“Well, the technique we develop to acquire the means to articulate our musical spontaneity, notions and innermost desires and passion, whereas the soul is the source. The source of it all really - certainly the driving force, or the engine so to speak behind my expression and action in music. That and my complete inability to stop pushing myself forward with it.”

Gary Husband: Postcards from the Past

Multi-instrumentalist-composer Gary Husband will be released an archival 2CD set titled Postcards from the Past, containing previously unreleased tracks from 1978 to 2021, in collaboration with MoonJune Records. The album with 28 pages booklet is officially out 21st of November, but is available (to order as CD or to download) directly from Gary’s Bandcamp page. While Leeds-born Gary Husband may have initially made his mark in the ‘80s and ‘90s as a drummer with the likes of Allan Holdsworth, Level 42, Gary Moore and Jack Bruce, he more recently showcased his considerable pianistic skills in the company of John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension Band, Billy Cobham’s Spectrum 50 and Time Machine bands and Bill Evans & the Vansband All-Stars, as well as on his own recordings as a leader. On Postcards from the Past, a retrospective of studio, demo and live recordings from his personal archives spanning five decades, Husband reveals all those musical aspects and more in this extraordinary 2CD archival set. This albums features performances by Allan Holdsworth, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Elliot Mason, Graeme Blevins, Hansford Rowe, Jerry Goodman, Jim Beard, Julian Siegel, Matthew Garrison, Michael Janisch, Michael Mondesir, Paul Carmichael, Paul Williams, Randy Brecker, Ray Warleigh, Richard Turner, Sam Burgess, Steve Topping.

(Photo: Gary Husband)

Gary Husband is one of a rare breed of musicians in that his expression is divided equally in his capacity as a drummer and a pianist and keyboardist of international repute. His classical roots, his quest and development in the improvisational, jazz and jazz/fusion areas – not to mention his tenure in the pop, rock, funk and blues circuits – are all evident inside Gary’s distinct and far-reaching musical personality. His solo album and DVD output has also reinforced his status as a critically acclaimed writer and arranger in the contemporary music world.

Interview by Michael Limnios   

Special Thanks: Gary Husband & Leonardo Pavkovic (MoonJune Records)

How has the music influenced your views of the world and what moment changed your music life the most?

I do tend to think rather in terms of the influence life has on the music, rather than the other way around. In my mind every accumulated life experience just works hand in hand with the process of creating our music and contributing significantly to every birth of an idea. Views of what’s taking place in the world, politically, socially & in regard to the environment may be rather bleak and concerning right now, so, more than ever, I immerse myself in music, my composing and the work I do as a player. I just do this with a simple, however naive hope that a little light, heart and inner enrichment can be experienced from it. That, and some inspiration. Art and artistry inevitably does inspire - or at the extreme least takes us somewhere else.

What's the balance in music between technique and soul? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music? 

Well, the technique we develop to acquire the means to articulate our musical spontaneity, notions and innermost desires and passion, whereas the soul is the source. The source of it all really - certainly the driving force, or the engine so to speak behind my expression and action in music. That and my complete inability to stop pushing myself forward with it.

“Oh, to have respect I would say, and to listen. To become as proficient as possible in whatever I’m applying myself to, and to be as inspiring as I can be within it. I would also say to stretch and bring something original to it if it’s appropriate, as that’s what people remember. All this applies in any musical setting I’m involved in.” (Photo: Gary Husband)

Currently you’ve one more release titled “Postcards from the Past”. Do you have any interesting stories about the making of album?

Well it’s been quite an emotional ride to delve into music from my past like this, particularly since some it goes back to the 1970s! I mean, there’s stuff on this record even I have not heard since that time!! One of them - the demo take of Holdsworth’s The Things I See for instance - was recorded only shortly after I met Allan, at the age of 18! Yet I remembered every note of Allan’s on it as if it was recorded yesterday! Spooky!! That’s only one of the things I only got to hear again after a very long time only recently and is definitely something the listening public have never heard before! So it’s quite a special release to me all in all, and for sure one of the most emotional albums I’ve ever released.

