Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

I’m celebrating my 40th birthday with four new mini-interviews. Vijay Iyer talks about Holding It Down, his new album with Mike Ladd; Mary Halvorson introduces her septet recording Illusionary Sea; Stephan Crump‘s Rosetta Trio is back with Thwirl; and Nicky Schrire discusses her duo album Space and Time. Plus, Brad Linde returns with a preview of the upcoming season of jazz at the Atlas in Washington, D.C.

NOTE: You can support The Jazz Session by buying these albums in the TJS Store. Thanks!

The post The Jazz Session #422: Vijay Iyer, Mary Halvorson, Stephan Crump, Nicky Schrire & the Atlas preview appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Steve Feigenbaum is the founder of Cuneiform Records. In this interview, he talks about the origin of the label; what it’s like to run a record label in the age of digital downloads; and the varied roster he’s put together over the years. Learn more at cuneiformrecords.com and follow the label on Twitter at @cuneiformrecord.

NOTE: The Jazz Session’s Kickstarter runs until July 31, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. Please support the show.

The post The Jazz Session #421: Cuneiform Records (and a Kickstarter message) appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Trombonist Jeff Albert’s new album is The Tree On The Mound (RogueArt, 2013). In this interview, recorded in 2011 in New York City, Albert talks about teaching improvisation to kids; the intersection of computer technology and improvisation; and why you’ll always hear a groove at some point during a Jeff Albert show. Learn more at jeffalbert.com and follow him on Twitter at @jeffalbert.

Please donate to the Kickstarter campaign to bring back The Jazz Session. Click here to donate.

The post The Jazz Session #420: Jeff Albert appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Vocalist and composer Maria Christina’s debut album is The Timeless In You (Cracked AnEgg Records, 2013). In this interview, Maria Christina talks about taking risks; the Berlin jazz scene; allowing space in her writing for improvisation; and her time studying with Theo Bleckmann in New York. Learn more at maria-christina.com.

You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the TJS Store.

The post The Jazz Session #419: Maria Christina appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Pianist Geoffrey Keezer’s new solo piano album is Heart of the Piano (Motema Music, 2013). In this interview, Keezer talks about his time with Art Blakey; why he didn’t join Miles Davis’s band; the diversity of the projects he works on; and the art of playing solo. Learn more at geoffreykeezer.com and follow him on Twitter at @88keezer.

You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the TJS Store.

Note #1: This interview was recorded in December 2011, but the album just came out, so the interview never aired.

Note #2: This interview is being released on the same day as the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to bring back The Jazz Session for one year. Please contribute if you can. Thank you!

The post The Jazz Session #418: Geoffrey Keezer appeared first on The Jazz Session.

This is the final episode of The Jazz Session. It’s a conversation with pianist Geoffrey Keezer and saxophonist Donny McCaslin, recorded at the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival. In this interview, Keezer and McCaslin talk about duo playing; their new recordings; Wayne Shorter and Art Blakey; adjusting for different kinds of live performances; and, improbably, Rush. Learn more at geoffreykeezer.com and donnymccaslin.com and follow them on Twitter at @88keezer and @dmccee.

Thank you to everyone who made the last five years possible.

The post The Jazz Session #417: Geoffrey Keezer & Donny McCaslin appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Trombonist and vocalist Natalie Cressman’s debut album with her band Secret Garden is called Unfolding (2012). In this interview (the final interview conducted for The Jazz Session) Cressman talks about her parents and their influence on her music; why she moved from San Francisco to New York; how she decided she was ready to make a record; her work with Phish’s Trey Anastasio; and her plans following her graduation next year from the Manhattan School of Music. Learn more at nataliecressman.com and follow her on Twitter at @nataliecressman.

You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the TJS Store.

The post The Jazz Session #416: Natalie Cressman appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Saxophonist Hailey Niswanger’s sophomore album is The Keeper (Calmit Productions, 2012). In this interview, Niswanger talks about her recent entry into Esperanza Spalding’s band; why she chose going on the road over starting her Master’s degree; the jazz scene in her native Portland; and the personal tragedy that inspired the title track on her new record. Learn more at haileyniswanger.com and follow her on Twitter at @haileyniswanger.

You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the TJS Store.

The post The Jazz Session #415: Hailey Niswanger appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Ottawa pianist and journalist Peter Hum’s debut album is A Boy’s Journey (2010). In this interview, Hum talks about the Ottawa jazz scene; the intersection of his work as a journalist and as a jazz musician; how he decided to finally record an album; and the stellar band on his record. Learn more about Peter’s music at peterhum.com, read his blog at blogs.ottawacitizen.com/category/arts/jazzblog and follow him on Twitter at @peterhum.

You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the TJS Store.

The post The Jazz Session #414: Peter Hum appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana’s latest album is Second Cycle (2012). In this interview, Aldana talks about being a third-generation saxophone player, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather; how she arrived at the Berklee College of Music not speaking any English or knowing how to read music; why she’s always known what she wanted to do with her life; and how she met and befriended sax master George Coleman. Learn more at melissaaldana.com and follow her on Twitter at @MelissaAldana.

You can support The Jazz Session by purchasing this album in the TJS Store.

The post The Jazz Session #413: Melissa Aldana appeared first on The Jazz Session.