Episodes

Guitarist and vocalist Judith Kay has made a career for herself in Arden, an artists community near Wilmington, DE. In this interview, Kay talks about her love of Brazilian music; her time studying arranging with Manny Albam; why she decided to stay in Delaware; and why she feels it’s important to sing the melody the way the composer wrote it. Learn more at judithkay.com. This interview was conducted as part of my “Jazz Or Bust” tour.

Vocalist Nicky Schrire’s debut album is Freedom Flight (Circavision, 2012). In this interview, Schrire talks about the diverse and often daring songs she’s chosen for her debut; the impact on her life and music of Kate McGarry, Peter Eldridge and Bobby McFerrin; her South African upbringing and switch from saxophone to voice; and why she made the move to New York. Learn more at nickyschrire.com and follow her on Twitter at @NickySchrire. CONCERT NOTE: Schrire’s New York CD release event is Wedn...

Guitarist Miles Okazaki’s new album is Figurations (Sunnyside, 2012), recorded live at The Jazz Gallery in New York City. It’s the third and final album in the series that includes Mirror and Generations. In this interview, Okazaki talks about the series and the different aspects of his music he explored on each album; the Golden Mean and Fibonacci numbers and how they figure into his compositions; why it was important for him to record a live album; and how his artwork informs his music and vic...

Gregoire Maret has just released his debut album, Gregoire Maret (eOne Music, 2012). In this interview, Maret talks about the importance of connecting with his audience; how he built a career playing his unlikely instrument; and why it’s important for him to be known as a composer, not just as a harmonica player. Learn more at gregoiremaret.com.

Drummer Tomas Fujiwara’s new album with his band The Hook Up is called The Air Is Different (482 Music, 2012). In this interview, Fujiwara talks about his grandfather (pictured on the album cover) and his grandfather’s influence on his life; the addition of bassist Trevor Dunn to the band; his varying methods of composition; and finding balance on the bandstand. Learn more at tomasfujiwara.com and follow him on Twitter at @TomasFujiwara. NOTE: This is Tomas Fujiwara’s second appearance on The J...

Anticipation (Capri Records, 2012) is the new CD by drummer Colin Stranahan, pianist Glenn Zaleski and bassist Rick Rosato. In this interview, conducted before the trio’s recent live show at Small’s in NYC, the three talk about their mutual appreciation of one another; the shared taste in music that animates their collaboration; and their individual paths into jazz. Learn more at myspace.com/wwwcolinstranahancom, glennzaleski.com and myspace.com/rickrosato.

Vocalist Maria Neckam’s latest CD is Unison (Sunnyside Records, 2012). In this interview, Neckam talks about finding her own musical path early in life; writing songs that don’t use traditional forms; her journey from Vienna to Amsterdam to Brooklyn; and the effects of Buddhism on her life and music. Learn more at marianeckam.com and follow her on Twitter at @MariaNeckam.

THE “JAZZ OR BUST” TOUR ABOUT THE TOUR As of June 1, 2012, I’m doing something fairly crazy and taking The Jazz Session on tour. I’m traveling through North America — and then maybe the rest of the world — conducting interviews and giving poetry readings. NEWS COVERAGE NPR’s A Blog Supreme: Crashing On Couches To Talk To Musicians [PDF – 21 May 2012] Blog post by Patrick McCurry (Auburn, AL) [PDF – 29 May 2012] The Village Voice (NYC): Q&A: Jason Crane Takes The Jazz Session On the Road Wit...

Saxophonist Steve Lehman’s new album is called Dialect Fluorescent (Pi Recordings, 2012). In this interview, Lehman talks about allocentric performance; what he learned from Jackie McLean about sound and evolution; the unlikely beginning of his current trio; and some of the touchstones in his own musical growth. Learn more at stevelehman.com and follow him on Twitter at @TheSteveLehman. CONCERT NOTE: Lehman’s trio will be at The Jazz Gallery in NYC from June 7-9 with special guests David Virell...

Pianist George Colligan’s most recent album is Living For The City (Steeplechase, 2011). In this interview, conducted before an April show at Jazz Standard in NYC, Colligan talks about selling out vs. being relevant; trying his hand at writing songs with lyrics; Nicholas Payton’s outspoken blogging; dealing with online controversy; and managing a life of teaching, performing and fatherhood. Learn more at georgecolligan.com and follow his blog at jazztruth.blogspot.com.

Guitarist Anders Nilsson’s new solo album is Night Guitar (2012). In this interview, Nilsson talks about the influence of Frank Zappa, Deep Purple and others on his guitar playing; why he felt inspired to make a solo record; how he created a multi-layered guitar album that still allows for the element of surprise; and the busy year ahead. Learn more at andersnilssonguitar.com.

Pianist Dan Cray’s latest CD is Meridies (Origin, 2012). In this interview, Cray talks about moving to New York City at a later stage in his career than most people do; why he decided to focus on his own compositions on this album; the influence of his teachers on his musical career; and how he leaves room for surprise in the studio and on stage. Learn more at dancray.com and follow his on Twitter at @DanCrayJazz.

