Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session

By Jason CraneArtsMusicPerforming ArtsMusic Interviews
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Podcast Archives - The Jazz Session episodes

  • The Jazz Session #593: Nomfundo Xaluva

    Vocalist Nomfundo Xaluva is a multi-award winning jazz singer known for her ability to weave together her Xhosa identity, South African jazz roots, and a contemporary approach to songwriting and singing. With two albums out on Universal Music, she is also a beloved educator who recently became a Lecturer in Jazz Studies at the University of Cape Town. She’s performed across South Africa and is one of the most exciting figures in the South African jazz community.

    Show Notes:

    Tracklisting:
    – Oxamu
    – Themba Lam
    – Endleleni
    – Bayathetha
    – Ebhayi

    South African Musicians Mentioned:

    Jimmy Dludlu
    Judith Sephuma
    Musa Manzini
    Moses Molelekwa
    Miriam Makeba
    Sibongile Khumalo
    Shannon Mowday
    Natascha Roth
    Bokani Dyer
    Shane Cooper
    Chris Engel
    Lwanda Gogwana
    Mandisi Dyantyis

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet

    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube Channel

    Support The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.

    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #593: Nomfundo Xaluva appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    54 min
  • The Insider #5: Producer Matt Pierson

    Matt Pierson is an award-winning producer whose discography is studded with the brightest stars in contemporary jazz-Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny, Jane Monheit, and countless others. He led Blue Note’s marketing and A&R departments before taking up the post of running Jazz A&R for Warner Brothers Records. After a stint consulting for Sony Masterworks, he continues to produce albums for musicians including Bria Skonberg, Pasquale Grasso, and Samara Joy.

    Show Notes:
    Tracks Played
    – Samara Joy: Everything Happens To Me
    – Dayna Stephens Trio: Kwooked Street
    – Pasquale Grasso: Yardbird Suite
    – Camila Meza: Amazon Farewell
    – Taylor Eigsti feat. Becca Stevens: Little Bird

    http://mattpierson.net/

    “The Insider” is a spin-off series with monthly episodes. Patreon members at the $10/month tier receive these episodes in advance of the general public. If you would like to support The Jazz Session, please do consider becoming a Patreon member over at https://www.patreon.com/thejazzsession

    The post The Insider #5: Producer Matt Pierson appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    1 hr 7 min
  • The Jazz Session #592: Michael Mayo

    Vocalist Michael Mayo is a dazzling interpreter, improviser and musician.  He comes from brilliant musical stock in the form of his parents Scott Mayo and Valerie Pinkston-Scott is currently Sergio Mendes musical director and Valerie has lent her vocals to artists ranging from Whitney Houston to Diana Ross. But Michael will tell us more about his parents during the course of our conversation. Michael grew up in Los Angeles, studied at the New England Conservatory and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, and now lives in New York. He’s recorded with Ben Wendel, performed with Shai Maestro, and toured with Herbie Hancock. His much-anticipated debut album “Bones” came out on Mack Avenue Records in 2021 and it did not disappoint.

    Show Notes:

    Tracklisting:
    – You and You
    – Hold On
    – Burning Bright (With Ben Wendel, Live)
    – 20 20
    – Old Devil Moon (With Matthew Sheens)

    Bones is available now on Mack Avenue Records

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet

    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube Channel

    Support The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.

    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #592: Michael Mayo appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    47 min
  • The Jazz Session #591: Areni Agbabian

    Vocalist Areni Agbabian is an experimental improviser, folk and sacred music singer, and pianist. As a vocalist she has worked in new opera, dance, contemporary jazz, new music and multi-media performance. In fact, I first met Areni a decade ago during a course at the School of Improvised Music in Brooklyn, New York. We remained in touch and met up again in Paris in 2014 when she was there studying sacred Armenian music (and I was just eating croissants and ogling Parisian architecture). Her sublime work with the Tigran Hamasyan quintet saw her touring internationally and lending her voice to several of his early recordings that put him on the map. In 2019 Areni made her leader debut on the storied ECM Records with her album “Bloom”.

