Bite-Size Jazz

What do Ella Fitzgerald and Patsy Cline have in common? They were both considered the epitome of their respective styles of music. They have both influenced hundreds of other musical artists. And Staci Griesbach can knock your socks off singing either woman’s music.

Some people wouldn’t put country and jazz in the same boat. But after years of listening to both genres, Staci realized they weren’t so different after all. Not only are both styles “born in America” — they have similar emotional undercurrents. A good lyric, paired with a good melody, that moves the listener every time.

If you’re not convinced yet - just give Staci Griesbach’s latest album, My George Jones Songbook, a listen. You might become a country fan just yet. Tune in for 10 minutes to hear Staci’s take on her latest album!

Resources:

Learn more about Staci Griesbach on her website or social media. You can find My George Jones Songbook anywhere you stream music, and it’s available for purchase through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

During the pandemic lockdown, when doors were shuttered and people were cut off from one another, Rowan Flack was dreaming about wide open spaces. And writing about them in her new single, “The Calling.”

“The Calling” is a dreamy tune featuring an intimate setting of voice and piano. Rowan’s poetry-inspired lyrics are a perfect pairing for the playing of Deschanel Gordon (BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020). Together they help us break free from the constraints of everyday life and find solace in the calling of the mountains.

Tune in to get to know Rowan Flack and learn more about her follow-up EP, coming soon in 2023!

Resources:

Learn more about Rowan Flack on her website or social media. You can find “The Calling” anywhere you stream music, or purchase it from Amazon music

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

This summer, Simeon Davis released the album, Of Narratives & Nocturnes. And it’s truly all about the narrative.

If you like a good story, you’ll love Simeon’s music. His music doesn’t just tell a story — the band members are acting out the narrative, role-playing their individual themes. They’re more like thespians than musicians. In his hands, a band becomes a boat rocking across the ocean, a keyboard takes on the voice of God, and a guitar whispers the beguilings of the devil.

In this episode, we dive into two tracks from the album, “Eden” and “Pleiades” whose respective inspirations come from religion and Greek mythology. Tune in to hear how Simeon paints the canvas of these ancient worlds through instruments and voice — it just takes 10 minutes.

Resources:

Learn more about Simeon on his bio or social media. You can find Of Narratives & Nocturnes anywhere you stream music, and it’s available for purchase through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

The goddess of love, beauty, and femininity. But also the goddess of war and ambition. A multi-faceted personality — simultaneously passionate and poised. Are we talking about Inanna, Aphrodite, Venus… Or pianist Connie Han?

Most audiences are familiar with more modern iterations of love goddesses, like Venus and Aphrodite. But Inanna’s history in Sumerian mythology surpasses her look-alikes. Her inexorable lust for power and conquest are juxtaposed with her extreme femininity (she is the goddess of fertility after all). Who says you can’t be both powerful and feminine?

This is exactly what drew Connie Han to Inanna’s story — and maybe because she saw a little of Inanna in herself. Dive into the world of Inanna through the lens of Connie’s latest album, “Secrets of Inanna.” Connie takes you on a breathtaking ride through ancient kingdoms, the underworld, and back again. Tune in for 10 minutes to find out more.

Resources:

Learn more about Connie on her website, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter . You can find Secrets of Inanna anywhere you stream music, and it’s available for purchase through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

Les McCann and Joe Alterman started as mentor and protege, but have become close friends over the last decade. When Joe first met Les, all he wanted to do was play like him. But Les taught Joe to do just the opposite: to embrace his own experiences and create a unique sound. Instead of trying to be a #2 Les McCann – be a #1 Joe Alterman.

You may recognize Les McCann from his album with Eddie Harris, Swiss Movement, which features tunes like “Cold Duck Time” and “Compared to What.” It’s a great recording, but he’s also got some hidden gems, like the album Invitation to Openness. It’s a completely different aesthetic. 15 band members improvising on an idea, with no “shoulds” or “have-tos.” It’s incredible - and Les McCann dives into his early experiences that shaped the music.

Tune in to hear more about Les and Joe’s friendship, music, and lessons learned. Plus, they talk about a song they co-wrote that’s featured on Joe’s latest album. Tune in for 10 minutes!

Resources:

Learn more about Joe Alterman on his website. Keep listening to Joe’s album, The Upside of Down, and Les’s album, Invitation to openness.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

Meet Joe Alterman, the boy who wanted to play Bluegrass guitar and instead became a jazz pianist. And one hell of a jazz pianist at that.

Not only will you love Joe’s playing and original compositions - he’s got some great stories about jazz masters we all know and love. From his college days at NYU, working at the Blue Note, to his continued relationship with the great Les McCann — he passes on the lessons they shared with him. Plus, you’ll get a kick out of the story behind the title of the track “Don’t Forget to Love Yourself,” co-written with Les McCann.

Tune in to hear Joe’s story and fall in love with his music. It only takes 10 minutes!

