Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Guitarist Mike Stern has played with everyone. And yes, that includes Miles Davis. After decades in the business, he could easily be resting on his laurels. Instead, he’s pushing himself into new territory, as displayed on his CD Big Neighborhood (Heads Up, 2009), which finds him in the company of everyone from Esperanza Spaulding to Randy Brecker to Eric Johnson to Steve Vai. In this interview, Stern talks about why he likes surrounding himself with fresh ideas; his rockin’ side and his lyrical side; and how guitarist Hiram Bullock once blew Michael Brecker’s mind. Find out more at mikestern.org.

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Trombonist David Gibson delivers another album full of melody and grounded in a strong sense of purpose on his new CD A Little Somethin’ (Posi-Tone, 2009). Gibson is a veteran of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and a leader in his own right. In this interview, Gibson talks about the importance of melody in his writing; the sound of a working band; and why he chooses to focus on original compositions. Find out more at jazzbone.org.

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Dutch bassist Joris Teepe has lived in New York for the past 20 years, making a name for himself with everyone from Benny Golson to the late Rashied Ali. Recently, Teepe was commissioned to write music for both an orchestra and a big band in Europe. Those two experiences were so positive that he decided to start a big band in New York, and the result is the CD We Take No Prisoners (Challenge Records/Twinz Records, 2009). In this interview, conducted in Teepe’s back yard in Englewood, NJ, Teepe talks about how Don Braden helped him learn to arrange for large ensembles; how he approaches the bass in the very different bands of Golson and Ali; and why he decided two decades ago to follow the “New York sound” across the water. Learn more at www.joristeepe.com.

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Ellis Marsalis is more than the father of four famous sons. He’s an acclaimed pianist and educator in his own right, and his musical history has covered a lot of ground. Homecoming (ELM Records, 2009), his new CD, is a mix of old and new, combining a reissue of 1985 duet session with saxophonist Eddie Harris, and new music recorded in 2009 with fellow New Orleanian pianist Jonathan Batiste. In this interview, Marsalis talks about how his time in the Marines helped build his piano chops; how he got his gig with trumpeter Al Hirt; and what makes New Orleans “fertile ground” for a jazz musician. Find out more at EllisMarsalis.com.

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The American Federation of Jazz Musicians Local 802 is trying to win pension benefits for jazz musicians who play in New York City clubs. In 2007, Local 802 fought and won tax relief for NYC jazz clubs, with the expectation of state legislators that the clubs would use this money to provide pension benefit contributions for jazz artists. Now that the tax money has been made available, the club owners have yet to put the money towards benefits.

In this interview, Local 802 Jazz/Education Representative Todd Weeks lays out the history of the Justice For Jazz Artists campaign and talks about the importance of pensions and other benefits for the musicians — young and old — who play jazz.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Visit the Justice For Jazz Artists Web site and sign the petition in support of pension benefits for jazz musicians. If you live in the New York City area, there’s a rally on Tuesday, September 29. Details are at the Justice For Jazz Artists site.

Local 802 has also produced this video talking about the campaign, featuring musicians such as Randy Weston, Benny Powell, Dr. Billy Taylor and many others:

Thanks for your help. Here’s the interview with Todd Weeks from Local 802:

The post The Jazz Session SPECIAL REPORT: Justice For Jazz Artists appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Pianist Vijay Iyer navigates the stream of history on his new trio recording, Historicity (ACT, 2009). Joined by bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore, Iyer unravels and rebuilds compositions of his own, and those of a cast as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Andrew Hill, Leonard Bernstein and M.I.A. In this interview, Iyer tackles everything from mirror neurons to math jazz, Fibonacci numbers to the legacy of Roy Haynes. And he answers the question: Is it necessary to understand any of this stuff to appreciate his music? Learn more at www.vijay-iyer.com.

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Drummer Jason Marsalis turns to the vibraphone on his new record, Music Update (ELM Records, 2009). In this interview, Marsalis talks about the reason he chose to focus on the vibes; the process by which he recorded the drum ensemble tracks on the CD; and his view of the current state of recovery in New Orleans. Find out more at JasonMarsalis.com.

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Jason Crane interviews guitarist Bobby Broom. Broom, a longtime member of Sonny Rollins’ band, has a new album of Monk tunes called Plays For Monk (Origin Records, 2009). In this interview, Broom talks about why he felt the need to tackle Monk’s material; the impact of choosing Chicago rather than New York as his base of operations; and how he recorded his one-and-only Hendrix-style demo after a phone call from Miles Davis. Find out more at BobbyBroom.com.

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Jason Crane interviews bassist John Patitucci. On Remembrance (Concord, 2009), Patitucci uses the classic sax-bass-drums formation to pay homage to jazz masters past and present. Joined by Joe Lovano and Brian Blade, Patitucci is heard to great effect on both acoustic and electric bass. In this interview, Patitucci talks about his friend Michael Brecker, to whom the title track is dedicated; his varying approaches to playing the bass; and why his dining room has two pictures in it, one of his mother and one of a famous jazz musician. Find out more at www.johnpatitucci.com.

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Jason Crane interviews vocalist Karrin Allyson. Her new recording, By Request: The Best of Karrin Allyson (Concord, 2009), showcases tracks from her 11 albums on the Concord label. In this interview, Allyson talks about the lucky break that led to her relationship with Concord; the intricacies of Brazilian music; and how her music is shaped by everything from her classical piano background to the singer-songwriters she heard on the radio when she was growing up. Find out more at Karrin.com.

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

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