The Jazz Session

Use the player above to listen to an audio version of this post.

Vocalist Hilary Gardner ‘s latest recording is The Great City . In this interview, we talk about New York City and how it inspired the album; her long, strange trip from Wasilla, Alaska to Brooklyn; and how she finds and interprets songs. Learn more at hilarygardner.com and follow her on Twitter at @hilarygardner . JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive con...

Reuben Radding is a bassist and photographer. In this interview, he talks about his long road to photography; why he gravitates toward risk in his art; the battles over music terminology; and his own personal path away from music and back again. Learn more at www.reubenradding.com and follow him on Twitter at @ReubenRadding . JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusiv...

Trombonist and vocalist Emily Asher’s latest recording with her band Garden Party is Carnival Of Joy! , released in 2013. In this interview, Asher talks about her journey from playing trad jazz in the Pacific Northwest to her current life as part of the same scene in New York; her new project with bass sax, accordion and trombone; the difference between recreating music and re-imagining it;...

Guitarist Eric DiVito ‘s new album is The Second Time Around (PJC, 2013), featuring Corcoran Holt on bass and Alyssa Falk Verheyn on drums, with guest appearances by Mavis Swan Poole and Steve Wilson. In this interview, DiVito talks about his approach to standards; the recording session and what made it work so well; finding originality in arranging; and his take on a being a jazz guitarist....

Saxophonist Ed Rosenberg’s latest record is The Warming with his band Glue Gun Optimism. In this interview, Rosenberg talks about the very technical idea that led to his very accessible new project; his work in theatre, film and dance; Jerseyband, with whom he’s performed for more than a decade; and writing music for kids. Learn more at eddie3.com and follow him on Twitter at eddiethep...

Pianist Danny Fox ‘s new album is Wide Eyed (Hot Cup Records, 2014). In this interview, Fox talks about growing up in Manhattan surrounded by jazz greats; why he chose Harvard rather than a conservatory; and writing for this trio, who’ve been playing and touring together for five years. Learn more at dannyfoxmusic.com . BUY this album in The Jazz Session store and a portion of your pur...

Vocalist Alison Wedding ‘s most recent album is This Dance (Ground Up Records, 2012). In this interview, Wedding talks about writing songs and how much a writer reveals; her years singing in Australia; improvisation versus interpretation; and her recent experience singing with Bobby McFerrin. Learn more at alisonwedding.com and follow her on Twitter at @alisonwedding . BUY this album in The...

Saxophonist Brian Landrus is a bandleader and the creative force behind the upcoming 92Y Soul Jazz Festival . His most recent album with his band Kaleidoscope is Mirage (BlueLand Records, 2013). In this interview, Landrus talks about the festival, which features Esperanza Spalding, DJ Logic and Joey Defrancesco, along with Kaleidoscope. He also discusses his career, from his early years in Las Veg...

Baritone saxophonist Shirantha Beddage’s latest album is Identity (Addo Records, 2012). In this interview, Beddage talks about searching for his identity as a musician and as an educator; his years in New York and Georgia and how they shaped his current sound; the institutionalization of jazz in the university system; and the Toronto jazz scene. Learn more at shiranthabeddage.com and follow...

Saxophonist Jeff Lederer’s latest recording is Swing ‘N Dix (Little i music, 2013), an album that looks back at his early days playing music inspired by trad jazz. The album features Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Bob Stewart on tuba and Matt Wilson on drums. In this interview, Lederer talks about that early band and how it introduced him to collective improvisation; how a shared love of Albe...

Michael Weiss is a pianist and composer. His most recent album is Soul Journey . In this interview, Weiss talks about his often challenging music and how he revisits compositions for each performance; his years with jazz masters such as Jon Hendricks, Junior Cook and Johnny Griffin; and how listening to Wayne Shorter gave him the green light to try more adventurous writing. Learn more at michaelwe...

Saxophonist Angela Davis’s debut album is The Art of The Melody (2013). In this interview, Davis talks about her Australian roots; why she’s most interested in the lineage of players such as Lee Konitz, with whom she’s studied; melodic improvisation; and how to approach songs from outside the jazz canon. Learn more at angeladavismusic.com and follow her on Twitter at @musicaldavi...

