Close Enough for Jazz

We sit down with composer and saxophonist Anna Webber to explore her disciplined compositional process and look ahead to her upcoming nonet album, It's Easier to Imagine the End of the World. Anna explains how she maintains a daily composition practice by avoiding time crunches, relying on pencil and paper, and utilizing "rogue cop police walls" to combat writer's block. We dive into her strategies for writing difficult "etudes" designed to challenge heavy-hitting musicians, and the financial realities of co-leading a big band with Angela Morris. We also reflect on her time studying in Berlin with John Hollenbeck and how she integrates extended techniques and microtonality into her work. Finally, she previews her upcoming nonet release, inspired by the writings of Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis, and Naomi Klein as a hopeful response to late-stage capitalism. Note: Birch Grove Media does not own the recordings featured in this episode.

Timestamps:

01:47 - Developing a daily, disciplined compositional process

05:14 - The benefits of writing slowly without time crunches

07:05 - Composing with pencil and paper vs. the computer

10:07 - Strategies for breaking out of writer's block

14:42 - Studying in Berlin with John Hollenbeck

17:39 - The financial realities of co-leading a big band with Angela Morris

23:21 - Finding inspiration in extended techniques and microtonality

28:52 - Navigating misogyny and the "boys club" mentality in jazz education

36:08 - Previewing her upcoming nonet release, It's Easier to Imagine the End of the World

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

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Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.

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We sit down with trumpeter Kenny Warren to explore the boundless possibilities of modern improvisation and the magic of trusting your instincts on the bandstand. Kenny opens up about his deep connection to free improvisation, describing it as a childlike state of uninhibited play, and details how he turns off his "inner critic" during esoteric sessions. We reflect on his formative years in the Denver scene with the legendary Ron Miles, his "jazz prog rock" roots with JP Schlegelmilch, and the collaborative strength of their current project, Slow Tiger. Kenny also shares his thoughts on the process of mixing and editing albums—comparing psychedelic post-production to a David Lynch film—and discusses how he adapts his compositions when writing for his Sweet World trio.

Note: Birch Grove Media does not own the recordings featured in this episode.

Catch the Slow Tiger album release gig at Three's Brewing on September 27th.

Timestamps:

00:30 - Forming the Sweet World trio and adjusting to unique instrumentation

02:34 - The slippery slope of editing and mixing your own albums

07:59 - The "David Lynch" moments of psychedelic editing in jazz

08:37 - Taking inspiration from cellist Hank Roberts

09:29 - The magic of pure improvisation vs. playing written music on tour

17:32 - Navigating uninspired moments on the bandstand

19:57 - Trusting the process and turning off the "inner critic"

26:21 - Growing up in the Denver jazz scene with Ron Miles

30:35 - How to compose for specific musicians and adapting to line-up changes

42:09 - The history of Slow Tiger and taking inspiration from Sonic Youth

46:13 - Balancing the writing duties in a collective band

51:34 - Outro: Making new music with Tyler Gilmore and Carlo Costa

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

Web: birchgrove.io

Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia

Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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We open the vault for another installment of our Blind Pig series, traveling back 20 years to September 15, 2006, for a rare bootleg of the Ralph Alessi Quartet live at Layla Lounge. In this episode, we revisit a nostalgic set at the Williamsburg Jazz Festival featuring Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Brad Shepik on guitar, Scott Colley on bass, and a 26-year-old Tyshawn Sorey on drums. We reflect on the vibrant, pre-condo Brooklyn loft scene of the mid-2000s, exploring the history of lost venues and the grassroots origins of the Williamsburg Jazz Festival. We also unpack what these heavyweight musicians were up to in 2006, from Alessi’s School for Improvisational Music (SIM) to Brad Shepik’s Balkan folk-jazz integrations, while listening to the quartet's intense interplay over the ambient sounds of a Brooklyn hookah bar. Note: Birch Grove Media does not own the recordings featured in this episode.

