The Jazz Session #189: Eric Hofbauer [43:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Eric Hofbauer is using the solo guitar to explore American identity on a trilogy of albums that began with American Vanity (Creative Nation Music, 2004) and continues with American Fear (Creative Nation Music, 2010). In this interview, Hofbauer talks about the pop tunes he covers on this record; how he uses improvisation to lead to composition; and why he started Creative Nation Music. Learn more at www.myspace.com/erichofbauer and at Creative Nation Music’s site.

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

 The Jazz Session #188: Pharez Whitted [32:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s been 14 years since trumpeter Pharez Whitted last released an album, a drought he’s now ended with Transient Journey (Owl Studios, 2010). In this interview, Whitted talks about the changes in his life that led to the new recording; what it meant to grow up in a family where everyone played an instrument or sang; and why he decided early on to teach as well as play. Learn more at www.pharezwhitted.com.

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

Over at my poetry blog, I just posted a poem called “I never heard Buddy Bolden say a goddamned thing” about many of the musicians I never had a chance to see in person. The text is there along with an audio version.

 The Jazz Session #187: David Weiss [38:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Trumpeter David Weiss and his band Point Of Departure explore music from the late 1960s on their new record, Snuck In (Sunnyside, 2010), recorded live at Jazz Standard in New York. In this interview, Weiss talks about the little-known Detroit composers who wrote some of the songs on the new record; why he chose to cover other people’s music on this recording; and how he found the impressive roster of talent in Point Of Departure. Learn more at www.davidweissmusic.com.

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

 The Jazz Session #186: Steve Coleman [55:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Steve Coleman leads his band Five Elements through another thought-provoking set on Harvesting Semblances And Affinities (Pi Recordings, 2010), his first American-label release in nine years and his first new album in four years. In this interview, Coleman talks about a wide range of topics, from seeing Sonny Stitt play a student horn in a motel room in Chicago to the philosophy and research underlying his musical explorations. Learn more at www.m-base.com.

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

 The Jazz Session #185: Marc Copland [33:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Pianist Marc Copland joins Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Drew Gress and John Abercrombie in the band Contact. Their new album is Five On One (Pirouet Records, 2010). In this interview, Copland talks about the formation of the band and his relationships with the individual members; his years in D.C. and his switch from saxophone to piano; and why more piano players might want to consider laying out for a chorus or two. Learn more at www.marccopland.com.

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

 The Jazz Session #184: Bryan Murray of Bryan And The Haggards [33:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When one thinks of free jazz, one of the first names that springs to mind is that of Merle Haggard. And so, it’s perfectly natural that saxophonist Bryan Murray would have assembled a band to play free versions of Haggard’s songs. The result is the very engaging Pretend It’s The End Of The World (Hot Cup, 2010). In this interview, Murray talks about the inspiration for the record and how the band made the songs work in such a different context. Learn more at www.myspace.com/bryanandthehaggards.

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