Resources: 

Learn more about Joe Alterman on his website, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. You can find The Upside of Down anywhere you stream music, and it’s available for purchase through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

As the “world’s leading dramatic interpreter of Frank Sinatra,” Richard Shelton certainly holds a unique relationship to the legend. He’s portrayed Sinatra in the critically acclaimed shows Rat Pack Confidential and Sinatra: Raw. But it doesn’t stop there: he’s got a crooning voice of his own that swings superbly through original music.

An Englishman in Love in LA holds a little something for everyone. Old favorites from Frank Sinatra are mixed with masterful new tunes by LA bassist and composer Alex Frank, and former BBC ‘Young Composer of the Year’ Alex Rudd. Whether it’s a sorrowful melody about the double-edged sword of love or a song about the courage to chase your dreams: Richard Shelton’s voice is a perfect fit.

Listen to the full episode to check out the new music from Richard Shelton. You’ll learn more about his early connection to Frank Sinatra, the stories behind the original music, and also hear about his acting career (hint: he’s been on some TV shows you might recognize). Hit play to find out!

Resources: 

Learn more about Richard Shelton on his website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. An Englishman in Love in LA is available anywhere you stream music. It’s also available for purchase through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

Meet Bryan Carter, a drummer, singer, composer, and arranger extraordinaire. His latest album, I Believe, isn’t your typical straight-ahead jazz album. It’s a mixtape of his many musical influences, or in other words, “Black American Music through the lens of a jazz musician.”

Not only does I Believe groove the heck out of each song — it’s also a deeply personal coming of age and coming out story. But the story is subtly told through the lyrics of well-known songs. Listen closely to the words, and you’ll catch Bryan’s meaning.

Get to know Bryan Carter and the experiences that made him the musician he is today. Bryan dives into the composition process of each tune and what they mean to him. Most importantly, he opens up about his personal journey of learning to accept and love himself.

Resources: 

Learn more about Bryan Carter on his website. You can find I Believe anywhere you stream music, and it’s available for purchase through Bryan’s website or through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

Roxy Coss is a saxophonist, Composer, Bandleader, Recording Artist, Educator and Activist (Founder and President of WIJO). Sounds busy, huh? We didn’t even mention that she recently became a new mother! Anyone with even half as busy a life could testify that it’s easy to get caught up in so many different roles. Without hardly noticing, you start to compartmentalize.

Pre-pandemic and pre-baby, Roxy Coss was feeling a separation between various parts of her life. She was working on new music, and the more it emerged, the more she realized it was a manifestation of these “Disparate Parts.” Ultimately, it became a four movement suite: “The Body,” “The Mind,” “The Heart,” and “The Spirit.”

Tune in to hear Roxy’s take on each movement and how she’s learned to accept herself and the many facets of her life. Plus, Roxy shares the personal impact of the late pianist Harold Mabern and how he inspired the song “Mabes.”

Resources:

Learn more about Roxy Coss on her website or social media. You can find Disparate Parts anywhere you stream music. It’s also available for purchase through Amazon Music.

Stay tuned to Bite-Size Jazz in by following us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. And if you’d like to support Bite-Size Jazz and our mission to spread great stories about amazing music, you can buy me a coffee :)  Thanks for listening!

Meet Liam Forde: a connoisseur of all things music, elegance, and food. He’s a hopeless romantic with one foot in 2022 and one foot in the world of the 1930s nightclubs. One listen to his latest album Great To Be Here and you’ll be floating back in time to old New York where grand hotels and chique elegance reign supreme.

A middle-class child from a modest home, Liam found himself drawn to the grandiose world of music by a next-door neighbor who taught him how to make tomato sauce and pie dough — love classical music. Later, he found himself entirely captivated by his sister’s CD of Ella Fitzgerald’s “The Best of the Songbook.” The sweeping melodies, chromatic harmonies, and grandiose performances captured his imagination as a young boy - and hasn’t stopped since.

In Great To Be Here, Liam sings about grandeur monuments, like the “Plaza Hotel” and “Paris When It’s Grey.” He also opens up about artists’ insecurities — and learning to love your music whether or not the audience does — in the song “I Don’t Know.” Additionally, Liam comments on finding happiness in little things during a worldwide pandemic in “When My Word’s in Tune” and “Gratitude Song.”

Get to know Liam Forde in this episode of Bite-Size Jazz! He talks about his favorite dishes, his love for France, and finding confidence in your music. He also talks about getting started in New York, his acting career, and what makes a great teacher. Take 10 minutes to check out Liam Forde’s new music!

You can also hear Liam Forde LIVE at Birdland in New York on June 13th @ 8:30 PM EST! Purchase tickets here to reserve your seat today.

Resources:

Learn more about Liam Forde on his website, Instagram, or Facebook. You can find Great To Be Here wherever you stream music. It’s also available for purchase from Amazon Music or his website.

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