    Show Notes:
    Tracklisting:
    – Road Song (with Tigran Hamasyan)
    – Love Song (with Tigran Hamasyan)
    – The Poet (with Tigran Hamasyan)
    – Patience
    – Petal Two
    – Holy (with Tigran Hamasyan)Buy your copy ofBloom (ECM RECORDS) here

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet
    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube ChannelSupport The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.
    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #591: Areni Agbabian appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    53 min
  • The Jazz Session #590: Will Vinson

    Alto saxophonist Will Vinson hails from England but established a great many of his musical collaborations while living in New York City. These working relationships with musicians like Aaron Parks, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Ari Hoenig, to name a few, have resulted in Will’s reputation as a saxophonist with incredible power and dramatic sensitivity, whose playing is characterised by his imposing sound and technique. Will’s recording output has also been prolific. In fact, we met over Zoom (Will was in Australia but time-difference be damned!) to discuss TWO of his recent albums. Both released in 2020, there was “Four Forty One”, which features Will with five incredible pianists (Sullivan Fortner, Fred Hersch, Tigran Hamasyan, Gerald Clayton and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and “Trio Grande”, which features his trio with guitarist Gilad Hekselman and drummer Antonio Sanchez. Since our conversation, he has released a 2021 album,  “Solo”, his third release for the London-based Whirlwind Recordings. While we didn’t get to discuss “Solo”, there was ample musical ground to cover.

    Show Notes:

    Tracklisting:
    – Northbound (with Trio Grande)
    – Boogaloo (feat. Sullivan Fortner)
    – That Happened (feat. Gonzalo Rubalcaba)
    – Elli Yeled Tov (with Trio Grande)
    – Work (feat. Fred Hersch)

    https://triogrande-whirlwind.bandcamp.com/album/trio-grande

    https://willvinson-whirlwind.bandcamp.com/album/four-forty-one

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet
    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube Channel

    Support The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.

    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #590: Will Vinson appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    41 min
  • The Insider #4: Label CEO Dave Stapleton (Edition Records)

    Dave Stapleton is the founder and driving force behind the London-based label Edition Records. A brilliant pianist and composer in his own right, he has grown a label that now boasts releases by Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Daniel Herskedal, Snowpoet, and Kurt Elling, who recently won the label its first Grammy Award when he received Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2021 Grammys.

    Show Notes:

    Tracks Played:
    – Rob Luft: Life Is The Dancer
    – Slowly Rolling Camera feat. Mark Lockheart: Feels Like Fiction
    – Snowpoet: Another Step
    – Daniel Herskedal: The White Lion Docks in Point Comfort
    – Fergus McCreadie: Tree Climbing

    Visit Edition Records here

    “The Insider” is a spin-off series with monthly episodes. Patreon members at the $10/month tier receive these episodes in advance of the general public. If you would like to support The Jazz Session, please do consider becoming a Patreon member over at https://www.patreon.com/thejazzsession

    The post The Insider #4: Label CEO Dave Stapleton (Edition Records) appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    1 hr 4 min
  • The Jazz Session #589: Somi

    Vocalist and composer Somi talks about diving into the world of South African vocalist and activist Miriam Makeba for her upcoming album “Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba” due 4th March 2022. The album follows the September 2021 premiere and tour of Somi’s musical theatre production based on the life of Makeba, “Dreaming Zenzile”. Somi talks about tackling the world of Miriam’s music, collaborating with guests from across the African continent, from Angelique Kidjo to Nduduzo Makhathini, and how her own sense of pan-Africanism continues Miriam’s legacy and message of unity.

