Curtis Nowosad is a JUNO-nominated, NYC-based jazz drummer, composer, bandleader and educator, who recently released a fantastic new jazz record titled If I Had. It sees Curtis turning a range of popular songs on their head, turning them into jazz tracks with his fantastic drumming style. I wanted to find out more about this amazing musician – see how we got on below!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new EP called If I Had. What can you tell us about the record?
If I Had features soulful, earthy jazz covers of songs by Nick Drake, Pete Seeger, Jimmy Webb and Stevie Wonder in a guitar trio format, featuring Andrew Renfroe on guitar and Luke Sellick on bass, alongside myself on drums.
On the EP, you cover several popular songs in a jazzy style. Do you write your own music too?
Yes I do! I do my best to make a point to write every day. I have three full-length albums out that all feature original music, and I have many unrecorded compositions that I plan to record.
How has the reception to the record been so far, and where can it be purchased?
The reception has been very good! The EP is doing very well on streaming – By the Time I Get to Phoenix and Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away are the standouts – and a lot of people have had kind things to say about the music. The EP can be purchased on Bandcamp in both digital and physical (CD) formats: curtisnowosad.ba…p.com/
Do you have any singles planned for release?
I am working on releasing some more music from the session that produced If I Had as well as potentially some other things that were recorded in the depths of the pandemic. Hope to get it out there soon!
Are there any plans for a full-length album anytime soon?
Yes! We are planning to record a full-length album of original music this summer, featuring some special guests.
Your music has an experimental jazz sound. What/who are you most influenced by?
I grew up playing rock – Led Zeppelin & Black Sabbath were probably my two biggest influences early on – but I’m heavily influenced by the jazz drumming of Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and many others. That also means I’m influenced by the artists they played with such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Wayne Shorter and so many others. But outside of jazz I’m hugely influenced by Prince, Fela Kuti, Stevie Wonder, Doudou Ndiaye Rose, Gil Scott-Heron… the list goes on & on. This project and group in particular is heavily influenced by folk like Nick Drake and Pete Seeger and delta blues, such as Skip James and Mississippi Fred McDowell.
You’re based in New York. What is the local music scene like?
As far as I’m concerned, the best in the world! Particularly for jazz – it has been home base for so many of the world’s greatest jazz musicians for the last 100 years and no matter what happens, I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up in the next few months?
Yes, I will be touring multiple areas of the US with multiple different artists: world-class vocalists Brianna Thomas and Jane Monheit, as well as with Braxton Cook, with whom I have been touring and recording for the last five years.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Not at present, unfortunately! But I will work on it. I have played Ronnie Scott’s in London multiple times with Braxton – I actually lived in London for two year when I was very young – and a few years ago I toured all over the UK with an amazing roots-rock band from Canada called The Bros. Landreth.
Any last words for the fans?
Thanks for listening! Be kind to one another and be kind to yourselves, too.