Interview News

Celebrating Sharkey Bonano

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
April 10, 2010

Sharkey Bonano was born on this day 98 years ago. He died in 1972. During my first residency in New Orleans, I was fortunate that Sharkey was still around and working. Late in his career, when Bonano was able to resist his cornball urges, he was capable of superb trumpet playing of the kind he did in the 1920s and '30s with Gene Goldkette, Ben Pollack and his own Sharks of Rhythm. In this photograph from 1968 or so, he ...

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Randy Weston's 84th

Source: The Independent Ear by Willard Jenkins
April 9, 2010

Last Tuesday, April 6, NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston celebrated his 84th birthday in royal fashion.  The setting was The Jazz Standard, New Yorks finest jazz club/eatery (check George Weins latest blog entry and you'll understand that tag).  Tuesday was opening night of Randy Westons African Rhythms weeklong Jazz Standard engagement, and more importantly the master pianist-composers 84th birthday.  For the occasion his longtime music director-saxophonist T.K. Blue and agent Maurice Montoya had arranged a superb evening featuring the members of ...

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Bud Shank and Valve Trombones

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 10, 2010

In 1954 and 1955, Bud Shank recorded two 10-inch albums for the Pacific Jazz label that teamed him with valve trombones. The LPs were Bud Shank and Three Trombones and Bud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer. These recordings remain potent early examples of West Coast optimism, technical prowess and a sound that still raises hairs. What you hear in these artists is a hunger and excitement for the new music as well as swinging personal ambition. After all, the West Coast ...

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Q&A with Cuong Vu of Speak

Source: Michael Ricci
April 9, 2010

Forward-thinking trumpeter Cuong Vu has performed with the likes of Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson and David Bowie. He's toured the world and released four albums under his own name. After a stint in New York, Vu moved back to the Northwest, where he is now assistant professor of jazz studies at the University of Washington.

It's there at UW that he coached an ensemble that included members of Speak. After mentoring the students -- saxophonist Andrew Swanson, keyboardist ...

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Pat Metheny Talks "Orchestrion": Extended Q&A

Source: Between the Grooves with Philip Booth
April 9, 2010

I recently connected with guitarist Pat Metheny about his new Orchestrion album and tour. My story, as published in the St. Petersburg Times, is available here. The lengthy extended version is below:

Pat Metheny is nothing if not an inveterate musical explorer. The accomplished guitarist and composer, best known for his commercially successful work with The Pat Metheny Group, has also played straight-ahead jazz with the likes of late saxophonist Michael ...

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Shirley Scott - "Queen of the Organ"

Source: Riffs on Jazz by John Anderson
April 8, 2010

Jazz history is riddled with stories about the tragic consequences of drug use. But organist Shirley Scott was certainly the only jazz musician to succumb to the effects of a diet drug. Scott was born in Philadelphia in 1934. She played piano and trumpet before settling in at the Hammond B-3 organ. She was an admirer of fellow Philadelphian Jimmy Smith, as were so many other jazz artists. Scott first came to prominence working with  sax great Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis ...

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Ger Van Leeuwen: A Forgotten Jazz Piano Player

Source: Keep Swinging
April 8, 2010

A few weeks ago I found in a shop specialized in recycled goods in Middelburg, in the south west part of The Netherlands, a bunch of old 78rpm records - Parlophones, Deccas, Columbias, His Master's Voice, Polydors, Tempos and Omegas - most 1940s and 1950s stuff with US big bands and German Tanzorchester. I selected a couple of records and suggested to pay a few Euros for it. Neem heel de stapel maar ( = Please take them all), the ...

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Louis Vola: Bass Player and Bandleader

Source: Keep Swinging
April 8, 2010

If you are an admirer of the music of the Hot Club de France, Louis Vola (1902-1990) will be remembered as one of the bass player of the quintet, like Emmanuel Soudieux (he passed away) and Coleridge Goode, who played after the war in London with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Louis Vola played an important part in the first years of the quintet, and not only as a bass player ........ he was also a tireless impresario!Today more ...

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