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Jazz.Pt - After more than a decade without records, everybody thought Human Feel was extinct. But you have a new album in circulation, “Galore”, and the band is back on the road. What explains this return?
Jim Black - Well, we never officially broke up – I think after working for so long in the US, and having not much luck in Europe at that time, we just need a rest from the booking, etc. We got together 2 years ago for a show in NY and we were like “OK, wow, let’s start this up again.” It just seemed like a good time and it was so easy to record, tour and perform together again. Plus, I think there’s a need to have our music out there right now.
J.P - A few examples excluded, and only at the beginning of what is called “fusion”, jazz-rock always lived very far apart from avant-garde. But Human Feel is a kind of free jazz-rock band with a chamber like compositional approach, and that when you don’t go for loose improv situations, combining a groovy side with an “experimental” one. Is this a program in itself, or just a means towards an end?
JB - We play what we like to hear. We have many influences between all of us, and we tend to ‘just go for it’ in every way. The compositions of the band have a lot to do with shaping our sound, but we don’t hesitate to open up and explore/exploit these moods.
J.P - At the beginning, in the Eighties, Human Feel was a college band in Boston, formed by a group of music students. What changed from those times until now? The band was “in tune” with what you learned, or you formed it to play what you couldn’t play there or they didn’t teach you? And now, 20 years after, how do you see those college years?
JB - It was absolutely necessary to have this band as an outlet for our songs and for us to improvise in because there were not many situations where we would have the total freedom to play they way we wanted. I totally cut my teeth in this band – it shaped my music then and continues to shape it now.
J.P - Human Feel has no leader. The idea of a collective with democratic decisions has any conceptual motivations or is it only a practical formula? Does it bring any difficulties? If so, how do you deal with it and solve them?
JB - It started as a collective, and it remains one, no matter who writes the songs, no matter how much we money we make or lose;) – it’s a family. Were older now, we can work out our issues pretty quick if any arise.
J.P - How do Human Feel relate to side projects like Pachora and AlasNoAxis, where we find some of its members? Tim Berne, Ellery Eskelin, Dave Douglas and others had the collaboration of the band’s musicians – their contributions were individual, with no relation whatsoever with what they did with the band, or it happened because of Human Feel? If the truth is in the second part of this last question, can we conclude that, in these last 11 years, Human Feel subsisted in other forms?
JB - Human Feel was first formed in the late eighties in Boston, and we all ended up in NY in ‘92 – so people like Tim Berne and Dave Douglas learned who we were at the same time and soon after started hiring us to play in bands and projects. That’s simply the story of being in a city like NY where you meet a group of people in your neighborhood and end up playing with them for 10 years if the music makes sense between everybody.
As far as AlasNoAxis and Pachora, same thing, Chris and I are in many projects together because it makes sense musically and we tend to go for a similar esthetic in terms of looking for new music to explore and developing new approaches to playing and composing.
J.P - One novelty of this Human Feel’s return is the addition of electronics. To amplify the territory in which the band acts? If so, in what direction?
JB - Twelve years ago the laptop wasn’t the best friend of spontaneous improvisation. I’ve been working hard to make an instrument that responds the way I hear when I improvise, so the band graciously lets me bring in all that I work with to complement our music. I don’t see a big difference musically other than having a few more color and sonic options.
J.P - In this ten year hiatus, each of you gained a reputation. Do you think your personal achievements during this time changed Human Feel? I’m not talking about quality here…
JB - No, we are just better, more experienced players now and shows in the music. I think all these different situations and the passing years have shown us how important it is to have and play in a band like Human Feel.
J.P - I suppose you’re beginning your European tour with this concert in Oeiras. Any expectations, considering you all, or the most part of you, have been in Portugal several times? You have big fans here. Portuguese drummer Marco Franco says Human Feel is his favourite band of all time…
JB - Chilling at Carcavelos beach with a small Sagres by the sea – maybe bodysurfing with care at Guincho beach. We are happy to be going there to play.
J.P - What follows now? Will Human Feel have another ten years of silence, or do you have plans?
JB - MORE. Another cd, new tunes, touring, keeping it in the mix of all that we do. | 
