The Jazz Session #150: Sam Sadigursky [36:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Show #150! Crazy, ain’t it?

Multi-instrumentalist Sadigursky just released Words Project III: Miniatures (New Amsterdam, 2010), the third in his series of releases combining contemporary poetry with improvised and through-composed music. In this interview, Sadigursky talks about his decision to use poems as an inspiration for composition; which texts lend themselves to his work and why; and what the various vocalists on his albums bring to the music. Learn more at samsadigursky.com.

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

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 The Jazz Session #144: Chris Kelsey [50:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Chris Kelsey is both a jazz musician and critic – one of the rare people who straddles both worlds. His new CD is Not Cool (…as in “The Opposite of Paul Desmond”) (Tzazz Krytyk, 2009). In this interview, Kelsey talks about his approach to composition and performance; how his work as a critic has impacted his career as a musician; and how blogging has changed the way he writes about music. Learn more at chriskelsey.com.

Click here to purchase Chris Kelsey’s new album via CD Baby.

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 The Jazz Session #134: Marty Ehrlich [56:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Marty Ehrlich is everywhere. Since moving from St. Louis to New York in 1978, Ehrlich has established himself as both an in-demand sideman and a leader with a distinct and multi-faceted musical vision. His CD Things Have Got To Change (Clean Feed, 2009), finds Ehrlich leading his Rites Quartet through a program of music written by, or inspired by, saxophonist Julius Hemphill, with whom Ehrlich played. In this interview, Ehrlich talks about his pan-stylistic approach to composition; the influence of the St. Louis scene on his own playing and on New York; and how he approaches the distinct roles of sideman and leader. Learn more at www.martyehrlich.com.

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

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 The Jazz Session #131: Chris Potter [27:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Saxophonist Chris Potter’s new album, Ultrahang (ArtistShare, 2009), is an exploration of groove and melody. In this interview, recorded before Potter’s performance with Dave Holland at the 2009 Tanglewood Jazz Festival, Potter talks about how a middle-class kid in Columbia, SC, ended up liking Chicago blues; why he looks first to please himself with the music he makes; and how rhythm breaks down barriers with an audience. Learn more at www.chrispottermusic.com.

EVENT: Chris Potter’s Underground (Adam Rogers – guitar, Craig Taborn – Fender Rhodes and Nate Smith – drums) will be at the Village Vanguard this week from Jan. 5-10. More information is available at villagevanguard.com.

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

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 The Jazz Session #129: Eric Alexander [39:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Saxophonist Eric Alexander has forged a multi-decade career out of one simple concept: “To thine own self be true.” In this interview, recorded before his September 2009 performance in Schenectady, NY, Alexander talks about his musical vision; his experience as a teacher at SUNY Purchase; and why he thinks it’s possible to point to one particular period of jazz as the greatest in the music’s history. Learn more at www.ericalexanderjazz.com.

The tunes in this interview come from Eric Alexander’s Nightlife In Tokyo CD. If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

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 The Jazz Session #128: Dan Scofield on Sonny Simmons [28:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Saxophonist Sonny Simmons is the subject of a new documentary now in production called Just A Guy Who Knows. The filmmakers, Dan Scofield and Mike Ercolini, have so far produced a 20-minute trailer and are raising funds to finish a 45-minute short film on Simmons. The saxophonist has lived a remarkable life, moving from his days as a colleague of John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins to near anonymity as a musician on the streets of San Francisco. He’s now back in action again, and his wisdom and intelligence shine through in the documentary. Learn more at www.justaguywhoknows.com.

Here’s the short trailer for the film. Visit the Web site to get access to the longer version.

JUST A GUY WHO KNOWS trailer from Blind Escrow Productions on Vimeo.

One of Sonny’s recent albums is Ancient Ritual. If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

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 The Jazz Session #120: Sam Rivers [33:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sam Rivers is a musical renaissance man. He’s performed in big bands, bop bands, R&B groups, blues bands and free-jazz ensembles. Rivers is currently composing adventurous large-ensemble music (such as is found on his 2006 CD Aurora) in an unlikely location: Orlando, Florida. In this interview, Rivers talks about his early days in Boston; how he was recruited by Jimi Hendrix while playing with Cecil Taylor; and how a tour with Dizzy Gillespie led to his relocation to Florida. Learn more at rivbea.com.

The music in this episode comes from Sam Rivers’ album Aurora. If you’d like to buy this album, you can support The Jazz Session by purchasing it via the link below:

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