Miles Okazaki has recorded solo versions of every Thelonious Monk and leads a dynamite quartet called Trickster. Stints with Steve Coleman and others have made him something a rhythm savant. Join us as we discuss Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, play a Thelonious Monk tune, and watch Miles demonstrate some of his rhythmic mastery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la7So2U-vcs

Talking about D.C. roots, the crossroads of jazz, country, noise, and rockabilly, The Messthetics, The Spellcasters, string bending, and avant banjo rolls. Duos with Joel Harrison.

Music Heard in this Podcast

Heads: Anthony Pirog Trio, Palo Colorado Dream

Serpent Tongue, Quantum Path: The Messthetics

All The Things You Are: duo

Rock Candy: The Spellcasters

Funky Mama (Danny Gatton): duo

Talking about Studying with Ralph Towner, working with jazz guitar history, incorporating Balkan music, composing process.

Music Heard in this Podcast

The Flood w/ Gary Versace and Mark Ferber: Songlines Recordings

Nimbus (comp. Ralph Towner) – Winter Solstice – ECM records

Lady Be Good – Lester Young

Friday –Human Activity – Songlines Recordings

Human Activity –Human Activity – Songlines Recordings

Talking about rock and jazz roots, Stevie Ray Vaughn, composing process, finding one's own identity. Plays a free improv and Along Came Betty

Music Heard in this Podcast

Ernest The Protector, Slower Machinery, Bandits 2 by Nir Felder with Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, Nate Smith

Free Improv and Along Came Betty (Benny Golson)

Flood Down in Texas: Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble

Elliott Sharp discusses roots of his experimentalism, his composing for everything from orchestra to solo guitar, the Lower East Side in the 80’s, tapping, scraping, and more.

Talking about rock and jazz roots, early study, chordal fixation, work as a sideman, and composing. He plays a couple of amazing passages of Stella by Starlight and I’ll Remember April that you should not miss!

Music Heard in this Podcast

Tredechadrome – Hydra – Sunnyside Records w/ Ben Monder – guitars, Theo Bleckmann – voice, John Patitucci – bass, Skúli Sverrisson – bass, Ted Poor – drums, Gian Slater – voice , Martha Cluver – voice

You Are My Sunshine – Excavation – Arabesque Records w/ Ben Monder, guitar, Skuli Sverrisson – electric bass, Jim Black – drums & percussion, Theo Bleckmann – voice

Elysium – Hydra

Still Motion – Excavation

Pithecanthropus Erectus – comp. Charles Mingus, Paul Motian Electric Bebop Group – Garden of Eden w/ bass – Jerome Harris, drums – Paul Motian, guitar – Ben Monder, Jakob Bro, Steve Cardenas, saxophone – Chris Cheek, Tony Malaby

In Memoriam – Excavation

Liberty talks about groove, playing with Henry Threadgill, his roots, and his amazing new record, coming out in August.

Music Heard in this Podcast

Supercell:

Liberty Ellman (guitar)

Steve Lehman (sax)

Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet)

Stephan Crump (bass)

Damion Reid (drums)

Helios:

Liberty Ellman (guitar)

Mark Shim (sax)

Jose Davila (tuba)

Stephan Crump (bass)

Gerald Cleaver (drums)

Unoepic (Henry Threadgill):

Liberty Ellman (guitar)

Stomu Takeishi (bass)

Jose Davila (tuba)

Chris Hoffman (cello)

Henry Threadgill (woodwinds)

Trecepic:

Liberty Ellman (guitar)

Stomu Takeishi (bass)

Jose Davila (tuba)

Chris Hoffman (cello)

Henry Threadgill (woodwinds)

Nemesis (Kevin Eubanks):

Dave Holland Quartet

Rhinocerisms:

Liberty Ellman (guitar)

Steve Lehman (sax)

Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet)

Stephan Crump (bass)

Damion Reid (drums)

Vibrograph:

Liberty Ellman (guitar)

Steve Lehman (sax)

Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet)

Stephan Crump (bass)

Damion Reid (drums)

Miles plays and talks about his approach to rhythm and groove, discusses his new guitar book, reflects on alliances with Steve Coleman, Dan Weiss, and others.

