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In spring 2002 you will be touring again through Germany, Austria
and Switzerland. You once said you saw yourself as a "host".
With which words would you personally invite your tour guests?
I would say: Hello folks, we will be pleased to see you again. Your loyalty
to our music and to us will inspire us to do our best.
What will the tour programme be like - like the production?
I don't want to give too much away - only this much: there will be another
interesting mixture of music ranging from classical to pop. I will also
integrate current hits into the programme - our fans simply expect that
of us! The stage set will definitely be tasteful and we will be applying
the highest standards with regard to sound and lighting.
During the tour you will be 73 years old. It is obvious that you don't
want to withdraw from public life as a result of the numerous projects,
CD productions and tours. Do you ever think however that this tour could
be your farewell tour?
Of course you think about it. But my mother lived until 84, my father
as well - I just hope that I remain as fit as I am now for a lot longer.
Working isn't stress for me, not even touring, that's why I'll do it as
long as I can. Music is my life.
In a review I read three comparisons: James Last as "cool conductor",
as "ceremony master" and as "rhythm-charged animateur".
Which of these can you personally identify with?
I'm not a conductor and if I had to animate the people so that they amuse
themselves that would be bad. "Ceremony master" - is the nearest.
I say when it starts and consider myself a mediator between orchestra
and audience.
Your "courage for simplicity", your ability to make many
different types of music from classical to folk, from hip hop to rock
accessible to a wide audience - that's what the members of your orchestra
see as the secret of your success. What about you?
I don't have a secret. I only do what I feel. My music is not constructed,
it comes from my heart. If others like what I do. Then that pleases me
even more.
Your bass player Benny Bendorff said that what he admired about you
the most was your incredible diligence. What is a day in the life of James
Last like when you aren't on tour?
I'm an earlier riser. First I play a round of golf and then sit at the
computer. My work requires a lot of time, but I don't mind. I think it's
wonderful to be able to make music.
At the age of 60 you transferred from manuscript paper to computer
keyboard. Are you open to the achievements of modern technology otherwise
or does James Last still prefer letters to e-mails?
Making music on the computer simply means new possibilities for me. I
think I'm therefore very open to other technical developments. As for
letters - I prefer writing them by hand. Business letters are mostly done
by my wife via e-mail.
What's the recipe for the "most famous orchestra in the world"?
The quality of the musicians? The harmony among the members? Let us in
on it.
There's not much to tell. We respect each other, that's an important precondition.
We enjoy what we do, we feel like a big family. And we adhere to certain
rules. Punctuality, discipline are unbelievably important. Only when I
set that example can it work.
On 12 May your new album Ocean Drive - Easy Living is being released.
Tell us something about it.
On the new album we tried to convey something of the atmosphere on Miami
Beach: sun and joy of life. The new CD was made parallel to filming for
a Radio Bremen TV special. The idea was to create a type of "musical
portrait of a city" since I also live in Florida. The live parts
are especially interesting: for example it's great when Tony Goldman,
Mr. Art Déco from Miami Beach sings "Blue Skies" by Irving
Berlin.
The filming was all together great fun and that's evident from the CD.
What are you currently working on?
At the moment we are working on an ABBA CD, which is due to be released
in autumn 2001. The initiative for that was predominantly the idea of
Polydor in Great Britain. I liked the idea, mulled it over for a while
and am now very enthusiastic about the results.
Are there new challenges?
Life is a challenge. There is so much to do, so much great music that
I would love to work on.
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