The Jazz Session #121: Darcy James Argue [51:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam Records, 2009), the debut CD from composer Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, is one of the most talked-about records of the year. In this interview, Argue reveals why he chose to write modern music using a big band as his musical vehicle; how he turned a simple blog into a social media juggernaut; and why the last thing he wants to be is nostalgic about music. Learn more at secretsociety.typepad.com.

If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

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 The Jazz Session #98: Industrial Jazz Group [32:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Industrial Jazz Group is a 15-ish-piece large ensemble that plays the inventive, challenging and often hilarious music of composer Andrew Durkin. That sentence, though, doesn’t come close to doing them justice. The band, made up of musicians fluent in jazz, classical and rock — and inspired by the free-for-all spirit of Frank Zappa — is a force of nature, slinking, striding and crashing through Durkin’s charts with an obvious love for the group’s collective sound. In this interview, Durkin talks about how the band grew from its original trio formation; how comedy works to the group’s advantage; and how he’s used social networking sites to expand the band’s audience. The Industrial Jazz Group is on an East Coast tour through 10/24. Dates and locations are available at IndustrialJazzGroup.com.

For more on the IJG, head over to Popdose and read my review of their show in Pittsfield, MA.

If you’d like to buy their album, Leef (Evander, 2008), you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

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 The Jazz Session #93: Dave Rivello [38:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Composer and bandleader Dave Rivello is a man on a mission. For nearly two decades, Rivello has been writing original music for his large ensemble and performing that music in clubs in and around Rochester, NY, where he teaches at the Eastman School of Music. The result? Facing The Mirror (Allora Records, 2009), a CD of Rivello’s music that highlights his inventive compositions, and the talented members of his unusual ensemble. In this interview, Rivello talks about how hearing one record changed his life; how he cold-called one of his musical heroes and started a lifelong relationship; and why he chose his own particular instrumentation for his band. Find out more at DaveRivello.com.

If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:

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 The Jazz Session #74: Nicholas Urie [32:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 The Jazz Session #74: Nicholas Urie [32:11m]: Download

Jason Crane interviews composer Nicholas Urie. Urie’s fascinating album, Excerpts From An Online Dating Service (Red Piano, 2009) combines lyrics taken from online dating sites with complex and creative music for a large band. Citing Kurt Weill as a major influence, Urie has made an album that explores what Weill might have been like if he’d had a Facebook account. Find out more at NicholasUrie.com.

If you’d like to buy this album, you can help support The Jazz Session by buying it via the link below:

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