The Jazz Session

This episode of  The Jazz Session is sponsored by the TD James Moody Jazz Festival at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The festival runs from November 3 through 19 and features a who’s who of talent from the jazz world and beyond. Performers include Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap; Take 6; Abdullah Ibrahim; Gladys Knight; Dave Grusin; Cyrus Chestnut; Steve Turre; Christian McBride with...

Violinist Aline Homzy’s new album with her band Etoile Magique is called Eclipse (Elastic Recordings, 2023). In this interview, Aline talks about imagining a world for the album to inhabit; how that world took shape in the arranging and titling process; writing for these particular musicians; a surprise theremin; how her dad influenced her music; what it’s like to play an uncommon jazz...

Bassist Todd Sickafoose’s new album is called Bear Proof (Secret Hatch Records, 2023). On this episode, Todd talks about assembling a cast of strong musical personalities; the challenges of recording an hour-long piece with no breaks; his work with Anaïs Mitchell on Hadestown; his long tenure in Ani DiFranco’s band; music as social commentary; composing for podcasts; and more. PATREON...

Kait Dunton’s new album is called Keyboards  (Real & Imagined Music, 2023). In this interview, Kait talks about her love for 70s synth music; the challenge of using vintage keyboards; how she was “pushed” (in a friendly way) into the world of keyboards; developing her social media following; simplicity versus complexity in composition; and more. PATREON Become a Patreon suppo...

Pianist Kris Davis’s new album is called Live At The Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic Records, 2023). In this interview, Kris talks about what it feels like to record at the Village Vanguard; how she put together the Diatom Ribbons band; working with a DJ; the role of humor in instrumental performance; working with the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice; her recent tour with Dave Holl...

Saxophonist Christine Jensen’s latest album is called Day Moon. In this interview, Christine talks about creating musical sketches; writing during the pandemic; turning visual and other ideas into music; playing in duo format; losing the friend to whom the album is dedicated; teaching at Eastman; and more. Christine was also on The Jazz Session in 2007 and 2010 . PATREON Become a Patreon sup...

Moreira Chonguiça is a saxophonist and producer from Mozambique. His latest album is called Songs of Peace . In this interview, Moreira talks about surviving the pandemic and evaluating life; his education in South Africa; the people in Mozambique who inspired his interest in jazz; his relationship with jazz master Manu Dibango; passing on what he’s learned to the next generation; and much m...

Saxophonist Michael Blake’s new album is Dance of the Mystic Bliss (P&M Records, 2023). Michael talks about his mom, to whom the album is dedicated; the recording process, especially the percussion; his days with the Lounge Lizards; working with Teo Macero and Scotty Hard; and a lot more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called This I Dig Of You, on w...

Laila Biali’s latest album is called Your Requests . In this interview, she talks about the fan-generated song list; balancing her dual roles as vocalist and pianist; her adventurous collaboration with Kurt Elling; and a lot more. Laila was also on The Jazz Session in 2021 and 2022 . PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called This I Dig Of You, on which the...

Steven Bernstein’s new album with his band Sexmob is called The Hard Way (Corbett vs. Dempsey, 2023). In this interview, Bernstein talks about working with producer Scotty Hard; his “first take” philosophy; bringing the audience in; life as a working musician; and a lot more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called This I Dig Of You , on which...

Mark Dresser ‘s new solo bass album is Tines Of Change (Pyroclastic Records, 2023). In this interview, Mark talks about the sonic experimentation that led to the modified bass he plays on this recording; how Jimi Hendrix and Charles Mingus influenced his early musical thinking; the short vacation on the East Coast that led to a multi-year stint in New Haven, CT; how he passes on what he&#821...

Saxophonist Alex Weiss’s new album is Most Don’t Have Enough . In this interview he talks about the legacy and influence of his grandfather; the selection of his bandmates; the evolution of the music; using music for social change; and more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called This I Dig Of You, on which the guest from the main episode talks abo...

Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock’s new album is called The Last Quiet Place . In this interview, she explores the idea of the title; talks about her band and how she chose them; describes her methods of composition; gives a preview of some upcoming projects; and more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called This I Dig Of You , on which the guest from the main...

