Make no mistake. Snow Owl (also known as Juan Garcia-Herreros) was born to make music. He was only fifteen, and self-taught, when he began to teach Music Theory and Jazz Performance at Dunedin High School, in Florida. At seventeen, he performed with the Tampa Bay Symphony. Four years later, he moved to New York City for the next step in his career, playing with a Who's Who list of greats. From there he crossed the Atlantic to take Europe by storm. A testament to his artisty, this year, Snow Owl was chosen Best Jazz Artist by Jazz First in Vienna, Austria. The award carried even greater significance for Snow Owl, both because of his comparatively young age, and the fact that he is a bassist. To Snow Owl, it's all music. Sure, he plays Jazz, but he also plays Funk, Salsa, Heavy Metal, Avante Garde, even straight-ahead, pound-it-out Rock. Regardless of the style, Snow Owl plays with the authority of a Master, reveling in his role as the foundation of the song, but also able to interweave chords, melody and harmony lines, background textures and percussive effects into the fabric of the music. And he makes it all look so easy! This interview began with conversations at this year's winter NAMM show, in Aneheim, CA. I'd already gotten to know Snow Owl through my work on the web site, and we'd become good friends. We decided to hold off on the interview, however, so that we could coordinate its publication with his CD release and European tour later in the year.

Over the course of the last four months, Snow Owl and I have traded numerous emails, and had several phone calls. Because of various constraints, it was sometimes as long as two weeks between communications. Throughout the entire process (even when things broke down due to the intrusion of tragic events here at Eden), Snow Owl was very patient, for which I thank him profusely.

It's always great to "sit down to chat" with our endorsers, many of whom I have come to know very well. With Snow Owl, there was an extra attraction, however, in that his philosphy of music and the roll of the bass is very similar to my own. And, although he doesn't beat others over the head with it, there's a very spiritual component to Snow Owl's music, and his life.

As you read the interview, you may notice that some of Snow Owl's shortest answers contain a depth that deserves careful contemplation. While, at first, I wanted him to expand on his answers, I began to realize that he'd said everything he needed to, and left the rest to the reader to consider as a means of personal growth. In this way, he acts more as a goad than a guide, encouraging others to explore their own personal truths, to discover their own musical spirit.

Eden: What basses are you currently using ?

SO: My main bass is a 6-string Electric Contrabass guitar, custom built by Andreas Neubauer. I use it for everything.

I also use a Hohner BBass V for making electronics drum/percussive loops and textures using multiple effects. It's also good for slapping and E-bowing. It's a great contrast to my main bass and brings versatility. This one is tuned EADGC.

Eden: What effects are you currently using ?

SO: I'm using a Digitech Whammy, Digitech Bass Chorus , Boss loop station and Phaser , Boss Overdrive, Ibanez Delay , Apple Laptop with Live , Guitar Rig 2 , E-bow and a Vox Volume pedal.

Eden: What strings are you using?

SO: Definitely only Handmade strings by Thomastik-Infeld in Vienna!

Eden: You just got anew Eden rig, didn't you? Tell us about that.

SO: At the MESSE show in Frankfurt this year, I took delivery of a WT1205 and D210XST cabinet. I also use a D212XLT cabinet, which I've had for years. What a dream rig! Even if I am travelling I always try to find space on the bus to bring it along or I use the Eden Backline. (Thanks for the help guys!)

Eden: Now, I know you're a huge Eden fan, but can you tell me why?

SO: I am glad you ask this question. The last festival I performed in Villach, (Austria), the open stage was a real challenge to control. With my WT1205 I was able to tell the Sound technician " hey take my post DI signal and I will EQ everything myself ".

You have so much available to you with what I call "Eden's Logic". The amps/speakers are not heavy to carry and are extremely powerful. The amps are so precise in compressing and eliminating unwanted frequencies ( or enhancing for that matter ). It is a sound that over the years has developed prestige and character.

That's the audible aspect. On a deeper note, I always felt that behind Eden are true human beings working hard everyday to help us, the artists, have a great tool of communication. It is always such a pleasure to stop by and say hello to David Nordschow and the Edenites !

Eden: Do you use your rig in the studio.?

SO: Every time. <laughs>

Eden: What are your amp settings, live and in the studio?

