Erica Von Kleist is performing artist, educator, businesswoman, colorful commentator on any number of the more ridiculous intersections between art and modern life and wouldn’t you know, she plays the saxophone to top it all off and we have to acknowledge,  just had the premiere of three new arrangements at no less than Carnegie Hall. 

Find Erica on the Web

I’ve admired her work for many years now and thought about asking for an interview for the AWHY podcast, it was the commentary of many of our peers in and out of music to a social media post by a third party some months ago that finally brought us here. 

It seems that within music education circles, art is certainly imitating life.  With one comment by a young-ish undergrad regarding the behavior of collegiate faculty in music departments that we got a whole lot of ‘Boomer’ and ‘kids these days’ type of repartee.  

So what gives when we’re all just trying to get along? Wouldn’t we be more useful to each other by crossing the threshold of generational divides?  I thought that was what Jazz was all about anyways, we’re hoping Erica can set us straight.

And in the Jazz Room… We had a fun interview with Grammy nominated, singer/composer Claudia Acuna at the Newport Jazz Festival. She talks about the inspirations for her songs. You’ll hear cuts from her albums “Duo” and ”Turning Pages”  . Learn more at www.claudiaacuna.com