Archive for June, 2007

June 17th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival In Review

Posted under RIJF

The Jazz Session brought you more than 7 hours of coverage and more than two dozen interviews from this year’s Rochester International Jazz Festival. Here’s a list of the week’s guests:

  • Festival producers John Nugent & Marc Iacona
  • Trumpeter Mike Catone
  • Jazz broadcaster Gary O
  • Festival staffer Bob Madeira
  • Vidar Brathen of the Norwegian Jazz Forum
  • Bengt Strokirk of Concerts Sweden
  • Norway’s Zanussi Five
  • Trumpeter Saskia Laroo
  • Trumpeter Peter Asplund
  • Canadian Afrobeat band Mr. Something Something
  • Trombonist Robin Eubanks
  • Lisa Nordstrom from Midaircondo
  • Pianist Dino Losito
  • Drummer Mike Melito
  • Drummer Matt Wilson
  • Guitarist Mel Henderson of Paradigm Shift
  • Pianist Jason Moran
  • Clarinetist Don Byron
  • Andy Milne and John Moon from Dapp Theory
  • Greg, Seth and Ken from the jazz blogosphere

And here’s the complete list of shows (not counting the Quick Hits moblogging entries):

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June 17th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 9

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #9 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from The Jens Winther European Quartet, Cowboy Mouth, The Soul Rebels and Avishai Cohen. Then, the grand finale: Greg, Seth, Ken and Jason get together for one massive roundtable discussion about the festival. Enjoy — and see you next year!

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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June 17th 2007
The Jazz Session #20: Dapp Theory

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Dapp Theory

Jason Crane interviews Andy Milne and John Moon of Dapp Theory at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Andy Milne formed Dapp Theory several years ago to fuse many musical worlds, including hip hop, spoken word, and jazz improvisation. The original group recorded Y’all Just Don’t Know (Concord, 2003). Since then, the personnel roster has changed, but the visionary outlook and exciting music haven’t. Find out more at DappTheory.com.

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June 16th 2007
The Jazz Session #19: Don Byron

Posted under Clarinetists & Podcast & RIJF & Saxophonists

Don Byron

Jason Crane interviews clarinetist Don Byron at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Byron performed two sets with his Ivey Divey trio featuring pianist Jason Moran and drummer Billy Hart. Byron has covered a lot of ground in his musical career, from the Ivey Divey project (honoring Lester Young) to the music of Junior Walker, Raymond Scott and Mickey Katz. Byron talks about Lester Young, his next project, and the influence of African-American religion on African-American speech. Find out more at DonByron.com.

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June 16th 2007
The Jazz Session #18: Jason Moran

Posted under Pianists & Podcast & RIJF

Jason Moran

Jason Crane interviews pianist Jason Moran at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Moran came to play with two bands — his own Bandwagon and Don Byron’s Ivey Divey trio. Moran’s most recent CD is Artist In Residence (Blue Note, 2006), an album composed mostly of Moran’s commissioned works. Moran talks about philosopher Adrian Piper, pianist Jaki Byard, and his new commission to create a multimedia piece inspired by Thelonious Monk’s 1959 Town Hall concert. Find out more at JasonMoran.com.

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June 15th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 7

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #8 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from James Moody, an interview with guitarist Mel Henderson of Paradigm Shift, and a sneak preview of a soon-to-be-released album from a major name in jazz.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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June 14th 2007
Show #17: Matt Wilson

Posted under Drummers & Podcast & RIJF

Matt Wilson

Jason Crane interviews drummer Matt Wilson between his sets at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Wilson played two shows with his Arts & Crafts band featuring Dennis Irwin on bass, Gary Versace on organ and piano, and Michael Rodriquez on trumpet (sitting in for Terrell Stafford). The band’s new album is Scenic Route (Palmetto, 2007). Wilson is one of the most in-demand drummers in jazz, having appeared on more than 160 recordings. Find out more at MattWilsonJazz.com.

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June 14th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 6

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #7 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from the Webster Schroeder High School Jazz Band, a wonderful story about vibraphonist Joe Locke, and some wacky behind-the-scenes antics from the members of Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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June 13th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 5

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #6 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from Trio Beyond with John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette and Larry Goldings, interviews with festival attendees, and conversations with pianist Dino Losito and drummer Mike Melito.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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June 12th 2007
Article: Christine Jensen – Looking Left

Posted under Jazz Writing

My most recent interview for All About Jazz is with saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen:

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June 12th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 4

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #5 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Live sound samples from Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks and Mamadou Diabate, interviews with festival attendees, and a feature on the Swedish electronica group Midaircondo.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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June 11th 2007
Show #16: Robin Eubanks

Posted under Podcast & RIJF & Trombonists

Robin Eubanks

Jason Crane interviews trombonist Robin Eubanks before his set at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Eubanks is in Rochester with his band EB3, which features Eubanks on acoustic and electric trombone, loops and percussion pads, and keyboard bass; Michelle Rosewoman (subbing for Orrin Evans) on keyboards and keyboard bass; and Kenwood Dennard on drums and keyboard bass. Eubanks is also a member of the Dave Holland Quintet and Big Band and the new Dave Holland Sextet. Find out more at RobinEubanks.com.

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June 11th 2007
Article: Luis Perdomo – Venezuelan Connection

Posted under Jazz Writing

My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo.

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June 10th 2007
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Day 3

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #4 from the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival. Featuring reviews, news, interviews and more! On this edition: Interviews with Dutch trumpeter Saskia Laroo, Swedish trumpeter Peter Asplund, and Canadian Afro-beat band Mr. Something Something. Plus music samples from all three artists.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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June 10th 2007
Nordic Jazz Now

Posted under Podcast & RIJF

Show #3 from the Rochester International Jazz Festival. This show focuses on Nordic Jazz Now — bands from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark who are performing all this week at the festival. RIJF Artistic Director John Nugent also produces the Stockholm Jazz Festival. In this episode: Vidar Brathen from the Norwegian Jazz Forum, Bengt Strokirk from Concerts Sweden, an interview with the members of the Norwegian band Zanussi Five, and excerpts from various Nordic albums. Look for more from Nordic Jazz Now later in the week.

Be sure to visit the following sites for more RIJF coverage:

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