Musicians Speak with Joseph Celli

Phill Niblock, the groundbreaking composer of minimalist and experimental music, joins Musicians Speak for the second half of his interview, recorded in 2020. The New York Times wrote, “His work has influenced Brian Eno and other musicians associated with the rock world… Pitches scrape against other pitches like a speeding automobile sideswiping a row of parked cars. Sum and difference tones pile...

Intermedia artist Phill Niblock discusses his early years in NY and the beginnings of his art making at Judson Church and the founding of the Experimental Intermedia Foundation by Elaine Summers. Phill discusses his thick, loud drones and microtones as we listen to  Feed Corn Ear  and  Hurdy Hurry.  He says, “What I am doing with my music is to produce something without rhythm or melody, by using...

Wadada Leo Smith has been in the epicenter of creative music for over 50 years as a composer, trumpet player, educator, and theoretician. From his earliest days with Anthony Braxton to his most recent tours, recordings, and performances with the likes of Vijay Iyer, Bill Laswell, and Milford Graves he has defined a singular path as a creative musician. In addition to being a finalist for the 2013...

Award-winning vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jen Shyu speaks about her wide range of influences, her studies in Asia, and the various compositions that we hear during the program. She is a Rome Prize Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award, among many others.  As David Hajdu of The Nation wrote, Jen Shyu is "...one of the most creative vocalis...

Guitarist/composer Bill Frisell discusses his memories of the ‘olden days’, touring, and the extraordinary energy that he gets from the music. Bill discusses the ‘magic’ of the music taking over and the instinctive sonic relationship within his trio, his early years in Denver, the music he’s listening to now, Louis Armstrong, and others. Bill Frisell’s career as a guitarist and composer has spanne...

Nicole Mitchell discusses her early training and the importance of her time in Chicago and as a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. Nicole mentions impactful flutists like Eric Dolphy, Hubert Laws, James Newton and the next generation of emerging musicians from the AACM. During the interview we hear several pieces of music with her Black Earth Ensemble as well as a...

Multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser Joe Morris recalls his early years as a guitarist, his influences, and his path to becoming one of the most widely respected free music guitarists today. We listen to solo and ensemble performances as he discusses free jazz and the differences with other jazz styles. Joe also talks about the new Improvisation Now! concert series that he is curating at Re...

William Parker is a bassist, improviser, composer, author and educator from New York City. William has recorded over 150 albums, published six books and taught and mentored hundreds of young musicians and artists. He has been called “one of the most inventive bassist/leaders since Mingus” and “the creative heir to Jimmy Garrison and Paul Chambers…” The Village Voice called him, “…the most consiste...

The Washington Post has written about saxophonist/bass clarinetist extraordinaire and band leader David Murray in no uncertain terms, describing him as ‘…a legend…he took the jazz world by storm.’ The Village Voice declared David ‘musician of the decade’. On Musicians Speak, David discusses his early church years, his work with the Gwo-Ka Masters and the Grateful Dead. He has released over 150 rec...

Free-jazz pianist/composer Marilyn Crispell discusses her early training in classical music and the profound impact of John Coltrane’s  A Love Supreme  that led to an eventual transition into free-jazz. During the interview we hear music from three periods of her over fifty year career including Coltrane’s  Dear Lord , a trio with Gary Peacock and Paul Motion and finally the latest recording  Spi-...

Mary Halvorson discusses her two new releases, Amaryllis and Belladonna, composed during the Covid lockdown. Deftly interpreted by the Mivos Quartet, the recordings showcase Halvorson's superb writing for strings, alongside a brand new sextet featuring Adam O’Farrill (trumpet), Jacob Garchik (trombone), Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). The twin deb...

Composer, improviser, pianist, educator and record producer Kris Davis works in a diverse and eclectic range of new music from solo to ensemble works with a distinctive cadre of musicians including John Zorn, Terri Lyne Carrington, Craig Taborn, Tyshawn Sorey, Eric Revis, Michael Formanek, Tony Malaby, Ingrid Laubrock, Julian Lage, Mary Halvorson, Bill Frisell, Tom Rainey, and others. Kris discuss...

Composer, pianist, improviser, band leader and educator Angelica Sanchez discusses her early training in Arizona, her family support, development and current projects. She talks about her recording with Marilyn Crispell and her release Nighttime Creatures — one of DownBeat's Best Albums of 2023. During the program we have the opportunity of hearing her duo with Marilyn, an excerpt from the acc...

Improvising composer/saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock talks about her various ensembles with Tom Rainey, Kris Davis & others as well as her compositional activity. She’s worked with Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richards Abrams, Dave Douglas, Kenny Wheeler, Jason Moran, Tim Berne, William Parker, Tom Rainey, Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, Craig Taborn, Luc Ex, Django Bates’ Human Chain, The Co...

The legendary pianist, vocalist, composer Amina Claudine Myers discusses her earliest days of learning piano and music in the church. She also discusses the impact of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) on her development in jazz and composing, and her evolution from gospel to free jazz pianist. Amina has performed with Muhal Richard Abrams, Archie Shepp, Lester Bowie,...

Composer, percussionist, band leader Ches Smith discusses his musical development, the changing role of the drummer in improvisation, and his use of electronics in performance. Ches talks about his multi-year collaboration with Voodoo musicians from Haiti and the aspect of spirituality in his music. During the program we hear music from three distinctly different periods of his career including hi...

Wu Man, the world's premier pipa virtuoso, discusses the 2,000 year old pipa tradition, the new pipa concerto (Ears of the Book) composed for her by Pulitzer prize winning composer Du Yun. We then relish in her recording of Ambush From All Sides — a demanding piece considered one of the masterpieces of Chinese classical music.

An interview & music with pianist, composer & improvisor Sylvie Courvoisier as she discusses her home in Switzerland, her various bands, her move to Brooklyn, & her new duo release with Mary Halvorson. From NPR, Kevin Whitehead — “Some pianists approach the instrument like it’s a cathedral. Sylvie Courvoisier treats it like a playground."