Meet Peter Dimery | Freelance Jazz Saxophonist & Marketer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peter Dimery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peter, why did you pursue a creative career?
My journey into being a professional creative began with music “choosing me”, then eventually I had to choose it if I were to continue. To pursue Art, I believe you have to commit to embracing perpetual change. You will reinvent the wheel frequently, adapt, make decisions of when to stay and when to leave (with respect to concepts, audiences, methods, etc). It is very rarely “data driven,” rather it is intuition and gut-driven. There is no objective, measurable way to be “The Best,” which is a very positive thing for me as it means I get to continually improve and learn from others. Though the climate can be competitive in terms of ability and output, there is space for everyone.

Though there may be business elements to it (logistics, overhead, profit/loss), the simple novelty of human creation is most important; something artistically successful could potentially mean a loss or sacrifice. An artistic career is a unique opportunity to engage the world leading with your vulnerability, curiosities, and emotions. Being a professional creative makes me a better person and gets me involved in the world on a purely emotional level.

It is worth noting that in order to pursue art the way I see fit (i.e. discriminating the right partnerships, audiences, content etc) I find it necessary to also have a somewhat unrelated corporate career. There are a variety of ways to be a professional artist, but in my experience, you must tailor your situation so that you have the resources to create authentically without sacrificing a stable & healthy life, within reason and within the bounds of your own risk tolerance.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I tend to describe myself as a “Jazz” saxophonist since my personal creations and engagement revolve around music derived from the rich, multitudinous Jazz tradition; however, I find myself in a variety of musical situations, primarily playing saxophone, but sometimes Electric Bass, Voice, Composition or whatever else the music may call for.

I have a passion for improvised music, as the spontaneous composition mirrors the methods of Existentialism: assessing your surroundings and interlocutors, responding properly for the moment with an ear for reflection and an eye for the future, an acceptance of the “Now” and lauding it as most important.

What sets me apart stylistically may be easy enough to hear when compared, but what I believe sets me apart is my focus on the marriage of Art and Philosophy. I feel that I occupy more spaces than simply being a musician, and my diversity of interests makes my life more fulfilling and allows me to show up for others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A jam-packed day in Greenville might look like coffee at Leopard Forest, a short walk on the Swamp Rabbit, ending up downtown eventually for lunch at Society Sandwich Bar, a sort of happy hour down the road at the Greenville Beer Exchange, and a coin toss to decide between Jianna and Camp for dinner because I can never decide on my own. If the stars really aligned, after dinner would be a jazz show at Coffee Underground, or a great indie show at Swanson’s Warehouse.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Not an exhaustive list of shoutouts, but here are a few groups:
-My parents for sacrificing time and resources to allow me to pursue my interests
-A host of high school/college music instructors who lit the path long enough for me to find my way
-Every professional musician in the Carolinas who relentlessly marches forward in their authenticity so that colleagues, students, and future generations may be inspired to do the same
-Philosophers, academic or otherwise, who are unafraid to constantly question and decide for themselves what “being true to oneself” looks like, for these conversations are for all humans and not just artists. And Art is simply a part of being Human; without Life, there would be no Art.

Website: https://jazzmantalking.com/

Instagram: @PeterDimeryJazz

Youtube: Peter Dimery

Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/2GdkZnWKSaVlZGoQunNOAu?si=1d3d6e20d17c41db

Link to my latest collaborative work with Greensboro, NC musician Tyler Long.

Image Credits
Camdon Tomlinson