The Traneumentary: Anton Fig (commentary)
Jim Hall and Pat Metheny Duo Redux
The Most Intriguing Performance in Jazz 2011
The Traneumentary: Ashley Kahn
Ashley Kahn brilliantly breaks down the John Coltrane classic A Love Supreme in this popular Traneumentary episode. Read more
Paul Winter on The 32nd Annual Winter Solstice Concert
Last June I interviewed the Grammy-Award winning artist Paul Winter about his annual Summer Solstice concert. As we approach the winter season and solstice, the legendary saxophonist is preparing for his 32nd Annual Winter Solstice Celebration which takes place December 15th, 16th and 17th at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine. Read more
Bill Frisell Covers John Lennon
As the anniversary of John Lennon’s death paid tribute to his life and musical contributions, I found myself listening to the latest album from guitarist Bill Frisell titled All We Are Saying. Read more
Celebrating Woody Shaw on Columbia
Woody Shaw’s albums on Columbia Records stand as some of the finest for the late trumpeter and composer. Woody recorded for Columbia from 1977-1981 and it was during this time that he become recognized for his unique voice as a band leader, composer and as a stylist on trumpet, coronet and flugelhorn which in turn solidified his spot in the legacy of brilliant jazz trumpeters. Read more
Q&A: Vince Mendoza
In the modern era of jazz, finding a true composer to follow is not the easiest thing to do. Especially if the composer can actually write beautifully melodic and emotionally deep music that is also a perfect launching pad rich for improvisation. Vince Mendoza does this and more. Read more
Jazz Backstage: Chick Corea
Is there anything musically that Chick Corea can’t do? I don’t think so. Chick, who is a youthful 70 if you can believe it, could not be more busy, in demand and relevant to the jazz scene today. It is truly remarkable when you think of how many aspects of the music’s rich legacy Chick has been an active participate as well as a trailblazer and today, he still continues to push the limits of himself and the music. Read more
Vintage Metheny
“Icefire (featured on the album Watercolors) was like the tune San Lorenzo, based on the idea of taking an electric 12 string guitar and totally restringing it with light gauge unwound strings – tuning them in fourths and fifths to each other in their pairs, and essentially making a ‘pentatonic/diatonic’ tuning of the open strings. Read more
Celebrating Joni Through Herbie
Earlier this week Joni Mitchell celebrated her 68th birthday. And although she is not officially considered a jazz artist in the traditional sense it is no secret that she loves the music and has always incorporated a variety of aspects of it in her work… Read more
A Reason to SMiLE
The greatest rock and roll album never completed was The Beach Boys SMiLE. Recorded shortly after the groundbreaking Pet Sounds album in 1966, it found lead Beach Boy and legendary composer Brian Wilson (at only 24) at the peak of his creative prowess merging his Southern California branded popular music into new and abstract sonic territories. Read more
