Argentinian pianist Emilio Solla calls his band The Tango Jazz Conspiracy, but that’s about the only genre label you’ll find him using for his music — and he’s not even sure what “tango jazz” really means. On his album Bien Sur! (Fresh Sound, 2010), Solla is joined by A-list musicians such as Chris Cheek, Richie Barshay, Victor Prieto and Jorge Roeder. In this interview, Solla talks about his early years in Argentina and his subsequent move to Spain; how Astor Piazzolla paved the way for Solla a...
Jun 21, 2010
Cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum has his fingers in so many pies, he should open a bakery. In addition to his recent CD Madeleine Dreams (Firehouse 12 Records, 2009) with his band SpiderMonkey Strings, he’s also on a new duo CD, Stepwise (Not Two Records, 2010), with drummer Tomas Fujiwara. And he’s helping run the Tri-Centric Foundation , which preserves and advances the music of Anthony Braxton. And he helps run a record label. And he’s launching a fall tour … by bicycle. He talks about all that and ...
Jun 17, 2010
Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs is giving the power back to the people to fund her new CD, The Dream . She’s using micro-patronage to raise the funds for the CD and for her tour of the U.S. , which begins June 15, 2010. In this interview, Gunnlaugs discusses her decision to use a fan-based funding system; how Kool & The Gang became a gateway to jazz; why she decided to come to the United States to study; and why she eventually returned to Iceland. Learn more at www.sunnagunnlaugs.com . To ...
Jun 14, 2010
Bassist Rufus Reid says he’s found a very special combination of players on his new trio CD, Out Front (Motema Music, 2010). In this interview, Reid talks about why pianist Steve Allee and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca make for such rare trio partners; how he approaches both trio and large ensemble playing; and why he feels compelled to keep reaching for new experiences. Learn more at www.rufusreid.com .
Jun 10, 2010
Drummer Sunny Jain is using his superpowers for good, choosing on his new album, Taboo (Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, 2010) to make a series of strong statements about social issues, set against South Asian cultural norms. In this interview, Jain talks about his decision to use traditional song forms to say non-traditional things; the intricate interplay of the band; and the many guest vocalists who appear on the record. Learn more at www.sunnyjain.com . If you’d like to buy this album, you...
Jun 07, 2010
If all you know about Humboldt County, California, is Firesign Theatre and, uh, “agriculture,” then it’s time you got to know the Redwood Jazz Alliance. Located behind the “Redwood Curtain,” the RJA is successfully bringing in major jazz artists to a community that wouldn’t otherwise have access to them. In this interview, three board members — Dan Aldag, Michael Eldridge and Eric Neel — talk about the origins of the Alliance; its early success in attracting top-flight talent; and how the local ...
Jun 03, 2010
A few years ago, several jazz musicians in Los Angeles decided to pool their resources to create a better environment for jazz in LA. Thus was born the Los Angeles Jazz Collective. In this interview, LAJC founding member Gary Fukushima discusses the early days of the collective; how it is run and the types of programs it puts on; and why the LAJC’s founding members decided such an organization was necessary. Learn more at www.lajazzcollective.com ....
May 31, 2010
Spike Wilner is a jazz pianist and also one of the owners of Small’s Jazz Club in New York City. In this interview, Wilner talks about the often colorful history of the club; it’s philosophy of musical intimacy; and how it has become “a hang†for jazz musicians. Learn more at smallsjazzclub.com .
May 27, 2010
Seth Abramson is a musician and longtime music promoter who books Jazz Standard, one of the premier jazz clubs in New York. In this interview, Abramsom talks about the musical philosophy of the Starndard; how he decides who to book when; and how the Standard got its start. Learn more at www.jazzstandard.net .
May 24, 2010
Sam Newsome made a decision nearly 15 years ago to switch exclusively to the soprano saxophone. His most recent album, Blue Soliloquy (self-produced, 2009) is a solo exploration of that instrument. In this interview, Newsome talks about his pattern of intensive periods of study; the musical goals he had for the new record; and also about other projects with which he’s involved, including a dance performance and a collaboration with a Romanian pianist. Learn more at www.samnewsome.com . If you’d ...
May 20, 2010
Drummer Peter Erskine has done it all: Stan Kenton, Weather Report, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band and many, many others. Most recently, he’s appeared on two albums, The Trio Live At Charlie O’s (Fuzzy Music, 2010) and The Avatar Sessions (Fuzzy Music, 2010). In this interview, Erskine talks about the differences between playing drums in a big band and trio; the unexpected success of the recording at Charlie O’s; and some of the upcoming projects with which he’s involved. Learn more at www.petere...
