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Home , Gregg Field, What Matters Most

INTERVIEW Famous ABBA Fans Talk: Gregg Field

Eight-time Grammy winner and Latin Grammy Producer of the Year, Gregg Field is one of the most musically diverse and highly sought- after producers, musicians and educators in music. Among his recent recordings are ’s Standards, Michael Bublé’s No. 1 Billboard To Be Loved, Alejandro Fernandez’s No. 1 Billboard album Confidencias, ’s Love is a Four Letter Word, Barbara ’s What Matters Most and, of course, ’s album Ultimate Duets that not only features Pharrell, , and Placido Domingo, amongst others, but also brought our beloved Frida back to the recording studio. When we contacted Gregg prior to the announcement of the final release date of the album, he let us know he considers himself a ‘fellow ABBA fan’, which makes him perfect to join our gallery of famous ABBA fans. Within no the discussion turned to music, and I had just time, we had the pleasure of an in-depth talk produced an album with that turned with Gregg, who resides in California. out to be a favourite of Frida’s. It was our love of music that started a great friendship. How do you feel about your latest project, How did you approach her for this record? Arturo Sandoval’s album Ultimate Duets? I had been quietly and very gently trying to First of all, thank you and greetings to all persuade Frida to consider returning to the the ABBA fans round the world! Ultimate studio for a number of years. We were having Duets for me has been the most rewarding a long lunch in California with Frida and Henry and most challenging album I have produced. and whenever we are together, Frida will ask The amazing artists that chose to join Arturo what music projects I’m working on. I told her Sandoval to create the album are among the that I was just beginning work on a new album most important in the world. I could not be more of duets with the iconic trumpet player Arturo excited to share the new album next month. Sandoval and some of the biggest American and Would you explain what your role as Latin pop artists in the world, each singing one of co-producer of the Ultimate Duets album their hits re-imagined as a duet. consisted of? What was her first reaction when you tried I am actually the producer of Ultimate Duets to convince her to be part of the album? along with Arturo. I had produced two for I didn’t directly approach Frida about singing Arturo and was looking for something completely on the album. It happened organically as she different for the next album. I happened to call learned about the album and how it would be Arturo one afternoon, and he had to call me back the perfect vehicle for her to return to the studio. because he was recording the new Spiderman Frida mentioned that ABBA had actually recorded 2 soundtrack that Pharrell and Hans Zimmer had a Spanish language album of ABBA Gold called written for him. I realised at that moment that ABBA Oro [its predecessor being Gracias Por La Arturo had performed with many of the biggest Música]. Frida loved that album, and she said musical artists in the world, and the idea of there were some very beautiful melodies on it Ultimate Duets was born. I asked Arturo to send and started to sing Andante, Andante. I could me a list of all the singers he had recorded with not believe that Frida was actually singing to that would sing on his album in return. The list me and was even more surprised to hear how included Pharrell, Stevie Wonder, , absolutely beautiful her voice was. We finished and so on. lunch, and I could tell her wheels were spinning. What was the idea behind this album? We had planned to meet the next morning for The idea I proposed to Arturo was to have each breakfast and, at that meeting, Frida said if I was of the superstar singers he had been featured with interested, she would love to sing on the album. to pick one of their biggest hits and we re-imagine I was beyond surprised, but a part of me always it as a duet with Arturo. He was very excited at the felt we would somehow end up in the studio possibility of this happening. I then reached out to working together. I asked her to give me a list Universal to propose the idea, and it was a yes, of of the songs we should consider, but Frida knew course. That was nearly three years ago! that she wanted to record Andante, Andante. It When did you get acquainted with Frida, was the perfect choice [smiles]. and how did your friendship begin? So you were you happy with the choice of I first met Frida through her guy, Henry Smith, the song from the start? back in 2007. Henry has been a friend of my At first, I had a couple of obvious song choices wife and her family for decades. We met Frida in mind, but Frida felt very passionately about at the boat house in New York’s Central Park on Andante, Andante and as soon as I heard the a summer day. Frida was a little quiet at first, but first vocal, I understood. How did you decide how the song should the biggest smile on her face and said, “That was sound production-wise? pretty good, wasn’t it?” I believe, at that moment, Great question. The challenge when making Frida realised that after all this time she still ‘had a new recording of an existing song is to retain it’. She came into the control