In addition, Mr. Laws maintains his own publishing houses, Hulaws Music and Golden Flute Music, and founded Spirit Productions in 1976 to produce his own albums and those of promising new artists. He was voted THE FLUTIST #1 24 years in a row: Down Beat readership poll ten years in a row and was the critic`s choice for seven consecutive years. Currently awarded Downbeat #1 flutist 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. As a solo artist, he spent a short time with Blue Note Records before recording three albums for the CTI label, “The Chicago Theme” (1975), “Afro Classic” (1976) and “The San Francisco Concerts” (1977). He first studied piano, but his high school orchestra needed a flutist, so Hubert learned this instrument instead. Then I start thinking about how much I loved improvising without limits and the freedom I took for granted. So guess what? Instead of practicing all the concertos and sonatas, I started playing the same discipline towards improvisation. I feel like I`m making progress, even at my age, and that`s something I took for granted.
I really should have focused on the materials of improvisation from the beginning. Because the more you do it, the more competent you feel. At least, that`s what I do. Being involved in jazz has helped me in many ways in life, period. Do you know why? Because it`s always been like a son-in-law. I became more receptive to ideas that weren`t popular. For example, I know that most people in the world eat junk food. That`s why you have millions and millions of burgers sold by McDonald`s. I know this food is not healthy. Do you remember when most people smoked cigarettes? I never smoked cigarettes. I mean, I`m not trying to shower myself with praise, I`m just saying that playing jazz taught me it`s not popular.
As a result, it helped me accept other things that weren`t popular and could contribute to your overall well-being. Hubert Laws: Well, we were in high school and Stix Hooper, who was the coordinator, was the pioneer of the group. He put all the pieces together. We had a jazz band in high school, a big band. Five saxophones, four or five trombones, five trumpets. It was a dance group. Q: You played jazz concerts in the evenings so you could go to school at Juilliard? Hubert Laws: I tried to make this music because when I was a kid in Houston, I used to go to wrestling matches. On the speakers, they played this Nat King Cole music.
And I said, “Man, one day I`m going to record as many of his hits as I can.” Instrumental versions. This is how Hubert Law`s Reremember the Unforgettable Nat King Cole was recorded. Hubert Law`s Live 30-year Video Retrospective of 2006 includes “Red Hot & Cool” with Nancy Wilson, Performance in Brazil, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Appearance, The 1975 Down Beat Reader`s Poll Awards, Performance in Japan and Performance in Germany. Hubert Laws: In Harlem. I particularly remember that particular time when Khrushchev and Castro were prominent in the news. Instead of staying at the Waldorf-Astoria, they snubbed their noses and went to Harlem. Hubert Laws: I got my first flute when I was in high school. What happened was that the high school orchestra played this Rossini piece called “The William Tell Overture.” And in this, “William Tell Overture” is a prelude that most people do not know. You know [a] part because it was the theme of the Lone Ranger.
But the prelude contained a large flute solo. There was no one in the high school band playing that solo. At that time, a friend of mine, Sonny King, had a flute in his attic. He gave it to me, so I started playing. I walked for two days without even being able to make a noise about this thing. But when I started having a sound, I learned to play that solo. It became an instant marriage. It was also an escape to have to find reeds for saxophone and clarinet.
The sound fascinated me and I still love the sound of the instrument. Rodgers Grant is the one who got me the concert with the Mongo band. We played these shows at Manhattan Center on 34th Street. I don`t know if it`s still there, but boy, I loved playing these dances. You have these elegant dancers, and they are so nice. I started playing with Mongo in `63, and I played with him in `67. Q: There is a beautiful blues in Ravel`s piano concerto. I know if you eat raw vegetables, raw fruits. My mother is 91 years old.
I have accepted them into this regiment for the last 15 years. She thanks me for it every day. And I`m largely responsible for not leaving with the majority. I don`t eat the so-called normal breakfast. You know, eggs, bacon, all that. Sometimes. But that`s not my usual routine. I get up every morning and make a smoothie with raw fruit, grapes, bananas, kiwi, flaxseed oil, blueberries. I think it contributes to my overall health.
A lot of my peers, man, they`re dead. Died young. Q: I think of the unforgettable LP with Nat Cole`s music that Natalie made.