Bill Champitto
www.sonicbids.com/BillChampitto
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
Bill C: I want to thank you guys for choosing me as an A2W artist. Having such a respected industry voice behind my work is a great feeling; self affirming; like the proverbial notch in the belt.
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
Bill C: I released the CD “Bounce” in June and have been performing festivals and clubs in the Northeast US this summer. It has gotten a great response regionally and attracted attention well beyond our Boston base. The band has gotten very tight and I am torn between extending our performance schedule and getting to new material.
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
Bill C: There is a major crossover of diverse influences in my music. It is generally classified as jazz because each band member has the freedom to creatively interact with each other through the music. But, the grooves are very soul, funk and blues influenced, and working with a multi-percussionist brings various Latin and African influences into play. For example, in “You Know Me” you can hear that Bossa influence as the song travels between modal jazz and bluesy chord progressions. But when you take a step back and listen to the finished product it is a very simple medium tempo ballad that has gotten play on pop and r&b stations. We received a review last year where the writer penned us as “Soul, Funkified Jazz” and I think it hits home pretty well with what I do.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
Bill C: I started as a sideman performing other peoples music. Initially, I was intrigued when a couple of my friends started to woodshed with the Guitar and Drum sets they got for presents. I started to learn the songs by ear and after a couple of months auditioned for a band that was playing clubs in Troy NY. For A long time I learned everything from the band, picking up songs by ear and rehearsing and performing with some very talented people. It was a powerful education. Long term I hope to keep performing and expanding our tour. I would like to add a horn section eventually. This band started as a duo, piano and percussionist. As a quartet the energy has been great, but I miss the horn section from the bands I performed with in my early days.
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
Bill C: Inspiration is everywhere. Life is inspiration. With “Bounce” it seems I have chronicled what’s been going on recently. I am in an incredible relationship and Michelle shows up everywhere in the music. My mother passed away. I lost a job that paid the bills and we struggle with that. My Dad has pulled things back together after becoming a widower. Almost everyone I know is struggling with the economy. There is plenty of inspiration to go around. There is a line in the song “Bounce”, “One thing you’ve got to know before you find yourself tumbling down down… is how to Bounce”. I’ve always felt I was able to bounce and that has come in very handy in the past few years.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
Bill C: The most exciting thing has to be getting an email from someone in Norway or Japan or South Africa saying they heard my music and it meant something to them. That someone takes the time to contact me about a song they heard is great. The “digital age” had made it possible for me to reach people that normally would not have heard my music. And it makes it possible for them to get back to me.
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
Bill C: There is more music in the works. I prefer to perform the material live before recording it. It’s part of the process of letting the band interact and pull the songs together. That’s where the jazz influence comes in. I get to hear everyone’s approach to the song and it evolves to a different level.