JAZZIZ Not What You Think

Jonathan Butler's musical journey is a remarkable tale that spans from humble beginnings to global stardom, and he graciously shares some of it with us on the latest episode of the JAZZIZ Podcast . Born and raised in apartheid-era South Africa, Butler embarked on a professional career as a touring musician at a remarkably young age. As a teenager, he recorded local hits that struck a chord wit...

This week’s  JAZZIZ Podcast  features a conversation with the exceptionally talented singer/songwriter Dara Starr Tucker, where we dive into the world of her eagerly awaited sixth record, which holds a special significance as her  self-titled album  and most personal work to date. In this remarkable collection, Tucker unveils a treasure trove of six vibrant original compositions, complemented by c...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of sharing a conversation with the talented and virtuosic guitarist Roberto Restuccia. Hailing from Britain, Restuccia has already turned heads with his previous albums, including Exposure from 2016, When the Smoke Clears from 2017 and With Every Turn from 2021. In his latest release, Lounge Katz , Restuccia takes us on a captivating journey into the realm of...

Join us in this latest episode of JAZZIZ Travel as we dive into the upcoming Festival International de Jazz de Montréal , set to captivate audiences from June 29-July 8. The 10-day extravaganza will bring together legendary performers and emerging talents, including Buddy Guy, Diana Krall, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Melody Gardot, Herbie Hancock and George Benson, among many more, showcasin...

Meet Jakob Dreyer, a German-born, New York City-based musician and composer who is swiftly establishing himself as one of the most promising jazz bassists of our time. Though he initially embarked on a musical journey with the piano, it was at the age of 14 that he discovered his true calling—the bass. Since then, it has become his instrument of choice, allowing him to shape a distinctive and deep...

Join us in the latest episode of JAZZIZ Travel, where we have the honor of sitting down with Randall Kline, the visionary co-founder and Executive Artistic Director of SFJAZZ . As this incredible organization celebrates its remarkable 40th anniversary, we delve into its intriguing history and unwavering mission statement, solidifying SFJAZZ as a true trailblazer within the jazz community. In this...

Today, we are honored to have a true legend in the world of jazz as our guest: NEA Jazz Master and multi-GRAMMY Award-winning artist, Terri Lyne Carrington. With a remarkable career spanning over four decades, Carrington has not only collaborated with jazz’s greatest luminaries but has also fearlessly ventured into groundbreaking projects of her own. A true maverick, she has seamlessly blended jaz...

Richard Niles is a multi-talented guitarist, composer, arranger and producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in popular music, including Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, the Pet Shop Boys and Grace Jones, to name but a very few. He has also worked within a huge variety of genres and contexts, led an acclaimed jazz orchestra, Bandzilla, since 1987, and released many celebrated albums as a...

In this episode, we sit down with renowned American composer and arranger, Vince Mendoza, to discuss his approach to the art of composition. With a career spanning over four decades, Vince has worked with some of the biggest names in jazz and classical music, including Joni Mitchell, Sting, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. We delve into Vince's creative process, exploring his methods for...

In this episode, we are joined by the multi-talented musician, Billy Childs, to discuss his remarkable career in jazz music. As a pianist, composer, and arranger, Billy has won four Grammy Awards and has worked with a diverse range of artists, including Dianne Reeves, Chris Botti, and Sting. We dive deep into Billy's creative process, exploring how he draws inspiration from different genres of...

This week's JAZZIZ Podcast is a conversation with jazz singer/songwriter Allegra Levy, known for her richly sweet yet swinging alto voice and for writing catchy, emotive songs grounded in tradition with a nod to the progressive. Her new album finds her bringing her distinctive brand of sweet, swinging elegance straight to the hearts of young and old alike with her first album for children and...

In this podcast interview, we sit down with the incredibly talented musician and guitarist, Cory Wong. Known for his unique blend of funk, jazz, and soul, Cory has made a name for himself in the music industry as both a solo artist and a collaborator with some of the biggest names in the business. Throughout the conversation, we dive into Cory's creative process, his influences, and his experi...

Avi Adrian is one of the most prominent and influential pianists and jazz players in Israel. A unique interpreter in his field, Adrian has an extensive performance record as a soloist and in a variety of jazz ensembles. A passionate autodidact Adrian is also a fine trombonist and has been the conductor for the IDF Orchestra during his service in the Israeli Army. Throughout his career, he has coll...