Trumpeter Ralph Alessi’s new album is Baida (ECM, 2013). In this interview, Alessi talks about the cohesiveness of this band after multiple albums together; playing the record for his mother in her final days; and his many years studying classical music before his experience at CalArts changed the course of his life. Learn more at ralphalessi.com . You can get a free mp3 from this album (alo...

The season premiere of The Jazz Session begins with an extended conversation with saxophonist Lee Konitz. Konitz talks about why he followed a different path than most players of his generation; how he continues to find new things to play on standards; and what he looks for in the people he plays with. The music in this part of the show comes from Enfants Terribles (Half Note, 2012), his live albu...

Today is Les McCann’s birthday. Back in 2004, I interviewed Les about his classic soul-jazz album Swiss Movement, featuring Eddie Harris, Benny Bailey, Leroy Vinnegar and Donald Dean. Enjoy!

I’m celebrating my 40th birthday with four new mini-interviews. Vijay Iyer talks about Holding It Down , his new album with Mike Ladd; Mary Halvorson introduces her septet recording Illusionary Sea ; Stephan Crump ‘s Rosetta Trio is back with Thwirl ; and Nicky Schrire discusses her duo album Space and Time . Plus, Brad Linde returns with a preview of the upcoming season of jazz at the...

Steve Feigenbaum is the founder of Cuneiform Records. In this interview, he talks about the origin of the label; what it’s like to run a record label in the age of digital downloads; and the varied roster he’s put together over the years. Learn more at cuneiformrecords.com and follow the label on Twitter at @cuneiformrecord . NOTE: The Jazz Session’s Kickstarter runs until July 3...

Trombonist Jeff Albert’s new album is The Tree On The Mound (RogueArt, 2013). In this interview, recorded in 2011 in New York City, Albert talks about teaching improvisation to kids; the intersection of computer technology and improvisation; and why you’ll always hear a groove at some point during a Jeff Albert show. Learn more at jeffalbert.com and follow him on Twitter at @jeffalbert...

Vocalist and composer Maria Christina’s debut album is The Timeless In You (Cracked AnEgg Records, 2013). In this interview, Maria Christina talks about taking risks; the Berlin jazz scene; allowing space in her writing for improvisation; and her time studying with Theo Bleckmann in New York. Learn more at maria-christina.com . You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the...

Pianist Geoffrey Keezer’s new solo piano album is Heart of the Piano (Motema Music, 2013). In this interview, Keezer talks about his time with Art Blakey; why he didn’t join Miles Davis’s band; the diversity of the projects he works on; and the art of playing solo. Learn more at geoffreykeezer.com and follow him on Twitter at @88keezer . You can support The Jazz Session by purcha...

This is the final episode of The Jazz Session . It’s a conversation with pianist Geoffrey Keezer and saxophonist Donny McCaslin, recorded at the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival. In this interview, Keezer and McCaslin talk about duo playing; their new recordings; Wayne Shorter and Art Blakey; adjusting for different kinds of live performances; and, improbably, Rush. Learn more at geoffreykeezer.co...

Trombonist and vocalist Natalie Cressman’s debut album with her band Secret Garden is called Unfolding (2012). In this interview (the final interview conducted for The Jazz Session ) Cressman talks about her parents and their influence on her music; why she moved from San Francisco to New York; how she decided she was ready to make a record; her work with Phish’s Trey Anastasio; and he...

Saxophonist Hailey Niswanger’s sophomore album is The Keeper (Calmit Productions, 2012). In this interview, Niswanger talks about her recent entry into Esperanza Spalding’s band; why she chose going on the road over starting her Master’s degree; the jazz scene in her native Portland; and the personal tragedy that inspired the title track on her new record. Learn more at haileynis...

Ottawa pianist and journalist Peter Hum’s debut album is A Boy’s Journey (2010). In this interview, Hum talks about the Ottawa jazz scene; the intersection of his work as a journalist and as a jazz musician; how he decided to finally record an album; and the stellar band on his record. Learn more about Peter’s music at peterhum.com , read his blog at blogs.ottawacitizen.com/categ...