Several years ago, Danilo Perez became a father. On his new album, Providencia (Mack Avenue, 2010), Perez explores the lives of his daughters and commits himself, musically and socially, to leaving them a better world. In this interview, Perez talks about fatherhood; the diverse array of musicians in his band; and the many musical and other projects he’s involved with in Panama and at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Learn more at www.daniloperez.com ....
Oct 18, 2010
Portland, Oregon-based band Blue Cranes have a new record called Observatories that continues their exploration of a wide variety of musical styles. In this interview, two members of Blue Crane discuss the band’s origin; its expansion from a quartet to a quintet; the use of the studio as an instrument; and their fan-funded upcoming national tour by train. Learn more at www.bluecranesmusic.com .
Oct 14, 2010
Grammy and Tony award winner Don Sebesky wrote and arranged music for many of the classic CTI recordings. You can hear his work on a new boxed set, CTI: The Cool Revolution (Sony Masterworks, 2010). In this interview, Sebesky talks about how CTI got started and how it developed its signature sound; his experience working with Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Paul Desmond, Grover Washington, Jr. and many others; and why he still considers his time at CTI one of the best periods of his musical career. Le...
Oct 11, 2010
Saxophonist Jon Irabagon continues his exploration of extended improvisation on Foxy (Hot Cup, 2010). In this interview, Irabagon talks about his study of the tenor saxophone lineage; the physical and mental challenges of the continuous 87-minute improvisation on this album; and why he felt Barry Altschul was the perfect drummer for this project. Learn more at www.jonirabagon.com .
Oct 07, 2010
Trumpeter Stephen Haynes is joined by Warren Smith and Joe Morris on his new trio CD Parrhesia (Engine, 2010). In this interview, Haynes talks about “relational” arranging; how the album captured a special day in the recording studio; and why he tries to focus on making music in his local area. Learn more at stephenhaynes.blogspot.com .
Oct 04, 2010
Composer Darrell Katz leads an all-star ensemble of Boston’s finest through a program of his own compositions on A Wallflower In The Amazon (Accurate Records, 2010). In this interview, Katz talks about the album’s musical diversity; his use of poetry as text for some of his compositions; and his particular method of placing his own stamp on the works of others. Learn more at www.jazzcomposersalliance.org .
Sep 30, 2010
Saxophonist Howard Wiley explores the music and conditions at Angola prison in Louisiana on 12 Gates to the City . This CD is the follow up to The Angola Project , which was based on Wiley’s research on the prison. The new album was inspired by Wiley’s visit to Angola. In this interview, Wiley talks about conditions at the prison; modern-day slavery; and why he felt compelled to document his experiences musically. Learn more at www.howardwiley.com ....
Sep 27, 2010
Saxophonist Geof Bradfield traveled to several African countries in 2008. His new album, African Flowers (Origin Records, 2010), is a musical chronicle of that journey. In this interview, Bradfield talks about the places he visited on his trip; how he chose to musically interpret his experiences; and the varied projects with which he’s currently involved. Learn more at http://geofbradfield.com .
Sep 23, 2010
Guitarist Mary Halvorson explores adventurous musical territory on Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12 Records, 2010). In this interview, Halvorson talks about the influence of Anthony Braxton; her uncommon guitar; and her approach to composition. Learn more at www.maryhalvorson.com .
Sep 20, 2010
Saxophonist Dave Liebman is celebrating an amazing year full of recordings and awards. In this interview, Liebman talks about his lifelong commitment to education; the various honors bestowed upon him recently, including an NEA Jazz Master Award; and why he enjoys playing not only his own music but also the music of giants such as Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane. Learn more at www.daveliebman.com .
Sep 16, 2010
Saxophonist Beth Schenck’s fascinating approach to rhythm is one of the standout features of her debut album, What Shock Heard (Inayat Records, 2010). In this interview, Schenck talks about rhythm; her diary-like approach to composition; and why she decided she needed a working band. Learn more at bethschenck.com .
