photo: Mary Brown/Mary B. Photography & Design
NBJP: What musical instrument (that you don’t play)would you like to be able to play?
AW: Cello — I love the beautiful range
NBJP: What’s your favorite non-jazz tune?
AW: Tough call between Scriabin’s 5th Piano Sonata and Prokofiev’s 4th Sonata. I love dark and beautiful Russian piano music
NBJP: If you could live anywhere on the planet where would that be?
AW: Anyplace with great food and a music scene, right now I’m thinking Barcelona
NBJP: What’s a food you shouldn’t eat, but can’t resist?
AW: Pork belly with so much fat that it melts in your mouth
NBJP: What’s the worst job (non musical) you ever had?
AW: Honestly, I love what I do and I try to keep it that way.
NBJP: What musician influenced you the most?
AW: I have had several really important teachers and mentors in this music, but I must recognize Stanley Cowell. He has been my teacher and guide since I went up to him after one of his concerts and told him I played jazz piano too. I was 11. The arrogance of youth.
NBJP: If you could only own one CD/album, what would it be?
AW: For the last several years, Toots Theilmans’s Brazil Project has been in heavy rotation. He’s such a melodic genius.