Timestamps:

00:25 - Introducing the Ralph Alessi Quartet bootleg from September 15, 2006

10:41 - Tyshawn Sorey’s dynamic playing and Brad Shepik's groovy soloing

12:33 - The aesthetic of Layla Lounge and mid-2000s Williamsburg

14:43 - The history of the Williamsburg Jazz Festival and the FONT festival

17:08 - Ben Neill's Mutantrumpet and other featured festival artists

27:53 - Hookah lounge acoustics and talking during the bass solo

30:30 - What Alessi, Shepik, and Colley were recording in 2006

32:58 - A 26-year-old Tyshawn Sorey touring with Steve Coleman

45:27 - "Allesorey": The intense duo interplay between Ralph and Tyshawn

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

Web: birchgrove.io

Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia

Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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This episode features saxophonist Aaron Burnett to explore his evolution into "Jazztronica," discussing everything from auditioning for Wynton Marsalis over the phone to building a custom digital pedalboard in Ableton. We examine his unique compositional process, which he describes as "downloading" full melodies from his dreams—a method that helped him write his upcoming swinging, nostalgic album Archangel at just 21 years old. Aaron breaks down his boundary-pushing group The Big Machine and details his use of audio-to-MIDI pitch followers to manipulate his saxophone sound. We also discuss his experiences touring with powerhouse vocalists like Esperanza Spalding and Corinne Bailey Rae, including a nightmare scenario where an airline destroyed his baritone saxophone right before a week of gigs. Packed with stories about going viral with drum and bass remixes and shouting out the next generation of killer musicians, this episode covers the cutting edge of modern improvised music

Note: Birch Grove Media does not own the recordings featured in this episode.

Chapter Timestamps:

01:01 - The culture of sitting in on gigs and finding inspiration

05:22 - The Big Machine: Fusing modern classical, hard bop, and world music

07:11 - Creating "Jazztronica" with Ableton and audio-to-MIDI modules

12:19 - Branding the music and the upcoming Quantum Breaks project

16:37 - Bringing dance music back into the modern jazz ecosystem

17:27 - Taking inspration from Tyshawn Sorey, Morton Feldman, and Steve Coleman

21:53 - Going viral on social media with a drum and bass remix of "Countdown"

25:51 - Touring with Esperanza Spalding and Corinne Bailey Rae

28:43 - "Downloading" melodies from dreams and the upcoming Archangel album

31:38 - Auditioning for Wynton Marsalis over the phone with "Cherokee"

37:25 - Shouting out the next generation of killer jazz musicians

41:07 - Aaron's best gig ever: Roulette with Craig Taborn and Tyshawn Sorey

42:17 - The worst gig ever: Playing a European tour with a broken baritone saxophone

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

Web: birchgrove.io

Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia

Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

AARON BURNETT

https://www.instagram.com/aarondjuan/?hl=en

https://aarondburnett.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/aaron-burnett-music

https://www.youtube.com/@aaronburnett476

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We sit down with highly in-demand bassist Chris Tordini to discuss his unique approach to the instrument, from his early days playing South Jersey bookstores to holding down the bass chair on Broadway. Chris shares the story of how he unexpectedly came to author two instructional books for Mel Bay, and why his early background in piano helped him seamlessly transition between guitar, electric bass, and upright bass. We talk about his formative years building a DIY jazz scene in South Jersey, how he navigates the New York gig economy using his trusty "two out of three" rule, and the realities of playing eight shows a week on Broadway's Hadestown. Chris also shares his strategies for staying grounded when playing with intense drummers—drawing inspiration from veteran bassist Drew Gress—and recounts a disastrous 2022 European tour featuring a flip-phone-wielding bandleader that taught him the ultimate lesson in trusting his gut. 

Note: Please go find and enjoy the music of Timo Vollbrecht, Marko Churnchetz, Alec Goldfarb, Chris Speed and Angelika Niescier. A few clips of their music were reposted in this episode. Birch Grove Media does not claim ownership of these performances or musical works, and is not monetizing this episode. This is shared purely for educational and archival appreciation.

Chapter Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: Sweating with certain drummers
• 00:25 - Writing two upright bass books for Mel Bay
• 06:00 - Translating technique between electric and upright bass
• 11:06 - Taking the "rock route" to the upright bass
• 13:08 - Growing up and gigging in the South Jersey music scene
• 18:25 - How to prioritize gigs: The "Two out of Three" rule
• 24:41 - Practicing quarter tones, polyrhythms, and meditative focus
• 28:01 - Keeping calm while playing with intense, complex drummers
• 29:56 - Finding inspiration in Drew Gress's relaxed playing at the Village Vanguard
• 32:00 - Knowing when to step out and when to be the glue
• 36:44 - Taking over the bass chair on Broadway's Hadestown
• 42:32 - The mental challenges of playing repetitive shows eight times a week
• 47:55 - Exploring groove-based improvisation and extreme math jazz
• 51:04 - Storytime: The worst tour