Sep 13, 2010
Vocalist Theo Bleckmann is all by himself on his new solo recording, I Dwell In Possibility (Winter & Winter, 2010). In this interview, Bleckmann talks about why he wanted to record an album with only voice and toy instruments; how he approaches adapting the work of others; and the joys of feeling free to perform in nearly any musical context. Learn more at www.theobleckmann.com .
Sep 09, 2010
Steve Cardenas has worked as a sideman on too many records to count, and now he’s put out a solo album that shows why he’s in such demand — West Of Middle (Sunnyside, 2010). In this interview, Cardenas talks about his approach to composition and his appreciation of instrumental “songs”; his work with Don Sickler transcribing all of Thelonious Monk’s compositions; and his ideas about jazz education and its role in the continuation of the music. Learn more at www.stevecardenasmusic.com ....
Sep 06, 2010
Pianist John Escreet explores a structured freedom on his album, Don’t Fight The Inevitable (Mythology, 2010). In this interview, Escreet talks about his upbringing in England; his important experiences with drummer Tyshawn Sorey and saxophonist David Binney; and a new commission that debuts this month. Learn more at www.johnescreet.com .
Sep 02, 2010
Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Andrew Lamb’s trio went into the studio to record a response, the album New Orleans Suite (Engine Studios, 2005 & 2010). Now that album has been remastered and reissued to mark the fifth anniversary of the storm and the engineering disaster that flooded New Orleans. In this interview, Lamb talks about his personal connections to New Orleans; the experience of making the record in the days immediately after the storm; and why he feels musi...
Aug 30, 2010
For more than a decade, Kneebody has been making music that’s hard to classify and harder to resist. Their new album is You Can Have Your Moment (Winter & Winter, 2010). In this interview, trumpeter Shane Endsley talks about the band’s different approach to recording the new album; the complex series of musical cues the band uses to arrange music live onstage; and how the combination of Theo Bleckmann and Charles Ives led to a recording relationship with the Winter & Winter label. Learn ...
Aug 26, 2010
Pianist Jimmy Amadie has recorded seven albums, despite being able to play for just a couple hours every few months as a result of severe problems with his hands. On his most recent record, Kindred Spirits (TP Recordings, 2010), Amadie is joined by Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano and Lew Tabackin, among others. In this interview, Amadie talks about the long road back to playing; his subsequent battle with cancer; and his desire to have his music judged against the master musicians of the genre. Learn mor...
Aug 23, 2010
Here’s an interview I recorded in 2007 with guitarist Gene Bertoncini. This is what I said about him back then: Raised in the Bronx, Bertoncini began his musical education at an early age, encouraged by his parents. He studied architecture at Notre Dame before deciding on a life of music. That decision was a smart one — Bertoncini has since performed with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra, the Benny Goodman Sextet, Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach, Michel LeGrand and many o...
Aug 19, 2010
Roland Vazquez explores a series of historical and philosophical ideas through the medium of music on The Visitor (RVCD, 2010). In this interview, Vazquez talks about his former and current large ensembles; the programmatic elements underlying the compositions; and why he decided to do something — or rather not do something — for the first time on this album. Learn more at www.rolandvazquez.com .
Aug 16, 2010
Here’s an interview from the early days of The Jazz Session with guitarist David Torn. This is what I had to say about him back then: He’s a film composer whose music you’ve heard in Friday Night Lights , Believe In Me , and The Order . He’s also contributed tones and textures to films like this year’s Best Picture winner, The Departed , and the 2000 hit Traffic . Before his film days, he was known for daring musical collaborations on albums such as Cloud About Mercury (ECM, 1987). And h...
Aug 12, 2010
Eric Hofbauer is using the solo guitar to explore American identity on a trilogy of albums that began with American Vanity (Creative Nation Music, 2004) and continues with American Fear (Creative Nation Music, 2010). In this interview, Hofbauer talks about the pop tunes he covers on this record; how he uses improvisation to lead to composition; and why he started Creative Nation Music. Learn more at www.myspace.com/erichofbauer and at Creative Nation Music’s site ....
