Improv Exchange Podcast

NYC-based drummer/composer/teacher Allison Miller engages her deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to explore all music. Described by critics as a Modern Jazz Icon in the Making, Miller won Downbeat’s 67th Annual Critics Poll for “Rising Star Drummer” and JazzTimes’s 2019 Critics Poll for “Best Jazz Drummer.” Boom Tic Boom, Allison’s longtime band, won Jazz Journalists Association’s 2019 award...

At a young age, Giveton taught himself how to play the trumpet. From there he has gone on to share the stage with some of the biggest names in music such as Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, and Ben Wolfe. On top of that, earlier this year he was awarded the Letter One Rising Star Jazz Award. All that while he’s still continuing his studies at The Juilliard School. Giveton’s debut album, True Design,...

John Fedchock’s illustrious career in jazz has spanned four decades. Since his emergence on the scene in 1980, Fedchock has established himself as a world-class trombone soloist, a heralded bandleader, and a Grammy-nominated arranger. An in-demand performer and writer in New York City, his multifaceted talents have led him to become one of NYC’s premier jazz artists. His critically acclaimed John...

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He collaborated amongst many others with Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Lynne Arriale, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, E.J. Strickland, André Ceccarelli, Gary H...

Brian Scarborough is a top call trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator in the greater Kansas City area.  He can be seen performing around Kansas City with his own ensembles, and is a member of the People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the Boulevard Big Band, Zen Brass, The Kansas-Nebraska Act, and is a sub for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.  Brian has also appeared with the...

Steve Davis, the father of  Tony Davis , is widely regarded as one of today’s leading improvisers on the trombone. Davis has appeared in Downbeat Magazine’s Readers and Critics Polls numerous times, winning the TDWR (Rising Star) Trombone Category in 1998. Davis has also been recently nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association four years in a row (2010-2013) as Trombonist of the Year. In this e...

Hailing originally from Nagasaki, Japan, Keita Ogawa is 2 times Grammy nominees and Grammy Award winner and one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionist and drummer in New York City if not the world. Currently, he works several projects like Snarky Puppy, Bokanté, Banda Magda, Bokantè, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Charlie Hunter, JSquad, Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra, Clarice Assad,...

When Jason Burt found the recordings in his late grandfather’s attic, he thought they might belong in a World War II museum gift shop. His grandfather, Richard Burt, was a Juilliard-trained musician; before becoming a music teacher in West Sacramento, he volunteered his talents as the lead trumpet player of the 746th Air Force Band. Quite the storyteller, he often spoke of his time with the band,...

Dutch saxophonist Yuri Honing has widened his musical scope through collaborating with such great talents as Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden. Honing achieved his first international breakthrough with his trio recording Star Tracks, an album consisting only of pop songs. Another landmark recording was Seven, made in New York and featuring Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, and Paul Motion, which received the p...

Kyle Benford is a percussionist we believe will be making noise for years to come. After hearing his recordings with raising Jazz artist Micah Thomas and Giveton Gelin we seem to be correct. A Juilliard Alum, Wynton Marsalis has mentioned that Benford is indeed an "MVP". In this episode, Kyle shares his background, education, and musical journey. If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to sub...

Takuya Kuroda is a powerhouse talent, whose writing has been praised as “soulful” and “modern,” “effortlessly bridging the gap between jazz and soul, between history and tomorrow.” This interview marks the upcoming release of Kuroda’s widely-anticipated Album, Fly Moon Die Soon - a fitting title for the work of a musician on the ascent. In this episode, Takuya shares his background, education, and...

Jocelyn Gould is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader. Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, she grew up singing every chance she got and became enthralled with the guitar as a teenager. Jocelyn maintains an active international performance career, including performances at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Jocelyn’s debut recordin...

The New York Times wrote "Only occasionally — a few times in a generation, even — does a pianist come along who seems to have gobbled up and processed so much music, their style can make sense of both jazz’s history and its presence in a single motion. Micah Thomas is one of those players." Micah performs in venues throughout the city both as a leader of his own groups and as a sideman for such lu...

Yoo Sun Nam is an up­ and ­coming alto saxophonist and composer from South Korea. At a young age, she was very intrigued by many different styles of music including classical, Korean traditional, pop, and funk. In 2011, Yoo Sun moved to New York City, where she began pursuing her Master’s degree in jazz studies from NYU Steinhardt. During her time in New York, Yoo Sun was fortunate enough to have...

“One of the most commanding voices on bass today” Yasushi Nakamura is praised for imaginative, quicksilver bass lines that deepen the groove. His blend of guitar-like precision and gut-level blues has sparked collaborations with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Hank Jones, Dave Douglas, Steve Miller, etc. With his charismatic stage presence and artful, hard-swing...

Shane Cooper is a bassist, composer, and producer based in Johannesburg, South Africa.  He is part of the new wave of South African Jazz artists pushing the music forward and is also known for his work in the electronic/dance music world, as well as commissioned works for films and theatre. In 2017 he launched MABUTA with band members Bokani Dyer, Sisonke Xonti, Robin Fassie, and Marlon Witbooi.  ...

Bassist, singer, and composer Ellen Andrea Wang has distinguished herself as an inventive artist, blending genres in new and unprecedented ways. Wang received the Kongsberg Jazz Festivals great musician award in 2015. The prize is awarded to a musician who has a leading position on the Norwegian jazz scene. We believe she's talent on the rise and a force to be reckoned with. In the episode, Ellen...

Most jazz listeners are surely acquainted with one of the genre’s foremost trombonists, Steve Davis. The good news is his 25-year-old son, guitarist Tony Davis has also picked up the mantle and is continuing the family’s musical legacy. Not only does Davis display considerable talent with his swinging guitar style, but he also wrote most of the tunes on this debut as a leader, Golden Year. In this...

Maik Krahl was once described as “represents his generation’s as the top German jazz trumpeter. His musical statements enrich me and let me look forward to the future of a whole genre, which will always exist.” We tend to agree. His first album  Decidophobia  was released in 2018 with Double Moon/Challenge Records International. His second album  Fraction  featuring Seamus Blake was released in Ma...

Hot House Jazz Magazine described Chris McCarthy as “one of the most imaginative and impressive voices on the New York jazz scene.” Since arriving in New York City in 2016, McCarthy has made a name for himself as one of the scenes most in-demand young sidemen. He steps into the foreground as a bandleader with the release of his April 2020 Ropeadope debut, Still Time To Quit. In this episode, Chris...

Jazz and Latin Jazz vocalist, Lauren Henderson, paints reflective and impassioned stories with her haunting voice and enchanting compositions. Henderson's compositions navigate journeys imposed through the African Diaspora in connection to her Panamanian, Montserratian, and vast Caribbean roots as they interplay with her North American upbringing. In this episode, Lauren shares her background, edu...

Steve Perry is best known as lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the Oregon ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Their hit song "Zoot Suit Riot,” was a subversive, punk-forward cocktail of jazz and ska with a swing finish that sends listeners back to the 1940s. In this episode, Steve shares his background and his musical journey. If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to...

Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning, vibrant, young jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator. Alexa was also recently named one of the “Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019” by the JazzTimes Critics’ Poll. In this episode, Alexa talks about her musical journey and her latest release Clarity. If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or review this po...

Trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be a rare talent: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the postbop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Blue Mitchell but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. Benny shares hi...

In addition to being a solo artist, Almazan is the founder and director of Biophilia Records. In this episode, Fabian Almazan joins us as he talks about his music journey and the future of Jazz. If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast ect. Connect with us on all social media platforms and at www.i...