Jazziz Backstage Pass

Argentinian Astor Piazzolla, born in 1921, leaned heavily on the jazz vocabulary to create the nuevo tango, a form of music in which new elements are incorporated into the traditional Argentinian tango. To celebrate the centennial of this groundbreaking music artist, conductor Gisele Ben-Dor and bandoneon virtuoso Juanjo Mosalini have released an exquisitely expressive tribute album titled Piazzolla: Cien Anos. The album was released on August 5 via Centaur and documents a live performance recorded in January 2020 with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra at the Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This was neither the first time the pair have collaborated together nor is it the time they find themselves celebrating the legacy of Piazzolla. However, every time they do, they expose the heart of tango as Piazzolla imagined it: a cosmopolitan and emotional roller coaster, technically virtuosic, savage and tender. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Pianist/composer Bram Weijters is based in Antwerp, Belgium, and is certainly one of the most exciting voices on the contemporary Belgian jazz scene. He has led and participated in a wide range of projects, including his Crazy Men ensemble, which recently released their second full-length record, The Return, out now on Sdban Ultra. The band consists of musicians from a wide array of contemporary jazz bands and offers thrilling reinterpretations of music from the Belgian jazz-rock and fusion scene from the 1970s, which was populated by both local and international talent. If you don't know much about this historic scene, then The Return and this podcast conversation are two good places to start. The album, recorded live and remixed in the studio, is the band's sophomore full-length and includes 14 reworkings of compositions from artists including Philip Catherine, Placebo, the Palle Mikelborg ensemble, Bob Porter, Bill Frisell and more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

In this special "Miles Monday" episode of JAZZIZ Conversations, we discuss the recording, remastering and release of Merci Miles! (Live at Vienne), a previously unpublished live concert album made available by Rhino Records on June 25. The album captures an electrifying set by The Miles Davis Group at the Vienne Jazz Festival in the summer of 1991, marking one of Miles' final live performances before his death on September 28. We're joined in the conversation by Vince Wilburn Jr. (drummer, record producer and nephew of Miles Davis), saxophonist Kenny Garrett, keyboardist Deron Johnson, Merci Miles! co-producer Florence Joelle Halfon and jazz critic Ashley Kahn.  Purchase your copy of Merci Miles! at the Miles Davis shop: https://www.milesdavis.com/albums/merci-miles-live-at-vienne/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Double-bassist/composer/vocalist Sebastián de Urquiza, born in Boston but naturalized Argentinian, is a musician in constant growth. He recently released his large ensemble debut as a leader, Unity Vol. 1, with a second volume on the way. Recorded in Switzerland, the session features a multinational and multicultural lineup united by jazz and improvisation. Each of the compositions refers to a specific setting or climate, showcases that sensation of unity and comes with a great dose of feeling and sensation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Japanese artist Satoko Fujii is one of the most exciting voices to have emerged from the avant-jazz scene of the '90s. A prolific bandleader of several ensembles large and small in different parts of the world, the pianist/accordionist/composer is fast approaching her 100th album. This year alone, she has released a number of noteworthy records, with more to follow before the year's end. Her latest LP is titled Moon on the Lake and was released on May 7 via Libra Records. It features Fujii alongside bassist Takashi Sugawa and drummer Ittetsu, two of the most in-demand younger musicians on the Japanese jazz scene, and marks her return to the standard piano trio for the first time since 2013. It is also a good starting point for an overview of Japan's jazz and creative music scene, and Fujii's own personal artistic journey. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Richard Thompson, The Grateful Dead, Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal. They are just some of the artists who have been influenced by Bahamian guitar legend Joseph Spence (1910-1984). By combining individual inspiration and talent with regional musical traditions, Spence created a seminal guitar style. Yet, it is also thanks to the work of such music preservationists as Peter K. Siegel that his legacy lives on to this day. The founder of the fabled Explorer Series for Nonesuch Records met and recorded Spence in New York City and the Bahamas in 1965 when he was only a teenager. He shares memories of spending time with Spence in his hometown and abroad in our latest episode of JAZZIZ Travel. During this time, he also recorded the guitar master in a variety of locations. A selection of these recordings is featured in a new LP titled Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing, released on July 16 via Smithsonian Folkways. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

A living legend of improvised music, with a career now spanning more than five decades, John McLaughlin is no stranger to translating tumultuous moments into compelling, thoughtful audio art. Witness his searing contributions to Miles Davis’s infamous Jack Johnson sessions, the explosively pioneering rock/jazz hybrid he helped create as a member of the first edition of Tony Williams’s Lifetime, or the expansive explorations encompassed by his own music -- be it the rhythmic revolution of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, the unprecedented east/west fusion of Shakti, or the thrilling telepathic interplay his current outfit, the 4th Dimension. His newest album, Liberation Time, is set for release on July 16, 2021.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz-conversations/support

