Libby Ando: Thank you for being with us today! Please introduce yourself however you feel most comfortable in terms of personal identity, be it race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, gender, sexuality, disability, spirituality, or otherwise.

My name is Anthony Hervey, and I'm a trumpeter, composer, and teacher. I'm originally from South Florida. I went to Juilliard and just finished in 2020. I'm a New York- based artist and I like to create, amongst other things. 

Libby: High Line Nine is a multidisciplinary art museum in New York City. Could you tell us about your experience performing there? 
I've enjoyed every single performance that I've done there. It's a beautiful space. A musician couldn't ask for better acoustics, and the reverb is insane. I've had a great time playing for the audiences there because they're just so engaged. It's been a real joy. In addition to that, working with Mako (Makoto Fujimura) - he's an incredible artist. Working with him has been humbling, hearing his ideas and thoughts behind the music and the art; it’s why I look forward to many more collaborations at High Line Nine.

Libby: How do you think music performance can change our world? 
When I started playing trumpet in middle school, one of the first things I learned from my band director, Anthony Williams, was that music and life are not separate. If you tried to go one day without listening to music, it would probably be impossible because it's in so many different things. Somebody will be playing music in the car, or you’ll hear music on TV. Even in nature, birds are singing, and there are all these extra frequencies in New York City from people honking horns. On a deeper level, as artists, you're always creating; music reflects life. As things happen to us in life, that is reflected in our music. In songs, you have themes of heartbreak, trauma, the joys of life, love, etc. So even just listening to a song could change your life, or it can give you strength to go through your day. I remember all these little beautiful moments. 

As far as changing the world with music, I don't think it happens in large strokes. I think it's reflected in these personal things that happen to us. For example, my grandfather and I both loved music. I remember this time in high school we were in the car listening to music, and then when we got home we stayed in the car listening to ‘Nessun Dorma’. We didn't want to disturb my grandmother, so we made sure the door was shut and we turned up the volume all the way. The grandness of the ending—that part where you get goosebumps—we kept replaying that part over and over again at this high volume. I remember that so well. 

I feel like there are all these small moments that shape our lives and connect us, young and old. I remember playing in Russia with these musicians and although I couldn’t talk to them at all because I was struggling with their language, it was funny how we could still play it. We played Thelonious Monk’s ‘Epistrophy,’ which is such a difficult song. So, music connects us in a lot of different ways. I think that's how music can change our world and bring us closer together. 

Libby: Could you speak about the importance of interdisciplinary art spaces in our culture? 
Art is expression, and as artists we're always reflecting the world around us. What we do is not that different from the other. Even though we express ideas through different mediums, we're all pulling from life experiences. I think it's a very beautiful thing when you bring two artists together from different mediums, even starting simply with the conversations. Working with Mako was humbling and eye opening. Just hearing his process, with the slow drag style that he uses, hearing his ideas behind time, and how he deals with the traumas that we experienced collectively. He finds a way to bring healing to those experiences. We all think about these ideas and those conversations can inspire decades of creative inspiration. The audience ends up with a very beautiful product, getting to see these two artistic mediums. It's a very beautiful thing. 

Libby: What are some other ways in which you're influenced by different art or literary forms? 
I would say just in general as an artist, I'm more so inspired by things outside of myself. I'm always going outside and I always pay attention when I'm on the train or just walking around. I have a sensibility towards words, so I really enjoy poetry in particular. Langston Hughes is one of my favorites. I love Maya Angelou, William Butler, Yeats,   E. E. Cummings, as the ways that they twist and turn phrases is very similar to what I do as a jazz musician. I've written songs that are inspired by poetry. I have a song “Words Through My Horn” and that's based off of a poem. I wrote three lines and three stanzas, structuring the melody, the trumpet intro at the beginning, off of that format. It's also, it's blending the blues with this other medium, with all of these modern sounds and fourths. I've definitely written a lot of songs inspired by poems. 

Also, as a trumpet player, it’s hard that I can't actually use words in the way that a singer can, or a writer can write words, because that's such a direct form of communication. You can just read it and then you understand it. When I'm playing, especially if a song has lyrics, I'm very aware of the words of the song. If I'm playing a note, say the word is love: I'm thinking about that as I play the note. I try to, but as an instrumentalist you're communicating the feeling of the lyrics. Words are very important. 

Libby: Given all of the variety of performances that you've had the chance to do in your lifetime, on Christian McBride's new album, you're in a new series on Hulu, Monsterland, acting and playing trumpet. You’ve also played with Wynton Marsalis. What has been the most memorable experience out of all of these life altering moments? 
Definitely my most memorable experience was playing with Wynton in Marciac, France because he's been such an inspiration to me - he’s my  favorite trumpet player. I love Winton's playing. As a trumpet player, I've been inspired by him, but he’s also inspired me as an artist and mentor. We've had so many conversations about music, but getting to share the stage with him was definitely a milestone for me. If you sit around Wynton you're definitely going to learn something, because he's literally a walking encyclopedia, but also one of the most giving people I've ever met. If he has any ounce of time to talk to you, he will talk to you. He's one of the greatest people I've ever met. He's also taught me the importance of having a philosophical conception behind your music in addition to just being a great musician. It's nice to see how he's able to bridge jazz with so many other elements that we deal with, politically and culturally. 

Libby: Anything else you'd like to share with us?
Going back to poetry, William Butler Yeats, is one of my favorites. One of my favorite poems that he wrote is “The Second Coming” as there are these lines that really stuck out to me where he says the best lack conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity. I feel like in this day and time, there's a lot of chaos around us and a lot of negativity, but I think we need to create spaces to showcase beauty. I think that's what you all do. You bring creative artists together. I'm really thankful for what you do because we need those positive voices out here.