Nine Questions

Local French transplant Naim Amor, who leads a band with his surname and plays in a jazz duo with saxophonist Jeff Grubic, just finished recording and mixing a new record at Waterworks. Produced by Joey Burns, with John Covertino on drums, Amor says the album goes in a different direction for him musically: It's quieter and more mellow.

What was the first concert you ever saw?

I think it was either Stray Cats in Paris, or Bruce Springsteen, the Born in the USA tour. It was the same year, but I can't remember which one was first.

What CDs are in your changer right now?

Well, right now, I've been listening mostly to my record, because I just finished mixing.

How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes, 8-tracks)?

200-300, maybe.

Do you download music, and if so, legally or illegally?

No, I never download music. I don't have the time.

What was the first album you owned?

The Beatles, The Blue Album (1967-1970).

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Actually, I don't want to hear music.

Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don't know about? What's your favorite guilty pleasure?

I think all my friends know all the weird songs that I like. I have nothing that I hide.

What band or artist changed your life, and how?

I would say Sonic Youth and John Coltrane. Sonic Youth made classic garage rock modern, and John Coltrane, I guess, kind of the same thing; John Coltrane could bring a very classic jazz standard song and bring it to an end.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

When I think about that, I'm thinking about something classic, not rock 'n' roll at all. I'm thinking about Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto Nos. 1 and 2, because I always come back to that kind of thing.