Woody Jackson – Cowboy Yoga

By starrymag | October 17, 2024

By: Karen Steinberg

 

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) So many people, I’m 54 years old now but here are few people that I’m still learning from. Masaru Sato and Henry Mancini, just last year I got to study Mancini’s scores at UCLA for a few days and it was great to actually see what he wrote for guitar and, of course, bass flutes.

 

Q) What are some themes you explore on your new album Cowboy Yoga?

A) Just simplicity and tone, to have music just be. I was wanting this to be something and nothing at the same time.

 

Q) I’d be remiss if I didn’t inquire as to where the album title comes from.

A) It just seemed an appropriate title to describe what someone could do listening to it other than having coffee in the morning or right before bed. Definitely not for driving around but who knows. If you read old liner notes from 60’s instrumental vinyl records, artists would describe what each song was about to put you in the proper mindset due to not having any lyrics. So, Cowboy Yoga seemed cool and I didn’t even know it was a thing until I looked it up. So, Cowboys actually do Yoga? Crazy.

 

Q) Each track is beautifully crafted. What is your song writing process? 

A) Thank you so much! I have been lucky to work on some video games where I was allowed to let things happen organically over a long period of time, so that carries over here. Long tones with a simple melody. Bill Frisell played as only he can and, in my mind, has invented the term live orchestration that I love so much. His creativity never ends.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I do it all myself, but I wish someone like Manfred Eicher of ECM would discover me and take over. I would love to talk to him about his concepts and discuss mine. You can dream.

 

Q) Your son plays French Horn on the album. What was it like conducting him?

A) Very easy, he has it all together at thirteen years old and such a great reader, too. We sometimes sight-read duets or just play Morricone themes for fun. He’s a world class whistler, too.

 

Q) Which song(s) hold a personal special significance for you on this album?

A) They all do in different ways. “It Happened a Long Time Ago” has stuck with me since seeing Paul Motian in the late 80’s just a beautiful song and he was a great writer of complex simplicity.

 

Q) This album is the first in a trilogy, but what message or emotion do you hope listeners take away from exploring Cowboy Yoga as a whole?

A) Just to enjoy it as it is the beginning of the journey.

 

Q) You’ve composed music for various video games. Is there a different process compared to the creative one you apply to your own music?

A) Well, I write the same way for both except one is for money.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I really don’t know. I’ve been really lucky to have worked with a lot of people that I love so hopefully they will come back.

 

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) Sun Ra, cause he’s one bad mutha. Just kidding but not. I just pulled up my recently “listened to” songs on my iTunes and it looks like this:

Charlie Haden – “Song for the Whales”

Chico Hamilton – “El Moors”

Ornette Coleman – “Kathelin Gray”

Steve Lacey with Don Cherry – “The Mystery Song          “

Steven Bernstein – Meyer Lansky

Sonny Rollins – John S.

I’ve transcribed all these songs recently and making new arrangements so that’s what I’ve been playing so I must be digging them.

Probably will record them soon either solo of with some new old friends

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I start every day trying to be a better musician, and it’s easy to forget my past work and focus on what I’m doing that day either for work or just practice. It’s always have been a long road for better or worse. Thank you to everyone for being open to what I do and digging it!