Arts & Entertainment For The Love Of Bruce
If you are a fan of Bruce Cockburn's music, you'll want to hear Michael Occhipinti's instrumental interpretations of this Canadian musical genius' work when he plays the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday.

Occhipinti was a 2001 Juno nominee for best contemporary jazz album for his arrangement of 10 tunes from Cockburn's 25 recordings, enetitled Creatin Dream. He was also the winner of the 2002 National Jazz Award for guitarist of the year.

You don't have to be a Cockburn fan to enjoy Occhipinti, who describes his music as "hapy, positive energy."

"When composing or developing a set list, I'm always striving to create music that is challenging for the musicians to play, but that sounds easy and fun for the audience; where they can appreciate the musicianship, but they are also drawn in by some populist element," he said.

Numerous artists including Jerry Garcia, the Barenaked Ladies, Jimmy Buffett, Anne Murray, Maria Muldaur, the Rankins, Holly Near and Chet Atkins have covered Cockburn's songs over the years. However, Occhipinti approached Cockburn's music from a different mindset.

Previously, Occhipinti and his quartet, NOJO, played original music with some jazz standards thrown in for variety. Then the guitarist looked at the popular music around him and decided to reinterpret it.

"We have tried to stay true to the spirit of that it's a fine line to make the songs and tunes interesting, you have to take them as a source and spin them in a different was," he said.

Initially, Occhipinti reworked tunes by Th Police and The Beatles and then turned to Cockburns's One Of The Best Ones and If I Had A Rocket Launcher.
"I had seen Bruce play a number of times when I was a teenager. I had always thought he was a very strong songwriter and a really great guitar player."

Occhipinti was pleased by the response to his reinterpretations of pop music.

"There was an immediate connection with a whole part of the audience that maybe hadn't been interested in the jazz genre before," he said.

"It kind of opened the door to another part of the audience by recognizing a tune, they were willing to take the next step and go with you to where you reinterpreted it."

Bernie Finkelstein, Cockburn's manager and a leading figure in the Canadian music industry for more than 35 years, had signed Occhipinti and NOJO to the True North label in 1998. Finkelstein was impressed that someone would tackle Cockburn's vocal music instrumentally, and he encouraged Occhipinti to do a whole album of it. Later, Cockburn humself agreed to play on one of the cuts.

In an interview with The Toronto Star, Cockburn had this to say about the recording: "When I first head it, I had to listen to quite a few minutes of some songs before I knew what they were. It was thrilling, partly because the songs were in an instrumental form. I didn't have to worry about whether someone got the lyrics right or appeared not to understand them.
"One whole area of concern, a big one for me, was removed. Then it was just wonderful to realize this guy made such incredibly beautiful music out of the bits and pieces that were left for him to work with."

Occhipinti (an Italian name which is pronounced "O-kee-peen-tee and means painted eyes) and his quartet are touring with the help Canada Council for the Arts grant.

The members of Occhipinti's quartet are talented and well-known musicians in their own right.

Trumpeter Kevin Turcotte has toured and recorded with several Juno Award-nominated groups and received the National Jazz Award for trumpeter of the year 2002. Violinist Hugh Marsh has worked with artists as diverse as Robert Palmer, Michael Brecker, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Murphy and Cockburn, and won the 2002 National Jazz Award for best violinist. Drummer Barry Romberg has performed with such jazz greats as Joe Henderson, Rock Margitza, Metalwood, jane Bunnett, George Garzone, Sam Rivers, Roswell Rudd and Don Byron. He also released two recordings. Bassist Andrew Downing is both a gifted composer and an important figure in the Toronto music community.
By Sue Kershaw For The Morning Star