SO: I set the Bass and Low Mids Flat, at 12 o'clock. High Mids and Treble (depending on the room) are set to 1 o'clock. Enhance is set at two notches and compressor set between 12 and 2 o'clock.

Eden: How did you get started on bass?

SO: The first thought I can remember was one of sound. I am a self-taught musician. My original wish was to play Piano. My brother was a drummer and he was very persistent in making me play Bass with him. At first I hated it, although sub-consciously I acknoweldged that the boundries of the instrument had a great potential. Nine months later I was performing with a trio band called "No Reason ". No guitar players wanted to play with us so I decided, "what the heck, I'll play both!" and bought a cheap distortion pedal. Looking back I realize this was an important factor in my musical development.

Eden: You said you were self-taught. Did you ever have formal instruction?

SO: Yes, I was completely self-taught in the beginning. But a few years later I received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. It was the first time I had any kind of musical instruction.

Eden: How did that work out?

SO: I was very intimidated. It felt like everyone else had talent but me. I left after one year. It was long enough for me to collect a direction of what needs to be checked out. The rest I did on my own. I do have to admit that there where two sides to this experience. On one hand you learned a lot of new styles and theory. On the other it took me many years to return to myself as an individual due to learning other peoples musical ideas. Follow your instincts. There is no other you !

Eden: What's your philosophy of bass?

SO: I am sure that this answer for me will change as time continues. The only thing I can say is that all instruments (actually all things) have Bass. It is a role that can be shared. The role of the bass in music is to make music.....just like any other instrument.

Eden: Who were your influences? Why?

SO: There are so many to mention. Where can I start? John Paul Jones , Led Zeppelin, Eberhard Weber, Manfred Eicher , Arvo Pärt , Jaco Pastorious , my life , Ayn Rand , Skuli Sverisson , Allan Holdsworth , Bobo Stenson trio , Every participant of the Miles Davis Quintet, Bill Evans, Eddie Gomes , Faith No More , Gustav Holst, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Maurice Ravel , Anthony Jackson , Victor Wooten , Bruce Wayne , Will Akkerman , Peter Grabiel, The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Vince Di Cola and anybody who ever said "you can't live off of music."

Eden: Great Answer! <laughing> Now, can you tell me why you mentioned non-musicians? I mean, Bruce Wayne?

SO: Anybody who really knows me will tell you that I am a DC comics Batman Fanatic since the age of 12 !

Eden: It's also obvious that you listen to a lot of different styles of music, everything from classical to heavy rock. How is it that classical composers and Hard Rock influence you?

SO: I respect and admire the originality of each environment. Both are undeniably beautiful.

Eden: Last follow-up on this. You say your life has been an influence. Now, I'll be the first to agree with you, and am surprised that so few touch on this. But I'd like you to expand on that concept.

SO: If my body is a bass then each string is an emotion ( a sense ) and then each fret is a chapter of experience. Then naturally life (or the voice of creation) is the Bassist.

Eden: What's your favorite style to play and why ?

SO: Styles and labels to me are fear categorized. My favorite musical environment is one where I am able to contribute, create, enhance and support the musical entity behind the composition.

Eden: How do you approach your role as a bassist ?

SO: I think we all have to share this role. For example, where does the bass go if the Bassist is soloing? In classical music, if a Violin has a solo piece to perform, where is the bass? Each instrumentalist, regardless of instrument, needs to understand and respect the functions of musical mass.

Eden: What are the differences and similarities between the various styles you play ?

SO: If my only objective is to create then there is no difference or similarities to what I perform. I just feel that, if I start to label things that I'm setting up unnecessary barriers.

Eden: Let's talk about some of the things you've been doing lately. Who have you been working with?

SO: It is always a great honor to be asked by another musician to contribute within their musical vision. I am currently performing with several artist: Fernando Paiva , Alegre Corrêa , Sandra Pires, Peter Herbert and, of course, my own group, The Snow Owl Quartet.

Each of these environments have very strong identities. I consider them to be improvised contexts that should only be experienced live . I try in any musical situation to bring something fresh and new to the compositions each time they are performed.

Eden: What have you got coming up for the rest of the year?

