Interview News

Notes from the Net: Miles Davis Reissued on Vinyl, Duke Ellington Day in NYC, Plus News, Reviews, Interviews, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
April 28, 2009

Here's this week's compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:* Four classic Miles Davis albums - Sketches Of Spain, In A Silent Way, Nefertiti, and Bitches Brew - have been newly reissued on 180 gram vinyl LPs. (And on a related note, via AllAboutJazz.com, here's an interesting piece ...

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Interview: Creed Taylor (Part 15)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 28, 2009

In my previous series of conversations with Creed Taylor(Parts 1-14), the legendary jazz record producer spoke candidly about his work in the 1950s and 1960s at Bethlehem, ABC Paramount, Impulse, Verve and A&M. At each label, Creed transformed jazz and jazz LP packaging. He also made contemporary stars of jazz artists ranging from Stan Getz to Wes Montgomery. But despite his many award-winning accomplishments at these labels, Creed's most ambitious years were yet to come. [Photo by Chuck Stewart]

In ...

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Pianist/Composer Kelvin Sholar Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
April 27, 2009

Pianist, composer, programmer, writer, philosopher Kelvin Sholar is a modern Renaissance man, an endangered species in our modern times of careerism and hyper-focused resumes. At any one time, Sholar seems to be grappling with more ideas and projects than very few are capable of doing over several years--if at all.

What makes Sholar most impressive, however, is not simply this cerebral acuity, but his rapacious drive to translate his ideas into the very cutting edge of music that recognizes no ...

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Chris Botti Newsweek Interview

Source: All About Jazz
April 26, 2009

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Dom Minasi Interview

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
April 26, 2009

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Singer/Harmonicist Tracy K Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
April 25, 2009

Born and raised on the prairies in the small farm community of Beausejour, Manitoba, just 45 minutes east of Winnipeg, Canada, Tracy K has been performing since she was a child. She recalls her first introduction to the blues and how she was introduced and drawn to the early recordings of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Since then, she has built upon this, her foundation for the blues, with her 2007 release Old, New, Borrowed & Blues (Independent), produced by ...

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Drummer/Singer/Songwriter Brian Blade Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
April 21, 2009

Known in the jazz world for his slick and superlative drumming skills, Brian Blade is engaged in making other musical statements these days. Statements that are outside the jazz genre, but are an essential part of this enlightened man and serious musician whose musical tastes run “between Bela Bartok and Wayne Shorter to Al Green," who, he adds, all intermingle for him.

The Shreveport, Louisiana., native has contributed his considerable talents as a drummer for projects with Joshua Redman, Kenny ...

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Interview: Buddy Defranco on Tatum

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 21, 2009

On February 6, 1956, Art Tatum and Buddy DeFranco recorded together in Los Angeles with Red Callender on bass and Bill Douglass on drums. The session was for Norman Granz's Verve Records, one of several American Songbook sessions Granz had set up teaming Tatum with jazz greats of the period.

The Tatum-DeFranco date is significant for several reasons: To the best of my knowledge, it marked the first time the pianist had recorded with a clarinet in a duo format. ...

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