Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nick Gomez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Nick, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Just over a year ago, I recorded my debut album with my working quartet. The album, “Patience”, is now available on all streaming services and features original compositions by each performer: guitarist Zack Caplinger, bassist David Reynoso, drummer Karo Galadjian, and myself. I chose each of these musicians for their selflessness – always serving the music above all else – and the melodic integrity of their improvising and composing. I remember the recording sessions in September 2022 as one of my most rewarding musical experiences. We recorded each track together looking at each other through windows in the studio and didn’t overdub any of the solos. The end result was seven tracks of soulful performances with a palpable spirit of respect and collaboration.

None of that would have been possible without the expertise of our recording engineer and co-producer Billy Hulting. He initially encouraged me to record an album after some live stream performances at his home studio in Van Nuys. At the sessions, Billy provided invaluable advice on our arrangements and musical approach pulling great performances out of us. In the following months, he mixed each track with care and referred me to our brilliant mastering engineer, Ron Boustead.

Since the album’s release in March, we have been performing throughout Southern California spreading the word, selling CDs, and debuting new compositions. Give it a listen and check out ngomezmusic.com to find out where you can hear us!

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

I have been a freelance musician in the Los Angeles area for 10 years. Some highlights of my sideman work include performing with Poncho Sanchez, the Four Tops, the Teryn Ré Big Band, and La Marisoul & the Love Notes Orchestra. I am a member of the Los Angeles funk and soul band Breakestra, East LA mainstay Cold Duck and acid jazz collective Vatómico. My saxophone and flute playing can be heard on recordings by John Stratton, CharlesBlack, Oliver Riot, and others. Audio samples are available at my website: https://ngomezmusic.com/

I have led various jazz small groups over the years playing standard jazz repertoire and original compositions. My groups can be heard every other month at the legendary Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach, once a month at Mantra Coffee in Azusa, and twice a month at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Bernardino. Recent projects include my debut album “Patience” and a sextet that exclusively plays compositions by underrated composer Duke Pearson. To find out where we’re playing next, follow me on instagram: https://ngomezmusic.com/audio/

I teach History of Jazz, History of Rock, Jazz Improvisation, and saxophone, flute, and clarinet lessons at San Bernardino Valley College. Teaching music has been one of my greatest passions since I was a teenager and over the years I have developed a method for teaching jazz improvisation that I believe in and am excited to spread the word about. To inquire about lessons, e-mail me at [email protected].

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

If you like to listen to music, go and hear some live music, find a local group or artist that you like, and bring your friends to see them. It seems obvious, but corporations are working hard to convince us that art is not about community, but about convenience. By all means, use the tools that we are fortunate to have in the 21st Century: streaming, Youtube, social media, etc., but trust me when I say that being in community with creatives that are close to you can be infinitely more meaningful. Art is not meant to be soundtrack to our daily toils – it is meant to bring us together. It should take up time, cost money, and lead us learn and grow. When you reach out and connect with the creatives in your own community, you will get to see a magnificent story unfold and know that you played a crucial part. That’s what makes our lives worth living.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Like many artists, I am a fan of Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art”. A particularly memorable passage asks the reader what parts of their lives they would continue to act out even if the world ended and there was nothing left to strive for – nobody left to notice. Music is that thing for me. I am in love with the pursuit of excellence and, even though I cannot always stop myself from comparing myself to others or desiring more attention, I find contentment in simply getting better at this thing I have chosen to care about. I want to love the music the way I think it deserves to be loved and explore the infinite universe of knowledge within – or at least always have a good session with good friends to look forward to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ngomezmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZA5YqkNBQratEK5RUUL_5g
• Album: https://linktr.ee/ngomezmusic

Image Credits
Jordan Grace Day Knaub