing!
SV: You just spent a week on the All Star Jazz Cruise, hosted by Brian Culbertson. I know I had a great time, but how was that experience for you?
AH: This cruise was 100% better than the first one. It was such a success. The staff was excellent and the talent level was unbelievable. The camaraderie with all the musicians was great fun, and it was terrific to talk to all of those guys. Gerald Albright and Norman Brown and I spoke. They were a little bit of a mentor and I was able to ask questions that I might not normally be able to ask. Comparing notes and playing with the band…it’s a really unique situation that is hard to explain. I hope the people who go on the cruise get that same experience because for the musicians, it’s almost surreal. As long as they keep asking me, I’ll be happy to do the cruises!
SV: You are on a small, independent record label, 215 Records. How is that going? And being on an independent label, how do you market yourself and get your name out there?
AH: There are pros and cons about being on an independent label. David Chackler knows how to promote records and has a great ear for music. On the other hand, the money is tight when you come to an independent label and that makes it difficult to do the things you really want to do. And it makes a difference in how those records are going to do. It’s a little different when your projections aren’t what they live up to be. But other than that, it’s a way to get rolling. It’s so tough to do much when you don’t have a label, or a big distribution deal.
SV: Your last CD, Metropolis, hit the streets last year and received great reviews. Very upbeat and funky tunes. I think my favorite song is “Velvet Kisses.”
AH: It started out great and we were getting all kinds of positive feedback, but then I lost my radio promotion three weeks in. That’s not good. Pretty much all promotion ended after three weeks, which is why I’ll probably be continuing that on. I’m working on my new album now, but I don’t think Metropolis is done. I’d really like to put out a couple more singles from that. So, maybe throughout the year, I’ll get that rolling again and see how that goes while I’m finishing up the other one.
SV: So, what’s ahead for you? What can fans look forward to?
AH: Well, I’ll be working on the new CD. I’m going to be out there doing a lot more live dates.
SV: Yeah, we don’t get to see you out on the East Coast!
AH: Yeah, well, I’m still trying to work my way up the food chain! (both laughing) It’s not easy. You have to convince these promoters that you can put butts in seats and I’m new to them and they’re hesitant. But as I’m seen more, they feel a little more confident. The cruise definitely gave me more exposure. I’m trying real hard to see what the future brings forth and see what’s new on the horizon. The website is www.alanhewitt.com. I’ll be in Florida for the 2nd Annual Jazz in the Park and I should be in Berks next month. And I’ll be out doing some jam sessions again promoting the All Star Jazz Cruise again. So, I’m sure I’ll see you and everyone else out there – somewhere!
SV: Well, Alan, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with SmoothViews and giving our readers some insight into your background and your future. Can’t wait to see you on the road!
AH: Thank you. Great talking with you!
|
