We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kara Scott and Greg Smith and Ian Kinnaman and Steve Wright N/A. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kara Scott and Greg Smith and Ian Kinnaman and Steve Wright below.
Hi Kara Scott and Greg Smith and Ian Kinnaman and Steve Wright, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
As band we’ve come together from different backgrounds. For all of music in our youth was important in forming our identity. Kara Scott, Greg Smith, and Ian Kinnaman attended university for music. Kara has a classical background and has performed in Operas at play house square. She always loved jazz and learned to sing French in her classical degree. This allowed her to blend into this stye.
Greg Smith studied Music Education at Baldwin Wallace. Greg found that just playing classical music was in some ways limiting creatively. As a string player, its important to blend in with the section, and play the exact same thing as the other musicians. Greg loved starting to play jazz, and found the freedom to be able to choose what to play inspiring. Greg started to listen to violinists like Stephan Grappelli and Tcha Limberger and fell in love with the genre.
Steve Wright started playing jazz in high school, studying with his guitar teacher. His saxophone teacher brought out a guitar and he fell in love with the instrument. He started learning classic rock songs and eventually discovered jazz in high school. An interesting challenge about the guitar style for the type of jazz we play are the unique chord shapes.
Ian Kinnaman studied Music Education at Youngstown State University. He has been playing the upright bass since the age of 18 when he started private lessons. Playing bass comes with the role of holding the group together, which is a unique challenge as well as the part that Ian loves the most.
Kara Scott and Greg Smith and Ian Kinnaman and Steve Wright, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We are Burning River Swing, a northeast Ohio based jazz group that specializes in the old French style. With percussive guitar, melodic violin, driving bass lines, and stellar vocals, we bring the music from 1930s and 40s into the 2020s. We play a variety of old jazz standards as well as recognizable pop covers with a jazzy twist. We add the perfect atmosphere to events. We perform at dinner venues, wineries, weddings, and educational concerts at libraries. We want to bring the energy and charm of a Parisian evening to Cleveland. We play with a combination of sophistication and soul.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Our music is inspired by great American and French jazz musicians. In that tradition there is a focus on improvisation, which is included in our music. While improvising, we focus on expressing ourself in the moment, honoring the songs meaning, and paying homage to the greats. Not all improvisations is “made up” on the spot. Instead, it is about using musical language and ideas that further the meaning behind the music. While you listen to us you may hear something completely original or a quote from a rock song. Behind this style is hours of listening to and studying other musicians solos and arranging songs in new ways.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
By far the most rewarding part of playing this kind of music is the fact that we are keeping something from the past alive. This music was created before we existed and we are so grateful that we get to be a part of the legacy of jazz music. We get to share something that started across the world almost 100 years ago and bring it to the present moment each time we get to perform. It is something we take pride and something we all take very seriously. When people come to see us play and sing along, dance, or just sit back to take in the sound of our music, its proof that we are doing our job well.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: Burning_River_Swing
- Facebook: Burning River Swing
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Burning_River_Swing
Image Credits
Image of Kara Scott: Dan Veloski
Image of Ian (red hair/upright bass): Steve Wagner