Pianist/composer/humanitarian Keiko Matsui has been a creative force in jazz music for many years. Throughout her career, she has worked with many of the all-time greats, from Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Bob James, Hugh Masekela and beyond. Matsui recently released her landmark 30th recording as a bandleader. Euphoria , out on Shanachie Entertainment, is an all-star session with special guests Lal...

Rickie Lee Jones has dipped into the Great American Songbook on several occasions with sterling results. She earned a Grammy nomination for her performance of "Autumn Leaves" alongside bassist Rob Wasserman and notched a Grammy win for her duet with Dr. John on "Makin’ Whoopee." And while she’s imparted deeply ingrained jazz sensibilities on her own recordings since her self-ti...

This week's JAZZIZ Podcast is a conversation with another top jazz guitar talent on the scene. B.D. Lenz is a New Jersey native and a graduate of the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. He has been an active musician since his early teens and has forged a unique sound by mixing several styles and genres, including the sophistication of jazz, the grit of blues and the grooves of funk and soul....

This episode of the JAZZIZ Podcast features a conversation with Paul Mehling, the celebrated guitarist and one of today's foremost interpreters of the Gypsy Jazz tradition. Mehling is also known as the founder and leader of The Hot Club of San Francisco, the group that has been wowing audiences for over three decades. Their latest release, Don't Panic , comprises recordings from 2002 and was issue...

In the latest episode of our JAZZIZ Podcast , we speak with Mike Clement, a fiery up-and-coming jazz guitarist, originally from the West coast of Canada and currently based in New Orleans. Upon his relocation to the birthplace of jazz, Clement quickly became a much sought-after sideman, performing with different bands at countless venues and festivals in various styles and genres. Last year, Cleme...

Guitarist/composer Jocelyn Gould is the guest of our latest JAZZIZ Podcast. Aside from being a JUNO-winning artist and one of the most exciting rising star jazz guitarists today, Gould is a Professor and Head of the Guitar Department at Humber College in Toronto. Her latest album, released last year, is titled Golden Hour . It showcases her virtuosic musicianship, her compositional prowess and, fo...

Guitarist/composer Ron Bosse has been an active player for many years, performing and recording with many jazz greats and with his renowned band Pursuance. He has also released projects under his own name, including his latest album, Burning Room Only , a collaboration with acclaimed keyboardist/producer Jeff Lorber. In our latest JAZZIZ Podcast conversation, we talk about this album, as well as o...

Another young aspiring recording artist in the social media age with a massive reach, Laufey only recently started putting out music at the start of the COVID lockdown, and thanks to TikTok, her debut EP has had over 40 million plays and she can count Billie Eilish, Willow Smith and dodie as fans.   Laufey’s song Valentine reached No. 1 on Spotify's Jazz charts which was a sped-up versio...

Our latest episode of the JAZZIZ Podcast features a conversation with Bobby Broom, a guitar legend who has performed with some of the all-time greats and who has established his reputation as one of the most skilled and versatile six-strings interpreters of his generation. His latest album, Keyed Up , is a tribute to the great pianists and documents a collaboration with rising star musician Justin...

Michael Varverakis is a foremost guitarist and composer. Michael Roberts, in his recent piece on JAZZIZ Magazine , also defined him as "a performer who takes pride in his eclecticism." Having spent much of his professional career forging his reputation as part of the acoustic duo Four Hands, he recently reinvented himself on a one-two punch of recently-released albums that find him playing solo an...

John Daversa is one of today's foremost trumpeters, as well as a multi-GRAMMY-winning artist and the current Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at The Frost School of Music. Throughout his career, he led many projects of several configurations, from large orchestral works to smaller combo sessions. In our JAZZIZ Podcast conversation with the artist, we talk about his personal history and formative yea...

Over the years, guitarist Grant Geissman lent his virtuosity to recordings by several mainstream artists. He has also written numerous scores for film and television. His pop and jazz recordings as a leader put his talents on display and helped define the contemporary instrumental music of his era. Geissman shows no sign of slowing down and his latest album, BLOOZ , recently received a GRAMMY nomi...