The Jazz Session

Roland Vazquez explores a series of historical and philosophical ideas through the medium of music on The Visitor (RVCD, 2010). In this interview, Vazquez talks about his former and current large ensembles; the programmatic elements underlying the compositions; and why he decided to do something — or rather not do something — for the first time on this album. Learn more at www.rolandva...

Here’s an interview from the early days of The Jazz Session with guitarist David Torn. This is what I had to say about him back then: He’s a film composer whose music you’ve heard in Friday Night Lights , Believe In Me , and The Order . He’s also contributed tones and textures to films like this year’s Best Picture winner, The Departed , and the 2000 hit Traffic . Before his film day...

Eric Hofbauer is using the solo guitar to explore American identity on a trilogy of albums that began with American Vanity (Creative Nation Music, 2004) and continues with American Fear (Creative Nation Music, 2010). In this interview, Hofbauer talks about the pop tunes he covers on this record; how he uses improvisation to lead to composition; and why he started Creative Nation Music. Learn more...

It’s been 14 years since trumpeter Pharez Whitted last released an album, a drought he’s now ended with Transient Journey (Owl Studios, 2010). In this interview, Whitted talks about the changes in his life that led to the new recording; what it meant to grow up in a family where everyone played an instrument or sang; and why he decided early on to teach as well as play. Learn more at w...

Trumpeter David Weiss and his band Point Of Departure explore music from the late 1960s on their new record, Snuck In (Sunnyside, 2010), recorded live at Jazz Standard in New York. In this interview, Weiss talks about the little-known Detroit composers who wrote some of the songs on the new record; why he chose to cover other people’s music on this recording; and how he found the impressive...

Steve Coleman leads his band Five Elements through another thought-provoking set on Harvesting Semblances And Affinities (Pi Recordings, 2010), his first American-label release in nine years and his first new album in four years. In this interview, Coleman talks about a wide range of topics, from seeing Sonny Stitt play a student horn in a motel room in Chicago to the philosophy and research under...

Pianist Marc Copland joins Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Drew Gress and John Abercrombie in the band Contact. Their new album is Five On One (Pirouet Records, 2010). In this interview, Copland talks about the formation of the band and his relationships with the individual members; his years in D.C. and his switch from saxophone to piano; and why more piano players might want to consider laying out for...

When one thinks of free jazz, one of the first names that springs to mind is that of Merle Haggard. And so, it’s perfectly natural that saxophonist Bryan Murray would have assembled a band to play free versions of Haggard’s songs. The result is the very engaging Pretend It’s The End Of The World (Hot Cup, 2010). In this interview, Murray talks about the inspiration for the record...

Bassist Charnett Moffett grew up in a musical family. Which is to say, his dad played with Ornette Coleman and the whole Moffett family band was touring the world when Charnett was a kid. More than two decades later, Charnett is bringing that family history and his own impressive musical resume to bear on his new album, Treasure (Motema, 2010). In this interview, Charnett talks about the thinking...

Guitarist Michael Musillami’s new album, Old Tea (Playscape Recordings, 2010) was conceived in tragedy. Musillami talks about that great loss in this interview, and also about how he used music as one tool to navigate through dark waters. Learn more at www.michaelmusillami.com .

Bassist Stephan Crump formed the Rosetta Trio with guitarists Liberty Ellman and Jamie Fox to play music he composed in response to September 11. Now, with their second album, Reclamation (Sunnyside, 2010), the trio continues to explore an exposed and intimate sonic landscape. In this interview, Crump talks about the origins of the band; the trio’s particular sonic palette; and the benefits...

Guitarist Matt White and his band Fight The Big Bull are part of the creative music scene in Richmond, Virginia. Their new album All Is Gladness In The Kingdom (Clean Feed, 2010) features the playing and arrangements of Steven Bernstein, perhaps best known for his band Sex Mob. In this interview, White talks about the surprisingly fertile Richmond scene; how he came to work with Bernstein; and why...

