The Jazz Session

Joel Harrison’s most recent records are Search (Sunnyside Records, 2011) and Holy Abyss (Cuneiform, 2012), a record he co-leads with Lorenzo Feliciati. In this interview, Harrison talks about continuing the blend of classical and jazz influences that began with The Wheel ; where he looks for inspiration as a composer and player; the current state of the common language of jazz; and his foray...

Guitarist Terrence McManus’ most recent recording is Transcendental Numbers (No Business, 2011), with bassist Mark Helias and drummer Gerry Hemingway. Other recent recordings include Below The Surface Of , a duet session with Hemingway, and the solo album Brooklyn . In this interview, McManus talks about finding musical inspiration in the natural and industrial worlds; how he tries to free h...

Drummer Devin Gray’s new CD is Dirigo Rataplan (Skirl Records, 2012). In this interview, Gray talks about finding space for surprise; his early years at the Maine Jazz Camp with the likes of Tony Malaby and Ethan Iverson; finding time and discipline for practice during a busy musical life; and his various projects as a leader and sideman. Learn more at devingraymusic.com and follow him on Tw...

Saxophonist Patrick Cornelius’s latest CD is Maybe Steps (Posi-Tone, 2011). In this interview, Cornelius talks about the new record as a continuation of his previous full-band writing, after a break for his trio record; why it’s important to him to tell stories during his live performances; his time in the artist diploma program at Juilliard; and the economics of jazz records. Learn mo...

Pianist Myra Melford’s most recent recording is The Guest House (Yellowbird Records, 2012) with her collective band Trio M, featuring Matt Wilson and Mark Dresser. In this interview, Melford talks about the recent premiere of her multimedia work “Snowy Egret” in New York; the formation and continued success of Trio M; and how she balances a busy life as a performer with a full sc...

Vocalist Melissa Stylianou’s new CD is Silent Movie (Anzic Records, 2012). In this interview, Stylianou talks about her accidental entrance into the world of jazz; the importance of storytelling; and how her training as an actor has impacted her musical career. Learn more at melissastylianou.com and follow her on Twitter at @sleepinbee . CONCERT NOTE: Melissa Stylianou is performing two CD r...

Raya Brass Band’s new CD is Dancing On Roses, Dancing On Cinders (2012). In this interview, four of the five members of the band discuss its origins; the rhythmic underpinnings of Balkan music; the uses of improvisation in their performances; and how a movie caused one of the members of the band to quit his job and take up the accordion. Learn more at rayabrassband.com and follow them on Twi...

Drummer Billy Hart’s new CD is All Our Reasons (ECM, 2012). In this interview, Hart talks about the “European sound” of this band; what he looks for in bandmates and why this band fits his needs so well; and what he believes powered Coltrane’s musical explorations. Learn more at billyhartmusic.com .

Trumpeter Nate Wooley’s recent albums include the solo records The Almond and 8 Syllables and the quintet recording (Put Your) Hands Together . In this interview, Wooley talks about putting 100 trumpets on one solo (!) recording; why he was surprised when one of his albums made him feel good at the end; how he started playing solo trumpet; and how the death of his grandmother led to his rece...

Pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton’s latest CD is The Breeze And I . In this interview, Fulton talks about the bebop record she listened to exclusively for months (starting the day she was born); her father’s influence and how his friendship with Clark Terry shaped her life; and her transition from student to working musician. Learn more at champian.net and follow her on Twitter at @...

The Tierney Sutton Band’s latest CD is American Road (BFM Jazz, 2011). In this interview, Sutton talks about why the band chose to focus on Americana for this record; how the band functions as a collective in everything from song arranging to business; and how her Baha’i faith has influenced the way she approaches making music. Learn more at tierneysutton.com and follow her on Twitter...

Ottawa trumpeter Craig Pedersen’s new album is Days Like Today (2011). In this interview, Pedersen talks about how literature influences his musical compositions; why he gravitates toward the avant garde; and the nature of the improvised music scene in Ottawa. Learn more at craigpedersen.com and follow him on Twitter at @pedersencraig .

Vocalist Ed Reed’s new CD is Born To Be Blue (2011). Reed, now 83, has lived the kind of life about which movies are made. This interview charts the story of his life: his childhood in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where a young Charles Mingus was a frequent neighborhood visitor and the big bands were a constant source of entertainment; his time in the military, where he was introdu...

