Interview
(Progressive Newsletter Nr.50 12/04)
excerpts from an interview with Jonas Reingold (Bass)
Quiet a bit actually because the first Karmakanic cd was something I did over a three year period and I think music is like a finger print of where you are in life both musically and personal. So maybe the music got kind of divided between the heavier and the more Jazz, proggy side of Jonas Reingold. But the people that bought the album seemed to like it so I´m happy.
A lot of the new album sounds like it was improvised. Is it true or is it more "structured" improvisation?
I would say 50/50, you kow, all the solos are improvised and the "free form" sections are based around chord structures or rhythm patterns. We all comes from a Jazz background so it´s natural for us to have sections without any arrangements.
How do you keep the balance between long instrumental parts on the one side and strong melodies on the other side?
I just trying to be musical. When it comes to music I´m trying to approach a Yin and Yang persona. Balance is very important to me. If you playing a very complex or a disharmonic section you have to balance it up with something simple, or something that is very easy to listen to. If you use that formula in your art or daily life you will be successful no matter what you do in life. Yin and Yang, balance.
Do you keep complete musical control over Karmakanic or in which way do the other musicans take part in the composing and recording process?
I´m writing the songs but the other guys contributes by playing in their own style and feel. By letting the door open for suggestions you will not be stacked in your own universe.
Are the four of you, who are also on the cover of "Wheel of life", the constant members of Karmakanic or do you see this band more as a project?
The guys on the cover is the members of Karmakanic. Those are the guys that will follow me on the road. But if the budget is good I will try to bring someone more with us up on stage.
Who partcipated this time on the album as guest musicians?
Roine Stolt did play some guitar parts on the disc and Tomas Bodin did some Hammond organ. Richard Anderson from Time Requiem played a guest solo and a couple of friends mostly from the Swedish Jazz scene did some contributions. I got flute and conga and percussions, all kind of stuff. And I also had a guest appearance from Hasse Bruniusson on yelling and all kinds of shit. It was a fun experience.
Besides The Flower Kings and Karmakanic, you are / were also involved in The Tangent, Time Requiem and Kaipa. Where do you see the differences for you in these bands / projects?
I consider myself more just a bass player in those three bands you mention. I have not written any tunes or arrangements. The Time requiem CD "Inner circle of reality" is recorded and mixed in my studio so I ended up co producing the CD together with Richard Anderson. I have recorded the drums for the two Tangent cd´s and in Kaipa I just did the bass part.
Some passages on "Wheel of life" reminded me a lot of the last Flower Kings album "Unfold the future". Who influenced whom or are there more or less influences from both bands to the other?
I think we are inspiring each other to make good music. It's impossible to tell where the inspiration comes from. Sometimes it can be from a good cd or movie or a demo from Roine Stolt or a good meal, anything. If you surround yourself with inspiring people you will be able to feed on that.
Kristian Selm © Progressive Newsletter 2004