Exploring Chris Greene Quartet’s Unique Sound: Family Influences and a New Chapter with Pravda Records
Date Posted: October 07, 2024
Jamal Brown interviews Vandoren Artist Chris Greene on his latest album release, Conversance. Discover the creative journey of the Chris Greene Quartet (CGQ) as they dive into how family and personal experiences shape CGQ's music, their transition to recording with Chicago's iconic Pravda Records, and the innovative approach they take to crafting their sound. Learn about the band’s collaborative spirit, the evolution of their musical style, and the lessons learned throughout Chris Grene's 30-year career.
It’s clear how important your family has been in your musical journey through Conversance, as well as previous albums. Do you often seek out inspiration from your family, or does it happen through every day interaction?
Chris Greene: To me, inspiration is like air. It’s always there, whether we’re conscious of it or not. Family, friends, other musicians, other artistic disciplines…it’s all fair game and ripe for inspiration.
If anything, I’m more inspired by my surroundings than I was when I started as a professional over 30 years ago! In fact, “The Emperor Strikes Back,” one of the original tunes on the new album, was based on a melody written by my 13-year-old son.
This is your first album for Pravda Records, Chicago’s longest-running indie rock label, and the first jazz recording released by Pravda. That’s a big deal! Was this opportunity something the CGQ sought out, or did it happen unexpectedly through your long-standing reputation on Chicago’s music scene?
CG: I was fine releasing records on my own, but I never ruled out working with a label - if it was a good fit. Our association with Pravda Records - a veritable institution in Chicago that had never before released a jazz album - was the result of a perfect storm of events.
Over the years, I’d already played and recorded with a number of artists on the label’s roster - Steve Dawson, The Handcuffs, Nora O’Connor - but it never dawned on me that Kenn Goodman (Pravda’s founder) had his eye on me as a potential artist.
It turns out that these artists told Kenn that CGQ would be a valuable addition to the label. We hammered out the details over tacos, and the rest is history. Kenn never suggested that I make a more traditional jazz album or a blatantly commercial one. His attitude is, “Make a great record that you believe in, and we’ll help find the audience for it.” It’s a great situation.
"To me, inspiration is like air. It’s always there, whether we’re conscious of it or not." - Chris Greene
What about this album is different than previous albums you’ve recorded?
CG: Our modus operandi for making records remains the same: play the newer tunes in front of various audiences until we no longer have to rely on the sheet music to make music with each other.
When we can play the songs without relying on the sheet music and and simply communicate with each other, it’s time to hit the studio and capture the magic on record.
What is the band’s preparation like when gearing up to record a CD like this?
CG: We rarely rehearse except for when we introduce new material or refine older material. Like I said earlier - when those new songs or new ideas start taking on lives of their own, it’s time to book the studio for a session.
At this point in your career, you’re a seasoned pro in the recording business. What is something that you learned over time that you wish you knew when you recorded your first album?
CG: It’s always been about the body of work for me. That, and our individual and collective progression. As I look back, every album is (or should be) a snapshot of where we were personally, what we were listening to or studying and our musical skills set at the time. If I’m doing this right, hopefully, you can hear our growth as a band with each record.