With such an illustrious career, what has given you the most satisfaction musically and what keeps a musician passionate after five decades in music?

Oh, I am consumed with it. It only grows. My hunger never lessens. I have the writing side and my two principal instruments and there’s a lot of work to do continually to get near where I want to be. I can’t really measure any degree of satisfaction I attribute to things. In fact I rarely experience satisfaction. Maybe the two “Interpretations of” piano recordings I did (interpreting the music of John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth respectively) I am still particularly proud and fond of, but satisfaction is a whole other deal. Right now, I have my new retrospective release “Postcards from the Past” that is in the process of being released at this time, plus I formed a new electric band out of a strong desire to be more active on the drums side again. I have keys player Tom Cawley, guitarist Rocco Zifarelli and bassist Felix Pastorius on board for that, and the group’s name is Gary Husband and the Orbital Band. I’m very excited about the both of these - the band and about the new album.

“I would hope the role is the same as it has always been; to align the spirit, to console, to bring hope, comfort and to enrich and inspire listeners. I really don’t know of any impact politically as such that it may have - especially in relation to now compared to any other time - but I have to always maintain that music is a unifying and healing power, as long as it brings experiences that people can feel and see as beneficial in those regards I feel all music to be a tremendous and powerful aid. Always did, always will.” (Gary Husband / Photo by Kleb Attila)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

In a way I do find myself missing individuality sometimes in players and writers today. There’s a furious amount of transcribing solos and the cloning of certain artists going on, and I just really particularly dislike all of that. There’s not enough looking within, introspection and becoming more in touch with what I call the little flame of inspiration inside us. So I encourage experimentation and imagination more. There was a lot of individuality, breaking away from the norm and strong commitment in artists on a more general level as I was growing up, certainly in the jazz or fusion worlds but of course in rock too.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Oh, to have respect I would say, and to listen. To become as proficient as possible in whatever I’m applying myself to, and to be as inspiring as I can be within it. I would also say to stretch and bring something original to it if it’s appropriate, as that’s what people remember. All this applies in any musical setting I’m involved in.

What is the role of music in today’s society? What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural (Human Rights, Spiritual, Political) implications?

I would hope the role is the same as it has always been; to align the spirit, to console, to bring hope, comfort and to enrich and inspire listeners. I really don’t know of any impact politically as such that it may have - especially in relation to now compared to any other time - but I have to always maintain that music is a unifying and healing power, as long as it brings experiences that people can feel and see as beneficial in those regards I feel all music to be a tremendous and powerful aid. Always did, always will.

“I do tend to think rather in terms of the influence life has on the music, rather than the other way around. In my mind every accumulated life experience just works hand in hand with the process of creating our music and contributing significantly to every birth of an idea. Views of what’s taking place in the world, politically, socially & in regard to the environment may be rather bleak and concerning right now, so, more than ever, I immerse myself in music, my composing and the work I do as a player.” (Photo: Gary Husband, one of a rare breed of musicians in that his expression is divided equally in his capacity as a drummer and a pianist and keyboardist of international repute)

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I just basically see through my reach in music as closely as I can to what I’m hearing and to capture it as authentically to the original idea as I can. I’m not ever thinking about fads or fashions or whether it might be relevant or if it can be tailored to any particular age group or anything. I just do as I’ve always done

John Coltrane said "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am...". How do you understand the spirit, music, and the meaning of life?

I was heavily inspired by the convictions of John Coltrane, as I have been those of Miles Davis and John McLaughlin. Allan Holdsworth too. Many will talk of the physical practice we all have to maintain, but I don’t hear too many speak of a so-called Inner practice - the inner development and contemplation in a place deep within us where I believe we truly become aware and acquainted with so many of our deeply felt notions and aspirations and gather ways and methods of how to achieve them and express them. I contemplate on the reasons for everything there; the why to do something and the why not to do it. So much in the areas of development of piano movement, along with an incredible amount of conception building for the drums expression over the years have been formed there. And I can do it sitting on a train or plane and not bother anybody with any noise!

Gary Husband - Home

(Photo: Gary Husband)