Interview with Lonnie Plaxico

We sat down with Lonnie Plaxico, who was a dear friend and colleague of the late Cassandra Wilson. He played with her for many years, touring and making music across the world. Their relationship wasn’t simply professional – it was a deep connection that you can only cultivate through sharing parts of your soul through musical collaboration.

Night is Alive: How did you and Cassandra meet?

Lonnie Plaxico: We met at a jam session, a place called Jazz Forum in New York in 1982. We had both just moved to New York, and you know, when you get in town, you go to jam sessions. That’s how people can hear you and get to know you. It’s like playing a game of basketball – it’s how you stay in shape and get to know the other musicians in the area.

NiA: Like, a way to just let those creative juices flow, pure expression.

LP: Yeah, it’s a culture. You learn different songs from the musicians you meet and it challenges you – as a young musician, you learn a lot in that culture.

NiA: So, that’s where you and Cassandra met for the first time. Did you decide right then and there that you wanted to collaborate on a deeper level?

LP: Yes, we spoke to each other after the jam session and she asked me where I was from. She thought I was from Mississippi – that’s where she was from. I’m actually from Chicago, and when I told her that I learned that her father had connections with Chicago – either he was from there, or had lived there for a time. That was the connection that started our friendship.

NiA: Was Cassandra singing at the jam session? She also played clarinet, right?

LP: She did play clarinet, but she was singing that night.

NiA: How did you end up becoming her music director, and touring together?

LP: My roommate in New York was Steve Coleman. He told me that he met this real good singer. When he described her, I told him I had met her the other night at a jam session. He was really impressed with her, and when Steve was asked to produce a record, he asked Cassandra and me to join.

NiA: That was Point of View (1986) and was Cassandra’s debut on a major album, I believe.

LP: Yeah, Steve eventually produced her first record. So, we kind of started working together a lot after that, doing gigs together. Whenever I was available, I did gigs with her. And as she built her career, I started recording on more albums and we naturally transitioned into touring together. She became more successful in the music business and once her career took off I was able to just play with her full-time and eventually became her music director.

NiA: What’s one of your favorite memories from that time touring together?

LP: I mean, I don’t have a favorite, because all of it is connected. It’s just…life. It keeps growing until one day it stops. It’s always something new, and I feel like if I choose a favorite moment then I’m going to miss everything that’s ahead. So I prefer to just enjoy the moment.

NiA: If you keep looking towards the next thing, then before you know it you look back and see you’ve missed enjoying it in the moment.

LP: Yeah, like, this is life. I’m living it. If you stay connected to the favorite moments, and life is taking you different directions, then you can’t let those moments go and just enjoy what’s ahead.

NiA: During those moments playing and touring together, do you feel like you and Cassandra influenced each other’s sounds and styles?

LP: Yes and no. Being a musician, you just have to listen to each other. You hire, you work with people. It’s like a relationship, you want to be with someone who paying attention to you. Musicians know who listen to them when they performing, who’s really compatible with them and able to make them sound better.

Some make the music easy because they’re giving you the space or just the interplay. It’s like, the person you end up dating is the one who complemented you more. It’s not a spoken thing, like you’re asking for stuff. It just happens.

NiA: That’s especially true being a bass player as part of the rhythm section, right? I feel like there’s so much interaction that goes on between like you and the drum set and piano, especially interludes where you’re all kind of playing off each other and really listening to what the others are doing.

LP: Yes, it’s a conversation. For sure.

Be on the lookout for Part 2, coming soon…

Photo from Cassandra’s Facebook: facebook.com/reallycassandrawilson/?ref=hl&checkpoint_src=any#