“No woman no cry” – Interview with Jean Alain Roussel

I recently had the great chance to meet on one of the most famous social networks, Mr. Jean Alain Roussel, a musician that, during his large career, had the chance to work with some of the greatest artists of the music world scene, and one of them was Bob Marley.

Mr Roussel has been very kind and has accepted to release an interview to share his memories and experience with us.

Q) Mr. Roussel, welcome to the BobMarleyMagazine. We know that you started learning piano since you were a little child, how born this love for this instrument?

A) On our way on the boat from Mauritius, in 1954, with my Mother.

Q)  During your career you collaborated with many artists, and in 1974 you played some tracks of the album “Natty Dread” of Bob Marley & the Wailers. Can you tell us something about this collaboration and about the period you were working for Island Records?

A) My work on the “Natty Dread” album,  has been brought to my attention by JUNIOR MARVIN  because he had heard about this possible collaboration, that I did in fact record with the rhythm section, at Island Studios in London, and that I consequently also did all the “overdubs” (additional keyboards), so I added all the keyboards to the tracks, also at the same studio….. The basic tracks had been recorded in Jamaica, under the production supervision of Chris Blackwell, the “then” owner of Island Records. There was another guitarist also involved – an American, I believe……

The group “TRAFFIC”, another ‘Island Records” signing, were also recording in another of the “recording rooms”. I have also been informed that during the same period of months, I had been recording with JOAN ARMATRADING, PAUL SIMON, JOE COCKER, JUNIOR MARVIN ‘HANSON’, THIN LIZZY, DONOVAN and PAUL KOSSOF (of “FREE”) – as well as with Cat STEVENS….

Q) How do you feel being the organist & arranger of the world famous song “No Woman No Cry”?

A) Very pleased to have given Vincent Ford respect and honour and to have participated a little in helping Vincent “believe in himself and his talent, as a great composer and as a great lyricist” while almost everyone else tried to “belittle him and destroy his ‘self-esteem’ and his confidence…

Q) Can you tell us your memories about Bob Marley and if you have any particular anecdote?

A) No memories or anecdotes about Bob..

Q) Does this experience changed in any way your way to make music?

A) Only to confirm my belief that even if most of the people in the studio do not believe in a particular song, if Vincent FORD, the person who apparently SOLELY WROTE ALL OF THE WORDS AND MUSIC TO “NO WOMAN, NO CRY”, & Chris & myself ~ if WE believe in the song, miracles can happen… all it takes is for a handful of people to believe for a song to “work”, when others do not believe.

Q) Tell us something about any other great collaboration and in particular about the most recent ones in this great music world.

A) Between 1980 and 1987 I collaborated with artists such as CELINE DION and STING & THE POLICE. I have recently been producing  an album of IMZAD Music (Touareg Culture), in the desert of TAMANRASSET, for “Sauver l’Imzad” – a ‘cultural project’, to preserve the music of this very rare instrument, played almost UNIQUELY, by women. I am currently producing and composing with “up & coming” artists from the UK, Algeria, Nigeria and the USA.

please visit my webpage: www.myspace.com/jeanalainroussel

Q) Besides being a great musician, I also know that you are involved in a humanitarian assiociation, AMTM, could you tell us something more about it?

A) In response to your question, I can say quoting their info that  “the association carried out its first mission in 1992 to respond to the call of Tibetan refugees in Nepal and India to save their youth from tuberculosis and preserve their culture, none of us knew where this adventure would lead.

Yet, the founding team, around the President, Dr. Yves Lhomelet and Evelyne Charbonnier, organized the association in three natural centers: medical, sustainable development and sponsorships.

These three mainstays which seem inextricably linked are the strength of the association and, with their synergy, the results were rapidly apparent.

Through its actions on the spot, Assistance Médicale Toit du Monde has become a global agent for development. Especially it has rapidly expanded its work to the poor populations in Nepal and India, particularly to women and children.

Our approach is non-exclusive, open and ecumenical.

Watching the progress made since 18 years now, I must admit I feel a great pride which I would like to share with you.

I also would like to thank all those who helped us and who trusted us”… dixit Laurent Charbonnier (Presiding Head) & AMTM Communications Team..

You can find more info about AMTM visiting the website http://www.amtm.org

Nadia Bestjamaica: Thank you very much for this interview Jean

Mr. Roussel: On the contrary, it is I who thank YOU, Nadia ~ and wish Peace, Good Health & ‘One Love’, to all of your readers.”

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