We were lucky to catch up with Delbert Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Delbert, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I’ve been researching the tragic event known as the Long Walk. In late 1863, the US government ordered the US Military to escort the Navajo/Diné to Bosque Redondo (Fort Sumner, New Mexico) from Fort Defiance, AZ. Many Diné people say the history and truth of the event must be retold. Today, the government tells the story in somewhat a positive way. After much research, I decided to dedicate a project to the Long Walk in which musicians and artists will create awareness through composition that lasts 1,674 Days. This piece was created in my residency at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The project began November 1, 2023 and will end June 1, 2028. The duration resembles the first surrenders of late 1863 November until the signing of the Bosque Redondo Treaty of June 1, 1868. Musicians and Artists will perform the piece while participating in an activity sheet made to educate and put certain activities into action to create awareness. The piece honors those who suffered, endured and lost their lives in the Long Walk.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Delbert Anderson I was born on the Navajo reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico. My inspiration came from a jazz combo who demonstrated instruments in the 4th grade. The last piece of our school assembly was a very fast jazz piece and the musician decided to turn his music stand around. He then closed his eyes and played at a very fast pace. When the band came in after his lengthy solo, they all performed tightly together. After the performance, he said, “music doesn’t come from a piece of paper, it comes from inside us.”. The musician then explained improvisation and I was immediately hooked. I went to pick trombone at first, however, I wasn’t able to make a note, my teachers then asked to try the trumpet. I picked up the trumpet and make two very sad sounds and I was told I was a trumpet player. From that moment on, I played “concert” in my house trying to imitate the trombone player’s last piece.

I went through the music education system and began performing with the San Juan College Community Big Band in 7th grade. I continued with trumpet through high school and was offered a band scholarship to attend Eastern New Mexico University. It was until college, I began to focus on improvisation and understanding to be the best “me”. During my college years, I had developed a band and a steady gig for an organization playing jazz music. I was then asked to be a part of recruiting trips with the band I created and the faculty combo.

Each year our university would bring in special guest artists for our annual jazz festival. During these times, my instructor, Dr. Chris Beaty would set me up with lessons. These lessons with guest artists began to spark my creativity. Artists such as, Scott Whitfield, Michael Carney, Brad Goode, Bobby Watson spoke with me concerning music and life.

In 2013 I created the Delbert Anderson Trio and began exploring my cultural music. In August of 2013 I found a cassette tape labeled “Navajo Spinning Songs, 1920s”. I began to listen to many forms of music from my Diné culture. I found a general sound of early Native American music and began to compose according to the main sound coming across to me.

In 2015, we had a collaboration phase with rap artists. The idea of words with Diné fused music began to give me ideas to create something more meaningful than notes and music coming from our instruments. Soon, the idea of inspiration and meaning gave me motivation to create projects tied to Indigenous content but using music as a foundation to relay the messages to our audience.

I had reevaluated my self and moved forward with new meaning and purpose. I used two main teachings from my grandfather and father. My father would say, “always see another person at their highest potential”. My grandfather would say, “always be in service to one another, you are their servant”. I began to navigate music business in a similar mindset.

In 2019 my career took a huge leap as I received the Advancing Indigenous Performance, Native Launchpad grant. The grant provided access to booking conferences for 3 years and monetary aide. During my 3 years, I created many relationships with presenters in the music field. I started to utilize my Indigenous projects, new mindset and talent.

Today, we are called the Delbert Anderson Quartet and are beginning to push the boundaries of Diné inspired melodies. In February 2023 the band was featured in the New York Times about the fusion of my cultural heritage with music and projects. There are new things in order and we are about to experience a very healthy music career in the future.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the moments of keeping my family a float. The moment of paying bills, eating a meal, purchasing an item, paying for your home, is one of the most rewarding times of being an artist. The reward comes from the amount of time it took to have a career in music and the idea of doing something I love that keeps us alive. There were many times of struggle since 2013 and after ten years, I feel my career is finally starting. My family is my motivation to be artist. When the family supports your career, it’s a sustaining feeling of unconditional love.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the pandemic, I decided to go back to the drawing board concerning business structure. Before the pandemic, we only provided educational engagements and performances to our presenters. Our service output was only focused on education and we only had one performance to offer. I looked at pandemic time to be more of a rehearsal time for our group and a chance to shift our infrastructure.

At the end of the pandemic and when venues began to reopen, I offered music projects and community engagements in the fields of dance, visual arts, poetry and even the medical field. After taking these new paths to our booking conferences, we began to open up a whole new form of collaboration among presenters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.delbertanderson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delbertanderson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delbert.anderson.10
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delbert-anderson-04b27689/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DDaleAnderson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DDATlive
• Other: https://www.ddatlive.com

Image Credits
DDAT Management, Inc.