"Intuition Quartet" Interview
CD Baby
Interview by Roger Zee (01/20/20)
Roger Zee: How did the group come together?
Hope Berkeley: Our quartet consists of Joan Indig on bass and lead vocals, Irene Maher on guitar and lead vocals, Pam Sklar on flute and backup vocals, and myself, Hope Berkeley, on harmonica and backup vocals. It’s hard to believe that we met over fifteen years ago! At that time we were all married women, busy with careers, housework, and children. For most of us, out outside responsibilities had largely pushed our musical ambitions onto the back burner. It so happened that Irene, Joan, and I lived in the same small town. We got introduced when another neighbor wanted to organize an informal musical get-together. We started meeting regularly and soon Irene asked her cousin Pam, a renowned professional flute player, to join. These weekly jams eventually evolved into the formation of our first band, aptly named "The BluesMothers." That group went though several incarnations and personnel changes. But when it broke up a few years ago, the four of us took the opportunity to regroup as a smaller unit and explore different genres. Without the drums, we could gig in restaurants and smaller venues that wanted a more subtle sound. When one door closes, another opens, right? It’s been so challenging and downright fun to work together as a group on the exciting new material we're exploring.
Roger Zee: How do you pick the new material?
Hope Berkeley: We take pride in our eclectic repertoire and it appears that our followers appreciate the musical variety as well. Look, we felt that since we had the rare opportunity to exploit the unusual mix of flute and harmonica, why not go for it? So we added some Jazz standards, some Sambas, a few Spirituals, some R & B, and of course, a smattering of originals penned by Irene, Hope, and Pam. We try to pick tunes that we all love and that showcase our strengths including vocal harmonies and instrumental solos. Everyone in the band has veto power. We all stand on equal footing. When someone brings a tune to the group, we all must like it and want to play it. In our experience with bands, this seems a fairly unusual arrangement and we hope to continue it!
Roger Zee: Any plans to add a drummer for selected shows?
Hope Berkeley: We enjoy working with great percussion behind us. Our last CD featured the talented Brian Indig on drums. We hope to book some large festivals this coming year, and if that comes about, we will probably add drums for those gigs.
Roger Zee: Where does the group usually perform?
Hope Berkeley: Our forte's playing restaurants, cafes, wine bars, Jazz brunches, and other small venues. We love doing private parties, cocktail hours, etc. For years we played a regular Sunday brunch gig at MP Taverna Restaurant in Irvington, NY. But as every musician knows, restaurant gigs come and go. We end up spending a lot of time securing paying jobs! We also gig regularly at many outdoor festivals and markets, including the New York Botanical Gardens market, a particularly lovely venue!
Roger Zee: What's it like playing in an all female group?
Hope Berkeley: Performing in an all female band makes us an oddity. In general, we don’t think it gives us much of an advantage. We would much rather that people appreciate and remember us for the music we create rather than that we're all females. In general, we find that it's a man’s world when it comes to clubs and gigs. Most people expect that if you're a woman, you must be a vocalist who's there to front the band. People don’t know what to make of a female musician, let alone an all-female group. Having said that, there's no question that the dynamics and chemistry in a female band play out a little differently. We enjoy working together as colleagues and sometimes even as sisters! It can be a challenge, but well worth it.
Roger Zee: Tell me about your favorite and/or most unusual gig.
Irene Maher: My faves have been the festivals -- RiverArts Music Tour, Pleasantville Music Festival, Mamapalooza, Take Me To the River, and opening for the Holmes Brothers at Hudson River Festival at Hastings Waterfront In 2009. I love attending venues where I get to play both audience and performer!
Joan Indig: We have many war stories. My musical sisters and I have played in broiling heat at the New York Botanical Garden; in freezing cold at the Greenburgh Town Hall; in a smoke-filled room at John's Bar in Hastings; and in a space so small we had to share a single bluegrass mic at Taiim Cellar in Scarsdale. Experiences like these make musicians tough, strong, and resilient. I personally loved every minute of it!
Hope Berkeley: My most memorable gig occurred years ago. In my twenties, I got hired with a couple of fellow Blues musicians to back up the legendary Memphis Slim at a gig in New York. As a young player, what a thrill to work with him!
Pam Sklar: I’ve toured extensively during my career and have had some exciting and unusual musical experiences. One that stands out was the night I played at the Grammys and Aretha Franklin replaced an unwell Pavorotti who was scheduled to sing a famous aria. It was a thrill to accompany this legendary artist and be part of an unusual Grammy performance -- since the piece is always sung by a tenor!
Roger Zee: What advice do you give up and coming musicians?
Irene Maher: Never give up!
Roger Zee: How do you see the future of the music business?
Pam Sklar: Things change rapidly in the music business and it's essential to keep up. Technological developments require learning new computer skills, creating/updating home studios and programs, learning about and choosing newer and different equipment, etc. But it's also important to keep current with the increasing variety of emerging musical styles. I just attended an annual music conference in NY with panels and career consultants speaking about new and developing forms of technology, as well as career building in today’s market. Although worrisome, it seems likely that the music business will continue to become more corporate, requiring the artist to develop ever more skills outside of musicianship. This will call upon musicians to devote a great deal of time and money in order to reach more people in various ways.
Joan Indig: Despite the corporate and technological changes in the music business, I still think live performance is where the action is. Most musicians aren’t going to feed their family with CD sales, online streaming royalties or even hip-and-trendy vinyl. What people young and old really want is an exciting, unforgettable show where they can feel the love! Hopefully a market will always exist for this.
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