Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Cymin Sawamatie was born in Germany to Iranian parents, and that mix of cultures informs the music of her band, Cyminology. On their third CD, and their first for ECM, Cyminology (ECM, 2009), the quartet explores the poetry of Rumi, Hafiz and Forugh Farrokhzad, combining these disparate poetic influences with a rich palette of composed and improvised music. In this interview, Samawatie talks about her culturally rich upbringing; the nature of her compositions; and why Cyminology can’t play in Iran. Learn more at www.cyminology.de.

If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #101: Cyminology appeared first on The Jazz Session.

My grandfather was one of the biggest influences on my life, both in making me the man I am and in pointing me early on to the magic of music, and jazz in particular. To celebrate my 100th episode, I’m taking a break from the show’s normal format to share with you my remembrances of my grandpa and some of the music that he loved.

Here’s a photo of the band my grandfather played in. He’s in the exact center of the top row. This photo was taken in 1930:

The post The Jazz Session #100: Bernard Flanders (My Grandfather) appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Robert Glasper believes that improvised music can authentically incorporate hip hop rhythms — and he also believes that authenticity is a necessary quality to make the mix work. That kind of authenticity is what he’s striving for on Double Booked (Blue Note, 2009), the new CD featuring both his acoustic trio and his larger electric band. In this interview, Glasper talks about the influence of Herbie Hancock’s genre-busting music; why Glasper decided to feature both his bands on one album; and why he thinks John Coltrane might be mad if he came back today. Find out more at www.robertglasper.com.

If you’d like to buy Double Booked, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #99: Robert Glasper appeared first on The Jazz Session.

The Industrial Jazz Group is a 15-ish-piece large ensemble that plays the inventive, challenging and often hilarious music of composer Andrew Durkin. That sentence, though, doesn’t come close to doing them justice. The band, made up of musicians fluent in jazz, classical and rock — and inspired by the free-for-all spirit of Frank Zappa — is a force of nature, slinking, striding and crashing through Durkin’s charts with an obvious love for the group’s collective sound. In this interview, Durkin talks about how the band grew from its original trio formation; how comedy works to the group’s advantage; and how he’s used social networking sites to expand the band’s audience. The Industrial Jazz Group is on an East Coast tour through 10/24. Dates and locations are available at IndustrialJazzGroup.com.

For more on the IJG, head over to Popdose and read my review of their show in Pittsfield, MA.

If you’d like to buy their album, Leef (Evander, 2008), you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #98: Industrial Jazz Group appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Virginia-born saxophonist Darius Jones wants to tell his story, and he’s chosen as his vehicle his new album, Man’ish Boy (AUM Fidelity, 2009). This is an album born of economic poverty and emotional wealth. Joining Jones are multi-instrumentalist Cooper-Moore and drummer Rakalam Bob Moses. This powerful and beautiful album is an important statement by a voice that needs to be heard. Learn more at Darius Jones’ MySpace page.

If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #97: Darius Jones appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Guitarist Joe Morris has spent three decades finding ways to contribute to the language of the guitar and to the literature of improvised music. He’s managed to stay true to himself and his sound during that entire time, even as he’s added the bass to his repertoire. On Today On Earth (AUM Fidelity, 2009), Morris continues to explore the place of the guitar in the world of free improvisation. In this interview, Morris talks about his early decision to play without effects; how the masters of the music create their own technique; and the innovative way he teaches his students to do what feels right with their music. Learn more at www.joe-morris.com.

If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session at the same time by purchasing it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #96: Joe Morris appeared first on The Jazz Session.

The Fay Victor Ensemble’s The FreeSong Suite (Greene Avenue, 2009) is a tour de force of writing, improvisation and performance. Victor and her band paint one fluid word picture after another, linking these composed sections with free playing that is smart, muscular and emotional. In this interview, Victor talks about why she needed a steady band to realize her musical vision; how she arrived at the mix of freedom and pre-determination that characterizes the album; and what the breakdown of Joe’s car says about human relationships. Find out more at

If you’d like to purchase this album, you can supporting The Jazz Session by buying it via this link:

If you’d like to purchase this album, you can supporting The Jazz Session by buying it via this link:

If you’d like to purchase this album, you can supporting The Jazz Session by buying it via this link:

Guitarist Julian Lage was playing gigs when he was 5 years old. By age 7, he was the subject of a documentary. At age 12, he played on the Grammy Awards show, and shortly after began gigging and recording with Gary Burton. Now, at the ripe old age of 21, Lage has released Sounding Point (Emarcy Records, 2009), his debut recording. In this interview, Lage talks about his unlikely life; why he chose a band made of up cello, percussion and saxophone; and why he and his band are as likely to be jamming on Bach as on Bird. Learn more at JulianLage.com.

If youâ€d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #94: Julian Lage appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Composer and bandleader Dave Rivello is a man on a mission. For nearly two decades, Rivello has been writing original music for his large ensemble and performing that music in clubs in and around Rochester, NY, where he teaches at the Eastman School of Music. The result? Facing The Mirror (Allora Records, 2009), a CD of Rivello’s music that highlights his inventive compositions, and the talented members of his unusual ensemble. In this interview, Rivello talks about how hearing one record changed his life; how he cold-called one of his musical heroes and started a lifelong relationship; and why he chose his own particular instrumentation for his band. Find out more at DaveRivello.com.

If youâ€d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:

The post The Jazz Session #93: Dave Rivello appeared first on The Jazz Session.

How do you sum up the career of one of the most distinctive saxophonists ever? For Laurie Pepper, spanning the breadth of her late husband Art Pepper’s career was both a daunting and joyous task, one she accomplished with great success on The Art History Project (Widow’s Taste, 2009). The three CDs cover Pepper’s career from the early 50’s to the early 80s, featuring both previously released and never-before-heard music. In this interview, Laurie Pepper talks about the evolution of Art as a saxophonist; why the Contemporary label wanted to erase tapes of Art’s playing; and why she’s changed her mind about fans recordings gigs. Learn more at StraightLife.info.

If youâ€d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below. Please note that this is a link to Volume 1 of this 3-volume set.

The post The Jazz Session #92: Laurie Pepper on Art Pepper appeared first on The Jazz Session.