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Blogs by Robert L Saunders
Research ... Research 6/17/2007 5:02:26 AM
Recently, at a signing a woman told me she enjoyed Jazz and asked me how I was able to create the character Della Ross the Smooth Jazz composer and singer in my latest book, Gathering of Cans? Well for me the answer was straight forward. Research. I spent lots and lots of time at the library and also being plugged to the Internet researching the Jazz. I studied the subject and filled up 3 or 4 ringed binders of notes concerning the history of Jazz, the moments of the fingers and hands on the instruments, specially the Bassist, Saxophone and Trumpet players, then there was that unique sound that only a smooth jazz player can create. Then there are the interviews with musicians where I gathered a sense of the life of a musician: the hardships of being a Jazz musician (it’s a tough life) and the list goes on. Once I had the research behind me I went looking for a solid character to portray the Jazz musician with a serious outlook for music and zeal to ensure that the tone and style created gave honor to the field of Jazz.
I decided on a woman, the young Della Ross. All I can say is that she carried the banner extremely well in the story.