Vocalist Amy Cervini’s new CD is Digging Me, Digging You (Anzic, 2012), a tribute to Blossom Dearie. In this interview, Cervini talks about her early exposure to Dearie and why she fell in love with her music; how she chose the songs for this album from Dearie’s large repertoire; why she favors working bands; and the itinerary of her upcoming tour. Learn more at amycervini.com and foll...

Saxophonist Ochion Jewell’s debut CD is First Suite For Quartet (Mythology, 2011). In this interview, Jewell talks about his upbringing in a dry county in Appalachia; why he started his recording career with an ambitious multi-movement work; and how the piece took shape from inception to completion. Learn more at www.ochion.com .

The Jazz Session celebrates its fifth anniversary with one of the giants of the music, saxophonist and composer Jimmy Heath. In this interview, Heath talks about his early days as a writer and arranger; his Queens neighborhood and its importance to jazz history; why he loves the sound of a big band; and how he keeps himself moving forward and growing at this stage in his career. He also shares a f...

Composer Darcy James Argue’s latest work is a multimedia piece called Brooklyn Babylon . In this interview, he tells the amazing story of how he and visual artist Danijel Zezelj created the piece; goes behind the scenes of the composition and the technical aspects of producing such a large work; and also talks about a performance on March 9, 2012 at which his band Secret Society will play hi...

The Wee Trio is James Westfall (vibes), Dan Loomis (bass) and Jared Schonig (drums). Their new album is Ashes To Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective . In this interview, the trio talks about why they chose David Bowie — and why they were initially reluctant to do so; how they managed an 8,000-mile tour across the United States; and what makes the trio work as a unit. Learn more at theweetrio....

Drummer Aaron Staebell’s new CD is Bending and Breaking (2011). In this interview, Staebell talks about smashing different sounds and styles together to see what works; how a visit from John Hollenbeck caused him to finally perform his own compositions in public; why it’s important for him that his compositions have stories behind them; and why he likes living and working in Rochester,...

Saxophonist Ben Wendel’s new CD is Frame (Sunnyside Records, 2012). In this interview, Wendel talks about composing the music for the album; his proclivity for long musical lines; and the many and varied writing projects he’s been involved in recently. Learn more at benwendel.com and follow him on Twitter at @benwendel . CONCERT NOTE: Ben Wendel will be performing CD release shows for...

Sue Mingus has been guiding bassist Charles Mingus’s legacy since he died in 1979. She is the author of Tonight At Noon (Random House/Pantheon, 2002), a memoir of her life with Mingus. In this interview, Sue Mingus talks about the fourth annual Mingus High School Competition and Festival, happening this month in New York; how to bring Mingus’s music to the current generation of musicia...

Saxophonist Tim Berne’s new band and album are both called Snakeoil (ECM, 2012). In this interview, Berne talks about what he looks for in new band members; what inspires him to compose; and why he believes the digital era has harmed independent record labels. Learn more at screwgunrecords.com . ON TOUR: Snakeoil is touring the US and Europe. Visit Berne’s site for tour dates .

Saxophonist Noah Kaplan’s new CD is Descendants (Hat Hut, 2011) with Joe Morris on guitar, Giacomo Merega on bass and Jason Nazary on drums. In this interview, Kaplan talks about his life-changing studies with Joe Maneri; why classical music theory was important to his musical development; and how he approaches collective improvisation. Learn more at noah-kaplan.com . CONCERT NOTE: The Noah...

Pianist Tom Wetmore’s new CD is The Desired Effect (Crosstown Records, 2012). In this interview, Wetmore talks about why he wants people to “really listen”; why he tries not to assign particular meanings to his compositions; and about his Tune-A-Day project. Learn more at tomwetmore.com and tomstuneaday.com and follow him on Twitter at @tomwetmore .

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds’ most recent album is A Live Life (2011) and he’s currently working on his forthcoming studio album. Reynolds is perhaps best known for his work with rock musician John Mayer. In this interview, Reynolds talks about the importance of good time (in the musical sense); how he’s learned to bring an audience along for the ride; and about his video lesson serv...