Here’s my latest piece for The Guide, the weekly entertainment magazine on Hilton Head Island, SC. This version is slightly longer than the piece that ran, which was the victim of space considerations.

For vocalist Shakir, jazz music is in the blood
By JASON CRANE
Special to the Guide

When Atlanta’s Audrey Shakir sings at The Jazz Corner on August 24-25, she’ll be bringing more than one generation of musical DNA to the stage with her.

Continue Reading »

No Comments »

 The Jazz Session #27: Joel Frahm [35:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jason Crane interviews saxophonist Joel Frahm. Frahm is one of the busiest saxophonists on the scene today. You’ll find him on recordings with pianist Brad Mehldau, vocalist Jane Monheit, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, drummers Matt Wilson and Pete Zimmer, and the Waverly 7. His fourth record as a leader, We Used To Dance (Anzic Records, 2007), brings together a classic rhythm section that played with Stan Getz on some of his final recordings: pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis. Frahm wrote many of the tunes on the record and also paid homage to those Getz recordings with tunes such as “Joanne Julia.” Frahm calls himself a musical chameleon, but his own personal tone and approach shines through on We Used To Dance.

2 Comments »

 The Jazz Session #26: Eberhard Weber [40:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jason Crane interviews bassist Eberhard Weber. Weber’s name is synonymous with the “ECM sound,” because he’s been the bassist of choice on classic ECM recordings dating back to the label’s founding three decades ago. Since the early 1980s, Weber has played in saxophonist Jan Garbarek’s band. To celebrate his 65th birthday, the city of Stuttgart, Germany, threw Weber a two-night concert party. He was joined on stage by an orchestra, Garbarek, vibraphonist Gary Burton, and others from his musical career. The resulting album, Stages Of A Long Journey (ECM, 2007), is Weber’s first live recording and a wonderful testament to his virtuosity as both bassist and composer.

2 Comments »

Here’s my latest piece for The Guide, the weekly entertainment magazine on Hilton Head Island, SC:

• Terry Blaine: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing

No Comments »

I’m very excited to report that some time today, August 14, The Jazz Session passed 15,000 downloads. Thank you to all the artists, promoters, writers, and — most importantly — listeners who’ve made this show a success. On we go! Coming up in the weeks ahead:

• Laurie Pepper (wife of Art Pepper)
• Joel Frahm
• Eberhard Weber
• Ben Sidran
• Ingrid Jensen
• … and many, many more!

If you’re not yet a subscriber to the show, please take a minute to subscribe. It’s completely free! You can subscribe in two easy ways:

• via iTunes, or
• using any RSS reader.

Thanks!

1 Comment »

 The Jazz Session #25: Kendrick Scott [32:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jason Crane interviews drummer and composer Kendrick Scott. Scott’s new album with his band Oracle is The Source (World Culture Music, 2007). Scott grew up in Houston, surrounded by a musical family and the Baptist church. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a musician, and he followed this path from Houston’s arts high school to Berklee and then into gigs with The Crusaders and Terence Blanchard. The Source weaves together these musical threads into a unified tapestry of lyricism and beauty.

1 Comment »

 The Jazz Session #24: Miroslav Vitous [32:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jason Crane interviews bassist Miroslav Vitous. Vitous came to the U.S. in 1966, and quickly became part of the New York jazz scene. He was a founding member of Weather Report along with Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul. Vitous played on the landmark trio session Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (Blue Note, 1968) with Chick Corea and Roy Haynes. Vitous’s new album is Universal Syncopations II (ECM, 2007), the sequel to his critically acclaimed Universal Syncopations (ECM, 2003). The album features trumpeter Randy Brecker, woodwind player Bob Mintzer, drummer Gerald Cleaver and many others.

No Comments »