room to listen and enough of the original recording qualities so then said, “Let’s do it for real!” Frida was half way that fans of the original will not be left out. This through the fourth take when she sang a wrong was also a challenge because Frida would be lyric, and she stopped and laughed. These days, duetting with an instrument and not another when singers record and make a mistake, we roll vocalist. I asked the arranger Rob Mounsey to back a bit and ‘punch-in’ to the recording. I asked craft an arrangement that had elements of the Frida if she wanted to punch-in, and she said, “No, original but to bring it into 2018. I also asked Rob ABBA never recorded like that,” and she would to create the arrangement to be more personal sing it from the beginning. Nobody does that these for Frida, especially on the verses that she had days. Frida began to sing the fifth take and what originally sung. Rob hit it perfectly right. Of became be the vocal you hear on the recording. course, we had to have that ABBA sound, and It was a flawless and breathtaking performance. Frida knew exactly how to create the vocals to It was as though the years had melted away. As add to the new arrangement. Frida was recording that take, Henry said, “Look How do you appreciate Frida’s vocal at Frida, she looks 20 years younger,” and she qualities? did. We then watched as Frida built that ABBA The biggest surprise was when we first sound. She began by tripling her lead vocal recorded, Frida’s voice was in pristine shape and with a precision I have rarely experienced in the sounded ageless. It’s very common for singers, studio. She then added the harmony parts and, especially women when they get older, that their when finished, came into the studio to listen back. vibrato gets wide, and their sound changes, For the first time, we all heard Frida’s amazing often dramatically. vocals with Arturo’s soaring trumpet, and it was What was the atmosphere like in the studio very emotional for all of us. In all of the years I with Frida and Arturo Sandoval? have known Frida, I had never seen her so happy Honestly, it was a little serious when Frida and filled with joy as when we first heard the first arrived in the studio and met Arturo for Andante, Andante playback. I can only imagine the first time. Frida knew she hadn’t been in a the pressure she must have felt returning to the studio for quite some time, and I’m sure she studio. By the time we finished, Frida and Arturo must have been wondering, do I still have it? knew they had created magic together, and we all Arturo is a larger than life man, but inside he is left the studio with hugs and tears. a very sensitive guy – he’ll kill me for saying that Were you confident about the reaction to [laughs]. I know Arturo was thinking that Frida, the end result? who was being more serious than usual, didn’t Ha! I was nervous as hell until I heard that like him. At the beginning of the session, I had to Benny, Björn and Agnetha loved it [smiles]! try and lighten the mood in the studio, but then it I think, I am most amazed at Frida’s voice was all, let’s get down to business. sounding so ageless. That made the end result Was Frida in the studio when the music greater than I could have imagined. It’s one of was recorded or just to record her vocals? the best duets on the album with the way Frida’s We tracked the orchestra in voice and Arturo’s trumpet work so well together. without Frida, and then Arturo and I flew to For you, what are the other highlights/ Majorca where we did the vocals. biggest surprises of Ultimate Duets? How would you describe Frida’s work [thinking] Wow, that’s a tough question. method in the studio? Each track is unique and remarkable. Pharrell [enthusiastically] Mind blowing! When Frida Williams wrote a new song for the album called first sang the song from beginning to end, she Arturo Sandoval which features Pharrell and sounded exactly like a singer who is singing all Ariana Grande. The Placido Domingo recording the time and adjusting to the studio environment. of Granada is really interesting. We threw out She immediately asked to do a second take and the old rules and recorded him with the greatest then a third. When she finished the third take, she flamenco musicians in the world. I’m very turned and looked at us in the control room with proud of that track. Of course, Stevie singing Streisand’s People is quite unique. Again, all of It’s great to hear that, as a world-famous the tracks are really fun… producer yourself, you appreciate the ABBA Did you talk to Frida about the fact that she records’ production. sang jazz standards with local bands at the I’m envious! I hope, one day I can produce beginning of her career? an album of that quality and buy a house on Frida and I have have spoken about her Majorca. My wife would love that [laughs]! big band days. Frida and I share a love of the What do you think about the combination Great American Songbook and singers like Ella of Frida and Agnetha’s voices within ABBA? [Fitzgerald]. It’s very interesting how Frida and Agnetha’s Frida might be one of the rare singers who sounds compliments each other. I noticed that convinces in several different genres: pop, often Frida would sing the verses, and Agnetha rock, jazz, easy listening. In your opinion, would