May 17, 2010
Drummer Dana Hall has made a name for himself in the bands of Terell Stafford, Malachi Thompson, Bobby Broom and many others. Now he’s taking the lead with his debut recording, Into The Light (Origin, 2009). In this interview, Hall talks about the recording of the new album; the idea of “pacing” a recording session; and how he chose a career as a drummer after he’d already established himself as a aerospace engineer. Learn more at danahallmusic.com . If you’d like to buy this album, you can supp...
May 13, 2010
Paul Pines is a poet with roots deep in the jazz world. In the 1970s, he opened and ran the Tin Palace, a bar in the Bowery where he booked many of the great jazz names of the day and others who would get some of their earliest gigs at the Palace. Pines has published several books of poetry and fiction, including the recent Last Call At The Tin Palace (Marsh Hawk Press, 2009). In this interview, recorded after a reading by Pines in Albany, NY, Pines talks about the early days of the Tin Palace; ...
May 10, 2010
Guitarist Nels Cline may be best known these days for his work with Wilco, but he’d already established himself as an inventive guitarist and composer long before teaming up with the band. On his new CD, Initiate (Cryptogramophone, 2010), the Nels Cline Singers trio explores a variety of rhythmic and harmonic concepts from their very original viewpoint. In this interview, Cline talks about the all-inclusive concept behind his current trio; his concerns years ago about playing in the trio format;...
May 06, 2010
Guitarist Torben Waldorff’s new CD is called American Rock Beauty (ArtistShare, 2010). On it, Waldorff explores improvisation that is deeply rooted in the American and British rock music he grew up with as a kid. In this interview, Waldorff talks about how he chose the title of the new record; the band and how they all met; and the way in which music served as a sanctuary for him during a turbulent childhood. Learn more at www.waldorff.com ....
May 03, 2010
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Henry Threadgill has always followed his own particular muse, and his new album, And This Brings Us To, Vol. 1 (Pi Recordings, 2009), is no different. In this interview, Threadgill discusses the musical language he’s developed, and the demands it places on the musicians who play with him; why he constantly searches for new ways of writing and playing; how cell phones and other digital technology are changing the way we interact with music and with each other; a...
Apr 29, 2010
“Jazz is as relevant today as the yearning of people to be free.” That’s how Sonny Rollins describes the state of the music in this interview, recorded in late 2009 during his European tour. He also talks about his early decision to choose music over painting; his choice from his earliest days to record controversial songs such as “The House I Live In;” and his theory about why the world is full of strife. Learn more at www.sonnyrollins.com . The music in this interview comes from the Sonny Roll...
Apr 26, 2010
Baritone saxophonist Charles Evans and his longtime friend, pianist Neil Shah, recently released Live At Saint Stephens (Hotcup, 2009), a duet recording that showcases Evans’ amazing tone and inventive compositions. In this interview, Evans discusses his focus on the bari sax; his relationship with Neil Shah and how it impacts their music; and his plans for … bass fishing. Learn more at charlesevansmusic.com . If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it v...
Apr 22, 2010
On Pieces Of Old Sky (Clean Feed, 2009), Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser explores space and spectral harmony to great effect. In this interview, Blaser discusses the challenges of leaving space in music; his Swiss roots and how moving to New York changed his life; and several upcoming projects, including his jazz take on the music of Monteverdi. Learn more at samuelblaser.com . If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:...
Apr 19, 2010
One of the things that makes Matt Lavelle uncommon is that he doubles on trumpet and bass clarinet, as you’ll hear on his album The Manifestation Drama (KMB, 2009). In this interview, Lavelle talks about his own growth as a musician; why he started playing bass clarinet; and his fascinating friendships with swing-era veteran Hildred Humphries, jazz icon Ornette Coleman, and long-lost jazzman Giuseppi Logan. Learn more at www.myspace.com/mattlavelle . If you’d like to buy this album, you can supp...
Apr 15, 2010
Drummer and New Orleans native Stanton Moore is a busy man, whether with his bands Galactic and Garage a Trois or as a solo artist. He’s just released a trio CD called Groove Alchemy (Telarc, 2010), which is also the name of the companion instructional DVD and book, all of which explore funk drumming. In this interview, Moore talks about the legacy of drummers Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield and Zigaboo Modeliste; why he decided to explore funk drumming in depth with this new project; and the ex...