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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We open the vault for another installment of our Blind Pig series, traveling back to August 24, 2011, for a rare recording of the Steve Lehman Trio featuring Carlos Homs at The Stone. In this episode, we revisit a blazing set featuring Steve Lehman on alto, Carlos Homs on keys, Chris Tordini on bass, and Damion Reid on drums, listening to a massive wall-of-sound take on Jackie McLean's "Mr. E", a lightning-fast run of Lehman's original "Curse Fraction" and more. Beyond the music, we explore the history and rules of The Stone under John Zorn's direction, including the strict "no bathroom breaks" policy and the origin of its name . We also discuss the 2011 curator scene and note how this unique, one-off quartet served as an early preview for the Sélébéyone project, tracing the group's collaborative roots back to Andrew Carrico's 2008 New School senior recital.

Note: Please go find and enjoy the music of Steve Lehman, Carlos Homs, Chris Tordini and Damion Reid. A few clips of their music were reposted in this episode. Birch Grove Media does not claim ownership of these performances or musical works, and is not monetizing this episode. This is shared purely for educational and archival appreciation.

Chapter Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: Someone has to... 

01:15 - The Steve Lehman Trio featuring Carlos Homs at The Stone 

08:42 - Listening to a burning take on Jackie McLean's "Mr. E" 

10:05 - Discussing the infamous rules and history of The Stone 

13:22 - The 2011 curator scene and Karl Berger's CMS workshops 

23:06 - Carlos Homs floating over the top of Lehman's dense harmony 

24:38 - What Tordini, Reid, and Homs were recording in 2011 

27:08 - A preview of Sélébéyone and Andrew Carrico's 2008 senior recital 

29:07 - A lightning-fast performance of "Curse Fraction"

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Julie Maniscalco sits down to explore the logistical nightmares and creative triumphs of managing an 18-piece jazz orchestra in New York City. We discuss her writing process, contrasting the exposed nature of small group writing to the lush, vibrant colors of a big band, drawing on influences ranging from Tower of Power to Maria Schneider and Arturo O'Farrill. Julie shares the surreal experience of premiering three original pieces at Carnegie Hall—Songbird for Hoyt, Medusa, and Ripple Effect—and explains how writing within strict frameworks actually fuels her creativity. We also shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked Staten Island jazz scene, discussing her Outer Borough Project, the legendary Cargo Cafe, and local artist residencies at Snug Harbor. Finally, we look ahead to her upcoming Chamber Music America grant-funded dectet album, In Flux, slated for release in the summer of 2027. 

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: The logistics of managing an 18-piece band
• 02:47 - The compositional process: Why writing for a big band is like mixing a cocktail
• 06:07 - Premiering three original pieces at Carnegie Hall
• 10:46 - Writing for the Susan Wagner High School Wind Ensemble
• 12:28 - Finding creative freedom within traditional musical frameworks
• 18:50 - Major compositional influences: Maria Schneider, Arturo O'Farrill, and Miggy Miyajima
• 23:13 - The Outer Borough Project: A musical tribute to Staten Island
• 29:22 - The history and current state of the Staten Island jazz scene
• 39:29 - Outro: Chamber Music America grant and the upcoming album In Flux

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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We sit down with bassist and composer Pascal Niggenkemper to explore his fascinating approach to the "augmented bass" and look back on our early days together in the 2009 Brooklyn loft scene. Pascal explains how he uses external motors and octophonic settings to create an immersive, ASMR-like experience that places the listener directly inside the instrument. We then discuss his recent large-scale project, the Tuvalu Ensemble, commissioned for the SWR NEWJazz Meeting 2024, which featured eight musicians and a 360-degree audience experience surrounded by vibrating sound curtains. We also trace the recurring theme of water in his work, from his Astghik Waterfall Suite recorded in Armenia to his newest groove-heavy quartet album, The Ocean Within Us. Finally, we reflect on the grueling but foundational Brooklyn DIY circuit of the mid-2000s and reminisce about the recording for the upcoming Birch Grove Media release of Face's Fall 2009. 

Note: The Tuvalu excerpt mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.swr.de/kultur/musik/swr-newjazz-meeting-2024-mit-bassist-pascal-niggenkemper-102.html. 

