The Jazz Session

Trombonist Jeff Albert ‘s new live record is called Unanimous Sources . In this interview, we talk about the various musical buttons pushed by this band; making music fun; the many other projects Jeff is involved with; the forward-thinking music program at Loyola University New Orleans; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s...

Drummer Chad Taylor ‘s latest record is a collaboration with saxophonist Brian Settles and pianist Neil Podgurski called The Daily Biological (Cuneiform Records, 2020). In this interview, Taylor talks about his early days with Brian Settles and comedian Dave Chappelle; the origin of this trio; his work with the recently departed Henry Grimes; life during the pandemic; and more. / / / I&#8217...

Keyboardist Erik Deutsch has a new album called Live At Lunatico . In this interview, he talks about making music fun; the overlap of jazz and jam bands; his work with Leftover Salmon; his move to Mexico; and his new gig with Dixie Chicks. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also lik...

Henry Hey and his band Forq have a new album called Four . In this interview, Hey talks about the history of Forq; big stacks of keyboards; his work with David Bowie and George Michael; and a lot more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. I...

Back in 1996 I was lucky to have dinner with Jimmy Cobb in a small town in northern Japan. Today, as we mourn Jimmy’s passing and celebrate his life, I’d like to share that story.

Guitarist, vocalist, and other-instruments-ist Wendy Eisenberg has released a wealth of music in recent years, each album in a distinct soundworld from every other. In this interview, Eisenberg talks about projects including Dehiscence , Its Shape Is Your Touch , Time Machine , Talk To Me (by their collaborative band Editrix), and more. We also learn why western Massachusetts is a magical gateway...

Woodwind player Brian Landrus ‘s new album, For Now , comes out on May 15, 2020. In this interview, Landrus talks about making an album with strings; how upheaval in his personal life led to the music on For Now ; the influence of Bob Brookmeyer on his writing; a future big band project; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’...

Pianist Andy Milne has just released his first trio album, The ReMission (Sunnyside Records, 2020), featuring bassist John Hébert and drummer Clarence Penn. In this interview, Milne talks about finally deciding to make a trio record; how the album coincided with both his fight against cancer and a new job at the University of Michigan; life during the pandemic; his thoughts on McCoy Tyner; and mor...

Guitarist Eric Hofbauer recently released Book of Fire (Creative Nation Music, 2020), the second in what will be a five-album series centered on the five aspects of the Chinese philosophy wu xing . In this interview, Hofbauer talks about the first two albums in the series; how he and bassist Tony Leva broadened their instrumental palettes for this latest record; why he chose to include recordings...

Bassist and poet Henry Grimes died on April 15, 2020 from complications due to Covid-19. In this episode, I read one of Henry’s poems and a poem I wrote for Henry. After that, pianist Carmen Staaf recalls her relationship with Grimes. The final section is a previously unaired 2008 interview with Henry Grimes recorded at the Jazz At The Lake festival in Lake George, NY. / / / I’ve been...

Saxophonist Angela Davis ‘s latest recording is Little Did They Know (ABC Jazz, 2019). In this interview, Davis talks about moving home to Australia and becoming part of the Melbourne jazz scene; how she came to make this record with Tony Gould and Sam Anning; the stories behind the tunes on the album; life in Australia during the pandemic; and much more. / / / I’ve been recording conv...

The new album by Brenda Earle Stokes is Solo Sessions, Vol. 1 . In this interview, Stokes talks about this unexpected album; learning 700 songs in 11 weeks on a cruise ship; life in NYC during the pandemic; the idea of the depressed artist; the opportunity for optimism; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that de...

We just lost Ellis Marsalis. Earlier this week we lost Wallace Roney. I think we’ll be adding more names to the list before all this is over. I’m sharing this 2009 interview with Ellis as a way to honor his memory. Take care of each other, OK? Ellis Marsalis is more than the father of four famous sons. He’s an acclaimed pianist and educator in his own right, and his musical history has...

Pianist Yoko Miwa ‘s most recent album is Keep Talkin’ . In this interview, Miwa talks about the difficulties facing all musicians during the coronavirus outbreak; surviving the 1995 Kobe earthquake; gigging with Sheila Jordan; why she often includes Beatles songs on her albums; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s i...

Cast Of Characters (Outside in Music, 2020) is the latest album from trombonist, composer and record label owner Nick Finzer . In this interview, Finzer talks about writing this ambitious suite of music; about how we incorporate and transcend our influences; his long-running band; and his decision to start a record label. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007...

To honor the passing of McCoy Tyner , I’m making this members-only episode from December into a public episode. Music writer Richard Scheinin talks about McCoy Tyner’s album Sahara . During the conversation, Richard also reads from interviews he did with Sonny Fortune and Bobby Hutcherson about McCoy. [Photo: McCoy Tyner at the 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival, by Jason Crane.]

Pianist Lynne Arriale ‘s new album is Chimes of Freedom (Challenge Records, 2020). The record is a direct reply to our current American sociopolitical environment. In this interview, Arriale talks about speaking truth to power; mortality and the artistic process; her work as an educator; and a lot more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it&...

Terry Teachout is the author of Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington (Penguin, 2013). In this interview, Teachout talks about Ellington’s complex character; his genius as a composer; Ellington’s sometimes fraught collaborations with his fellow musicians; and a lot more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserv...

New York Voices are celebrating more than three decades together with their new album Reminiscing In Tempo . In this interview, group member Kim Nazarian talks about their origins; the way new music makes it into their repertoire; how the group has stayed together for so long; their upcoming tour of Asia; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I thi...

Vibraphonist Chris Dingman ‘s new album, Embrace , comes out on March 6, 2020. In this interview, which includes previews of some of the music from the album, Dingman talks about his decision to record in a trio format with Linda May Han Oh and Tim Keiper; how he uses meditation to help navigate his musical and personal paths; confronting the loss of his father during the making of the album...

On Solidarity , drummer Jerome Jennings pays tribute to the courage of African-American women activists. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jennings talks about the work he did to educate himself on the history of African-American women in struggle; trans activist Marsha P. Johnson; his fascinating approach to the drums on “Bebop,” the album’s opening track; and a whole lot more....

Saxophonist Dayna Stephens has three new records coming out in the first half of 2020, the first of which is a trio session with Ben Street and Eric Harland called Liberty (Contagious Music, 2020). In this interview, Stephens talks about why he likes playing in a trio setting; recording at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio and the Village Vanguard; his newfound health and how it’s affected his...

Tranceportation Vol. 1 (RareNoiseRecords, 2019) is the first of two new albums from guitarist David Torn and Swiss quartet Sonar . In this interview, Torn talks about how he went unexpectedly from producer to band member; his recording partnership with D. James Goodwin; the nature of playing with tritone tunings; and a lot more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians sin...

Brian Charette ‘s new solo organ album is called Beyond Borderline (SteepleChase, 2019). In this interview we talk about the interesting circumstances behind the recording; Brian’s work with George Coleman, Henry Hey, Anton Fig and others; his European travels and how they led to his happy marriage; his many recent albums; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with ja...

Gordon Grdina is a guitarist and oud player with many different irons in the fire. In this interview the focus is initially on his new album Nomad (Skirl Records, 2020) with Matt Mitchell and Jim Black. Then the topics move to his many other ensembles; his study with Gary Peacock and Tim Berne; Vancouver as a jazz town; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians si...