Cuban-American pianist/composer Fabian Almazan found his musical roots as a child in Havana.
Cuba was where he first became involved in the classical piano tradition. As a performer, he has developed a personal voice through the electric manipulation of the acoustic piano in live and studio settings. Fabian has toured his music extensively as well as accompanied artists such as Linda May Han Oh, Terence Blanchard, Gretchen Parlato, John Hollenbeck, Mark Guiliana, Dave Douglass, Avishai Cohen and Ambrose Akinmusire among others. He is also the founder of Biophilia Records. Biophilia means “an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems.” In addition to creating meaningful and imaginative music, Biophilia Records artists are united by a common interest in having a positive impact on the environment and our communities. Biophilia artists collaborate with organizations that specialize in conservation, sustainability and outreach initiatives, regularly volunteering hands-on in community events. Fabian lives in New York City with his wife, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and their three year-old son.
UK Jazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling parenthood and career?
Fabian Almazan: If you will have a child with a partner, only do so if it is the right partner. It is not fair to the child otherwise. You will have maybe 10% of the time to do your work that you had prior to becoming a parent. Enjoy the time with your child because time really does fly.
UKJN: What information or advice do you wish you’d received but didn’t (and had to learn through trial and error or on the go)?
FA: All children are different so be aware that advice given to you might not apply to you. No amount of tour-induced sleep deprivation can prepare you for the lack of sleep that comes with having a baby.
UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other parents in jazz:
FA: If the child is showing interest, potty train as early as possible.
UKJN: Best general travel/gigging/tour-with-child advice:
FA: In the US, get Clear, TSA Pre and Global Entry. Travel with lots of snacks and extra clothing in case there are accidents. Airplane toilets are loud and can easily frighten children. Make sure you explain to them that you are going to flush the toilet and it will be loud before you do so. Enroll your children in the frequent flier miles programs. Use local transportation as much as possible on the road to go to zoos, playgrounds and museums so that you don’t have to take a car seat with you. Bring new toys they have never seen before and pull them out when there are meltdowns in long flights.
UKJN: What is one way that figures or structures in the jazz industry could better support parents who are working jazz musicians?
FA: It is extremely difficult and important to find the right child care that parents feel comfortable with in foreign places. If venues, who are intimately familiar with their local communities, could provide child-care takers for parent-musicians, it would make a massive difference.
UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?
FA: How easily I can drop everything I dedicated my life to prior to having my son. If he needs me, literally nothing else matters.
UKJN: What boundaries have you set for yourself as a parent in jazz (could be related to travel/touring, riders, personal parameters, child care decisions, etc.)?
FA: If I am to be away from my son, I have to be able to justify it to myself and him. I have no desire to play music with anyone who doesn’t understand that.
(*) Parents in Jazz was started (first as ‘Mothers In Jazz’) by vocalist Nicky Schrire in August 2022. The initiative aims to create an online resource for jazz industry professionals with children, those contemplating parenthood, and jazz industry figures who work with and hire musicians who are parents. The insight of the musicians and administrators interviewed for this series provides valuable emotional, philosophical and logistical information and support that is easily accessible to all. “Parents In Jazz” shines a light on the very specific role of being both a parent and a performing jazz musician or jazz arts professional.
