It's fun, it's been really great to have that, because it's like a meeting point where everyone can find me. It's surprising how many people, from every corner in the world, to get in touch.
Ed: Is it hard to keep up with new technologies-or new computer technologies?
Jan: I wouldn't say it's hard. It's always been natural for me, because I've always been very curious, and part of me is very much a geek, as far as getting into to it. I like the whole process of working with the computer, using it as a tool. I like the tool itself, and that comes from almost exclusively from working with a Macintosh. I can't help it, it's just so beautiful.
Ed: What do you think of synthesized music today?
Jan: Every once in a while, I hear nice production behind some pop song, when it's really done well. There are nice things, but as far as overall, it's not that I don't listen, but I don't listen that much to other people's music. I listen to classical music, I listen to old, really classic jazz. By classic, I mean '60s.
Ed: Miles Davis, John Coltrane.
Jan: Yeah, Coltrane, Miles Davis, that stuff--and Bill Evans-I listen to that. And every once in a while, I hear something on the radio, and there will be a song that turns my ear, and then I realize that the rest of CD is really sort of filler, and it just happens over and over. And I'm sure that's why people don't want to buy CDs.
Cool Runnin'
Ed: What's next in your career?
Jan: As far as specific things right now, I just finished a six-hour mini-series for the BBC called Red Cap, a military crime drama. They've been renewed for a second season, so I'll probably do that later this year.
Other than that, I've been recording my son, Paul Hammer for his own CD. He plays guitar, piano, drums, sings.
Ed: Are you going to guest on it?
Jan: No. I just want him to do it, and he's perfectly capable, so that's what I've been working on for the past two weeks. But he's in school at NYU, but when he's got a break, he comes up and he we work on it, and it's been fun.
Ed: One last question, and then I'll let you go: Any advice for someone who wants to break into soundtrack work?
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Hmmm... really bad movie. A Night In Heaven or Gimme An 'F'? From the reviews, it appears either one might qualify.
2 - Michael King
I'll simply include the review of the Miami Vice set that I posted to Amazon.com:
This is the soundtrack album for "Miami Vice" that should have been released 15 years ago.
It contains most of the music from Jan Hammer's defacto "Miami Vice" score, "Escape from Television" on disc 1, but the real treasure is on disc 2 - nearly all of the music there is previously unreleased in the US, and conveys the flavor of the quintessential 80's television series.
You know the story by now, but the style of "Miami Vice" set the stage for action television and movies of today. Jump cuts, strong musical tracks, noir-driven sequences; all mainstays of contemporary shows like "CSI" and "ER" have "Miami Vice" to thank for setting the table.
This set lets you feel the wind in your hair, hear the roar of the Ferrari motor and recall the question: "How would you like a career in Southern law enforcement?"
3 - A. Farrow
This Is a Very Good Jan Hammer Interview That Was Done Here On This Webpage!!,I've Been Following The Career of Jan Hammer Ever Since I Started Tuning Into Miami Vice Back In 1985 When The Show Was Ending It's 2nd Season and I Was Very Happy When I Found Out That He Released a 2 CD Set W. Some of The Instrumentals That He Did for The Series When He Was Scoring from 1984 to 1988!!.I'm Hoping to See More Stuff of Jan's In The Near Future Maybe Even Another MV CD Revival as Well!!.There's Been Some Talk About A Movie Version of Miami Vice and If It Is I'm Hoping That They'll Get Jan to Do The Film Score as Well!!
4 - Ed Driscoll
A. Farrow,
Thanks for the kind words--glad you liked the interview!
Ed
5 - Amador
The best interview I ever read about the legendary Jan Hammer!!