Posted under Jazz News
Joe Romano with trumpeter Richie Vitale
Saxophonist Joe Romano passed away last week. Greg Bell of Jazz@Rochester has a remembrance. Be sure to read the comments below the post from drummer Mike Melito, guitarist Bob Sneider and others.
Joe Romano with trumpeter Chuck Mangione
Rochester’s newspaper, The Democrat and Chronicle, also ran a story remembering Joe.
Posted under Podcast & Vocalists
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 contest@thejazzsession.com 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.
Posted under Thoughts
Bret Primack made this video to showcase Sonny’s new CD and DVD. It includes a very cool conversation between Sonny and drummer Roy Haynes:
When you’ve watched this, check out my Election Day interview with Sonny Rollins.
Posted under Podcast & Vocalists
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.
Posted under Podcast & Saxophonists
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.
Posted under Jazz News
Hi friends,
One of the beautiful things about having an online show is that I’m not bound by the restrictions that accompanied the radio version of my show. And so, I’m going to use this forum just this once to ask you to help get out the vote for Barack Obama. THERE IS STILL TIME for you to make a difference.
The easiest thing to do is to make calls from your own home. To get started, visit the Obama training page.
You can watch some short training videos there, or just click the GET STARTED link to start making calls. You’ll get a simple script that’s very easy to use. I just made 40 calls to supporters in the Philadelphia area to give them their polling locations and to remind them to vote.
Most of you know my politics, and you know that I’m a progressive. I don’t think Barack Obama is the perfect candidate. But I DO think he’s the far better choice — not simply the lesser of two evils, but actually someone I can support with enthusiasm and a clear conscience. And given that the next president is likely to appoint as many as three Supreme Court justices, we can’t afford to be complacent.
So please, take 30 minutes or an hour TODAY and make some calls for the Obama campaign.
And then CELEBRATE ON ELECTION DAY by listening to my interview with saxophone legend SONNY ROLLINS. I’ll be talking with Sonny at 5 p.m. on Election Day, and I’ll post the show that same evening.
That’s right: OBAMA/ROLLINS in ’08! (The Obama/Rollins logo is courtesy of my good friend Jeff Vrabel.)
Make some calls, enjoy some jazz, and take back our country!
Thank you very much.
Peace and love,
Jason
p.s. — If you need a little boost of inspiration, here it is:
Read my poetry at jasoncrane.org.
