Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Bassist Max Johnson is a busy man. In demand on New York City’s bluegrass scene, he’s also part of several bands focusing on improvised music. In this interview, Johnson discusses three recent albums: Big Eyed Rabbit (Not Two, 2014), The Prisoner (NoBusiness, 2014), and The Invisible Trio (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2014). He also talks about the influence of his drummer father; how he became involved in bluegrass; and why he nearly quit school because of one person but decided to finish because of another. Learn more at maxjohnsonmusic.com.

CONCERT TONIGHT: Max is playing in New York tonight, June 9th 2014 at 11:00 pm at the McKittrick Hotel, 530 W 27th St. The show is free, and features Thomas Heberer on trumpet, Michael Attias on alto saxophone, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor saxophone, Max Johnson on bass and Ziv Ravitz on drums.

JOIN The Jazz Session for $5 a month here. Your membership gets you free mp3s and helps me get to NYC to record more interviews. Thanks!

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Electric bassist Giacomo Merega‘s two newest projects are both trio recordings: The Surface Of An Object (Rudi Records, 2014) and Crows And Motives (Underwolf, 2014). In this interview, Merega talks about expressing the concept of “surface” in music; why he chose the electric bass and how he is crafting his own sound; free improvisation versus composition; graphic scores and whether seeing them changes one’s appreciation of a piece of music; and his concert series. Learn more about the series on its Facebook page and at the Prospect Range site.

JOIN The Jazz Session for $5 a month here. Your membership gets you free mp3s and helps me get to NYC to record more interviews. Thanks!

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Baritone saxophonist Adison Evans‘ life took an unexpected turn when she was called to audition for Beyonce’s band. She got the gig, and left almost immediately for the Super Bowl and a world tour. Home between tours, Evans is still committed to the jazz she studied at Juilliard. In this interview, she talks about both sides of her life — traveling with a superstar and playing improvised music. Learn more at adisjazzkitchen.com and follow her on Twitter at @adison_evans.

LIVE SHOW! You can hear Adison Evans perform on her birthday, May 29, at Scholes Street Studio, 375 Lorimer Street in Brooklyn, NY. The show starts at 8 pm and costs $10 (free for kids).

JOIN The Jazz Session for $5 a month here. Your membership gets you free mp3s and helps me get to NYC to record more interviews. Thanks!

The post The Jazz Session #438: Adison Evans appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Primavera (2014, Inner Circle Music) is the new album by vocalist Sara Serpa and guitarist Andre Matos. In this interview, Serpa and Matos talk about using the studio as an instrument; the long process that led to this album; how the impending birth of their first child impacted the recording; and the use of others’ poetry in their music. Learn more at www.saraserpa.com and www.andrematosmusic.com, and follow Sara on Twitter at @serpasara.

BUY Sara’s and Andre’s music in The Jazz Session store and a portion of your purchase price will benefit the show. Note that you can click on a link in the store and then buy anything you want, and a portion of whatever you buy will help the show. Thanks!

JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive content. Membership costs just $5/month. The money funds trips to NYC to record new episodes. Join here.

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Vocalist Hilary Gardner‘s latest recording is The Great City. In this interview, we talk about New York City and how it inspired the album; her long, strange trip from Wasilla, Alaska to Brooklyn; and how she finds and interprets songs. Learn more at hilarygardner.com and follow her on Twitter at @hilarygardner.

JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive content. Membership costs just $5/month. The money funds trips to NYC to record new episodes. Join here.

The post The Jazz Session #436: Hilary Gardner appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Reuben Radding is a bassist and photographer. In this interview, he talks about his long road to photography; why he gravitates toward risk in his art; the battles over music terminology; and his own personal path away from music and back again. Learn more at www.reubenradding.com and follow him on Twitter at @ReubenRadding.

JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive content. Membership costs just $5/month. The money funds trips to NYC to record new episodes. Join here.

Photo credit: Rich Woodson

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Trombonist and vocalist Emily Asher’s latest recording with her band Garden Party is Carnival Of Joy!, released in 2013. In this interview, Asher talks about her journey from playing trad jazz in the Pacific Northwest to her current life as part of the same scene in New York; her new project with bass sax, accordion and trombone; the difference between recreating music and re-imagining it; and her plans for her next album. Learn more at www.emilyasher.com and follow her on Twitter at @emasherbone.

BUY Emily’s music in The Jazz Session store and a portion of your purchase price will benefit the show. Note that you can click on a link in the store and then buy anything you want, and a portion of whatever you buy will help the show. Thanks!

JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive content. Membership costs just $5/month. The money funds trips to NYC to record new episodes. Join here.

The post The Jazz Session #434: Emily Asher appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Guitarist Eric DiVito‘s new album is The Second Time Around (PJC, 2013), featuring Corcoran Holt on bass and Alyssa Falk Verheyn on drums, with guest appearances by Mavis Swan Poole and Steve Wilson. In this interview, DiVito talks about his approach to standards; the recording session and what made it work so well; finding originality in arranging; and his take on a being a jazz guitarist. Learn more at ericdivito.com and follow him on Twitter at @ericdivitomusic.

BUY this album in The Jazz Session store and a portion of your purchase price will benefit the show. Note that you can click on a link in the store and then buy anything you want, and a portion of whatever you buy will help the show. Thanks!

JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive content. Membership costs just $5/month. The money funds trips to NYC to record new episodes. Join here.

The post The Jazz Session #433: Eric DiVito appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Saxophonist Ed Rosenberg’s latest record is The Warming with his band Glue Gun Optimism. In this interview, Rosenberg talks about the very technical idea that led to his very accessible new project; his work in theatre, film and dance; Jerseyband, with whom he’s performed for more than a decade; and writing music for kids. Learn more at eddie3.com and follow him on Twitter at eddiethepancake.

BUY this album in The Jazz Session store and a portion of your purchase price will benefit the show. Note that you can click on a link in the store and then buy anything you want, and a portion of whatever you buy will help the show. Thanks!

JOIN The Jazz Session and get two free mp3s with each show plus exclusive content. Membership costs just $5/month. The money funds trips to NYC to record new episodes. Join here.

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