Interview News

Pianist Howard Riley Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
June 16, 2010

Howard Riley gave his performance in Vilnius, Lithuania in September, 2009. It was his first visit to the country in a five-decade career, and one of just a few eastern Europe destinations made at the time, by the British free jazz pianist. The concert was recorded and released in 2010 as the double-disc set, Solo in Vilnius, by No Business Records.

AAJ Contributor Maxim Micheliov was on-hand to talk with Riley about his lengthy career as a performer and educator, ...

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Drummer Manu Katche Interviewed at AAJ...And More!

Source: All About Jazz
June 15, 2010

Manu Katche is one of the most original drummers anywhere, defying categorization and straddling musical genres with ease and flair. A French national of Ivorian background, he has turned his hand to pop, rock, fusion and jazz, and his exposure to all these elements, plus his classical training, is indelibly stamped in a playing style all his own.

For over 20 years, Katche has toured and recorded with such iconic figures as Sting and Peter Gabriel, bringing his highly distinctive ...

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Saxophonist Sarah Manning Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
June 14, 2010

Listening to Sarah Manning speak at length is nearly as absorbing as her music. She's intelligent, direct, witty, and serious-minded. As Manning waxes eloquent on topics ranging from the impact of three special mentors, to the benefits of being a well-rounded person, to issues surrounding woman's empowerment, you realize that she relishes every aspect of her life. The alto saxophonist and composer is the leader of the New York City-based band Shatter the Glass. Both on and off the bandstand, ...

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Under Your Skin Interviews: Eric Bobo & Dave Abbruzzese

Source: All About Jazz
June 4, 2010

Eric Bobo

Dave Abbruzzese 2-3/3 - A conversation

These conversations are part of the book/dvd project “Under your skin" which includes discussions with Ahmad Jamal, Anglique Kidjo, Chuck D - Public Enemy, Delinquent Habits, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Marc Ribot, Ron Carter, Liu Fang, Malika Zarra, Zap Mama, Les Nubians, Tinariwen, Lydia Lunch, Eek A Mouse, Rhonda Smith, Antipop ...

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Bill Frisell's Music Education: From Mickey Mouse to Miles Davis

Source: Michael Ricci
June 11, 2010

When Bill Frisell was young, he says remembers watching the “Mickey Mouse Club“ on his family's new television. “The leader of the Mouseketeers was this guy named Jimmy and he'd play a guitar and I just thought that was really cool. At that time I made myself a pretend guitar out of a piece of cardboard and rubber bands and somehow I just stuck with that my whole life." In his Big Think interview, Frisell says ...

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David Amram on Bobby Jaspar (2)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
June 11, 2010

What makes Bobby Jaspar so appealing to the ear is his ability to swing softly. Jaspar on sax or flute had a West Coast sound before the sound existed. In some respects, he was simply delivering a European interpretation of Lester Young's phrasing. Then again, this wasn't so far afield from what the European-trained West Coast musicians wound up doing in the early 1950s--combining formal training with Young's sound and swing. It's just that Jaspar may have arrived in that ...

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Leading Questions: Greta Matassa

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
June 11, 2010

Note: Greta Matassa will be performing in Portland tonight through Saturday. Thursday, June 10 at Brasserie Montmartre and Friday-Saturday at Wilf's Restaurant and Bar.

Interview and Photo by Steve Korn

Someone once told me, Success is getting what you want, but happiness is wanting what you get. Ive based my career decisions on this advice

When I was 14 I knew I wanted to make music my life and become a professional singer. now, with 2 teenage daughters going through ...

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David Amram on Bobby Jaspar (1)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
June 11, 2010

Bobby Jaspar is all but forgotten today. Back in the late 1950s, the Belgian tenor saxophonist recorded with Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Costa, J.J. Johnson, Herbie Mann and many other notable New York jazz artists of the period. Married to singer Blossom Dearie, Jaspar's best-known recordings are probably Interplay for Two Trumpets and Two Tenors (1957), for which he was teamed with John Coltrane, and Chet Is Back (1962), recorded with Chet Baker after the trumpeter's release from an ...

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