Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Roland Vazquez explores a series of historical and philosophical ideas through the medium of music on The Visitor (RVCD, 2010). In this interview, Vazquez talks about his former and current large ensembles; the programmatic elements underlying the compositions; and why he decided to do something — or rather not do something — for the first time on this album. Learn more at www.rolandvazquez.com.

The post The Jazz Session #191: Roland Vazquez appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Here’s an interview from the early days of The Jazz Session with guitarist David Torn. This is what I had to say about him back then:

Heâ€s a film composer whose music youâ€ve heard in Friday Night Lights, Believe In Me, and The Order. Heâ€s also contributed tones and textures to films like this yearâ€s Best Picture winner, The Departed, and the 2000 hit Traffic. Before his film days, he was known for daring musical collaborations on albums such as Cloud About Mercury (ECM, 1987). And heâ€s worked as a guitarist and/or producer for everyone from David Bowie and David Sylvian to John Legend and Tori Amos. David Torn has returned to ECM after two decades for prezens (ECM, 2007), an adventurous record that features Tim Berne, Craig Taborn and Tom Rainey. Learn more at DavidTorn.net.

The post The Jazz Session #190: David Torn appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Eric Hofbauer is using the solo guitar to explore American identity on a trilogy of albums that began with American Vanity (Creative Nation Music, 2004) and continues with American Fear (Creative Nation Music, 2010). In this interview, Hofbauer talks about the pop tunes he covers on this record; how he uses improvisation to lead to composition; and why he started Creative Nation Music. Learn more at www.myspace.com/erichofbauer and at Creative Nation Music’s site.

The post The Jazz Session #189: Eric Hofbauer appeared first on The Jazz Session.

It’s been 14 years since trumpeter Pharez Whitted last released an album, a drought he’s now ended with Transient Journey (Owl Studios, 2010). In this interview, Whitted talks about the changes in his life that led to the new recording; what it meant to grow up in a family where everyone played an instrument or sang; and why he decided early on to teach as well as play. Learn more at www.pharezwhitted.com.

The post The Jazz Session #188: Pharez Whitted appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Trumpeter David Weiss and his band Point Of Departure explore music from the late 1960s on their new record, Snuck In (Sunnyside, 2010), recorded live at Jazz Standard in New York. In this interview, Weiss talks about the little-known Detroit composers who wrote some of the songs on the new record; why he chose to cover other people’s music on this recording; and how he found the impressive roster of talent in Point Of Departure. Learn more at www.davidweissmusic.com.

The post The Jazz Session #187: David Weiss appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Steve Coleman leads his band Five Elements through another thought-provoking set on Harvesting Semblances And Affinities (Pi Recordings, 2010), his first American-label release in nine years and his first new album in four years. In this interview, Coleman talks about a wide range of topics, from seeing Sonny Stitt play a student horn in a motel room in Chicago to the philosophy and research underlying his musical explorations. Learn more at www.m-base.com.

The post The Jazz Session #186: Steve Coleman appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Pianist Marc Copland joins Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Drew Gress and John Abercrombie in the band Contact. Their new album is Five On One (Pirouet Records, 2010). In this interview, Copland talks about the formation of the band and his relationships with the individual members; his years in D.C. and his switch from saxophone to piano; and why more piano players might want to consider laying out for a chorus or two. Learn more at www.marccopland.com.

The post The Jazz Session #185: Marc Copland appeared first on The Jazz Session.

When one thinks of free jazz, one of the first names that springs to mind is that of Merle Haggard. And so, it’s perfectly natural that saxophonist Bryan Murray would have assembled a band to play free versions of Haggard’s songs. The result is the very engaging Pretend It’s The End Of The World (Hot Cup, 2010). In this interview, Murray talks about the inspiration for the record and how the band made the songs work in such a different context. Learn more at www.myspace.com/bryanandthehaggards.

The post The Jazz Session #184: Bryan Murray of Bryan And The Haggards appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Bassist Charnett Moffett grew up in a musical family. Which is to say, his dad played with Ornette Coleman and the whole Moffett family band was touring the world when Charnett was a kid. More than two decades later, Charnett is bringing that family history and his own impressive musical resume to bear on his new album, Treasure (Motema, 2010). In this interview, Charnett talks about the thinking behind this album; his childhood experiences and how they shaped the musician he is today; and his work with guitarist Stanley Jordan, who appears on Treasure. Learn more at motema.com/artist/charnett-moffett.

The post The Jazz Session #183: Charnett Moffett appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Guitarist Michael Musillami’s new album, Old Tea (Playscape Recordings, 2010) was conceived in tragedy. Musillami talks about that great loss in this interview, and also about how he used music as one tool to navigate through dark waters. Learn more at www.michaelmusillami.com.

The post The Jazz Session #182: Michael Musillami appeared first on The Jazz Session.