Interview David McAlmont

In questi giorni è uscita questa riedizione del nuovo lavoro di David McAlmont, cantante originario della Guyana, ormai naturalizzato britannico, ritenuto una dei migliori nel parco voci al cospetto della regina, opinione condivisibile alla luce di quanto avvalorato dall'ascolto di questo You Go To My Head, in cui David si è cimentato nella reinterpretazione di alcuni classiconi (tra cui Never Never Never del nostrano Tony Renis - ricordate Grande Grande Grande di Mina?) su un piacevole e discreto sottofondo jazz-blues. Per tutti gli amanti del jazz e delle voci maschili (tornate sotto i riflettori dei discografici di recente), vi consigliamo di apprezzare l'incredibile estensione vocale di questo cantante dal curriculum invidiabile, cominciando da questo lavoro, che -farà gongolare molti italiani- è dedicata a sua mamma. A pochi giorni dall'uscita in Italia del suo lavoro, abbiamo fatto una chiacchierata con David. David McAlmont "You Go To My Head" (BluePort Recordings, Audioglobe) 01.You Go To My Head 02.Night And Day 03.Saving All My Love For You 04.Blues In The Night 05.Never Never Never 06.Under My Skin 07.A Certain Smile/The Shadow Of Your Smile 08.Blues Are Brewing 09.How Long Has This Been Going On 10.Black Coffee 11.My Romance 12.One For My Baby

Hi David. How are you? Hello Vito, I'm very well thankyou. Enjoying the British Summer ;) and keeping myself busy.

I’ve just listened to your You Go To My Head... what could I say? Your voice is really good... How should you define it? Set One.You Go To My Head; is an attempt to get as close to the raw emotions of the lyrics as possible. I believe that all the great arrangements of these songs have already been done. So, the album is more about words and less about music.

The renowned Mojo magazine referred to you as “one of the great British singers”! Happy for that? If you shouild answer to it by checking other interesting voices togehter with yours.... ? I appreciated being described by Mojo as a great British singer. It's something a lot of people don't know and I'm too and old to be modest.

You worked with many important musicians... Any sharp lesson from those collaborations? And among them, which was the one you naturally “tuned” your voice with??? I've been very fortunate with collaborations. I did some work with Jools Holland this Spring and I enjoyed that because it was very much about being prepared.Everything was recorded at the same time, so there was no room for Primadonnics. David Arnold was a great collaborator as well, in that he taught me that short notes allow arrangements to breathe. My Notes can go on for too long sometimes. Working with Bernard Butler is just pure pleasure. I don't know why it works so well but it just does. Recording with Courtney pine was a pleasant and relaxed experience not unlike working with Craig Armstrong. In London I appeared live on stage with the Alabama Three a few times. That was a riot.

Among your “maternal” masters, you cite Nat King Cole... if you could duet with him, which song would you like to sing? If I were to sing with Nat King Cole I would love to sing Walking my Baby Back home with him. My mother was famous for singing it when she was a young girl. I intend to record that one for her anyway.

You dedicated your album to your mother... Is there any particular excerpt which reminded her most? My mother really liked this album. She didn't really like anything that I recorded before and I wanted to make something that she could be proud of.

What about your years in Wales? I was very young in Wales. My father was studying there. I remember very little about it.

You also worked in an insurance company. Did you use your voice to persuade customers? J I hated insurance. I was a liability claims handler. It was the only decently paid job I could find at the time. I am relieved that my voice is all they heard..

You also worked with Morrisey. What about this great poet and musician? What do you think about his recent workouts? I never worked with Morrisey. I only supported him once at the Theatre Royal Drury lane.

Never Never Never by Tony Renis... do you know his reaction to your (great!) restyle? I can only hope that Toni Renis likes what I've done to his music.

Did you like this interview? I really enjoyed this interview. I'm a sucker for witty, intelligent repartee.