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: The ASMR effect of the augmented bass

00:37 - Preparing the bass and using motors for sound

03:34 - Pascal's journey into non-standard bass techniques

08:14 - The SWR NEWJazz Meeting 2024 and the Tuvalu Ensemble

10:59 - Surrounding the audience with vibrating sound curtains

14:40 - Exploring the relationship between humans and nature through poetry

20:18 - The recurring theme of water in Pascal's compositions

23:36 - The Astghik Waterfall Suite and recording in Armenia

28:43 - Finding groove and pulse on the new album The Ocean Within Us

31:22 - Connecting with Gerald Cleaver, Liz Kosack, and Sakina Abdou

36:07 - Looking back on the 2006-2009 Brooklyn loft scene

39:50 - Meeting through Dimitri Mikelis and joining Alan's band, Face

42:46 - The upcoming Birch Grove Media Fall 2009 vinyl release

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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We explore the dystopian reality of tech companies destroying physical media to train their AI models and what this terrifying trend could mean for the future of the music industry. In this episode, we discuss the alarming revelation that Anthropic, the company behind Claude, has been purchasing physical books, chopping off their spines, and destroying them to ingest their data. We examine the "first-sale doctrine" loophole, recent reports from 404 Media about bulk-buying pre-2022 literature, and Lindsay compares this aggressive consumption of physical history to the "firemen" in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Shifting to our own industry, we analyze the Capitol Records v. ReDigi case and theorize about a future where tech giants purchase classic music catalogs solely to train AI models to perfectly clone legendary artists. 

Special Note: All the musical excerpts in this episode are from Smirk's "Not Your Grandfather's Jazz" that can be found at birchgrove.io. 

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: A dystopian AI episode
• 00:25 - Staying on top of AI in the music industry
• 01:57 - How Anthropic scanned and destroyed physical books to train Claude
• 03:54 - The "first sale doctrine" and the publishers' lawsuit
• 05:51 - 404 Media's report on ISBNdb and bulk-buying pre-2022 books
• 08:25 - Destroying physical history for AI slop-free data
• 09:36 - Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and AI as the new "firemen"
• 11:45 - Private equity firms buying up music catalogs
• 13:45 - The Capitol Records v. ReDigi case and digital audio files
• 15:03 - The terrifying potential of feeding classic catalogs into AI
• 18:00 - Are there legal loopholes for shredding records like books?
• 21:18 - Treating art and physical media as nothing but data for the machine
• 24:29 - The theoretical scenario of an AI cloning George Clinton's catalog
• 25:34 - Outro: Let us know your thoughts in the comments

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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We record through a tornado warning to explore the global crisis facing live music venues, from the Live Nation antitrust lawsuit to the tragic closure of historic jazz clubs. In this episode, we break down the current state of music venues by analyzing the "ladder" of the live music industry. We discuss the recent Department of Justice antitrust ruling against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, before moving down the ladder to look at the devastating squeeze on mid-sized venues—the "missing middle"—and the recent closures of spaces like the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Highline Ballroom, and Stanhope House. Finally, we discuss the small-cap scene and legendary spots like the 55 Bar, Saint Vitus, and the Cotton Club. We also analyze new data on Gen Z's spending and drinking habits, noting a massive shift toward upscale, hybrid "treat yourself" venues and questioning how touring independent bands will survive without the traditional dive bar circuit.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: Recording through a tornado warning 
• 01:25 - Defining the venue size "ladder" and its impact on musicians 
• 03:22 - Large Venues: Madison Square Garden, Terminal 5, and Brooklyn Steel 
• 04:39 - The DOJ antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster 
• 08:08 - The Ticketmaster settlement and what it means for consumers 
• 10:26 - Medium Venues: The "missing middle" and soaring tour costs 
• 12:48 - Tragic closures: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Highline Ballroom, and The Well 
• 16:04 - The end of the Stanhope House in New Jersey 
• 17:21 - Small Venues: Dive bars, DIY spaces, and the end of the 55 Bar 
• 18:46 - What happened to Saint Vitus Bar and Bowery Electric? 
• 22:56 - Jazz Standard and the historic Cotton Club close their doors 
• 25:11 - Debunking data on Gen Z drinking and spending habits 
• 29:03 - The death of the middle class and the rise of upscale hybrid venues 
• 34:25 - Outro: Are festivals like Big Ears the solution for touring bands? 

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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