Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Pianist Danny Fox‘s new album is Wide Eyed (Hot Cup Records, 2014). In this interview, Fox talks about growing up in Manhattan surrounded by jazz greats; why he chose Harvard rather than a conservatory; and writing for this trio, who’ve been playing and touring together for five years. Learn more at dannyfoxmusic.com.

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Vocalist Alison Wedding‘s most recent album is This Dance (Ground Up Records, 2012). In this interview, Wedding talks about writing songs and how much a writer reveals; her years singing in Australia; improvisation versus interpretation; and her recent experience singing with Bobby McFerrin. Learn more at alisonwedding.com and follow her on Twitter at @alisonwedding.

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 story 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.

Finally, enjoy this video of Alison and recent Grammy winners Snarky Puppy:

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Saxophonist Brian Landrus is a bandleader and the creative force behind the upcoming 92Y Soul Jazz Festival. His most recent album with his band Kaleidoscope is Mirage (BlueLand Records, 2013). In this interview, Landrus talks about the festival, which features Esperanza Spalding, DJ Logic and Joey Defrancesco, along with Kaleidoscope. He also discusses his career, from his early years in Las Vegas playing with Motown giants to his move to the East Coast to explore both experimental and groove-based music. Learn more at brianlandrus.com and follow him on Twitter on @brianlandrus.

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Baritone saxophonist Shirantha Beddage’s latest album is Identity (Addo Records, 2012). In this interview, Beddage talks about searching for his identity as a musician and as an educator; his years in New York and Georgia and how they shaped his current sound; the institutionalization of jazz in the university system; and the Toronto jazz scene. Learn more at shiranthabeddage.com and follow him on Twitter at @beddagemusic.

BUY THIS ALBUM in The Jazz Session store and a portion of your purchase price will benefit the show at no additional cost to you.

JOIN the show for $5/month and get two free mp3s with each show. Join here.

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Saxophonist Jeff Lederer’s latest recording is Swing ‘N Dix (Little i music, 2013), an album that looks back at his early days playing music inspired by trad jazz. The album features Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Bob Stewart on tuba and Matt Wilson on drums. In this interview, Lederer talks about that early band and how it introduced him to collective improvisation; how a shared love of Albert Ayler brought he and Matt Wilson together; and his fascination with the Shakers, both musically and anthropologically. Learn more at littleimusic.com and follow him on Twitter at @littleimusic.

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Michael Weiss is a pianist and composer. His most recent album is Soul Journey. In this interview, Weiss talks about his often challenging music and how he revisits compositions for each performance; his years with jazz masters such as Jon Hendricks, Junior Cook and Johnny Griffin; and how listening to Wayne Shorter gave him the green light to try more adventurous writing. Learn more at michaelweiss.info.

Sean H. Doyle is a writer and recovering musician from Brooklyn. Following up on a conversation on Twitter, Sean and I talk about attitude in music and why it attracts him. Sean also gives listeners several suggestions on bands from the punk and noise worlds, and talks about the similarities they share with improvised music. Learn more at seanhdoyle.com and follow him on Twitter at @seanhdoyle.

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Saxophonist Angela Davis’s debut album is The Art of The Melody (2013). In this interview, Davis talks about her Australian roots; why she’s most interested in the lineage of players such as Lee Konitz, with whom she’s studied; melodic improvisation; and how to approach songs from outside the jazz canon. Learn more at angeladavismusic.com and follow her on Twitter at @musicaldavis.

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Trumpeter Ralph Alessi’s new album is Baida (ECM, 2013). In this interview, Alessi talks about the cohesiveness of this band after multiple albums together; playing the record for his mother in her final days; and his many years studying classical music before his experience at CalArts changed the course of his life. Learn more at ralphalessi.com.

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SPONSOR:

This episode is brought to you by innova Recordings, the label of the American Composers Forum. Innova releases creative jazz from the inside to the outside, Braxton to Big Band, Ligeti to Yao to Hwang. Even the different drummer is on our label. On the web at innova.mu.

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The season premiere of The Jazz Session begins with an extended conversation with saxophonist Lee Konitz. Konitz talks about why he followed a different path than most players of his generation; how he continues to find new things to play on standards; and what he looks for in the people he plays with. The music in this part of the show comes from Enfants Terribles (Half Note, 2012), his live album with Gary Peacock, Bill Frisell and Joey Baron. The album is available in The Jazz Session’s store.

In the second part of the show, guitarist and vocalist Camila Meza returns to talk about her new EP, Prisma (2013). Meza is performing at The Blue Note in NYC on October 11, 2013. Her new album is also available in The Jazz Session’s store.

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Today is Les McCann’s birthday. Back in 2004, I interviewed Les about his classic soul-jazz album Swiss Movement, featuring Eddie Harris, Benny Bailey, Leroy Vinnegar and Donald Dean. Enjoy!

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