JAZZIZ Not What You Think

Our first interview for our JAZZIZ Podcast series is with Aaron Myers, who is fast becoming one of the names to know in jazz. Based in Washington DC, Myers is known for his piano mastery and one-of-a-kind vocal range. His talents are showcased on The Pride Album , which he released in 2021, which features original compositions and arrangements of classics, and offers a fusion of his artistry and a...

David Perrico is a classically-trained trumpeter, an award-winning conductor/composer/arranger, and one of the most in-demand musicians in Las Vegas. Regularly wowing audiences with his bands, including the acclaimed Pop Strings Orchestra, and having toured internationally with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and other great ensembles, Perrico recently unleashed his new creation: the 68-piece band Pop...

For trumpeter/composer Thomas Heflin, his Tennessee roots have always been a central part of his musical identity. His laid-back playing style mirrors his easy-going personality and his songs are always inviting, soulful and melodic. His latest album, Morning Star , was released earlier this year on Blue Canoe Records. It is presented as a late-night radio show, complete with station IDs and a rad...

UK-based trumpeter/keyboardist Iwan VanHetten wears many hats, including those of composer, producer, musical director and educator. Over the years, he has played and collaborated with many of the greats, from Sister Sledge to Jools Holland. Along with Rob Harris and Paul Turner, he completes the new trio TRIONIQ. Earlier this year, he released an exciting new album as a leader called Parabbean Ta...

Mike Miller was born into a musical family and learned to play bass before switching to the guitar as his primary instrument of choice. Since then, variety has been a keyword of his acclaimed career, whether collaborating with such greats as Chick Corea, Gino Vannelli and Boz Scaggs or leading his own fascinating projects. The latest of these is Trust , which marked his first album as a leader in...

From his upbringing on a South African farm an hour away outside of Johannesburg to his present-day life in Jerusalem, the life of Yosef Gutman Levitt (also simply known as Yosef Gutman) has been quite a journey. After attending the Berklee College of Music in the late 1990s and playing on the New York scene in the early 2000s, the bassist/composer put his career on hiatus. He taught himself to co...

Saxophonist Javon Jackson first gained international prominence working with legendary drummer Art Blakey as part of the latter's Jazz Messengers ensemble. In later years, he continued to collaborate with some of the greatest artists in jazz artists and established his own reputation as a trailblazing composer, performer and bandleader, as well as a renowned jazz education. His latest album is a h...

 In today's episode Carlos Santana & Michael Shrieve discuss 'Caravanserai' on its 50th anniversary.

Our latest JAZZIZ Travel podcast is a conversation with Yale Evelev, record producer and co-owner of Luaka Bop with David Byrne. The conversation covers the identity and history of the label, particularly in the context of its World Spirituality Classics series, a series of spiritual music from around the globe. The recently-released third volume in this series is a compilation of recordings by Al...

From Frank Zappa to Elton John, jazz-rock violin pioneer Jean-Luc Ponty remains the master of his domain.

In today's episode Michael sits down with Boney James

In today's episode of JAZZIZ Not What You Think, we chat with Maro about her relationship with Quincy Jones, Jacob collier and her new album that has just been released.

For this episode of  JAZZIZ Not What You  Think   our guest is composer, pianist, hit maker, three time Grammy-winner, festival artistic director, radio and TV personality and now head of a new record label. Mr. Ramsey Lewis. Now 80 years old, Ramsey has recorded over 80 albums—with his first major hit jazz record back in the 1965—and in addition to his three Grammys, has recei...

Lyle Lovett on Verve? That’s right, the label that brought you Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz and so many jazz legends, just released an album by singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett. Best known for “If I Had a Boat”, his latest album 12th of June is titled after the birth of his now 4 year old twins … and you’re gonna love it like Lyle. Enjoy this conversation between JAZZIZ Publisher Micha...

Better known around the world as Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, actor and director Jonathan Frakes is an enthusiastic – close friends might say insufferable – jazz fan and a trombonist. With a taste that gravitates more towards Roswell Rudd than Glenn Miller, Frakes has incorporated his trombone and his love for jazz into Star Trek episodes on several occasions. He’s al...

Most people wouldn’t associate Kenny Loggins with jazz. Best known for his hit songs for movies like Footloose, Caddy Shack and Top Gun, Loggins and Messina and his foray into parent-targeted children’s music, Loggins’  earlier days as a recording artists included long instrumental and improvisational passages with L&M, a few prodigious albums produced by Bob James, projects that included...