Chats with Cats
Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.
Guitarist B. D. Lenz chats with today's industry experts about career advice and approaches for today's jazz professional.
The Manager: Vernon Hammond of The Management Ark
In this edition of Chats with Cats my subject is an Artist Manager. I wasn't completely sure exactly what duties a manager is responsible for or how an independent artist could best fill that role. I sought out Vernon Hammond to answer these questions because I've known Vernon for several years and have found him most generous with his time and knowledge. We both live in New Jersey and every year, or so, we'll meet up for coffee while he ...
read moreThe Radio Presenter: Bob Osborne
In this edition of Chats with Cats I interviewed a radio presenter. In an earlier column I had spoken to a traditional jazz DJ (Sheila Anderson of WBGO) but, in this digital age, I thought it would also be good to get the perspective of someone who's utilizing the new broadcasting mediums. Internet radio and podcasts have opened up new doors and presenters like Bob Osborne have found a freedom in this new territory. About Bob OsborneBob Osborne ...
read moreThe Jazz Label: Marc Free of Posi-Tone Records
In this edition of Chats with Cats I interviewed someone from a jazz record label. It's no secret that selling music has become much more difficult in recent times so I was wondering what the outlook is for someone who's been doing it for 25 years. It was a nice surprise to hear the optimism that Marc Free holds about the music and the business. He echoed a sentiment I've been hearing throughout all of these interviews that the music ...
read moreThe Jazz DJ: Sheila Anderson of WBGO
In this edition of Chats with Cats I interviewed an on-air host at one of the world's leading jazz radio stations. Sheila Anderson is someone who has worked in many communication mediums but I wanted to find out the status of jazz radio in particular, from someone who is at the center of the jazz broadcasting world. While radio used to hold a near monopoly on breaking new artists that just isn't the case anymore when people in the digital ...
read moreThe Festival Presenter: Danny Melnick
For this edition of Chats with Cats I interviewed a festival presenter and was lucky for the opportunity to speak with someone who really has seen and done it all. Danny Melnick has booked the biggest names at the most prestigious of venues. As a musician always looking to better my own booking skills I, of course, wanted to get some pointers about things I could do to get the attention of presenters and he gave me some sage advice. ...
read moreThe Booking Agent: Matt Fripp of Jazzfuel
So many jazz musicians often face the same cruel task: doing their own booking. It can be a frustrating and discouraging endeavor, but it's necessary to maintain a career. I've had a lot of experience with it and discuss the basics in my column, Mind Your Business: Booking 101, but it's important to get advice from a professional booker. They'll mention things you already know and may need reminding of, but they're also going to review basic principles that can ...
read moreThe Club Booker: Albert Dadon of Bird's Basement
For this column I was given the great opportunity to interview Albert Dadon who's an accomplished man both inside and outside of the music world. Albert is not just a club owner/booker, he's a musician and can understand both sides of the booking relationship that can sometimes be at odds with each other. With very high standards he's opened Bird's Basement in jny: Melbourne (Australia), a beautiful club and a bastion for high quality music. I was curious to speak ...
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