Episodes

Pianist Angelica Sanchez has a new duet album with pianist Marilyn Crispell (interview) called How To Turn The Moon. In this interview, Sanchez talks about her lifelong admiration of Crispell’s playing; the intricacies of the piano duet; her interest in neuroscience and the work of artist Santiago Ramón y Cajal; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians on The Jazz Session since 2007. As I prepare to head out on the road in a van (which will also be my home) to reco...

Vocalist Christine Correa‘s new album with pianist Ran Blake is When Soft Rains Fall. It’s a tribute to Billie Holiday’s seminal recording Lady In Satin. In this interview, Correa talks about her longtime relationship with Blake and how that informed the recording process; why she encourages her students to put down the sheet music and use their ears; her upcoming projects; and the vulnerability, anger and strength found in the vocalists who’ve inspired her. / / / I’ve been recording conversat...

Guitarist Leni Stern has spent years collaborating with musicians from other cultures and musical styles, particularly with musicians from Senegal and Mali. On her latest album, 4, Stern continues that work, and adds Argentinian keyboardist Leo Genovese into the mix. In this interview, Stern talks about how she started studying west African music; adapting her own playing to the rhythmic needs of the music; her varied musical partners; and the return of some live music to New York City. / / / ...

Flute player Jamie Baum talks about her experiences as a New-York-based jazz musician during the pandemic. She also sheds light on her experiments with South Asian music; appreciation vs. appropriation; her various composing projects; and some upcoming album releases. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth suppor...

Welcome to the premiere of season 13 of The Jazz Session! This episode begins with some big news before turning to pianist Cat Toren and her new album, Scintillating Beauty. In this interview, Toren talks about the genesis of the new record; sound healing; bringing a child into the world; her upcoming projects; and the challenge of navigating online spaces. / / / As you’ll hear in this episode, I need your support now more than ever. Please become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For...

In this episode, Dwight from Eat The Rich joins me to talk about Joni Mitchell’s 1980 live album Shadows And Light. The album features Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michael Brecker, Jaco Pastorius, Don Alias, and The Persuasions. We talk about some of the highlights of the record and play excerpts. Then we talk about the current economic state of the jazz world, and what the future might bring. You’ll also learn more about Dwight’s show, Eat The Rich. You can follow Dwight and Eat The Rich on Twitter,...

Since the beginning of quarantine, clarinetist Ben Goldberg has been recording a new piece of music each day in a project called Plague Diary. In this interview, Goldberg talks about why he started this project; how Steve Lacy helped him articulate an artistic vision; the influence of poet/educator/prophet Allen Grossman; and much more. / / / This is the final episode of season 12. If you’d like to get the members-only that will be released during the summer hiatus in July and August, please b...

Trombonist Jeff Albert‘s new live record is called Unanimous Sources. In this interview, we talk about the various musical buttons pushed by this band; making music fun; the many other projects Jeff is involved with; the forward-thinking music program at Loyola University New Orleans; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The J...

Drummer Chad Taylor‘s latest record is a collaboration with saxophonist Brian Settles and pianist Neil Podgurski called The Daily Biological (Cuneiform Records, 2020). In this interview, Taylor talks about his early days with Brian Settles and comedian Dave Chappelle; the origin of this trio; his work with the recently departed Henry Grimes; life during the pandemic; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves publ...

Keyboardist Erik Deutsch has a new album called Live At Lunatico. In this interview, he talks about making music fun; the overlap of jazz and jam bands; his work with Leftover Salmon; his move to Mexico; and his new gig with Dixie Chicks. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at...

Henry Hey and his band Forq have a new album called Four. In this interview, Hey talks about the history of Forq; big stacks of keyboards; his work with David Bowie and George Michael; and a lot more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a mon...

Back in 1996 I was lucky to have dinner with Jimmy Cobb in a small town in northern Japan. Today, as we mourn Jimmy’s passing and celebrate his life, I’d like to share that story.

