INSTRUMENTAL INQUISITION!
ULF WAKENIUS
Instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asks top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: the Swedish jazz virtuoso who worked with piano legend, Oscar Peterson.
Ulf Wakenius joined Oscar Peterson's band in 1997 and was also a member of the Ray Brown Trio
GT: What is it about guitar instrumentals that appeals to you?
UW: It appeals because the melody and solo will be in focus, since there are no lyrics. Also because I’m a jazz musician and from a time when there were more instrumentals. I think today there is too much vocal music and not everything is up to a certain standard.
GT: What can an instrumental provide a listener that a vocal song can't?
UW: Since there are no lyrics, you will concentrate more on the melody and other stuff. It takes you into another universe. Like a classical symphony.