Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

In this archive interview from December 2009 (updated with a new intro), Cooper-Moore talks about his childhood days as the town musician; why he feels that playing music is far more than a profession; how and why he began creating his own instruments; and more.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Ron Weinstock for becoming a member.

The post The Jazz Session #502: Cooper-Moore (2009) appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Pianist Roberta Piket recorded an entire album of her husband Billy Mintz’s compositions as a surprise birthday gift for him. Now we’re all receiving a present, because Piket decided to release the record, which is called Domestic Harmony – Piket Plays Mintz (Thirteenth Note Records, 2019). In this interview, Piket talks about the recording process; Mintz’s reaction on hearing the record; her approach to solo piano; and, interestingly, the actor Brent Spiner.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Russell Archibald for becoming a member.

The post The Jazz Session #501: Roberta Piket appeared first on The Jazz Session.

The Jazz Session celebrates its 500th episode with NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan. In this interview, Jordan talks about how a nickel changed her life; her early years on 52nd Street with Charlie Parker; her work with Steve Swallow and the poetry of Robert Creeley; her approach to ballads and teaching; and more.

A Special Note:

Five hundred episodes. Twelve years. The Jazz Session is, if I do say so myself, a one-of-a-kind archive of the past decade and more of this music. Hundreds of hours of stories by the people who create the music we love. I started this show in 2007 with no idea what I was doing, other than knowing I loved interviewing jazz musicians and thought other people might like it, too, if this whole podcasting thing ever caught on. When I started this show my older son was 4 and my younger son was not yet 1. Now both are over 6’ tall and one is about to start college. And through all these years, all the moves, all the life changes, The Jazz Session has kept going. Now the question becomes, how much further can it go? And the only person who can answer that question is you. I’m only able to make this show because people like you make the switch from listeners to members. I’d like to be able to do so much more with The Jazz Session: more in-person interviews, more festival coverage, more travel. That’s possible only if you decide that you value this show enough to support it. If you do, go to thejazzsession.com/join and become a member for $5 or $10 a month. You’ll get bonus episodes, early access to every show, and more. Thank you for being here all these years. Now, become a part of the next 500 episodes by becoming a member.

The post The Jazz Session #500: Sheila Jordan appeared first on The Jazz Session.

The post TOMORROW… appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Multi-instrumentalist Jane Bunnett and her band Maqueque have a new album called On Firm Ground/Tierra Firme (2019, Linus Entertainment). In this interview, Bunnett talks about the long and often difficult process of assembling a band of women from Cuba; the collaborative spirit that emerged from their shared struggle; the music on the new record; and more.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album.

The post The Jazz Session #499: Jane Bunnett appeared first on The Jazz Session.

This week we’re stepping into the wayback machine for a 2009 interview with pianist Steve Kuhn about his album Mostly Coltrane (ECM, 2009). Kuhn worked with Coltrane for several weeks in the early 60s. In this interview, Kuhn talks about Coltrane, the Lenox School of Jazz, his composing methods, and the support he received early on from Bill Evans. He also discusses the sacrifices he made in pursuit of his musical vision.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Mark Redmond, the newest member of the show.

The post The Jazz Session #498: Steve Kuhn (2009) appeared first on The Jazz Session.

John Medeski has many irons in the fire, one of which is his new project Mad Skillet, featuring guitarist Will Bernard, sousaphonist Kirk Joseph and drummer Terence Higgins (the latter two from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band). In this interview, Medeski talks about the new album Mad Skillet; how honesty fuels his music and his sound; and the many projects he’s working on at the moment.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Jon Lost, the newest member of the show.

The post The Jazz Session #497: John Medeski appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Gang of Three is the new album from Montreal-based pianist Andrés Vial. In this interview, Vial talks about the relationship between Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell and Elmo Hope that inspired the album; how he ended up in the studio with Dezron Douglas and Eric McPherson; creating an instrumental piece from the words of a poem; and more.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album.

The post The Jazz Session #496: Andrés Vial appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Taylor Ho Bynum just released The Ambiguity Manifesto (2019, Firehouse 12 Records), an album featuring his “9-tet.” In this interview, Taylor talks about his outstanding band; the evolution of his compositions in recent years; the many exciting projects he has coming up; and a lot more. (Here’s Taylor’s previous interview on The Jazz Session.)

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album.

The post The Jazz Session #495: Taylor Ho Bynum appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Italian cellist Francesco Guerri has a new solo cello album on RareNoise Records called Su Mimmi non si spara! (“Don’t shoot Mimmi!”) In this interview, Guerri talks about the path from improvisation to composition; how a chance meeting brought him back to the cello in a new way; why he wants his music to reflect the truths of life; and more.

I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album.

The post The Jazz Session #494: Francesco Guerri appeared first on The Jazz Session.