CJ Vanston

Smoke on the Organ 1998

CJ Vanston, The Treehouse, LA 1998

What is the first music you remember hearing?

My dad, Paul Vanston, playing piano with a jazz trio in Saginaw, Michigan. Our apartment was above the nightclub and I had my ear glued to the floor every night. The jazz guys would come up after the gig, like the Kenton band when they were in town, and I could never figure out why all these successful musicians shared one cigarette.

Who is the most amazing artist you’ve worked with?

Hmmm… I remember being completely blown away by Dolly Parton—what a voice, what a woman. Joe Cocker’s voice has never ceased to amaze me. Seeing Tina Turner tear up “Proud Mary” in the studio during the What’s Love Got To Do With It soundtrack was a huge moment, because I had learned to hate that song from playing in wedding bands years ago. I finally “got it” when I saw her sing it three feet from me. Wow. Also, Christopher Guest, the film director and “Nigel” in Spinal Tap is completely brilliant and constantly inspiring. A truly sick man. My kinda guy.