Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Jason Crane interviews pianist Marilyn Crispell about her album of solo piano pieces, Vignettes (ECM, 2008). Crispell made an early name for herself with Anthony Braxton, and she’s since amassed an impressive list of recordings that include composed and freely improvised pieces. In this interview, Crispell talks about the nature of improvisation, the particular challenges of solo playing, and the joys of Woodstock, NY.

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Jason Crane interviews vocalist Kate McGarry. Her new album, If Less Is More … Nothing Is Everything (Palmetto, 2008), explores everything from spirituality to The Cars in McGarry’s typically atypical style. McGarry is joined on the record by guitarist Keith Ganz, organist Gary Versace, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Clarence Penn, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, percussionist James Shipp, and vocalists Peter Eldrige and Jo Lawry.

CONTEST: Win Kate McGarry’s new CD! To enter, send an e-mail to [email protected] with “KATE” in the subject line. And remember — if you’ve won in the past 30 days, sit this one out, OK? Good luck!

BONUS TRACK: Listen to Kate sing Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning” at the 2008 Tanglewood Jazz Festival.

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Jason Crane interviews vocalist Stevie Holland. On her new album, Before Love Has Gone (150 Music, 2008), Holland uses her song selection to tell a personal story. Each song on the album has a particular story behind it, and several are lesser-known gems. Holland is joined on the album by pianist Martin Bejerano, bassist Edward Perez, drummer Willie Jones III, saxophonist Ole Mathisen, and guitarist Paul Bollenback. Find out more at StevieHolland.com.

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Jason Crane interviews saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He’s just released Road Shows Vol. 1 (Doxy Records, 2008), a compilation of live performances spanning 20 years. Gary Giddins calls it “one of the finest Sonny Rollins albums ever released.” In this interview, recorded on Election Day 2008, Sonny talks about everything from the prospect of an Obama presidency and the crisis of global warming to the mystery and beauty of jazz improvisation. Find out more at SonnyRollins.com.

The post The Jazz Session #49: Sonny Rollins appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Jason Crane interviews Polish pianist and composer Marcin Wasilewski. His new recording, January (ECM, 2008), features his own compositions alongside those of Gary Peacock, Carla Bley, Ennio Moricone and … Prince. Wasilewski’s trio is very much a part of the new European piano trio renaissance, featuring inventive material played democratically.

CONTEST! The Marcin Wasilewski Trio starts a U.S. tour on November 1 in Seattle, with stops in San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Columbus. I’ve got two tickets to Marcin’s show at the Jazz Bakery in LA on Monday, November 3. To win, be the first person to send an e-mail to [email protected] with “Marcin” in the subject line. Listeners who have won in the past 30 days need to sit this one out. Everyone else — good luck!

The post The Jazz Session #48: Marcin Wasilewski appeared first on The Jazz Session.

Jason Crane interviews pianist and composer Satoko Fujii. Fujii has released four new recordings in 2008, her 50th birthday year. These records find her with her New York trio; on accordion in the avant-folk-jazz group of her husband, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura; in a quartet with some of Japan’s most talented improvising musicians; and in a second trio with both American and Japanese musicians. Far from slowing down in her middle years, Fujii seems to be pushing herself even more relentlessly, searching for new and exciting ways of expressing her musical ideas. Find out more at Satoko Fujii’s Web site.

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Jason Crane interviews saxophonist Kenny Garrett about his new CD, Sketches of MD (Mack Ave Records, 2008). This album features the paired saxophones of Garrett and Pharoah Sanders, who’ve performed together many times but never recorded live. Garrett wrote all the tunes on the album, each of which draws inspiration from a sideman or groove concept associated with the Miles Davis band (the “MD” of the album title). Find out more at kennygarrett.com.

CONTEST: Win Sketches of MD! I’ve got three copies of the CD to give away. To win, send an e-mail with the subject line “KENNY” to [email protected]. (Note: If you’ve won in the past 30 days, please sit this one out. Thanks!)

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Jason Crane interviews saxophonist Javon Jackson. On his new recording for Palmetto Records, Once Upon A Melody, Jackson pays tribute to the people and songs that have influenced him, from Wayne Shorter to Sonny Rollins to Ramsey Lewis to Corinne Bailey Rae. During this interview, Javon leads a track-by-track tour of the record, and you’ll hear excerpts from every composition. He’s joined on the album by pianist Eric Reed, bassist Corcoran Holt and longtime musical partner Billy Drummond on drums. Find out more at javonjackson.com.

CONTEST: WIN A COPY OF JAVON JACKSON’S CD, Once Upon A Melody. To win, send an e-mail to [email protected] with JAVON in the subject line. Good luck!

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Jason Crane interviews saxophonist Adam Niewood about his new 2-CD set, Epic Journey: Volumes I & II (Innova, 2008). Niewood is the son of famed woodwind player Gerry Niewood, but he has stepped firmly out of his father’s shadow with this new release, which features both composed and free-improvised music. Niewood’s writing skills are as strong as his playing, and the albums surprise and delight with repeated listening. In this interview, Niewood talks about the making of Epic Journey, the 90s scene in NYC, and his kindergarten-era tour with Simon & Garfunkel. Find out more at niewood.com and download tracks at www.myspace.com/niewood.

The post The Jazz Session #44: Adam Niewood appeared first on The Jazz Session.

In going through my audio recorder, I discovered that I had recorded a complete song by Kate McGarry and the Less Is More Trio at the 2008 Tanglewood Jazz Festival. Here are Kate on vocals, Keith Ganz on guitar and Clarence Penn on percussion with Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning.”

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