Drummer and composer RJ Miller joins Pablo Held to talk about the creative process behind his albums “Ronald’s Rhythm” and “Free Soul”, finding specific grooves for songs and what he thinks about endings. Other topics include playing in the groups of Jorge Rossy and Aaron Parks, seeing Paul Motian at the Village Vanguard, and lessons learned from Ornette Coleman and Masabumi Kikuchi.

Saxophonist & composer Chris Potter returns to ‘Pablo Held Investigates’ for an in-depth conversation, recorded just before heading out on their European tour together. Zooming in on their repertoire, Chris shares insights into his compositional process. Other topics include Herbie Hancock’s ‘Actual Proof’, what Chris pays attention to when listening to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, playing on ‘Alegria’ by Wayne Shorter and much more.

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Becca Stevens joins Pablo Held to talk about her new album “Maple To Paper” and the compositional process behind the title track. Other topics include learning standards, the power of lyrics and their inner rhythm, balancing creativity and parenting, and studying songs like “The Rainbow Connection,” Ornette Coleman’s “What Reason Could I Give,” and Charles Mingus’ “Portrait”.

Chris Weisman joins Pablo Held for a special episode about their unique long-distance collaboration in which they made albums for each other. They talk about exchanging songs on paper, giving up control over arrangement, production and instrumentation, and releasing records on which neither of them plays a single note of their own music. Moving beyond process, the conversation dives into questions of authorship, musical identity, and trust, as they reflect track-by-track on both albums and on the emotional experience of hearing one’s music transformed through another artist’s imagination—and how this project reshaped their understanding of what the term “my music” really means.

Album links:
Chris Weisman – Pablo Held Plays My Music
https://chrisweisman.bandcamp.com/album/pablo-held-plays-my-music
Pablo Held – Chris Weisman Plays My Music
https://pabloheld.bandcamp.com/album/chris-weisman-plays-my-music

00:00:00 The origin story of this project
01:33:20 How Chris made Pablo’s album
03:14:27 How Pablo made Chris’ album

Pianist, composer & recording engineer Pete Rende joins Pablo Held to talk about strong melodies, finding your own voice and playing what you hear. Other topics include Pete’s whispering exercise, composing, working with jazz legends Paul Motian and Ron Carter, and his return to playing after a long break.

Saxophonist & composer John O’Gallagher joins Pablo Held to talk about sound and projection on the alto saxophone, his PhD research on late-period Coltrane, and how pitch-class set theory shapes his music. Other topics include stories behind the making of his new album ‘Ancestral’, playing together at Pablo’s ‘Alice Coltrane Tribute’ concert in Cologne, recording on Joe Henderson’s big band album, memories of Andrew Hill, and much more.

Larry Grenadier joins Pablo Held to talk about composing, comping, and working on clarity and technique on the bass. Other topics include memorizing songs, playing in different keys, and his experiences with Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings, Paul Motian, Masabumi Kikuchi, Billy Higgins, Guillermo Klein, Steve Swallow and Jack DeJohnette. They also reflect on Blossom Dearie, Paul Chambers, Jaco Pastorius’ ‘Word of Mouth’, Bill Stewart’s ‘Telepathy’, studying with Ron Carter, routines, self-doubt, and so much more.

Patrice Rushen joins Pablo Held to talk about composing for orchestras, films, and small groups; important orchestration lessons; and recording the ‘Joy Ryder’ album with Wayne Shorter. They also discuss witnessing a Weather Report recording session for ’Tale Spinnin’, a memorable meeting with Miles Davis, sight reading, her technique and touch on the piano, the Fender Rhodes, memories of seeing Herbie Hancock’s ‘Mwandishi’ band live, performing & rehearsing with Prince, singing and much more.

Drummer Kush Abadey joins Pablo Held to talk about mental practice, time feel, drum tuning, lessons learned from playing with Wallace Roney, Tomasz Stanko & Buster Williams, recording Melissa Aldana’s new album with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, the art of playing brushes, clarity, Miles Davis’ ‘Complete Concert 1964’ album and much more.

Saxophonist Nicole Glover joins Pablo Held to talk about her creative process, the stories behind her compositions, recording albums at the legendary Van Gelder Studio, working with Renee Rosnes & ARTEMIS, Christian McBride, Al Foster and studying with Mulgrew Miller. Other topics include practicing like a drummer, embracing mistakes, exploring the whole-tone scale and the unique form of Miles Davis’ “Circle.”