Results for "Interview"

Latin Jazz Conversations: Roberto Sierra (Part 3)

July 18, 2011

Crossover is an interesting word that provokes a number of different reactions in people. On the one hand, it signifies the ultimate goal of any musician—to seamlessly cross between styles and connect with a multitude of artists. Individuals with the unique insight to see the connection points between musical boundaries find themselves with more opportunities and ...

Interview: Mary Vonnie

July 18, 2011

Back in May, I posted about a 15-minute documentary made by filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker in 1964 called Audition at RCA. It featured producer George Avakian accompanying Dave Lambert and his new group of vocalese singers while they auditioned new material for RCA that Lambert had written and hoped to record. For whatever reason, RCA suits passed. ...

Latin Jazz Conversations: Roberto Sierra (Part 1)

July 14, 2011

Cultural connections are the key elements that define a musician's artistic output, creating an individual sound through the intersection of these pieces. The meeting between an individual's cultural relationships doesn't happen instantly though; the various musical strains need to float through an individual's life for a while, sinking into the subconscious. Once several different cultural elements ...

The Rise of Seun Kuti

July 14, 2011

By Dennis Cook Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 begin their U.S. tour today, July 13, in Solano Beach, CA. Find the full itinerary here. In many ways it does not that Seun Kuti is the youngest son of Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti. Such is Seun's naked passion, political uprightness, musical swing and humanitarian spirit that he'd ...

Azar Lawrence Interview

July 12, 2011

Composition for the Dearly Departed

July 12, 2011

By NAT HENTOFF For years, jazz musicians have told me how much they value Kenny Werner as a pianist and teacher. According to premier jazz harmonica player Toots Thielemans, for example, “He is a total musician. He feeds my heart and brain and pushes me into fresh territories." Students at various teaching clinics around the country ...

Jeff Lofton: Jazz to the People

by Josep Pedro
July 11, 2011

Born in Germany and raised in South Carolina, Jeff Lofton's trumpet sound has become a striking force in Austin's music scene since moved there about four years ago. Friendly and bright in his reasoning, Lofton has proved to be a versatile, mature musician overtly combining straight-ahead jazz with fusion. His appealing, laidback character and soulful playing ...

Something Else! Interview: Steve Cropper, of Booker T. and the MGS

July 9, 2011

Steve Cropper, a seminal soul figure and guitarist in Booker T. and the MGs, pays tribute to childhood musical heroes the 5 Royales with Dedicated, set for release on August 9. Cropper, who has often credited 5 Royales guitarist Lowman “Pete" Pauling as a key influence, shot to fame as a guitarist and producer at Memphis' ...

UYS: Angelita Jimenez & Trish Clowes Interviews

July 9, 2011

Interview: Donald Fagen

July 8, 2011

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, co-founders of Steely Dan,  wrote the soundtrack for anyone who attended college in the 1970s. Their music was adored by dorm-bound jazz heads who wanted modern music but didn't want to give up the sound of horns and an acoustic piano. For today's Wall Street Journal (go here), I interviewed Mr. ...