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Web Exclusive Interview
Britney Spears' Chris Bailey Cont'd
 What you don't want is the artist to turn around and say to you, "What are you doing?" while she's singing a verse. I don't want anyone watching me nervously thinking, Okay, what's he going to do now? It's about being mature, playing the music, and making it feel good, and only doing the technical stuff if you're asked to. To be honest, the guys who get paid the most - unless they're doing fusion or that type of work - the chops are really unnecessary. A lot of the youngsters miss that, so they sit home. You must adapt to what the music requires, especially if you consider yourself a session player. Whatever the music requires is what you become...that's it.
MD: How did you go about building a reputation for yourself - through auditions, session work, word of mouth?
Chris: My first gig in London was with a girl named Michelle Gayle, who was a big television star. I was called in because the music director, Brian Henry, was having trouble with the drummer, and I was recommended. So I went in and he was impressed, so as he kept getting calls for projects he would call me. As a result I got to play with some acts that were huge in Britain at the time - Mark Morrison, Eternal, Rosie Gaines, Coolio.... After that I worked with Simon Ellis, who, incidentally, is the music director on the Britney gig. He's from the U.K., and he called me for a project called Jamelia, which was pretty big at the time. I also did a couple of tours with Simon with a band called S Club 7. Simon and I have developed a great working relationship; he likes the way I play, and I know the way he thinks. So when he got this gig he called me.
MD: What other artists have you worked with?
Chris: Well, let's see...Chaka Khan, and more recently Patti LaBelle, Brian McKnight, and vast array of other artists during a huge TV event, the UNCF's Tribute To Patti LaBelle. Other artists in that show included Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, and Fantasia. I also got to do some studio work with Queen Latifah, and I did a gig with Marcus Miller. My wife, Theresa, and I toured with Cirque du Soleil for a year and a bit - and now I'm in this Circus! [laughs]
MD: What other musical genres do you enjoy?
Chris: Funk, gospel, some jazz. I loved listening to the Yellowjackets because Will Kennedy is an amazing drummer. I met him a couple of times, and he's an even nicer guy. He'll do anything that he can do for you. I love Sting; that's my dream gig really, because he is an absolute genius.
MD: Do you have much opportunity to improvise on this tour, or do you stick to the script?
Chris: Simon Ellis said, "Look, take the music and make it your own. Make it musical." I don't go insane because that isn't my style. But it doesn't have to be exactly like the album, because when it's live there's always that added element of excitement - different arrangements to give it that live edge.
MD: What gear are you using on tour?
Chris: Yamaha drums - I have an Oak Custom kit, and I love it. I'm using Zildjian cymbals - I love the A Custom crashes because they're bright but not too hard. And I have a Roland SPD-S sampling pad. I also play along to loops, which are on a click track on [the workstation] Digital Performer. It isn't difficult to play along to clicks; it's just a case of relaxing and not overthinking it.
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