Ten Questions with Jason Ajemian

On Saturday, the Brooklyn-based Jason Ajemian & The High Life will play at The Camel. In a special post here, we present to you Ten Questions with the unconventional, intrepid, and ridiculous Jason Ajemian.

April 15, 2010; 6:00 AM • by Dean Christesen

On Saturday, the Brooklyn-based Jason Ajemian & The High Life will play at The Camel. The frontman and bassist has been in such groups as Chicago Underground, Dragons 1976 with Aram Shelton and Tim Daisy, and Triage with Dave Rempis and Tim Daisy, and now leads the avant-folkish band The High Life. Over on his blog Glowing Realm, Scott Burton has a series called Ten Questions, where he profiles various musicians. In a special post here, we present to you Ten Questions with the unconventional, intrepid, and ridiculous Jason Ajemian.

1: What got you into creative/improvised music making, and what keeps you there?

More or less: I had to be there, to express what it means to be a person. Like a nose that won’t stop running or the pressure head created by the waters behind a beaver dam I have a certain internal energy that has to bust out. Cant stop it.

2: Breakthrough album(s) and Why?

“My Time” by Boz Skaggs because this stallion needs the freedom. Buell Nidlingers work with Cecil Taylor “NY City R&B” and also his studio and vocal time on Peter Allen’s “Taught by Experts.” Why not take a cue from a great pioneering jazz bassist that can bust out the vocals.

3: How do other art disciplines affect your work?

Inspire & enrage. I used to takes bars of octagon soap and transform them into something maybe not as useful but definitely beautiful-whales, quahog clams, magnolia flowers,etc. I saw an interview with Thomas Kincade that made me want to put an M-80 in the urinal at TGI Fridays but I opted to bust a move on the waitress. Love is the answer.

4: Favorite Film(s)?

Skullduggery, Redneck, Winds Across the Everglades, Level Five. And for family reasons that “J.C.” flick by and with William McGaha, Blades of Glory, The Longest Yard, The Run of the Arrow

5: Favorite Film Score(s)?

Morricone’s Violent City, Norwood, Lalo Schifrin’s “Sol Madrid,” and that Burt Reynold’s one when he does “Lets do Something Cheap and Superficial.”

6: Favorite Fiction Reading?

The Homicidal Virgin by Brett Haliday, Renzaburo Shibata, the King James version of the Bible-especially since he was into getting his Melissa Etheridge on.

7: Favorite Non-Fiction Reading?

Any Archie Carr, Chairman Mao’s stuff, Full Cry magazine.

8: Favorite Guilty Pleasure Music?

Jay Ferguson, Definetly not Vanelli-too many negative vibes, Elvin Bishop-some of it. Gucci Mane, Anahit Tsitsikian, Kenny Loggins, Dirty Work

9: Favorite Under Rated Musician(s)?

Uncle Mike

10: Recommended Artist(s)/Shout Outs?

Mythdoor Jefferson South, DJ Sheild, Claytones, Painter Paul Grant, Dr. Tanaka, Daddy and the Buckminster Crew, Wishgift, Bauder, Helado Negro, Hush Arbors, Ottoman Empire, Rabble Rabble, Sheltone, Champagne and the White Rocket, Make a Circus, Living Things, Tres Hongos, PROTEST HEAVEN

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