Aug 09, 2010
It’s been 14 years since trumpeter Pharez Whitted last released an album, a drought he’s now ended with Transient Journey (Owl Studios, 2010). In this interview, Whitted talks about the changes in his life that led to the new recording; what it meant to grow up in a family where everyone played an instrument or sang; and why he decided early on to teach as well as play. Learn more at www.pharezwhitted.com .
Aug 05, 2010
Trumpeter David Weiss and his band Point Of Departure explore music from the late 1960s on their new record, Snuck In (Sunnyside, 2010), recorded live at Jazz Standard in New York. In this interview, Weiss talks about the little-known Detroit composers who wrote some of the songs on the new record; why he chose to cover other people’s music on this recording; and how he found the impressive roster of talent in Point Of Departure. Learn more at www.davidweissmusic.com ....
Aug 02, 2010
Steve Coleman leads his band Five Elements through another thought-provoking set on Harvesting Semblances And Affinities (Pi Recordings, 2010), his first American-label release in nine years and his first new album in four years. In this interview, Coleman talks about a wide range of topics, from seeing Sonny Stitt play a student horn in a motel room in Chicago to the philosophy and research underlying his musical explorations. Learn more at www.m-base.com ....
Jul 29, 2010
Pianist Marc Copland joins Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Drew Gress and John Abercrombie in the band Contact. Their new album is Five On One (Pirouet Records, 2010). In this interview, Copland talks about the formation of the band and his relationships with the individual members; his years in D.C. and his switch from saxophone to piano; and why more piano players might want to consider laying out for a chorus or two. Learn more at www.marccopland.com ....
Jul 26, 2010
When one thinks of free jazz, one of the first names that springs to mind is that of Merle Haggard. And so, it’s perfectly natural that saxophonist Bryan Murray would have assembled a band to play free versions of Haggard’s songs. The result is the very engaging Pretend It’s The End Of The World (Hot Cup, 2010). In this interview, Murray talks about the inspiration for the record and how the band made the songs work in such a different context. Learn more at www.myspace.com/bryanandthehaggards ....
Jul 22, 2010
Bassist Charnett Moffett grew up in a musical family. Which is to say, his dad played with Ornette Coleman and the whole Moffett family band was touring the world when Charnett was a kid. More than two decades later, Charnett is bringing that family history and his own impressive musical resume to bear on his new album, Treasure (Motema, 2010). In this interview, Charnett talks about the thinking behind this album; his childhood experiences and how they shaped the musician he is today; and his w...
Jul 19, 2010
Guitarist Michael Musillami’s new album, Old Tea (Playscape Recordings, 2010) was conceived in tragedy. Musillami talks about that great loss in this interview, and also about how he used music as one tool to navigate through dark waters. Learn more at www.michaelmusillami.com .
Jul 01, 2010
Bassist Stephan Crump formed the Rosetta Trio with guitarists Liberty Ellman and Jamie Fox to play music he composed in response to September 11. Now, with their second album, Reclamation (Sunnyside, 2010), the trio continues to explore an exposed and intimate sonic landscape. In this interview, Crump talks about the origins of the band; the trio’s particular sonic palette; and the benefits of playing without drums. Learn more at www.stephancrump.com ....
Jun 28, 2010
Guitarist Matt White and his band Fight The Big Bull are part of the creative music scene in Richmond, Virginia. Their new album All Is Gladness In The Kingdom (Clean Feed, 2010) features the playing and arrangements of Steven Bernstein, perhaps best known for his band Sex Mob. In this interview, White talks about the surprisingly fertile Richmond scene; how he came to work with Bernstein; and why a song from The Band ended up on the new record. Learn more at www.fightthebigbull.com . And be sur...
Jun 24, 2010