SO: I will be touring in December with the Quartet in Europe. The dates will be posted on my site and hopefully through eden forum as well. For those of you in Europe, I would like to invite an Eden forum member to attend each show and write a concert report about the gear and the music.

[We will be announcing a drawing for tickets in the near future. Ed.]

Eden: This tour is to support a new CD, correct?

SO: That's right. My first solo record ( on Quniton Records) comes out September 1st. It features my compositions interpreted by an all star line up of some of my favorite musicians - Terri Lynne Carrington on drums, Edward Simon on piano, and Greg Osby on Alto and Soprano saxophones. The music itself is a collage of the many different musical worlds I have studied. I wanted with this record to bring artistic closure to my musical past. I also wanted to show that the Electric Contrabass can blend and work well within these contexts, which are normally associated with the Acoustic Bass. The group will tour Europe in December, 2006, with Antonio Sanchez filling in for Terri Lynne. All dates will be listed on my new website : www.the-snow-owl.com

Eden: Speaking of Europe, how did you get started over here? I mean, how did you make the move from the US to Europe?

SO: I started to perform in Europe in 2002. It was a Trio collaboration with an incredible Argentinian Guitarist - Jose Maria Saluzzi. I made contacts very quickly and fortunately was invited to play within other groups. Always have your contact info or CD with you because you never know who is watching.

Eden: How are live playing and studio work different ?

SO: You wear headphones in the studio. <laughs> Seriously, there isn't much difference for me. The result for me is pretty much the same. What you record will be heard; what you perform live will also be heard. My goal is to get myself to that certain place where I can just create, without thought of the "outside environment".

Eden: Do you record while your on the road? Why? And How?

SO: Not yet. Most of the time I am practicing in the Hotel room.

Eden: You use loopers quite a bit in your work. Can you describe how you employ them?

SO: Sure. For solo bass concerts, I collect samples from my bass and loop them with Ableton Live. All percussion loops are done through hitting the bass in different spots of the body and neck. Also all of the things one might think are synths came from the bass! With the quartet I make more textures and sound effects than loops.

It is still a work in progress of course. I use a Behringer 1010 to trigger sections or live recording. The technology is getting better and better fortunately.

Eden: Any learning tips for young players ?

SO: Your Limit is your Strength. Each soul has it's own rhythms and it's own melodies. Don't compare yourself. Be yourself. Patience with persistence. Have an open mind.

Eden: Any advice for players wanting to move up to national level touring?

SO: Always have reliable, flexible equipment. Be on time and have a positive attitude. If you are traveling overseas, make sure you have the correct voltage for your effects pedals. Ask for advice and input from your fellow musicians. You'd be surprised what you can learn about yourself. Last but not least, sometimes you can sit in a bus for 5 hours with people and it can get uncomfortable. Be patient.

Eden: Describe an average day on tour.

SO: An average day starts with waking up in a hotel and not knowing what city I'm in. <laughs> Then I check my itinerary and realize I might have missed breakfast. Then I shower and make it just in time for departure. On the bus/plane/train I listen to music, talk with the other musicians or answer questions to an interview. (By the way, this section is being written at 6 in the morning on a train through the Alps on my way to Salzburg. I will attach a photo).

When we arrive, the first thing is to check into the next hotel, then prepare for soundcheck. After that is completed, I try to take a short pause to walk in the city I'm in or maybe relax in the hotel.

Then, it's showtime ! After the show I usually speak with promoters, make contacts, take photos. Most important of all, I spend as much time as I can speaking with fans.

Eden: How do you fill your time when you're home ?

SO: I enjoy movies,cooking, reading and long walks. This is sometimes rare due to practicing or composing. Even when I'm home, I play a lot.

Eden: Anything I haven't asked that you want to talk about?

SO: Well, I'd like to thank you and David both, for giving me the chance to give this interview and for supporting me as an artist. I look forward to the future as an Eden endorser.

And I'd like to say one more time that my first solo record comes out September 1st. I hope my fellow Edenites will enjoy it. Also, in Europe, you can do some owlspotting at my web site, which will have tour dates and such.

Eden: What does the future hold for you ?

SO: In the future I would like to focus on my projects more (Snow Owl Quintet and Project:Snow Owl) and continue to grow as a performer/composer.

Snow Owl 's Bio