My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with saxophonist and composer John Ellis:

Saxophonist John Ellis is a hybrid of New Orleans funk, New York modernity, Presbyterian sanctification and good ol’ performing skills. He blends all those things together on his new record, Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow (Hyena, 2008), which features saxophone, sousaphone, organ and drums.

Ellis celebrated the release of his new album with a two-night stand at the Jazz Standard in New York on May 13 and 14, 2008, participating in the following interview on May 14 just before taking the stage for the first set, where he spoke about getting the band together, the sousaphone, and music past, present and future.

• Visit All About Jazz to read the interview, and watch this space for the next episode of The Jazz Session with John Ellis, featuring music from his new album.

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My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with percussionist and educator Bobby Sanabria:

Bobby Sanabria is a living museum of Afro-Cuban music. Sanabria is a percussionist, drummer and educator who is at the forefront of Afro-Cuban music—particularly the frontier where it intersects with jazz. In 2007, Sanabria released Big Band Urban Folktales (Jazzheads, 2007), an album he says takes the music “beyond the 21st century.” Jason Crane, AAJ contributor and host of The Jazz Session, sat down with Sanabria in May 2007 to talk about the history of Afro-Cuban music, Sanabria’s own career, and “The Ugliest Man In America.”

• Read the entire article.

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My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with Russian-born, Jersey-raised pianist Misha Piatigorsky:

Russian-born pianist Misha Piatigorsky fled from behind the Cold-War-era Iron Curtain with his family to make a new life in a small New Jersey town. He started out as a classical pianist before discovering jazz. Since that discovery, he’s moved from bebop to Brazilian to groove music, melding them all seamlessly on his record, Uncommon Circumstance (Misha Music, 2007). Jason Crane, AAJ contributor and host of The Jazz Session, spoke with Piatigorsky in April 2007.

• Misha Piatigorsky: Invent Your Own Bicycle

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Here’s my latest article for The Island Packet:

Freddy Cole keeps jazz in the family
By JASON CRANE
Special to the Guide
Published Friday, February 1, 2008

Yes, singer Freddy Cole is Nat’s brother and Natalie’s uncle, and no, that’s nowhere near the end of the story.In fact, the New York Times has called Cole “the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.”

There’s no question that Cole is a pianist and singer with impressive chops: He’s got a warm baritone voice that melts over his words and makes them go down easy, and he’s got a swinging piano style that can drive a fast number or lope along lightly on the ballads. Island audiences can check out his style at a series of performances over the weekend at the Jazz Corner.

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All About Jazz just published its Top Twenty Interviews of 2007 list. I’m very honored to have two of my interviews on the list:

• Ingrid Jensen — Viking Spirit
• Steve Swallow — The Poetry of Music

You can read the entire list at AAJ’s site.

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My latest article for All About Jazz is an in-depth interview with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts:

If you’ve listened to any jazz at all in the past couple decades, you’ve probably heard drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. His discography is long and impressive, including appearances on many Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed recordings by various men named Marsalis. He’s also led several of his own dates, including the new album Folk’s Songs (Dark Key Music, 2007) with his band The Ebonix.

All About Jazz contributor Jason Crane talked with Watts about his roots, his musical relationships, and the burgeoning career of vocalist Juan Tainish.

• Read the rest of the article at All About Jazz.

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Here’s my latest for The Guide on Hilton Head Island:

Dirty Dozen Brass Band is fighting for a city
By JASON CRANE
Special to the Guide
Published Friday, October 5, 2007

It’s been two long years since a combination of natural force and human weakness shoved New Orleans’ head under the water and held it there, two long years since the city that gave birth to jazz found its horns — both musical and automotive — silenced by a rush of water through levees and dams that the government said were safe. Two long years.

So what’s going on?

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My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with saxophonist Wayne Escoffery:

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has plotted a smart course to success in jazz, one based on strong educational foundations and constant exposure to the best musicians in the business. From his early days with the Jazzmobile and Artists Collective to his time at The Hartt School and the Thelonious Monk Institute, Escoffery used every opportunity to grow as an improviser, composer and bandleader. His new album is Veneration (Savant, 2007). All About Jazz contributor Jason Crane talked with Escoffery about Jackie McLean, jazz education, and improbable meetings on Valentine’s Day.

• Read the rest of the article at All About Jazz.

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My latest article for All About Jazz is an extended interview with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen.

For years, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen wanted to bring together her friend, pianist Maggi Olin, and her sister, saxophonist Christine Jensen, for an album celebrating their shared Nordic ancestry. That album is Flurry (ArtistShare, 2007), by their band Nordic Connect. It’s another deep and moving recording from the Juno-Award-winning Jensen. All About Jazz contributor Jason Crane talked with Jensen about the Viking feeling, the long road to her present success, and whether or not Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer and Bobby Shew are crazy.

• Read my interview with Ingrid Jensen.

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I wrote the Savannah Jazz Festival coverage for The Guide, the weekly entertainment magazine on Hilton Head Island. Here’s are the links, along with the full text of all three stories:

• John Lee Hooker Jr. keeps name alive
• Savannah bassist Tucker is living jazz history
• Savannah Jazz Festival schedule of events

Full articles follow…
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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.

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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

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The transcript of my interview with Rick Parker is now available at All About Jazz.

• READ
• LISTEN

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

• Lisa Roti bringing Chicago jazz to the world

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

• Read the article

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

• Read the article

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My article on Marlene Ver Planck was picked up by The Chicago Tribune:

• Read the article

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And here’s my even-more-latest interview at All About Jazz:

• Edward Simon: La Música Bilingüe (Bilingual Music)

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Check out my latest interview at All About Jazz:

• Grant Stewart: From Smalls To The Big Time

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My latest article for The Guide on Hilton Head Island is about singer Marlene Ver Planck, who performs there this weekend. Enjoy!

• Read the article

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