Home » Jazz News

Interview News

Timely announcements covering new album releases, tours, concert series, special events, job postings, crowdfunding campaigns and more. You can find more news by searching our website, viewing our news stream, seeing what's trending or reading our blog posts. Subscribe to our news RSS feed and/or embed AAJ news content on your website or blog. Learn about our news service here. Submit news here.

Interview

Lee Konitz at 83: Taking It Slow and Steady on "Live at Birdland"

Source: All About Jazz @ Spinner
June 4, 2011

The latest entry in All About Jazz's Legends series is alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, who first arrived on the scene back in the late 1940s when he played in Claude Thornhill's orchestra. As a teen, he studied with the legendary Lennie Tristano, eventually playing and recording with the master. He was also a member of the group that recorded Miles Davis' landmark 'Birth of the Cool,' and soon thereafter began to lead bands of his own. One of the great ...

Continue Reading

Interview

Shying Away from Comfort Zones with Adam Kolker

Source: Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever.
June 3, 2011

Over the course of his storied career as a sideman, Adam Kolker has worked with the likes of The Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Big Band, Bruce Barth, Judi Silvano, Kenny Wheeler's Large Ensemble, Ben Sher, Bobby Previte, Gunther Schuller, and others. On the solo front, his latest album, Reflections has the Grammy-nominated sax and woodwind stalwart avoiding safe ground and instead steering the project towards his gifts as a visionary improviser, composer, and arranger. Joining him on this ...

Continue Reading

Interview

AACM | Francis Davis on Henry Threadgill

Source: Ars Nova Workshop
June 3, 2011

For Ars Nova Workshop's AACM: Great Black Music Festival, we've asked several leading jazz scholars and journalists to engage performers in a series of pre-concert public discussions about the history, present, and future of the AACM. At 6pm on Sunday, June 5 at Christ Church Neighborhood Theatre, award-winning jazz journalist and author Francis Davis will talk with first generation AACM member Henry Threadgill, whose Zooid ensemble will perform following the discussion. We're pleased to share with you a short essay ...

Continue Reading

Interview

Interview: Marty Napoleon (Part 3)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
June 3, 2011

It's hard enough to play jazz professionally. Now imagine you're playing with Louis Armstrong and musicians like trombonist Trummy Young, clarinetist Barney Bigard, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Cozy Cole and vocalist Velma Middelton. That's jazz of the highest order. Plus artists who know a thing or two about entertainment. Pianist Marty Napoleon did just that, both in the U.S. and on tour with Louis Armstrong's All Stars in the early '50s and late '60s. [Pictured: Marty Napoleon and Louis Armstrong] ...

Continue Reading

Interview

UYS: Arrested Development / Speech interview.

Source: underyourskin
June 2, 2011

Interview

Something Else! Interview: Bill Champlin, Formerly of Chicago

Source: Something Else!
June 2, 2011

By Nick DeRiso Bill Champlin, who co-founded the legendary Bay Area band the Sons of Champlin, is perhaps best known for his nearly three decades as a member of Chicago. But he had already collected a pair of Grammy awards before joining Chicago, first for “After the Love Is Gone" (a hit for Earth, Wind and Fire) and then for “Turn Your Love Around" (George Benson). Chicago, meanwhile, was a shadow of the group that had once reeled off a ...

Continue Reading

Interview

Interview: Marty Napoleon (Part 2)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
June 2, 2011

After playing with a series of big bands in the mid-'40s, pianist Marty Napoleon recorded in small bop groups in the late '40s. His optimistic, high-energy personality and keen ear endeared him to many of the top players on the scene. He got along with everyone, even Buddy Rich, though that was a close call. [Photo of Marty Napoleon courtesy of Betty and Chris] Oh, by the way, today's Marty's 90th birthday. Happy birthday, Marty!! In Part 2 of my ...

Continue Reading

Interview

Craig Taborn on Sound and Improvisation

Source: JazzINK by Andrea Canter
June 1, 2011

On June 7, Downbeat Magazine's electronic keyboards “Rising Star" Craig Taborn will celebrate the American release of his first solo piano recording, Avenging Angel, on ECM. Totally acoustic and totally improvised, Avenging Angel may surprise those Taborn followers who are most familiar with his electronic wizardry and dual-keyboard gymnastics with such leaders as Tim Berne, Chris Potter, Michael Formanek, Roscoe Mitchell, and Evan Parker. And similarly, the free nature of the new project might surprise his early-career fans who recall ...

Continue Reading