Audio Excerpts Featured in this Podcast

1. “Wheel” from “Figurations”

Miguel Zenón – Alto Sax

Thomas Morgan – Bass

Dan Weiss – Drums

Recorded by Jimmy Katz, live at the Jazz Gallery, 2011

(I think I played a version of this in the interview)

2. “Rain” from “Figurations”

Miguel Zenón – Alto Sax

Thomas Morgan – Bass

Dan Weiss – Drums

Recorded by Jimmy Katz, live at the Jazz Gallery, 2011

(a minor blues)

3. “Evidence” (Thelonious Monk)

Orlando LeFleming, Bass

Ari Hoenig, Drums

Recorded by Jimmy Katz, live at The Bar Next Door, 2011

4. “Tilt / Metamorphosis / Kudzu”

Donny McCaslin, Tenor Sax

Francois Moutin, Bass

Dan Weiss, Drums

Hand-held recorder, Birdseye Jazz Club, Basel, 2013

Recorded on May 5, 2015.

Nels Cline discusses past and present, formative experiences, composing practices, playing with Wilco, views on improvising, effects, and more.

Audio Excerpts Featured in this Podcast

1. 5′s and 6′s: Angelica (Enja records) feat. NC- guitar, Tim Berne-sax, Stacy Rowlands-trpt., Eric Von Essen-bs, Alex Cline-drums

2. Attempted: Nels Cline Trio- Draw Breath (Cryptogramophone) feat. NC-guitar, Devin Hoff-bass, Scott Amendola-dr.

3. Water People: Tim Berne-Empire Box:7x, Vol. 2 (Screwgun) feat. NC-guitar, Vinny Golia, woodwinds, Tim Berne- woodwinds, Roberto Miranda-bs, Alex Cline-dr

4. Canales’ Cabeza: Nels Cline Trio- Macroscope (Cryptogramophone) feat. NC-guitar, Devin Hoff-bass, Scott Amendola-dr.

5. Squirrel of God: Nels Cline Trio- Macroscope (Cryptogramophone) feat. NC-guitar, Devin Hoff-bass, Scott Amendola-dr.

6. Whispers of Eve: Nels Cline/ Julian Lage Duo- (Mack Avenue) feat. NC-guitar, Julian Lage- guitar

7. Angel of Death: Angelica (Enja records) feat. NC- guitar, Tim Berne-sax, Stacy Rowlands-trpt., Eric Von Essen-bs, Alex Cline-drums

8. A Cold Day in New York: 3+3=7 (9 Winds) feat. NC-guitar, Joel Harrison-guitar, Steve Cardenas-guitar, Alex Cline-perc, Brad Dutz-perc, John Holmes-perc

9. Twisted Blues: Nels Cline/ Julian Lage Duo- (Mack Avenue) feat. NC-guitar, Julian Lage- guitar

10. The Art of Almost: Wilco- The Whole Love (Nonesuch)

11. Angel of Death: Angelica (Enja records) feat. NC- guitar, Tim Berne-sax, Stacy Rowlands-trpt., Eric Von Essen-bs, Alex Cline-drums

Recorded on December 5, 2014.

Henry Threadgill Interview Part 2: Henry further discusses his composing method, Beethoven and James Brown, Varese and the primacy of intervals.

Music Played in this Podcast

Noisy Flowers: Makin’ a Move with HT – saxophone, Mark Taylor- French Horn, Brandon Ross and Ed Cherry- guitar, Marcus Rojas and Edwin Rodriguez- tuba, Phaeroan Aklaff- drums (Columbia 1995)

Extremely Sweet William: Zooid – with Liberty Ellman, Jose Davila, Elliot Kavee, Stomu Takeishi, Chris Hoffman, HT (Pi records 2010)

Song Out of My Trees – with James Emery, Mossa Bildner, Jerome Harris, Ed Cherry, Ted Daniel, etc. Black Saint (1994)

James Brown: Give it Up or Turnit Loose

Beethoven- Grosse Fugue, Op 130

Do the Needful: Everybody’s Mouth a Book – w/ Henry Threadgill, Brandon Ross, Dafnis Prieto, Bryan Carrot, Stomu Takeishi (Pi records 2001)

Recorded on December 5, 2014.