Articles by Lazaro Vega
My Conversation with Brad Shepik
by Lazaro Vega
This article was first published on All About Jazz in February 2001. It was conducted from Lazaro Vega's home in New York for Blue Lake Public Radio, a broadcast service of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the international summer school for the arts in western Michigan. All About Jazz: Is this band that you're touring with The Commuters? Brad Shepik It's the same concept but different guys. It's mostly guys from The Well (Songlines, 2000) with ...
Continue ReadingA Conversation with Amiri Baraka
by Lazaro Vega
From the 1995-2003 archive: This article first appeared at All About Jazz in November 1999. All About Jazz: I'm just really happy to see that in the last year or so you've become a much more public figure outside of academia through the recording with Hugh Ragin, Afternoon in Harlem on Justin-time, that When Sun Ra Gets Blue, and the recording with Malachi Thompson, (Free-bop Now, Delmark), as well as the concert this past summer with Sonic Youth ...
Continue ReadingRemembering Lester Bowie
by Lazaro Vega
From the 1995-2003 archive: This article first appeared at All About Jazz in December 1999. Lester Bowie played several concerts and made one so far un-issued recording in the late 1990's with Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio plus poetess Ntozake Shange. The evening of grooves, improvisation and poetry came to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in September 1998 and played the Urban Institute For Contemporary Arts. 200 attended. The artists drew upwards of 500 in Chicago and Philadelphia said El'Zabar. ...
Continue ReadingFred Anderson: On the Run
by Lazaro Vega
This interview was first published at All About Jazz in August 2002 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material. The Roscoe Mitchell Quintet with special guest Fred Anderson played a successful benefit concert for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The quintet's performance, with Mitchell on sopranino and alto saxophones plus the C flute, Fred Anderson tenor saxophone, Craig Taborn, piano, Harrison Bankhead, bass, and Vincent Davis, ...
Continue ReadingCathing up with Lee Konitz
by Lazaro Vega
This interview was first published at All About Jazz in May 1999 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material. The Lee Konitz Trio, Mother's Day, May 9th At 4 P.M. In The 165 Seat Urban Institute For Contemporary Arts Theater, 41 Sheldon Blvd. Ne, Grand Rapids, Mi. The Alto Saxophone Master With Bassist Jeff Halsey Of Bowling Green University And Drummer Pete Siers Of Ann Arbor. Tickets Are $15. All About ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland: Consummate Bassist
by Lazaro Vega
This interview was first published at All About Jazz in May 1999 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material.Bassist Dave Holland brings the flexible structures and varied instrumental colors of his Grammy nominated Quintet to several Michigan locations in the second week of April. On the 7th the group presents an afternoon masterclass at the University of Michigan followed by an evening performance at the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club in Ann Arbor. On ...
Continue ReadingRemembering Art Farmer
by Lazaro Vega
This interview was first published at All About Jazz in November 1999 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material. This interview was originally broadcast at the time on Blue Lake Public Radio; portions of this interview appeared in an advance article published by the Grand Rapids Press. Lazaro Vega: How long is this tour in the U.S.? Art Farmer: My tour is going until the 31st of October, and then ...
Continue ReadingRemembering Milt Jackson
by Lazaro Vega
This interview was first published at All About Jazz in November 1999 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material. This interview was conducted prior to a Modern Jazz Quartet performance at Hope College, Holland, Michigan in September of 1989. Broadcast at the time on Blue Lake Public Radio; portions of this interview appeared in an advance article published by the Grand Rapids Press. Jackson spoke from his home in Teaneck, N.J. Lazaro ...
Continue ReadingAshley Kahn: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece
by Lazaro Vega
This interview was first published at All About Jazz in November 2000 and is part of our ongoing effort to archive pre-database material. Ashley Kahn, the author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (Da Capo Press, 224 pgs.), is Music Editor at VH1, and was the primary editor of Rolling Stone: The Seventies as well as the primary contributor to Rolling Stone Jazz and Blues Album Guide. He has contributed articles to ...
Continue ReadingPeter Brotzmann Tentet at Kraftbrau Brewery
by Lazaro Vega
Peter Brotzmann Tentet Kraftbrau Brewery Kalamazoo, MI June 16, 2002 Not being a musician I can only surmise what musical challenges composing for and performing with a mid-sized jazz ensemble pose. Everyone knows how Miles Davis dealt with some of those musical issues in the nonet as he, Gil Evans, John Lewis, Gerry Mulligan and the crew began tying together the Claude Thornhill band's static harmonies and mysterious sonorities with the quick ...
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