Composer and arranger Maria Schneider learned a lot of her craft directly from the master Gil Evans. Maria was deeply influenced by Gil’s work with Miles and on this podcast, she discusses the famous collaborations between Miles and her brilliant mentor Gil Evans.
Maria recommends these recordings:
Miles Ahead
Porgy and Bess
Sketches of Spain
Quiet Nights
Links:
Maria Schneider
Miles Davis
Concord Music Group
Legacy Recordings
Rhino
Verve Music Group
The Miles Davis Podcast Series features a cast of world class musicians sharing their passion for the music of Miles Davis. A collaborative project of Legacy Recordings, Concord Music Group, Verve Records & Rhino, the series is produced by Vella Interactive.
Photo credit: Jimmy and Dana Katz
Long before there was Bobby McFerrin, some may remember there was Al Jarreau. Taking the next step forward from masters like King Pleasure and Jon Hendricks, Al innovated his own brand of vocalese singing. Not only did he fuse together jazz, r&b and popular song, he also took the one man band to a whole new level of cool. His 1977 album Look To The Rainbow stands as a contemporary jazz vocal masterpiece and is essential listening. Get well soon, Al. – Joseph Vella
Links:
Al Jarreau
Since we have been celebrating the legacy of Miles Davis via the MD podcast series, we wanted to tell you about a very special, limited edition, Miles box set collection called The Genius of Miles Davis. Our friends at Sony have compiled a most comprehensive and impressive set of Miles music and accessaries that are contained in a specially designed trumpet case. Be sure to check it out @ MilesDavis.com.
Talk about jazz royalty! Every time I meet Mr. Golson, his level of sophistication and calm repose continues to awe me. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Benny always appears to be invincible. Never in my wildest dreams had I consider meeting, or even befriend such musicians as I have through opportunities in NYC like hosting the B&H Jazz Series. I remember growing up in Iowa, studying music in college and trying memorizing every detail on LP jackets and playing records from side to side in an attempt to experience life as someone like Benny Golson has. Knowing that Benny had been interviewed thousands of times over his career, I tried to deliver questions that may not be easily answered or allow him to reach a little deeper to construct an answer. The one question that I wish I had asked was, “As a composer, did you ever find that you were so busy writing or arranging music that you didn’t have time to practice for the session, realizing you couldn’t actually play the music you wrote?”
- Dave Schroeder, NYU Jazz Interview Series Host
Recommended:
New York Scene
Gettin’ With It
Terminal 1
Links:
Benny Golson
Produced by NYU Jazz Studies Dept. and Jazz Online and in association with Barnes & Noble, The NYU Steinhardt Jazz Series features interviews with the jazz greats. The series is hosted by NYU Jazz & Studies Department Director Dave Schroeder.
One of the most exciting aspects of producing the Miles Davis podcast series is that his influence extended well beyond jazz and touched such a wide variety of creative people. Imagine my enthusiasm when we reached out to musician/author/radio host Henry Rollins to participate in this series and he immediately opted in. I interviewed Henry at his office in Los Angeles and he could not have been a bigger Miles fan…or a nicer guy. In fact, as you will hear, Miles had a surprisingly profound affect on him. – Joseph Vella
Henry recommends these recordings:
Round About Midnight
58 Sessions
Miles Smiles
Sorcerer
In A Silent Way
Bitches Brew
On The Corner
Decoy
Links:
Henry Rollins
Miles Davis
Concord Music Group
Legacy Recordings
Rhino
Verve Music Group
The Miles Davis Podcast Series features a cast of world class musicians sharing their passion for the music of Miles Davis. A collaborative project of Legacy Recordings, Concord Music Group, Verve Records & Rhino, the series is produced by Vella Interactive.
Andy Summers has largely charted his own course as one of the most popular and successful musicians of the past 30 years. Best known as the innovative guitarist behind The Police, Andy has since produced a body of work that stands on its own. From early collaborations with Robert Fripp, (I Advance Masked, Bewitched) through striking solo terrain, (The Golden Wire, World Gone Strange), Summers has consistently challenged himself expanding his musical palette while also consistently evolving his virtuosic guitar playing. Three of his more jazz influenced recordings are The Last Dance Of Mr. X, Green Chimneys: The Music Of Thelonious Monk and, our favorite @ Jazz Online, the Mingus tribute recording Peggy’s Blue Skylight.
How or when did you first “discover” jazz?
Listening to Django Reinhart when I was twelve.
Do you remember the first recording you ever purchased (jazz or otherwise)?
Apaché by the Shadows
Tell us about your recording Peggy’s Blue Skylight.
It’s a tribute to Mingus. It is an idiosyncratic interpretation of some Mingus tunes that I like in particular.
How do you differentiate Peggy’s Blue Skylight from other Mingus tributes?
I suppose what makes mine “different” is obviously the use of the guitar, hip-hop rhythms and generally a non-generic view of his music.
Having spent a good number of successful years in the pop world, how does your experience in the jazz world differ?
I don’t think about the differences, I think about the main thing, which is communicating with an audience.
What do you want people to get from your music?
I try to make the music come from the right place and whatever happens – happens.
Who is one of your greatest musical influences and why?
Charles Mingus among others, because of the great depth of feeling in his music.
Name one of your all time favorite, never tire of hearing, jazz recordings?
Crescent by John Coltrane
What is your favorite escape?
An afternoon on Hampstead Heath
If your life came with a theme song, what would it be?
“Que Sera Sera”
If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
One more.
Recommended:
Peggy’s Blue Skylight
Green Chimneys
The Last Dance of Mr. X
Links:
Andy Summers