Apr 12, 2010
Trumpeter Erik Telford finds a balance between the electric and the acoustic on his new CD, Kinetic (EJT Music, 2009) and on his 2-CD/DVD set Live At The Hideout Theatre . In this interview, Telford talks about making music in Austin, TX; the evolution of his musical concept over time; and his band’s success in appealing to a younger audience. Learn more at www.ejtmusic.com . [Full disclosure: I wrote the liner notes for Kinetic .] If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Sessio...
Apr 08, 2010
Baritone saxophonist and composer Fred Ho made Celestial Green Monster (Mutable Music, 2010) because he thought he’d be dead soon. Ho’s amazing fight against multiple instances of cancer, and his lifelong pursuit of social justice and musical adventure, informs much of the music on his new album. In this interview, Ho talks about making music while fighting cancer; his passion for large ensembles; and how he chooses to make a political statement through instrumental music. Learn more at www.bigr...
Apr 05, 2010
Vibraphonist Joe Locke’s For The Love Of You (E1 Music, 2010) combines film music, pop music and Locke’s original compositions into an organic whole stamped with Locke’s unmistakable ear for melody and feel for rhythm. In this interview, Locke talks about finding vocalist Kenny Washington; his distinctive approach to arranging for his bands; and one possible explanation for the physicality of his live performances. Learn more at www.joelocke.com . If you’d like to buy this album, you can support...
Apr 01, 2010
Pianist Orrin Evans pays tribute to his friend and musical partner Bobby Watson on Faith In Action (Posi-Tone, 2010). In this interview, recorded while Evans was on tour in Italy, he talks about the importance of family and friends to his life and career; why he chose the particular Watson compositions that appear on the new album; and how he approaches the task of leading a band. Learn more at www.myspace.com/orrinevans . If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purc...
Mar 29, 2010
Saxophonist John Ellis & Double-Wide return with an expanded instrumental line-up on their new CD, Puppet Mischief (Obliq Sound, 2010). This interview was recorded in Albany, NY, right before Ellis’s show at Red Square. In this interview, Ellis talks about the addition of harmonica and trombone to the band; how he approaches recording sessions; and Ice Siren , his hour-long, song-based narrative collaboration with writer Andy Bragen. Learn more at johnaxsonellis.com . NOTE: This is John Elli...
Mar 25, 2010
Pianist Frank Kimbrough’s latest CD, Rumors (Palmetto, 2010), comes out on March 30, 2010. It’s a trio session with bassist Masa Kamaguchi and drummer Jeff Hirschfield. In this interview, Kimbrough talks about the album’s uncommon recording method; how Andrew Hill impacted his early musical life and the lifelong friendship that resulted; and why being ready to fail is a crucial component of musical success. Learn more at home.earthlink.net/~fkimbrough/ . If you’d like to buy this album, you can ...
Mar 22, 2010
Guitarist Lionel Loueke combines the music of his native Benin with his immersion in jazz on his album, Mwaliko (Blue Note, 2010). He’s joined on the record by Angélique Kidjo, Esperanza Spaulding, Richard Bona, Marcus Gilmore and others. In this interview, Loueke talks about his early years in Benin and how he ended up playing jazz in the U.S.; the guests and repertoire on his new album; and the influence of Herbie Hancock on his music and his life. Learn more at www.lionelloueke.com . If you’...
Mar 18, 2010
Guitarist and banjo player Brandon Seabrook’s trio plays a raging blend of metal, bluegrass and improvised music on their new CD, Seabrook Power Plant (Loyal Label, 2009). In this interview, Seabrook talks about the intense rhythmic drive of the album; why he started playing the tenor banjo; and the many projects he’s been involved with as a sideman. Learn more at myspace.com/brandonseabrook . If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:...
Mar 15, 2010
Show #150! Crazy, ain’t it? Multi-instrumentalist Sadigursky just released Words Project III: Miniatures (New Amsterdam, 2010), the third in his series of releases combining contemporary poetry with improvised and through-composed music. In this interview, Sadigursky talks about his decision to use poems as an inspiration for composition; which texts lend themselves to his work and why; and what the various vocalists on his albums bring to the music. Learn more at samsadigursky.com . If you’d li...
Mar 11, 2010