Honduran-born pianist Oscar Rossignoli folds many traditions into his music, from his classical music formation to his passion in Latin and North American jazz. In later years, he has been living in New Orleans and working with some of the city's best jazz musicians. He has also established his reputation in various settings and bands, including his brilliant Extended trio with Matt Booth and Brad Webb and by leading his own quartet. His latest self-released album, Inertia, marks his first full-length solo piano project. The record, which he says he had been wanting to do for a long time, showcases his long relationship with his instrument of choice, as well as his process of discovery through improvisation. Tracks range from original compositions to improvisations and include a nod to Chopin and a tribute to the late great Chick Corea. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Today, we speak with pianist/composer Jan Lundgren, one of the main exponents of Swedish jazz today, as well as a major proponent of the emancipation of European jazz from American jazz. Lundgren is based in Ystad, a small picturesque coastal town in the South of Sweden, where he also founded the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival, which returns this year on August 4-7. His latest album, Into the Night, was recorded at last year's edition of the festival and marks the debut of his new drummer-less piano trio with saxophonist Emile Parisien and bassist Lars Danielsson. The stirringly sensitive program features a healthy mix of originals and covers with stellar arrangements and captivating improvisation. Into the Night will be released on August 27 via ACT Music. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Turkish-American GRAMMY-nominated pianist/composer/scholar Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol deepens his singular approach to melding the sonorities of Turkish music with contemporary jazz on his forthcoming LP, An Elegant Ritual, due out July 16 via the DÜNYA label. This is a landmark release in his discography also because, while he has worked within a wide range of settings in the past, An Elegant Ritual marks his first-ever trio recordings, featuring James James Heazlewood-Dale on acoustic bass and George Lernis on drums, gongs and bendir. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Min Xiao-Fen is one of the most innovative interpreters of the pipa, one of the key instruments in Chinese music with a rich and storied history stretching back nearly two thousand years. Upon moving to the United States in the mid-'90s, she began to forge a new path for the pipa in modern jazz, free improvisation and contemporary music via collaborations with many creative music greats and through her own fascinating projects, including her work with her Blue Pipa Trio and her 2017 release, Mao, Monk and Me. Her forthcoming album, White Lotus, is a collaboration with guitarist Rez Abbasi and an original score she wrote for the 1934 Chinese silent film, The Goddess. The album is out on June 25 and ahead of its release, we decided to chat with Min Xiao-Fen about it. We also explored moments of her own artistic journey and the link between jazz and the Chinese music tradition.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Multi-GRAMMY nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon released her first album in more than a decade on May 11. With its classic standards, jazz-infused re-imaginings of '70s soul hits and original compositions, Time Traveler compiles an intimate expression of love for her late husband, preeminent architect Philip Freelon, who passed away from ALS in 2019, and a universal love letter to all those who've lost someone dear. Freelon believes that music has a time-traveling quality. This allows us to expand on the central theme of our podcast. In our conversation, we also discuss the themes of grief and loss that are at the heart of her new record. "Singing from the heart of grief gave my voice a new shape and allowed a kind of freedom. I found unexpected gifts of hope and joy in the palms of sorrow," says Freelon. Listen to our podcast conversation with Nnenna Freelon via the player below. Time Traveler is out now via Origin Records and you can order it here. Featured photo by Chris Charles. --- Support this po

Remember record stores? Remember the thrill of turning your friends on to new music by swapping vinyl and CDs? Yeah, we do too. That’s why we’re rebooting that tradition for the digital age with our “Crate Digging” podcast series, in which we’ll search through crates of our memories to bring you a handful of album recommendations on a given theme. It’s social media in the truest sense of the term: no algorithms, no computer-generated playlist. Just jazz fans sharing records with other jazz fans. Welcome to the party! For this episode of Crate Digging, we talk about 10 new albums released this month (May 2021) that you need to know about! Albums mentioned in this episode: Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas - Other Worlds (Greenleaf); Mandy Barnett, Every Star Above (Melody Place/BMG); Noah Haidu - Slowly: Song for Keith Jarrett (Sunnyside); Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band - Soul Conversations (Outside In); Sons of Kemet, Black to the Future (Impulse!); James Francies - Purest Form (Blue Note); Ralph Peterson Jr. - Raise

