Good music creates a spiritual experience, says Stanley Jordan

The street was his first stage. And then he became one of the brightest stars in the world of jazz.

Humble, inspiring and extremely talented, four-time Grammy nominee guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan changed the face of jazz guitar with his album Magic Touch. In his 40-year journey, the 57-year-old musician stayed true to his inspiration and that he believes is what helped him carve a niche in the music industry. Currently in India to perform at Jazz Utsav in Delhi, the musician feels excited to perform in India, where he sees significant scope for the genre.

One of the very few musicians who are able to play the piano and guitar simultaneously, Stanley has made sure he doesn’t get categorised into a pigeonhole by the audience. In a candid conversation, he talks about his journey, his unique “touch style” technique of playing the guitar and his music philosophy.

Being a part of Jazz Utsav...
Great audiences really inspire me, so I expect to have a great time bringing them my best. This is my second time in India. It’s an amazing feeling to finally be here after so many years of dreaming about it.

The scope of jazz in India...
I know jazz has a long history here but, like many other places in the world, pop culture marketing has been the predominant force. However, I feel that today is a time of change with a newer generation of listeners — who were used to popular music — but are now looking for something that can enrich their lives in a deeper way. My hope is to contribute to this by opening some new windows into that vast room we call music.

You play the guitar by tapping your fingers on the fretboard of the guitar with both hands. Please elaborate…
My first instrument was the piano and my touch technique was inspired by the piano. It allows me to play different musical parts with each hand, so I can approach the textural richness of the piano while still keeping the expressiveness of the guitar. Also, I play the piano and guitar at the same time — not as a gimmick, but as a way of orchestrating the music with a wider palette of tonal colours.

The journey so far…
I started venturing into music during my college years (1977 to 1981), but I kept it at a minimum because I needed to complete my studies. I went professional in 1981 and because of my unusual style, it was difficult to get gigs at first. So, I worked as a street musician while I honed my craft. Those years gave me a valuable lesson in humility and perseverance, plus I got a great gift. You see, if I had been an instant success, I might have fallen into the rigid categorisations of the music business. But by going directly to the people, I discovered that my music is universal and it can bring joy and inspiration to all kinds of people. Doing this has been my mission ever since.

What sort of gratification does music give you?
I’m inspired by the enormous possibilities of music and how it gives us a deeper experience of life. Good music creates a kind of spiritual experience. In the USA, we have a preacher, TD Jakes, who says, ‘Find the thing you love so much that you can’t wait to get out of bed to do it’. For me that thing is definitely music.

Which genres do you enjoy the most?
I get classified in jazz but I like all kinds of music and I like to play different styles. Jazz is at the core because it combines my favourite elements of blues and Western classical music. But in my show, you might hear songs by Mozart, Katy Perry, Jimi Hendrix and many more. If music is a room, then I see different styles not as walls dividing it, but rather as windows to view it from different angles.

Challenges faced and braved...
The most challenging thing for me has been the struggle to be understood for who I am and not get categorised into a pigeonhole. Through the years, I’ve stayed true to my inspiration. Also, I think the industry has evolved because many of the younger emerging artists are equally eclectic. I have found a niche with an open-minded audience, so it was all worth the struggle.

What’s next?
I have some long-term projects that I hope to bring to light within the next year or so, including a jazz EDM project and a concerto for electric guitar and orchestra. This conversation is inspiring me to get back to work. See you soon!

Stanley performs at Jazz Utsav, Teamwork Arts and Capital Jazz, today at 4 pm, One Golden Mile, opposite Bhikaji Cama Place