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Chris Brubeck’s latest CD is Live At Zankel Music Center with his band Triple Play. In this interview, conducted at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, Brubeck talks about his orchestral compositions; how he gets inside the lives of the people he writes music about; the history of the band Triple Play; and writing music with his father, Dave Brubeck. Learn more at chrisbrubeck.com and follow him on Twitter at @ChrisBrubeck.

Pianist Romain Collin’s new CD is The Calling (Palmetto Records, 2012). In this interview, Collin talks about the marriage of acoustic performance and sound design on his new album; how his classical training influences his approach to sound; his compositional process and why he sometimes leaves a piece unfinished for months at a time; and the benefits of his time at the Monk Institute and in New York. Learn more at romaincollin.com. CONCERT NOTE: Collin’s New York CD release party for The Call...

Joel Harrison’s most recent records are Search (Sunnyside Records, 2011) and Holy Abyss (Cuneiform, 2012), a record he co-leads with Lorenzo Feliciati. In this interview, Harrison talks about continuing the blend of classical and jazz influences that began with The Wheel; where he looks for inspiration as a composer and player; the current state of the common language of jazz; and his forays into big band writing. Learn more at joelharrison.com and follow him on Twitter at @JoelHarrisonGtr. NOT...

Guitarist Terrence McManus’ most recent recording is Transcendental Numbers (No Business, 2011), with bassist Mark Helias and drummer Gerry Hemingway. Other recent recordings include Below The Surface Of, a duet session with Hemingway, and the solo album Brooklyn. In this interview, McManus talks about finding musical inspiration in the natural and industrial worlds; how he tries to free himself of his expectations and preconceptions before each performance; the importance of doing it right … an...

Drummer Devin Gray’s new CD is Dirigo Rataplan (Skirl Records, 2012). In this interview, Gray talks about finding space for surprise; his early years at the Maine Jazz Camp with the likes of Tony Malaby and Ethan Iverson; finding time and discipline for practice during a busy musical life; and his various projects as a leader and sideman. Learn more at devingraymusic.com and follow him on Twitter at @DevinGrayMusic. CONCERT NOTE: Devin Gray’s quartet is playing tonight (April 12, 2012) at 8:30 ...

Saxophonist Patrick Cornelius’s latest CD is Maybe Steps (Posi-Tone, 2011). In this interview, Cornelius talks about the new record as a continuation of his previous full-band writing, after a break for his trio record; why it’s important to him to tell stories during his live performances; his time in the artist diploma program at Juilliard; and the economics of jazz records. Learn more at patrickcornelius.com and follow him on Twitter at @PCorneliusMusic.

Pianist Myra Melford’s most recent recording is The Guest House (Yellowbird Records, 2012) with her collective band Trio M, featuring Matt Wilson and Mark Dresser. In this interview, Melford talks about the recent premiere of her multimedia work “Snowy Egret” in New York; the formation and continued success of Trio M; and how she balances a busy life as a performer with a full schedule as a professor. Learn more at www.myramelford.com. Concert Note: Trio M is playing two East Coast CD release s...

Vocalist Melissa Stylianou’s new CD is Silent Movie (Anzic Records, 2012). In this interview, Stylianou talks about her accidental entrance into the world of jazz; the importance of storytelling; and how her training as an actor has impacted her musical career. Learn more at melissastylianou.com and follow her on Twitter at @sleepinbee. CONCERT NOTE: Melissa Stylianou is performing two CD release shows in honor of her new album — at Jazz Standard in New York City on April 3 and at The Rex in To...

Raya Brass Band’s new CD is Dancing On Roses, Dancing On Cinders (2012). In this interview, four of the five members of the band discuss its origins; the rhythmic underpinnings of Balkan music; the uses of improvisation in their performances; and how a movie caused one of the members of the band to quit his job and take up the accordion. Learn more at rayabrassband.com and follow them on Twitter at @RayaBrassBand.

Drummer Billy Hart’s new CD is All Our Reasons (ECM, 2012). In this interview, Hart talks about the “European sound” of this band; what he looks for in bandmates and why this band fits his needs so well; and what he believes powered Coltrane’s musical explorations. Learn more at billyhartmusic.com.

Trumpeter Nate Wooley’s recent albums include the solo records The Almond and 8 Syllables and the quintet recording (Put Your) Hands Together. In this interview, Wooley talks about putting 100 trumpets on one solo (!) recording; why he was surprised when one of his albums made him feel good at the end; how he started playing solo trumpet; and how the death of his grandmother led to his recent quintet album. Learn more at natewooley.com and follow him on Twitter at @nate_wooley.

Pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton’s latest CD is The Breeze And I. In this interview, Fulton talks about the bebop record she listened to exclusively for months (starting the day she was born); her father’s influence and how his friendship with Clark Terry shaped her life; and her transition from student to working musician. Learn more at champian.net and follow her on Twitter at @ChampianFulton.