cover the choruses. When ABBA recorded which musical genre suits Frida’s voice best? Andante, Andante, that was the case. I was You know, in some ways Frida reminds me of really happy that we were still able to produce Ray Charles and many of the truly great vocal ‘ABBA sound’ with Frida covering the verses and artists. No matter what genre Ray would sing, choruses plus all the harmonies as well. it always sounded like Ray. The same thing What is your favourite ABBA song and why? holds true for Frida. She sounds like Frida, yet Andante, Andante, of course… It’s the only authentic to the genre. Haven’t heard her try hip- one I’ve produced! Seriously, that’s a tough hop yet [smiles]. question. It’s mostly the usual suspects, Have you talked with Frida about possible Fernando, of course. I love Frida’s very stylised future projects together? vocal, and the production with its Peruvian Yes, let’s make a whole album! She’s thinking elements is fantastic. The chorus gets into your about it. head and doesn’t leave. The Winner Takes It What is for you the lasting appeal of All story line is powerful as is Agnetha’s moving ABBA’s music? vocal. “The gods may throw a dice, their minds Great songwriting, great production and that as cold as ice,” that is a song for anyone who’s incredible ABBA sound that is like no other. lost and, yet, it somehow empowers. During your career you have been used to take my dates to the Fairmont when working with absolute legends. Would I was 16 to hear him. That was a long time you please comment on working with ago [smiles]. Tony’s honesty when he sings the following artists: , touches me deeply. His ballad singing is a Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Tony masterclass in singing. I recently produced Bennett? his — : Basie was a very humble for American television. I had no idea as guy and a very evolved human being. I a kid that, all these years later, I would be learned more about rhythm by listening producing him. to and ultimately playing in his band than It seems like another lifetime ago that from any other artist I’ve worked with. I I was fortunate to work with all those was 24 when I joined his band, and I use amazing artists. The knowledge of music the techniques of the space between the that I learned from each of them, however, notes in producing now more than ever. transcends genre and era. I can hear their He could say more with less than anyone. influence in every album I produce or : I first worked with Frank concert I play. Sinatra when I did a TV special called The Could you single out some of your most Man And His Music while I was still with fulfilling experiences as a live musician on Basie. I joined Frank about ten years later the one hand and as a on and stayed with him until his final concert the other? in 1994. His sense of rhythm, for me, was Now, that’s also a difficult question! My first unparalleled. He would sing and give me a concert with Basie was when I was in high target to play right in the middle of that I school, and his drummer, Sonny Payne, was haven’t experienced with any other singer late for the gig, and I was asked to play the than possibly Ella. Frank loved his personal concert. That was my dream gig as a kid, and musicians, too. He took great care of us that fateful night that led me to joining his band and if he were still singing, I’d probably a few years later is one of those experiences. still be his drummer. Glad he stopped so I Playing New York, New York with Sinatra at could produce Frida though! Madison Square Garden was fairly insane. Ella Fitzgerald: Ella was two people. She As a record producer, it’s the albums I make was the sweetest grandmother you could with artists that I never thought I would be ask for when we weren’t performing but collaborating with that always surprise me. when we hit the stage, she turned into Producing Placido Domingo last year was Frank Sinatra. You had to bring it 100% nothing I’d been expecting. Watching Frida every night, because she would. And step into the recording studio and watching her every night was different. I cherish my record after such a long time, and to have her time with her. so enjoy the process and deliver that amazing Ray Charles: He was complicated vocal, was completely unforgettable and and could be very difficult to work with, fulfilling on many levels beyond the music. but I learned a lot about phrasing and What do you think of the big news that authenticity from touring with him when ABBA have recorded two new songs? I was a kid and then producing an album It’s truly historic that ABBA have reunited and with him later. recorded new material! Having had Frida in the Sarah Vaughn: She was an extraordinary studio for the new version of Andante, Andante, musician. She had so much knowledge I know that ABBA fans have a very long awaited and vocal technique and would draw on gift coming! that with performances of her music that What is your current project? were always spontaneous and completely My current project is to convince Benny, Björn, different from night to night. Agnetha and Frida to let me produce even a : I fell in love with Tony track! Are you guys listening? Bennett’s music in high school while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I TEXT: STANY VAN WYMEERSCH