    Show Notes:

    Tracklisting:
    – House of the Rising Sun
    – Hapo Zamani
    – Lakutshon’ ILanga
    – Milele feat. Seun Kuti & Thandiswa Mazwai
    – Pata Pata
    -Jike Lemaweni feat. Angelique Kidjo

    Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba is available from 4 March 2022

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet

    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube Channel

    Support The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.

    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #589: Somi appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    1 hr 3 min
  • The Jazz Session #588: Jared Schonig

    Drummer Jared Schonig is much-loved both in the New York jazz community and amongst  Broadway musicians. He took on the gargantuan, brilliant task of releasing a double album, “Two Takes Volumes 1 & 2”, on Anzic Records in September 2021. The recording features quartet renditions of his music, followed by big band arrangements of the same repertoire by eight of the great arrangers working today-Jim McNeely, Miho Hazama, Darcy James Argue, Alan Ferber, Laurence Hobgood, Brian Krock, John Daversa and Mike Holober. The result is musically exciting and impressive, bridging the gaps between big band jazz sounds, progressive rock and contemporary jazz.

    Show Notes:

    Tracklisting:
    – Sabotage
    – White Out
    – Climb
    – NUTS
    – Tig Mack

    TWO TAKES-VOL. 1: QUINTET & VOL. 2: BIG BAND is out now on Anzic Records

    Jared’s Spotify Playlists:
    Influential Drummer-Led Big Bands
    Influential Drummer-Led Combos

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet

    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube Channel

    Support The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.

    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #588: Jared Schonig appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    1 hr
  • The Jazz Session #587: Fiona Monbet

    The Franco-Irish violinist Fiona Monbet takes the jazz violin tradition, pioneered by artists like Didier Lockwood and Stéphane Grappelli before him, and manages to pay homage while ushering the instrument, beautifully, into the current day jazz clime. In fact, Lockwood once declared Fiona to be his “spiritual daughter”. With her new album “Maelström”, she expresses not just the many dazzling facets of her instrument, but also how genres like tango, folk song, and Bossa nova can be unified through one musician’s vision.

    Show Notes:

    Tracklisting:
    – Tango Castagneri
    – Irish Gospel
    – Come Un Blues
    – Cerise
    – Joy Song

    Maelström is out now on Fo Feo Productions

    Theme music by The Respect Sextet

    Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
    Subscribe to The Jazz Session’s YouTube Channel

    Support The Jazz Session by becoming a member at Patreon.

    For $5 a month you’ll get a weekly bonus episode called Track of the Week, plus early access to every show. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra monthly bonus episode of “The Insider”, a spin-off interview series where Nicky chats to jazz industry insiders (broadcasters, artist agents, label heads, journalists) about the nuts and bolts of the business.

    The post The Jazz Session #587: Fiona Monbet appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    47 min
  • The Insider #3: Manager Gail Boyd


    Gail Boyd is the president of Gail Boyd Artist Management and the entertainment law firm Gail W Boyd P.C. She was a founding partner in Boyd, Staton and Cave, the first African American female law firm in New York and has been involved in entertainment law since 1976. As a lawyer, Gail Boyd has represented jazz artists such as Betty Carter, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Gretchen Parlato, and Randy Weston. As a manager, she currently represents John Clayton, Lakecia Benjamin, Scott Tixier, and Nduduzo Makhathini, amongst others.

    Show Notes:

    Tracks Played:
    – Brianna Thomas: Since I Fell For You
    – John & Gerald Clayton: Tale of the Fingers (Live at SF Jazz)
    – Somi: House of the Rising Sun
    – Nduduzo Makhathini: Indawu
    – Lakecia Benjamin: March On

    Links mentioned:

    Alternative Venues for Jazz Facebook Group

    “The Insider” is a spin-off series with monthly episodes. Patreon members at the $10/month tier receive these episodes in advance of the general public. If you would like to support The Jazz Session, please do consider becoming a Patreon member over at https://www.patreon.com/thejazzsession

    The post The Insider #3: Manager Gail Boyd appeared first on The Jazz Session.

    53 min