Trombonist David Gibson delivers another album full of melody and grounded in a strong sense of purpose on his new CD A Little Somethin’ (Posi-Tone, 2009). Gibson is a veteran of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and a leader in his own right. In this interview, Gibson talks about the importance of melody in his writing; the sound of a working band; and why he chooses to focus on original compositions. Find out more at jazzbone.org.
Help support The Jazz Session by purchasing your copy of the CD via this link:
Thanks so much for visiting this site and listening to the show. If you’ve got a few minutes, please take this brief, 10-question survey and help me make The Jazz Session even better:
Dutch bassist Joris Teepe has lived in New York for the past 20 years, making a name for himself with everyone from Benny Golson to the late Rashied Ali. Recently, Teepe was commissioned to write music for both an orchestra and a big band in Europe. Those two experiences were so positive that he decided to start a big band in New York, and the result is the CD We Take No Prisoners (Challenge Records/Twinz Records, 2009). In this interview, conducted in Teepe’s back yard in Englewood, NJ, Teepe talks about how Don Braden helped him learn to arrange for large ensembles; how he approaches the bass in the very different bands of Golson and Ali; and why he decided two decades ago to follow the “New York sound” across the water. Learn more at www.joristeepe.com.
Help support The Jazz Session by buying this album via the link below:
Recently, the fine folks over at NPR’s A Blog Supreme have started asking young jazz aficionados to recommend five recordings from recent years that they would give to someone who was just getting into jazz. I’m much, much too old to have been asked to be a part of the series (clocking in at an ancient 36), but here are my contributions anyway:
Ellis Marsalis is more than the father of four famous sons. He’s an acclaimed pianist and educator in his own right, and his musical history has covered a lot of ground. Homecoming (ELM Records, 2009), his new CD, is a mix of old and new, combining a reissue of 1985 duet session with saxophonist Eddie Harris, and new music recorded in 2009 with fellow New Orleanian pianist Jonathan Batiste. In this interview, Marsalis talks about how his time in the Marines helped build his piano chops; how he got his gig with trumpeter Al Hirt; and what makes New Orleans “fertile ground” for a jazz musician. Find out more at EllisMarsalis.com.
Help support The Jazz Session by buying this album via the link below:
The American Federation of Jazz Musicians Local 802 is trying to win pension benefits for jazz musicians who play in New York City clubs. In 2007, Local 802 fought and won tax relief for NYC jazz clubs, with the expectation of state legislators that the clubs would use this money to provide pension benefit contributions for jazz artists. Now that the tax money has been made available, the club owners have yet to put the money towards benefits.
In this interview, Local 802 Jazz/Education Representative Todd Weeks lays out the history of the Justice For Jazz Artists campaign and talks about the importance of pensions and other benefits for the musicians — young and old — who play jazz.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Visit the Justice For Jazz Artists Web site and sign the petition in support of pension benefits for jazz musicians. If you live in the New York City area, there’s a rally on Tuesday, September 29. Details are at the Justice For Jazz Artists site.
Local 802 has also produced this video talking about the campaign, featuring musicians such as Randy Weston, Benny Powell, Dr. Billy Taylor and many others:
Thanks for your help. Here’s the interview with Todd Weeks from Local 802:
Pianist Vijay Iyer navigates the stream of history on his new trio recording, Historicity (ACT, 2009). Joined by bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore, Iyer unravels and rebuilds compositions of his own, and those of a cast as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Andrew Hill, Leonard Bernstein and M.I.A. In this interview, Iyer tackles everything from mirror neurons to math jazz, Fibonacci numbers to the legacy of Roy Haynes. And he answers the question: Is it necessary to understand any of this stuff to appreciate his music? Learn more at www.vijay-iyer.com.
Help support The Jazz Session by buying this album via the link below:
Please note that the content of this widget is the property of Dave Holland Intergalactic Enterprises or something like that, and The Jazz Session is completely weaseling out of any responsibility for, well, anything.
Drummer Jason Marsalis turns to the vibraphone on his new record, Music Update (ELM Records, 2009). In this interview, Marsalis talks about the reason he chose to focus on the vibes; the process by which he recorded the drum ensemble tracks on the CD; and his view of the current state of recovery in New Orleans. Find out more at JasonMarsalis.com.
If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:
Jason Crane interviews guitarist Bobby Broom. Broom, a longtime member of Sonny Rollins’ band, has a new album of Monk tunes called Plays For Monk (Origin Records, 2009). In this interview, Broom talks about why he felt the need to tackle Monk’s material; the impact of choosing Chicago rather than New York as his base of operations; and how he recorded his one-and-only Hendrix-style demo after a phone call from Miles Davis. Find out more at BobbyBroom.com.
If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:
Less than four months ago, The Jazz Session hit 200,000 downloads. Today, I’m thrilled to announce (drumroll, please):
That’s right, gang. The 84 episodes of The Jazz Session have been downloaded more than 300,000 times. I’m truly amazed at — and grateful for — the support you’ve all shown for this show. TJS has come a long way since Grant Stewart agreed to sit down with an unknown interviewer to talk about his life back in February of 2007. (Thanks, Grant!) Very soon, I’ll be posting the 100th episode of the show. That’s just 80 fewer episodes than Seinfeld! (I’ll take my Emmy, please.)
Again, thank you for everything you’ve done to make this show a success. Onward and upward!
Jason Crane interviews bassist John Patitucci. On Remembrance (Concord, 2009), Patitucci uses the classic sax-bass-drums formation to pay homage to jazz masters past and present. Joined by Joe Lovano and Brian Blade, Patitucci is heard to great effect on both acoustic and electric bass. In this interview, Patitucci talks about his friend Michael Brecker, to whom the title track is dedicated; his varying approaches to playing the bass; and why his dining room has two pictures in it, one of his mother and one of a famous jazz musician. Find out more at www.johnpatitucci.com.
If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:
Jason Crane interviews vocalist Karrin Allyson. Her new recording, By Request: The Best of Karrin Allyson (Concord, 2009), showcases tracks from her 11 albums on the Concord label. In this interview, Allyson talks about the lucky break that led to her relationship with Concord; the intricacies of Brazilian music; and how her music is shaped by everything from her classical piano background to the singer-songwriters she heard on the radio when she was growing up. Find out more at Karrin.com.
If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:
Jason Crane interviews pianist Marian McPartland. For 30 years, McPartland has been the host of Piano Jazz, a weekly radio program featuring duets between McPartland and many of the great jazz players of the past several generations. In this interview, McPartland talks about the benefit of an unexpected visit from Bill Evans; why the Hickory House was a good jazz room in spite of itself; and why she chose to compose a piece for one of the most famous environmental activists of the 20th century. Find out more at the Piano Jazz Web site.
Jason Crane interviews guitarist Terrence Brewer. Brewer’s new album is called Groovin’ Wes (Strong Brew Music, 2009). After three albums of original music, Brewer uses his new record to explore music by, or identified with, Wes Montgomery. In this interview, Brewer talks about his early years in Pittsburg (not the one you’re thinking of); his decision to start his recording career by founding a record label and releasing two CDs at once; and why he chose to record an album of standards. Find out more at TerrenceBrewer.com.
If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:
