Carl and Alan Maguire are identical, musically inclined twins who grew up in Hong Kong. At the age of 15, they moved to Memphis, where they fell in love with the jazz music they seldom heard in Hong Kong, and the rest is history. Ever since, they’ve been playing jazz music together around the world. Read on for 5 questions with Carl Maguire below.
1. How did your music career get started?
I first got into playing music when I was 14. I played with friends and made a rock band but then moved to Memphis a year later and was introduced to the rich musical history of the city through the Stax Music Academy.
Stax was were I was introduced to jazz and from there me and my twin brother Alan, went out and tried to learn from as many artists, go to jam sessions, and play as many gigs as we could.
2. How would you describe your music style?
Post bop and modern jazz inspired but we’re always trying to develop and evolve our sound by exploring and incorporating other genres of music.
3. What musicians or genres of music have most influenced your own music?
There’s so many I could list but if I had to narrow it down, drummers such as Eric Harland, Kendrick Scott, and Marcus Gilmore have most influenced my style of drumming. I also have to mention Joe Henderson since his tunes were what got me interested in jazz in the first place.
When it comes to the music, the various eras of jazz have influenced me such as, bebop, postbop, jazz/rock fusion, modern jazz, as well as, soul, r&b, fusion, and hip hop.
4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about being a musician over the years?
The more versatile you can be the better, whether it be knowing various styles/genres, other instruments, composing, or production.
5. How do you feel about Memphis’ music history? Would you say Memphis sounds have influenced your music?
The history of Memphis Music has influenced my music in almost every way possible, Memphis music is powerful, driving, and has raw energy to it you don’t find anywhere else. Coming to Memphis and seeing the level of musicianship the city produced was absolutely mind-blowing to me. I feel very privileged to have been able to develop as a musician in Memphis and I’m proud to be a part of the community.
For more information on The Maguire Twins, check out their website!
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