Trombonist and tuba player and educator Bill Lowe has a long and fascinating history in the world of improvised music. In this interview, we talk about his new album, Sweet Cane: Suites And Other Pedagogical Prompts (Mandorla Music Records, 2023); his Signifyin’ Natives Ensemble; the mentorship of Bill Barron and Frank Foster; setting texts to music; working across musical divisions; and mor...

NOTE: This was originally a Patreon bonus episode. I’m unlocking it so that everyone can hear it and become convinced that it’s cool to be a member. Are you convinced? Great! Join today for $5 a month at https://thejazzsession.com/join . Trumpeter Jason Parker takes us on a guided tour of the world of jazz record collecting. He demystifies the process and offers great tips for both the...

Nicky Schrire is a vocalist, songwriter, and the former host of The Jazz Session . Her new album is Nowhere Girl (Anzic Records, 2023). In this interview, Nicky talks about the process of crafting the songs on the album; finding the right players to join her on the project; her evolution as both a vocalist and a songwriter; and much more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a...

Saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator Bob Mintzer’s latest album is called Soundscapes . In this interview, Bob talks about learning to arrange during his days with Buddy Rich; recording with the WDR Big Band; how he ended up on more than 1,000 recordings; his legacy as an arranger for student ensembles; his work as an educator; and more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a mo...

Vibraphonist Joe Locke returns to The Jazz Session to discuss his new album, Makram. In this interview Joe talks about connecting with an audience; finding the right band; his late colleagues Roy Hargrove and Vic Juris; adapting old songs for modern settings; and more. NOTES You can also listen to Joe’s previous episode from 2010 . PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a b...

Jo Lawry’s new trio album with Linda May Han Oh and Allison Miller is called Acrobats. In this interview, we talk about the selection of the band members and the repertoire; gender diversity in jazz; Jo’s years with Sting; and more. NOTES You can hear Jo’s 2008 episode of The Jazz Session here . In addition to the normal bonus episode (see below), members also get an additional 1...

Tomas Fujiwara is back for his third appearance on The Jazz Session . In this interview we focus on his band Triple Double. We explore their formation and talk about their two most recent albums: March (2022) and March On (2023). Be sure to listen to his previous appearances from 2010 and 2012 , too. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called This I Dig Of You, on...

Kenny Barron’s latest album is a collection of solo piano performances called The Source . In this interview, Kenny talks about why playing solo piano can be scary and why he returned to it on this recording; his older brother Bill and their musical history together; his goals for the future of his music; and more. PATREON Become a Patreon supporter for $5 a month to get a bonus show called...

The Jazz Session turns 16 today! On this special episode, you’ll hear a clip from each calendar year of the show, along with the story behind the clip. This episode features John Abercrombie, Chico Hamilton, Steve Kuhn, Amy Cervini, Fred Hersch, Jack DeJohnette, Angela Davis, Allison Wedding, Red Wierenga, Josh Rutner, Darcy James Argue, Dmitri Matheny, Mike Baggetta, Wendy Eisenberg, Chloe...

Trombonist Conrad Herwig and the Latin Side All-Stars are playing every Tuesday night at Django in the Roxy Hotel in New York now through March 28, 2023. In this interview, we talk about Conrad’s history from his formative years in Hawaii to his early professional career in NYC; his The Latin Side Of… project and its most recent album of Mingus tunes; navigating the path between jazz c...

Guitarist and vocalist Doug Wamble ‘s latest album is called Blues In The Present Tense . It’s an overtly political album that speaks to a range of important issues. It’s also a great album musically, featuring performances by Eric Revis, Jeff “Tain” Watts and Branford Marsalis. In this interview, Doug talks about using his music as a vehicle for political expression;...

NOTE: Members received this a week ago, but I’m making it public so that perhaps you’ll consider becoming a member if you’re not already. You can join today for $5 a month at https://thejazzsession.com/join . You get bonus shows like this, plus early access to every episode, plus a bonus episode called This I Dig Of You that accompanies each main episode. And more! / / / Jason Cr...