Articles by Shawn McGrew

Ken Vandermark: Raw and Refined

by Shawn McGrew
March 13, 2006

Sometimes stumbling blocks and dumb luck can lead to a more satisfyingly final presentation than if everything went as originally planned. This was intended to be a phone interview from the outset, however equipment failures combined with difficult scheduling conspired to turn this into an email interview.

Despite Ken's Herculean effort to key paragraph after paragraph into a tiny BlackBerry keypad, it became difficult for him to keep track and the written word (anybody's) lacks a certain visceral flavor of ...

Ellery Eskelin: Ten

by Shawn McGrew
December 22, 2004

This article was originally published under our Call and Response column. It's curious that both Andrea Parkins and Jim Black's names are absent from the front cover of Ten. This marks the tenth year the band has been together and both long-time associates do participate on this project. Despite functioning as the leader, Eskelin's been intent on presenting Parkins and Black as equals, but perhaps the additional presence of Jessica Constable, Marc Ribot and Melvin Gibbs complicate the ...

What is Jazz?

by Shawn McGrew
October 29, 2004

Some say jazz keeps one foot planted in tradition while the other seeks new footwear, or maybe a warm bath and some talcum. If that's true then Charles Mingus must surely be a case in point. Mingus, a socially conscious musician and bandleader, wasn't content to repeat Jimmy Blanton's advances or rest on his laurels after making a name for himself. As evidence, listen to Pithecanthropus Erectus in general and “A Foggy Day" in particular which hints ...

Olympic Bastid Records Cuts To The Cheese

by Shawn McGrew
July 23, 2004

Rolph Nemo, producer and owner of upstart Olympic Bastid Records, makes no apologies for offering what other labels would turn down in a heartbeat. “Some think these recordings should be burned," says Rolph, “they weren't meant to be. The truth is, just as Armstrong, Parker and Ornette had moments of sublime insight, so did they also fall flat on their keisters. That's why we (Olympic Bastid Records) are here. The public can more easily appreciate artists' contributions after hearing just ...