TELL ME -Seamus Gallivan – Buffalo News

No matter how much one loves Buffalo, sometimes one must leave it behind to achieve lofty dreams. Such is the case with Eric Starr. One of the most diverse drummers in Western New York, he turned heads with many jazz outfits and with original rock group the Tails before emigrating four years ago to the musically greener pastures of New York City. Back for a homecoming show at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Tralf, 622 Main St., he’s anxious to show off the amazing quintet of souvenirs he’s picked up in the big city.

The players he corralled for his outstanding solo debut, “She,” are impressive enough, but the touring lineup of the Eric Starr Group is proof that Starr is establishing himself as a major player in modern jazz. With an amazing list of credentials, from Frank Sinatra to Dizzy Gillespie to Charlie Watts, Starr’s cohorts (Iain Ballamy, saxophones; Andy Laverne, piano; Marc Schonbrun, guitars; Nori Shiota, double bass; Nelson Starr, vocals) carry his inventive instrumentals and New American Songbook entries skyward with dazzling virtuosity. Starr took some time to reflect on where he’s been and where he plans to go. The roster of musicians you’ve collaborated with since you left is amazing. Is it true that you flew to England with the mission of finding Dominic Miller?

It is – I can be real impetuous that way. I’ve always been a fan of Dominic’s, and I really wanted to work with him, so I went over there and looked him up, and we got along great. We’ll without a doubt be working together again, but he’s on Sting’s tour right now, which is like two years long, and I’m just a little guy, so I’ll have to wait till that’s over.

Scoring Iain Ballamy is no small feat either. Did you pick him up on the same trip?

Yeah, and I flew him in for these gigs. He played in a group called Earthworks a while back, with Bill Bruford, and I started listening to them when I was pretty young and always loved Iain’s playing. (Iain and I are) buddies now, and I’m proud and honored to say that. I’ve been a big fan of his nearly all my life. Sometimes when you listen to someone, you get a feeling – maybe it’s a spiritual thing – but when you hear them, you think, “If I knew that guy, I bet we’d get along pretty well.” I always thought that about Iain, and its coming to fruition is one of those little dreams that came true.

That’s a serious affirmation of the value of dreaming big.

That’s what I’m all about, whether it’s fortunate or not. The music business is a pretty cynical world, but the approach I’ve taken is such that in a high-risk business you have to take high risks. It’s inherent that there’s no payoff without a risk. You can play it safe if you want, but you’ll wind up hanging out in your living room, listening to Beatles records and playing by yourself.

Well, no worries there, you’ve assembled quite a formidable lineup.

Thank you, I’m a big fan of all these guys, and it’s fun and exciting to return home with them and show people what I’ve been up to. In many ways, my heart is still in Buffalo, and leaving really helped me appreciate it much more – not just the people, but the comforts. I’m definitely looking forward to breaking bread with my Buffalo buddies.

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