JAZZIZ Travel is a new podcast series hosted by JAZZIZ online editor Matt Micucci that explores jazz and creative music in all four corners of the globe. In this series, you will hear conversations with artists and people talking about the significance of jazz as an art form, the influence of folk music traditions of different cultures and backgrounds, or simply sharing their thoughts and ideas. The first episode of the series features a conversation about Habibi Funk Records with its founder Jannis Stürtz. Habibi Funk is a Berlin-based record label dedicated to re-releasing and preserving music from the Arab-speaking world, often written during times of war or exile, and heard by few. This is music made by Arab artists blending local and regional music traditions with musical interests from outside the regions, playing with such styles and genres as funk, soul, rock and more, including jazz. Habibi Funk's latest release is Fine Anyways, which compiles recordings by Lebanese singer/songwriter Rogér Fakhr an

In today's episode JAZZIZ Publisher and Founder Michael Fagien speaks with Saxaphonist Richard Elliot about life, family, the industry and most importantly music. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz-conversations/support

A sax legend’s first album in eight years; a singer/songwriter’s first-ever full-length live record; the release of a long-lost session by an elusive jazz icon. All this and more in our list of albums released this month that you need to know about. Gary Bartz, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge, Gary Bartz JID 006 (Jazz Is Dead) Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble, NOW (International Anthem) The Dave Weckl Band, Live in St. Louis Chesterfield Festival 2019 (Autumn Hill) Pasquale Grasso, Solo Ballads (Sony Masterworks) Vijay Iyer Trio, Uneasy (ECM) Norah Jones, ‘Til We Meet Again (Blue Note) Dan Wilson, Vessels of Wood and Earth (Brother Mister/Mack Avenue) Hasaan Ibn Ali, Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Album (Omnivore) Michael Wollny, Emile Parisien, Tim Lefebvre and Christian Lillinger, XXXX (ACT) Tony Allen, There Is No End (Blue Note) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

You can listen to the podcast version via the player below. Write-ups of individual albums and sample tracks follow. Welcome to the party! For this episode of Crate Digging, we have chosen some of our favorite spiritual jazz albums! Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, Promises (Luaka Bop, 2021) Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidananda (Impulse!, 1971) John McLaughlin, My Goal’s Beyond (Douglas, 1971) Lonnie Liston Smith, Astral Traveling (Flying Dutchman, 1973) Muriel Grossman, Reverence (Dreamland, 2019) Sun Ra, Space Is the Place (Blue Thumb, 1973) McCoy Tyner, Asante (Blue Note, 1974) Tom Scott, The Honeysuckle Breeze (Impulse!, 1967) Maisha, There is a Place (Brownswood, 2019) Charlie Haden and Hank Jones, Steal Away (Verve, 1995) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

A legendary soul, funk and R&B outfit’s 50th-anniversary celebration; a bandleader’s love letter to his Southern roots and the heritage of Black Music; a tribute to a free jazz trailblazer.  All this and more in our list of ten albums out this month that you need to know about. Gretchen Parlato, Flor (Edition) Charles Lloyd & The Marvels, Tone Poet (Blue Note) Miguel Zenón, Law Years: The Music of Ornette Coleman (Miel) Behn Gillece, Still Doing Our Thing (Posi-Tone) Jon Batiste, We Are (Verve) Veronica Swift, This Bitter Earth (Mack Avenue) Dr. Lonnie Smith, Breathe (Blue Note) Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and The London Symphony Orchestra, Promises (Luaka Bop) Jim Snidero, Live at the Deer Head Inn (Savant) Pat Metheny, Road to the Sun (BMG) Tower of Power, 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater – Oakland, CA – June 2018 (Mack Avenue) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez to discuss the albums that changed his life. Pedrito was a founding member of the group Yerba Buena and has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield and Eric Clapton. He was also featured in Season 3 of the hit Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His new album, Acertijos (RiddlesI), is due out March 19, 2021.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jazziz/support

Remember record stores? Remember the thrill of turning your friends on to new music by swapping vinyl and CDs? Yeah, we do too. That’s why we’re rebooting that tradition for the digital age with our “Crate Digging” video series, in which we’ll search through crates of our memories to bring you a handful of album recommendations on a given theme. It’s social media in the truest sense of the term: no algorithms, no computer-generated playlist. Just jazz fans sharing records with other jazz fans. You can watch a full-length discussion of the albums via the video player below. Write-ups of individual albums and sample tracks follow. Welcome to the party. Wishing you a happy new year, this week we bring you a list of some of our favorite jazz debut albums. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-zimmerman/support