GLT Jazz Next

"Whenever I call it a jazz band I do air quotes. 'Jazz.'" said Disorganizer mandolin player Stefen Robinson, gesturing with the index and middle fingers of both hands over his head. Why? "Because I don't even know what that means anymore," continued Robinson. "Are you talking about Miles Davis? Are you talking about Wayne Shorter? Are you talking about Kneebody?

Mucca Pazza ("Crazy Cow") founding member Rick Kubes said the forming of the 30-odd member marching band was organic. He gives kudos to fellow founder Mark Messing, the band's original director, choreographer, and music director.

Chicago native Greg Murphy has been a fixture on the New York City jazz scene since the 1980's, performing and recording with numerous jazz luminaries. Ahead of his show at The Promontory in Chicago August 25, the one time Illinois State University computer science student talked with GLT's Jon Norton about his new album "Summer Breeze." Murphy said among the songs he recorded for the album were originals he wrote nearly 30 years ago.

Mardra and Reggie Thomas are a husband-wife jazz team from DeKalb, Illinois. Mardra is a vocalist with a theatrical background. Reggie is a pianist and coordinator of the jazz program at Northern Illinois University. They'll play the Front Street Music Fest in downtown Bloomington August 20, where they'll feature music from their new album "Matters of the Heart." Reggie Thomas said he appreciates when fans refer to their recordings as "albums."

Jazz has taken Normal native Adam Larson to nearly all points on the globe. The U-High grad has also been on the receiving end of critical praise from high places. Longtime Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich says Larson is “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined.” Despite the acclaim, Larson said he still struggles with high, self-imposed expectations. "Sometimes during school I spent an inordinate amount of time looking at the wrong stuff. For example, looking at other people

Rico Wayne Johnson and Dove Benoit are a pair of Peorians bringing the sounds of Brazil, and other Latin American rhythms, to central Illinois. The Brazilionaires will kick off the GLT Summer Concert presented by CEFCU this Saturday June 11th in downtown Bloomington. A few months ago, the group stopped by the GLT studios with a bunch of great local jazz musicians to play some tunes from their new CD, and talked with Bruce Bergethon about spreading sambas and boleros across the Heartland.

Matthew Mullins is a 17-year-old junior at Normal Community West High School with a passion for music bordering on obsessive. He said he devours all types of music, but especially classic rock, blues, and jazz. "I actually got into jazz in general from my teacher at Normal West, Mrs. (Sarah) Williams, who introduced me to jazz. And I had a deep appreciation for jazz around sixth grade. I listened to all the greats ... Bill Evans ... Dave Brubeck. Then I started expanding from there.

Elizabeth Geyer is an Australian singer/songwriter/instrumentalist who says creating albums can be a lengthy process for her. She says she waited seven years after her last album to the record her latest. In this Skype conversation with WGLT's Jon Norton, Geyer explains how she was inspired by Peoria multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Paul Adams to write and record her latest album, titled "The Bridge."

Dr. Lonnie Smith is now in his fifth decade of recording and performing as a solo act, and behind a virtual who's who of jazz legends. Smith makes a stop in Chicago to play the Jazz Showcase this weekend (March 24-27). In a conversation with WGLT's Jon Norton, Dr. Smith says he remembers longing for a chance to make music from an early age.

To peg San Francisco based Kim Nalley as just a vocalist and songwriter would be selling her short. She's also an actor, a featured writer in various Bay Area publications, a former club owner, and a PhD candidate in history at UC-Berkeley. Nalley covers some of that ground with GLT's Jon Norton on this edition of GLT Jazz Next. She begins by talking about her new album "Blues People," which was inspired by the famous book by LeRoi Jones.