To tenor saxophonist Torstein Siegel of Trondheim, Norway, a visit to Sri Lanka was just a dream. He thought he would never be able to do it. Ironically as luck would have it the dream became a reality when as he says “after 42 years I am here in Sri Lanka to enjoy a wonderful holiday with my wife Ida and to meet up with Sri Lankan musicians and have the opportunity to play with them and exchange our musical artistry. I’m glad Ricky Senn encouraged me to come along”.
Torstein Siegel is a multi instrumentalist and it was as a keyboardist that he started off his musical career at the age of 19 when he met Ricky Senn who then was a member of the Sri Lankan band Colombo Gems performing in Norway with Adrian Ferdinands as their band leader. The other members then were saxophonist Ricky Senn, Heather Crake, Warren Crake and Ray Gomes.
Having listened to your strong sax playing, obviously you must have had an academic training in sax in Norway, could you elaborate? Why did you choose the sax as against the flute or trumpet?
“It was in high school in Norway that I studied music and when I turned 19 for my good luck I met Ricky Senn who then was a member of the Sri Lankan band the Colombo Gems, and he told me that their band leader who was the keyboardist had left the band and moved out and he asked me whether I would sit in. I enthusiastically accepted the offer and had an interesting year with the Colombo Gems and then moved over and joined a Norway band ‘Sunny’. You asked me why I chose the saxophone, simply because it is the hallmark of a jazz musician. After my stint with the Colombo Gems I also played for cultural concerts and events. I acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in music and was a freelance musician. I became an events arranger for the young the Youth Cultural Movement (UKM) and this was something different”.
Given the nature of the treatments of melodies by you, what would your influences be where the sax is concerned?
“I can confidently say Lester Young, Charlie Parker and Stan Getz. Lester Young is renowned for his cool, light toned, laidback style. Charlie Parker for his fantastic ideas in improvisations and Stan Getz for his appealing sense of melody and tone.
Since in your country you have a lot of rapport with youth as an events arranger, and music in the present mode is the rage how do you steer them to appreciate be-bop and modern jazz?
“My constant advice to them is to listen to the older players in jazz either on albums or live concerts, get a foundation and develop a sound for yourself. Today, in Norway there are young musicians specialising in jazz what with the influences of contemporary, classical and electronic music and they have done well for themselves. Ten years from now, the music will be specialised and be standards and that is good. In Norway there are clubs where specialised music is featured. Like in Australia, James Morrison is keeping the ‘old jazz’ alive and steering jazz on the path. So too Wynton Marsalis in the US who untiringly has kept the “old jazz” alive in the forefront.
I’m happy I came over to Sri Lanka with Ricky and got the opportunity to play at the JU session, at Barefoot and at Fairway Hotel, with your professional musicians, Ray Gomes, Revel Crake, Jerome Speldewinde, Niroshan de Silva, Kumar Molligoda. Of course, Justin Whyte – keyboards and vocals, from Australia was extremely interesting and I have made up my mind to come back with saxophonist Ricky Senn and pick up the music from where I left off”.
Sri Lankan musicians will no doubt be happy to welcome you back and we hope it will be soon. In the meantime I’d like to round off this interview with a valuable thought from Eliades Ochoa the leader of the popular Buena Vista Social Club. At the end of a highly successful concert which saw a capacity packed hall of youth soaking in their vibes, Ochao said, “There’s a saying in my country – the soup from an old hen is better than from a young one and also rum and wine – is better with age and that’s what our music is all about”!
Pix : Shan Rambukwella