Terri Lyne Carrington

Boston… in the 70’s-80’s

Boston was really exciting back then musically. They were a lot of jazz clubs and because it was so close to New York a lot of people came through. My favorite clubs were The Jazz Workshop and Paul’s Mall and they were in the same building, so that was pretty amazing. Fred Taylor ran both of those. There were other clubs as well such as Sandy’s Jazz Revival and Lulu White’s and Jonathan Swift etc. I left Boston in 83.

Alan Dawson 

Alan was my mentor and a great teacher to myself and to many people. His teaching curriculum is still being taught to this day by many of us. He was a great human being and of course, an amazing drummer. I grew up in the same neighborhood he lived in and his brother lived across the street from us, so Alan was like family. He didn’t take me as a drum student until I was about 14 because he didn’t want his disciplinary ways to discourage me. He was always encouraging and I heard him play a lot before I studied with him and by the time I did study with him he really helped to polish my playing. 

Jack De Johnette 

Jack is my biggest musical influence and has been a mentor since I was about 17 years old until this day. He is such an open musician and his style and way of being and way of living really spoke to me. He and his wife Lydia were very influential during important years of my development. I would have to say that I really began to look at music differently once I connected with Jack. I started to find myself musically, which is still a journey; and a beautiful one.

Three unsung heroes 

I am not sure what you mean by unsung heroes. My dad would have to be one I guess but I’m not sure that he is unsung; maybe to the general world but not to me. He really got me started and kept me going and championed me in every situation possible. Without him I would not be where I am today, for sure.

Jazz

It means freedom of expression. And I think that says it best. Wayne Shorter also says something cool, that Jazz means no category. Abbey Lincoln said jazz is a spirit. I agree with all of those definitions.

 "A thing that irritates me…."

I don’t know, I’m trying not to be irritated by things. Musically and/or personally? Maybe my snare drum sometimes. It kind of has a mind of its own and chatters too much at times. And I probably buzz on it too much which can be irritating on recordings. Sometimes too many grace notes. But it’s good to have something to work on.

Greatest personal Influence

Angela Davis is one for sure. I’ll have to think about this one and get back to you. 

Practicing

I’ve never had much of a practicing routine. I’m just trying to make sure I’m warmed up before I play, especially these days. I do the ritual that I learned from Alan Dawson and just make sure that my technique is strong enough so that I don’t get frustrated. But one of these days I will start practicing some things that will take my playing to the next level. I guess once I’m not so busy doing so many other things that I sometimes don’t have enough time with the drums.

Gender Justice

Gender justice is my life’s work at this point. We don’t know the full potential of the music until we have gender equity. But I am encouraged because it’s moving in the right direction and it seems like a lot of people are conscious of this now. Young women coming up now will have it easier than young women did even 10 years ago. Same for the whole range of the gender expression/identity communities.

Wayne Shorter

He is the greatest. He gave me such a big opportunity to play with him starting at 21 years old. He’s my musical and spiritual mentor and I’m so grateful for all that I’ve learned from him. 

My greatest artistic triumph

That’s really difficult. Maybe just to continue to grow. I’m playing better today than I did last week, and I think that’s a great triumph. My writing gets a little better each time I write a song and I have a bit more artistic clarity every day as well.

Overrated

Pancakes.... 

Music and social consciousness 

Well, it’s a personal choice to combine the two. But I found my way to social activism through my musical projects. I think there comes a time in one’s development when you want to make everything count, and start thinking about what you’re leaving on the planet. I also think it can take some time to understand the power of collective work and/or responsibility to the community.

Geri Allen

Geri was a master and also underrated. She was a dear friend and a musical comrade. I have learned many lessons since her passing and one of them is to be sure to appreciate and honor people while they are here. Her legacy as a composer and pianist will be studied for a long time.

Money Jungle

That was a daunting project for me because covering Duke Ellington is a lot to deal with, and I wanted to make sure it would be something I could be proud of. It took me a while to write those arrangements and some of them I had to stop and start over several times. But in the end, it is my take on some of his themes and his melodies are so strong that I could do other things with rhythm and harmony that we’re not at all related to the original compositions.

The drums

As Wayne Shorter says ”You are not what you do, but you do what you are”. The drums are just a vehicle for me to be expressive, but I’m not so dedicated to them as if they are a religion. I’ve seen some people that seem to feel that way. It’s never been that much of my thing which is probably why I’ve never had the best practice habits. But I love rhythm. I love to play but just not more than writing or producing.

The meaning of tradition

Tradition is something important to study and know in order to move past it and innovate, or at least try to. There are no shortcuts and you have to learn what came before you. 

Three wishes

World peace!  That the racist in chief leaves office! Continued good health during these times for my family and friends.

Choice whom to have dinner with from “the other side”...

It used to be Billie Holiday and Jimi Hendrix and my grandfather who passed away right before I was born. He was a drummer. Now I think it would be Toni Morrison.

“If I could do it all over again, one thing I would do differently…”

I have always prided myself on living with no regrets. Maybe I could have studied more piano and arranging.

One question that should have been asked but wasn't.... 

Don’t really have an answer for that. But it probably has to do with the long-term effects that both sexism and racism has had on myself but also on the entire music community and the culture. These questions should have been asked a long time ago, but at least I’m happy they’re being asked now.