Sherry Margolin
As an American pianist, I am very inspired by...singing! Artists like Ray Charles and Aretha who come from the Black Church and play and sing equally well are my biggest influences. I like to use the piano to have a dialogue with singers and other musicians. When I was young I liked the way pianos sound and feel so much that I learned to tune and repair them. But what really excites and attracts me in music is the magic of the groove, whether it's Boogie Woogie, Funk, New Orleans or Nigerian Afrobeat. My collaborations with Bluesman Bob Margolin (brother), with African American Gospel artists over 35 years, and with Nigerian artist Chief Udoh Essiet (husband, co-songwriter, co-producer) have enriched my musical vocabulary.