Art Blakey was my idol - drummer Norm Marshall Villeneuve highly admires the late drummer/leader Art Blakey

Drummer Norm Marshall Villeneuve leads a band in Toronto dedicated to carrying the flame lit by the late drummer/leader Art Blakey. This interview was recorded during the Du Maurier Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival in June 1997, where Norm had presented his latest group of young musicians. A native of Montreal now based in Toronto, he has performed with Duke Ellington, Jackie McLean, Milt Jackson, Oliver Jones and many others. The band heard at the Festival was comprised of Ken Fornetran on alto, Sean Nyquist on tenor, Kevin Turcotte on trumpet, Dave Restivo on piano and Steve Wallace on bass.

Hal: That was a good set.

Norm: It was wonderful, the last tune actually brought tears to my eyes. You know I actually started copying his--Blakey's--style in 1952. That's a long time isn't it?

Hal: There is an incredible influence of Art's style in your playing.

Norm: I do believe I have my own style, but I lean very heavily on the playing of Art Blakey. I also have a great admiration for Elvin Jones, and sometimes slip into his idiom too. These are the two main drummers in my book, and I have around twelve tunes that we perform in the Elvin Jones style, especially if I am fronting a quartet instead of the sextet you just heard.

Hal: In the two sets I heard this afternoon, you were constantly pushing the front line, the energy was felt out in the audience too.

Norm: I have been ill, as you know, and up until two years ago I was only playing once in a while, and now I have a day job, but the energy goes into the music when I get the opportunity to work with a band like this, and playing changes my outlook on life. Thankfully I have a steady playing job at Whistler's Restaurant every Thursday and Sunday, so that keeps the spirit flying. Over seventy five percent of the people here this afternoon are familiar with my playing, and the other 25 percent will, I hope, become new fans.

Hal: Going back to Art Blakey, when was the first time you heard him?

Norm: As a youngster I had saved a few dollars and bought volume one and two of the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers at Birdland recordings, that was the band that had Lou Donaldson, Clifford Brown, Curley Russell and Horace Silver.

Hal: I really think you do much the same as Art did, you bring young musicians into the band, and then after a while you make changes, bringing newer, and sometimes, younger talent.

Norm: Well ... a lot of people have gone through the band: Grant Stewart, [went to New York], Dave Beecroft [went to Sweden], Richard Whiteman, Mark Eisenman, and of course there are others. There are also a lot of guys who want to come in and join the sextet.

Hal: Obviously you are careful who you choose to play with.

Norm: Right, you bet.

Hal: Do you have much rehearsal time with the band?

Norm: Not really, it is a case of "here's the chart, let's try it on stage". Usually this works best for us, it creates plenty of excitement and proves the ability of the members. We did have a one hour rehearsal for this particular engagement, but that's all.

Hal: What drum kit do you use?

Norm: I use my favourite Gretsch set which I have had for thirty years. I have another Gretsch set, fairly new, but I can't get comfortable with it.

Hal: What about other drummers, especially the younger ones coming up?

Norm: I'm not too familiar with the international artists, but the local musicians I listen to a lot. There is a young drummer,. Phil Stewart-Grant's brother [note: Grant Stewart the tenor player, now residing in New York]. He is great, playing just like Philly Jo Jones, and then there's Barry Romberg. He can play with anybody, always open to different styles, and Mike McClelland "Mr. Technician" he is great too.

Hal: I get the impression you like to share what you have with other musicians, is that true?

Norm: Sure, I'm not afraid of telling them about my experiences, mistakes etc, and if it's advice they want, I'll hand that out as well. Many of them don't know that I used to tap dance. I did that for over twelve years. And some of my early influences garner some good stories--drummers like Max Roach, Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke, Louie Bellson and Buddy Rich; the latter were two of the finest technicians around.

Hal: Do you get frustrated because you have no recordings out there for people to pick up?

Norm: Damn right, it really has bugged me, especially the last two years. Fans have often made the remark that I should have three or four recordings on the market by now, but it just hasn't happened. There have been offers of money to put a session together, and I do have some put away, but not enough to get a good recording done.

Hal: What about a Canada Council grant?

Norm: No I haven't gone that route. What I need is a manager, someone to take care of business and other things, so I can just play.

Hal: As I mentioned up on stage in the introduction to the band, you are certainly keeping Buhania's [Art Blakey's] message very much alive; his is a legacy we must not forget, and we thank you for that.

Norm: I'm happy to play, I just hope the man upstairs will give me some more time to carry on in this way.

COPYRIGHT 1997 Performing Arts and Entertainment in Canada
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