Robi Botos has done something that not too many Canadian jazz musicians have done — he’s achieved international profile. Part of that is through performing with big-name players from outside of Canada.
This week, for example, he’ll play with Branford Marsalis, as well as Marsalis’s original, acclaimed quartet members, Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums) and Robert Hurst (bass). It’s the first time that Marsalis and his cohorts will play together on a North American stage in almost 10 years.
But back to Botos. In what seems like short order, he’s established himself as one of the leading lights in Canadian jazz. He won 2012’s TD Grand Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, as well as being nominated for several other awards this year.
But Botos hasn’t only had an impressive rise to fame; he also has an impressive life story. He was originally from a musical Roma family in Hungary, and arrived in Canada as a refugee. And I do mean musical — several are world-class musicians themselves. In fact, Botos plays a set with family members as part of his concert with Marsalis. All of which seemed to make it timely to ask Botos a few questions about his career to date.
PLAYListen to Robi Botos play "Emmanuel," a tribute to Oscar Peterson
Q: How did you know Oscar Peterson?
A: I met Oscar Peterson at the 2005 Montreux Jazz Festival where I opened for him, playing one-hour solo piano. He was very nice and encouraging to me. Then I got asked to come to his house on a regular basis to teach his daughter Celine on piano. I soon became a friend of the Peterson family. I can’t explain what an honour this was. These things are unexplainable.
Q: What’s the most important lesson Oscar Peterson taught you?
A: To keep doing what I'm doing. He told me to keep searching for my own voice. Also, when I tried to explain to him what a privilege this is for me to be around him, he stopped me and thanked me for coming to the house and for my playing. That will teach you to be a better person — coming from him meant so much to me.
Q: You arrived as a refugee in Canada and have gone on to become an acclaimed pianist. What advice do you have for anyone facing a similar situation?
A: To do the best they can in any situation. I think if you do that, things will build up. It’s always hard at the beginning, but you just have to keep going. One important thing I realize is that there are always people telling you how it’s so much harder for an immigrant, that people won't accept you and other negative things. If I listened to those words, I would still be washing dishes at some place. This is why I'm trying to think positive. That's how it works, I think.
Q: How does your heritage influence your music?
A: My first experience in music was listening to relatives playing traditional Romani music. That will never leave me. That’s the kind of music I always want to keep in my playing. Romani music greatly influenced the music all around the world, including the music of Liszt, Bartok, Kodaly, Rachmaninoff and more. So I have a very important advantage. I just want to be honest about where I come from.
Q: In your upcoming concert you’re playing with family members. How is the experience of playing jazz different when playing with family?
A: I think that lets you reach back deeper in your own roots. It’s definitely different. There is so much music we both heard, we shared with each other. Plus we haven't seen each other for so long. It's always more emotional too, to create music together.
Q: The second half of that concert features someone else who comes from a musical family, Branford Marsalis. What’s it like playing with Marsalis?
A: It’s a true dream come true, very hard to describe. I love his playing so much. His sound, rhythm, melodies, everything. Playing some of my original music will be so special to me. I can’t wait!
Q: You’ll also play with two of Marsalis’s original quartet members. What are your hopes for this collaboration?
A: I basically grew up listening to this quartet with Kenny Kirkland. Being onstage with them is a dream. I’m hoping for a fun night, and good vibes. That’s the most important thing to me. This has to be one of the best concert[s] ever in my life. No matter what else God brings to me, there is no other group I want to play with more — this is the real deal.
PLAYListen to Robi Botos play "Smedley's Attack"
Robi Botos and friends perform Oct. 12 at Toronto’s Koerner Hall.
Related:
Giants of Jazz: Oscar Peterson in exclusive interview from CBC's Hot Air archive