Guitarist, vocalist, and other-instruments-ist Wendy Eisenberg has released a wealth of music in recent years, each album in a distinct soundworld from every other. In this interview, Eisenberg talks about projects including Dehiscence, Its Shape Is Your Touch, Time Machine, Talk To Me (by their collaborative band Editrix), and more. We also learn why western Massachusetts is a magical gateway to the universe. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s...

Woodwind player Brian Landrus‘s new album, For Now, comes out on May 15, 2020. In this interview, Landrus talks about making an album with strings; how upheaval in his personal life led to the music on For Now; the influence of Bob Brookmeyer on his writing; a future big band project; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The J...

Pianist Andy Milne has just released his first trio album, The ReMission (Sunnyside Records, 2020), featuring bassist John Hébert and drummer Clarence Penn. In this interview, Milne talks about finally deciding to make a trio record; how the album coincided with both his fight against cancer and a new job at the University of Michigan; life during the pandemic; his thoughts on McCoy Tyner; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important ...

Guitarist Eric Hofbauer recently released Book of Fire (Creative Nation Music, 2020), the second in what will be a five-album series centered on the five aspects of the Chinese philosophy wu xing. In this interview, Hofbauer talks about the first two albums in the series; how he and bassist Tony Leva broadened their instrumental palettes for this latest record; why he chose to include recordings of James Baldwin; the pandemic in Boston; and much more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations wi...

Bassist and poet Henry Grimes died on April 15, 2020 from complications due to Covid-19. In this episode, I read one of Henry’s poems and a poem I wrote for Henry. After that, pianist Carmen Staaf recalls her relationship with Grimes. The final section is a previously unaired 2008 interview with Henry Grimes recorded at the Jazz At The Lake festival in Lake George, NY. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public suppo...

Saxophonist Angela Davis‘s latest recording is Little Did They Know (ABC Jazz, 2019). In this interview, Davis talks about moving home to Australia and becoming part of the Melbourne jazz scene; how she came to make this record with Tony Gould and Sam Anning; the stories behind the tunes on the album; life in Australia during the pandemic; and much more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also li...

The new album by Brenda Earle Stokes is Solo Sessions, Vol. 1. In this interview, Stokes talks about this unexpected album; learning 700 songs in 11 weeks on a cruise ship; life in NYC during the pandemic; the idea of the depressed artist; the opportunity for optimism; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is w...

We just lost Ellis Marsalis. Earlier this week we lost Wallace Roney. I think we’ll be adding more names to the list before all this is over. I’m sharing this 2009 interview with Ellis as a way to honor his memory. Take care of each other, OK? Ellis Marsalis is more than the father of four famous sons. He’s an acclaimed pianist and educator in his own right, and his musical history has covered a lot of ground. Homecoming (ELM Records, 2009), his new CD, is a mix of old and new, combining a reiss...

Pianist Yoko Miwa‘s most recent album is Keep Talkin’. In this interview, Miwa talks about the difficulties facing all musicians during the coronavirus outbreak; surviving the 1995 Kobe earthquake; gigging with Sheila Jordan; why she often includes Beatles songs on her albums; and more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Sess...

Cast Of Characters (Outside in Music, 2020) is the latest album from trombonist, composer and record label owner Nick Finzer. In this interview, Finzer talks about writing this ambitious suite of music; about how we incorporate and transcend our influences; his long-running band; and his decision to start a record label. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my livi...

To honor the passing of McCoy Tyner, I’m making this members-only episode from December into a public episode. Music writer Richard Scheinin talks about McCoy Tyner’s album Sahara. During the conversation, Richard also reads from interviews he did with Sonny Fortune and Bobby Hutcherson about McCoy. [Photo: McCoy Tyner at the 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival, by Jason Crane.]

Pianist Lynne Arriale‘s new album is Chimes of Freedom (Challenge Records, 2020). The record is a direct reply to our current American sociopolitical environment. In this interview, Arriale talks about speaking truth to power; mortality and the artistic process; her work as an educator; and a lot more. / / / I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree th...