Argentinian pianist Emilio Solla calls his band The Tango Jazz Conspiracy, but that’s about the only genre label you’ll find him using for his music — and he’s not even sure what “tango jazz” really means. On his album Bien Sur! (Fresh Sound, 2010), Solla is joined by A-list musicians such as Chris Cheek, Richie Barshay, Victor Prieto and Jorge Roeder. In this i...

Cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum has his fingers in so many pies, he should open a bakery. In addition to his recent CD Madeleine Dreams (Firehouse 12 Records, 2009) with his band SpiderMonkey Strings, he’s also on a new duo CD, Stepwise (Not Two Records, 2010), with drummer Tomas Fujiwara. And he’s helping run the Tri-Centric Foundation , which preserves and advances the music of Anthony Bra...

Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs is giving the power back to the people to fund her new CD, The Dream . She’s using micro-patronage to raise the funds for the CD and for her tour of the U.S. , which begins June 15, 2010. In this interview, Gunnlaugs discusses her decision to use a fan-based funding system; how Kool & The Gang became a gateway to jazz; why she decided to come to the Uni...

Bassist Rufus Reid says he’s found a very special combination of players on his new trio CD, Out Front (Motema Music, 2010). In this interview, Reid talks about why pianist Steve Allee and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca make for such rare trio partners; how he approaches both trio and large ensemble playing; and why he feels compelled to keep reaching for new experiences. Learn more at www.rufusr...

Drummer Sunny Jain is using his superpowers for good, choosing on his new album, Taboo (Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, 2010) to make a series of strong statements about social issues, set against South Asian cultural norms. In this interview, Jain talks about his decision to use traditional song forms to say non-traditional things; the intricate interplay of the band; and the many guest vocali...

If all you know about Humboldt County, California, is Firesign Theatre and, uh, “agriculture,” then it’s time you got to know the Redwood Jazz Alliance. Located behind the “Redwood Curtain,” the RJA is successfully bringing in major jazz artists to a community that wouldn’t otherwise have access to them. In this interview, three board members — Dan Aldag,...

A few years ago, several jazz musicians in Los Angeles decided to pool their resources to create a better environment for jazz in LA. Thus was born the Los Angeles Jazz Collective. In this interview, LAJC founding member Gary Fukushima discusses the early days of the collective; how it is run and the types of programs it puts on; and why the LAJC’s founding members decided such an organizati...

Spike Wilner is a jazz pianist and also one of the owners of Small’s Jazz Club in New York City. In this interview, Wilner talks about the often colorful history of the club; it’s philosophy of musical intimacy; and how it has become “a hang” for jazz musicians. Learn more at smallsjazzclub.com .

Seth Abramson is a musician and longtime music promoter who books Jazz Standard, one of the premier jazz clubs in New York. In this interview, Abramsom talks about the musical philosophy of the Starndard; how he decides who to book when; and how the Standard got its start. Learn more at www.jazzstandard.net .

Sam Newsome made a decision nearly 15 years ago to switch exclusively to the soprano saxophone. His most recent album, Blue Soliloquy (self-produced, 2009) is a solo exploration of that instrument. In this interview, Newsome talks about his pattern of intensive periods of study; the musical goals he had for the new record; and also about other projects with which he’s involved, including a d...

Drummer Peter Erskine has done it all: Stan Kenton, Weather Report, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band and many, many others. Most recently, he’s appeared on two albums, The Trio Live At Charlie O’s (Fuzzy Music, 2010) and The Avatar Sessions (Fuzzy Music, 2010). In this interview, Erskine talks about the differences between playing drums in a big band and trio; the unexpected success of th...

Drummer Dana Hall has made a name for himself in the bands of Terell Stafford, Malachi Thompson, Bobby Broom and many others. Now he’s taking the lead with his debut recording, Into The Light (Origin, 2009). In this interview, Hall talks about the recording of the new album; the idea of “pacing” a recording session; and how he chose a career as a drummer after he’d already...

Paul Pines is a poet with roots deep in the jazz world. In the 1970s, he opened and ran the Tin Palace, a bar in the Bowery where he booked many of the great jazz names of the day and others who would get some of their earliest gigs at the Palace. Pines has published several books of poetry and fiction, including the recent Last Call At The Tin Palace (Marsh Hawk Press, 2009). In this interview, r...