Karen Edwards: In my opinion, music has no boundaries.It is we ourselves who have created its boundaries.

Maria Kozewnikow talks to Karen Edwards about combining classical music with jazz, gospel, film music or Disney soundtracks, her experiences with international audiences, and her world career and collaboration with the Polish stage.

 

Maria Kozewnikow: You are both a singer, pianist and composer. You have been nominated for a Grammy award many times. You have toured with Tony Bennett, Prince, Stevie Wonder or Pharoah Sanders. In your solo repertoire we can find pieces ranging from Bach through jazz and gospel of the 20th century to contemporary film music or soundtracks from Disney movies. Why do you have such a broad fascination with music?

 

Karen Edwards: Music has been in my life for as long as I can remember. My father was an organist, pianist and music director of a local Baptist church. That's where the beginnings of my musical education began. I fell in love with music so much that I chose it as my life path. It was then that I decided to go to music college. I got into the piano class at the University of North Texas. At that time, we didn't have the choice to study jazz specifically, so everyone had to learn both technique and classical repertoire. I continue on this path because I believe that the classical foundation is necessary in every field. It is the only proper technique and the most appropriate foundation. When I was invited to Germany to teach improvisation, I started my classes with students precisely with classical repertoire. Although jazz and gospel have always been in my heart, I am also in love with European classics so much that they are still with me today.

 

You are able to combine the song "Hallelujah" with the song "September" by Earth Wind & Fire in one piece, and in another concert you perform the aria "Bist du bei mir" by Johann Sebastian Bach. During your concerts, you often combine different genres, styles, eras, techniques, as well as repertoire.

 

In my opinion, music has no boundaries. It is we ourselves who have created its boundaries. I want to delight listeners in every repertoire and show them how many similarities there are between different planes of music. I try to connect these aspects so that they are as interesting as possible for the listeners! A little while after college I started working in Stevie Wonder's band. There I had the pleasure of interacting with the greatest radio hits. On the other hand, I also sang classical repertoire, such as Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." These experiences taught me art and music in the broadest sense of this word. My goal is to pass on to audience all that I have learned from the people who have stood in my way and all that I have experienced and felt.

 

It's great that nowadays we have artists who specialize in more than just one area of music! And soon we will hear you at the Lodz Philharmonic! This time during a Symphonic Concert on the occasion of Children's Day! That evening you will perform works from the most famous cartoons or movies. I think I can say that these works are loved not only by children, but also by adults.

 

I noticed a long time ago that regardless of genre or era, each work finds its own listeners. I am convinced that songs from Disney movies or films such as, for example, "The Wizard of Oz," "The Lion King," "Pinocchio," "The Jungle Book" or "Harry Potter," which we will perform during the concert, find an audience in the smallest children up to their grandparents! I also searched for something from the Polish children's repertoire, but the only things my Polish friends suggested were Wodecki's "Pszczółka Maja" and some lullabies for children. Unfortunately, they all said that they are no longer children for a long time and don't know new Polish children's songs. As for the repertoire of the concert - for me, however, this repertoire proved to be a challenge. A soundtrack for a film does not just describe the emotions or story of a character, but through its form it is supposed to add variety to a scene, add character to it. I have set my ultimate goal - arranging the pieces so that, despite the lack of a video layer, they will be "full". However, about this concert - I'm most excited, knowing that for some children it may be the first time in a philharmonic hall! This gives me great hope and motivation! The year 2023 was Disney's 100th anniversary - I would also like to celebrate this anniversary with a concert evening.

 

As we already know, you perform a diverse repertoire, but you have also performed in clubs and musical theaters in New York or Los Angeles. You have also had many tours in Europe, so you have also become familiar with the local stages. What impressed you most during these worldwide performances?

 

Definitely the audience! People around the world love music and feel it in very different ways. Usually during my concerts there is a lot of enthusiasm among the audience. Whether the audience sings along to some songs or claps out the rhythms - they express their feelings and experiences. These differences are fascinating! I once got really faint applause after a concert in Zurich. I was heartbroken coming off the stage. The lack of enthusiasm among the audience just hit me. Moments later, organizers and listeners started coming to my dressing room with congratulations, saying "did you hear them! it's been a long time since they were so enthusiastic!". In Italy there is a cry. In Germany, they say it was "correct." Everyone shows approval and respect in a different way. The differences in our characters or expressions always positively surprise me... I love to observe how people from different countries feel about music.

 

You live and work in the United States on a daily basis, but very often we can see your name on the posters of Polish musical institutions. Poland is not a very popular destination for Americans. Why such an interesting, long-term and intensive cooperation?

 

A long time ago, during one of the concerts in Hungary, I had the pleasure of playing with a Polish musician, jazz guitarist - Jarek Smietana. We became very friendly with each other. So much so that Jarek decided to invite me to Poland, preferably for concerts. At the beginning I wasn't too interested, but after my first stay this changed dramatically - I was delighted! I knew I wanted to come back here! The biggest impression on me was Krakow. That's when I fell in love with Poland and in fact I come here very often! Of course, I also can't help but mention the delicious food....

 

In Poland you have performed at the National Polish Radio Orchestra in Katowice, the Cracow Philharmonic, at the Bydgoszcz Jazz Festival, and now you will perform for the second time at the Lodz Philharmonic.

 

Yes! I have already met many cities and concert stages in Poland. This is also thanks to maestro Pawel Przytocki, who first invited me to Cracow when he was director of the Philharmonic there, saying that the Philharmonic's choir would very much like to perform works from the gospel repertoire. Now Pawel is the director of the Lodz Philharmonic, so our current collaboration has moved to Lodz. I am very grateful to him for this opportunity. And on top of that, working with symphonic musicians or choir is something completely different from chamber jazz ensembles or solo performances.

 

And what do you like most about Poland?

 

I am impressed by the hospitality of Poles. After each concert someone invites me to their home. I get to know the people, their families, their cities. This hospitality and openness is really unique and rare. I even remember how after one of the Christmas concerts, when I was invited to share a Christmas wafer for the first time in my life, several of my friends - choristers tried to get to know me and even match me with their relatives. This is my extremely positive memory and definitely an unusual experience!

 

I guess that you also had the opportunity to listen to some Polish music. Is it present in your life on a daily basis?

 

Definitely! I love Polish music! I am a big fan of Ewa Bem. Recently I have also been following the career of Jozef Jakub Orlinski and I am fascinated by him. In addition, I like Wodecki or also Golec Uorkiestra.

 

And what do you think of Polish or European musicians performing jazz? It's a rather American genre.

 

It's an interesting thing! When I give musicians sheet music in the States, for example in my church in South Carolina, I am rather met with laughter and the words "Karen, just tell us what to sing." They just feel offended. Moments later, we perform the entire piece the way I would like it to be performed. In Europe, I always have to have notes with me. If I didn't have them I would offend the musicians... That's why I prepare them as precisely as possible every time, so that the performers understand my vision. Nevertheless, after a few rehearsals, when we already know the songs, everything flows from the heart anyway, and the notes turn out to be unnecessary. This moves me and wings me! I see how Poles or Europeans delight in American music and how much they want to perform it.

 

It's nice to hear it! Then, finally - what piece from the repertoire of the June concert would you recommend to our readers?

 

Currently, preparing for the concert, I can't stop listening to the piece from Aladdin "A whole new world", it moves me a lot! I am also delighted with the character Ursula shows in the songs from "The Little Mermaid". I think these songs will appeal to everyone!

 

Thank you for your recommendations! I wish you a great concert and as many listeners as possible, the small ones, but also the big ones