Interview News

Peter Erskine Interview, GSLJF Preview Now Online at the Beacon

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
April 14, 2009

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Interview: Bret Primack (Part 1)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 14, 2009

Who is the Jazz Video Guy? You know, the guy whose photo sits like a postage stamp next to many of the best jazz videos on YouTube. Perhaps you've heard his voice off-camera asking questions of Sonny Rollins, Joe Lovano, Orrin Keepnews and other jazz legends in video podcasts. Or maybe you've been to his video blog. But who exactly is the person behind the photo and voice? Where did he come from? And what does he want?

Bret Primack, ...

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Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
April 13, 2009

Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, he of the inescapable surname, is continuing to grow both as a musician and a person. His playing these days contains more maturity; a sense of exploration, combined with a sureness of attack and a brawny sound.

The growing musical proficiency is documented on Blending Times (Savoy Jazz, 2009). Coltrane and his working band--pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Drew Gress and drummer E.J. Strickland--address a group of tunes both written and improvised on the spot. The band takes ...

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Interview: Billy Taylor (Part 5)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 11, 2009

Starting in 1952, Billy Taylor emerged as the progenitor of a new, more elegant style of jazz piano. After forming a critically acclaimed trio, Billy quickly became known for his musical grace and good taste. In some respects, Billy never forgot his fortuitous encounter with Ben Webster at Minton's in 1944. He also was forever indebted to the piano masters of the 1930s and 1940s who took him under their wings. [Photo: Hank O'Neal]

Billy's technique was so remarkable by ...

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Interview: Billy Taylor (Part 4)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 10, 2009

At the start of 1950, Billy Taylor was established as one of the most promising and intimidating young pianists on the New York jazz scene. Deceptively affable, the pianist with the big smile and bookish charm could play flawlessly in any style and made the impossible look easy. Rock-solid dependable, Billy was rapidly becoming a first-call player at clubs, concerts and recording sessions. The more Billy played, the greater his visibility. The greater his visibility, the harder he worked to ...

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Blues News Guitarist/Vocalist Brent Orndorff Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
April 10, 2009

Small isn't necessarily a bad thing. For Blue News, a three man, Indiana-based, indie band, being small and working with a restricted budget is actually a plus. Producing their first two albums for free, they have gone on to establish themselves in venues throughout the Midwest, and their music has reached national media exposure to ultimately be picked up by the documentary series Road Trip which airs on national public television.

What they have accomplished did not happen overnight; this ...

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Interview: Billy Taylor (Part 3)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 9, 2009

By the time Billy Taylor was 29 years old, he had already had a lifetime of jazz experience. By the close of the 1940s, the pianist had played with Ben Webster, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Byas, Big Sid Catlett, Cozy Cole, Stuff Smith and many other jazz giants. He also had been mentored by Jo Jones and Art Tatum. Though his piano style would evolve in the early 1950s and beyond, Billy's technical prowess was already in place by 1947--and his ...

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Tomasz Stanko Interview

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2009

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