Jazz, Meet Merle Haggard…
When you think of the brilliant music of Merle Haggard, you don’t immediately associate it with anything in the jazz arena but saxophonist Bryan Murray and his band The Haggards have beautifully merged a progressive jazz style with the heartfelt, working class songs of the American music icon. 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
Q&A: Robin Eubanks
Robin Eubanks is one of the preeminent trombone players in jazz. He has recorded and performed with legends Art Blakey, JJ Johnson, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland and many others. Read more
Q&A: Eliot Zigmund
I feel fortunate to be old enough to have grown up in a time where listening to the radio and buying albums was one of the activities you looked forward to. Each week my friends and I ventured into San Francisco and hit the Tower Records store on Columbia and Bay Street with hopes of buying a hot new record…or cassette or 8 track…whichever we could afford. Read more
Q&A: Regina Carter
Detroit native and virtuosic violinist Regina Carter is always in demand. Whether she is accompanying artists such as Faith Evans or Mary J. Blige or guesting with jazz alum Cassandra Wilson or Tom Harrell or putting out her own distinct recordings, the one thing that always remains a constant with Regina’s work is that she delivers varied, harmonically rich and brilliant performances that are inspiring, soulful and sonically lasting. Read more
Q&A: Houston Person
The soulful tenor sax of Houston Person is always pleasant on the ears. Whether he is fronting his own group, blowing a groovin’ solo or playing alongside and supporting the late Etta Jones, Houston’s uncanny gift of being able to send any note right smack into your heart is something only few can do. Read more
Q&A: Mike Metheny
We last heard from Mike Metheny on his excellent and insightful blog Doc Severinsen-A Legend, And A Friend. Since then he’s been working on another musical project close to his heart, a compilation of his own favorite recorded tracks over the past 20 years. Read more
Q&A: Donny McCaslin
One of my favorite tenor sax players is Donny McCaslin. I recall my childhood friend bassist Larry Grenadier telling me about him in the mid 80‘s. It was around that time that Donny and Larry were both members of the Gary Burton Quintet. Shortly thereafter, Donny joined Steps Ahead taking over the sax chair from the legendary Michael Brecker. Read more
Q&A: Cuong Vu
Cuong Vu has been one of the most creative musicians in jazz since the late 1990’s. I remember first hearing his album Bound in 2000 and being blown away by the sheer scale of the music featured on that recording. His later album called Come Play With Me was even better. In 2003, I remember seeing him perform brilliantly with Pat Metheny Group – a stint that lasted for many years. Read more
Q&A: Kurt Elling
I remember when Kurt Elling came onto the scene back in the 1990′s and he really stood out. The sound of his voice, phrasing and repertoire was refreshing and unique. He’s been steadily refining his craft and on his latest album The Gate, Kurt continues to raise the bar. Read more
Q&A: Dave Schroeder
By day, Dave Schroeder is the Director of New York University’s Steinhardt Jazz Studies program and by night, he is the leader and one of the featured instrumentalists of the New York City based eclectic group Combo Nuvo (a group comprised of some of Schroeder’s esteemed NYU faculty). Read more
Q&A: Kenny Garrett
I had the pleasure of working with saxophonist Kenny Garrett during the early years of Jazz Online which included interviewing him several times as well as producing two exciting live video sessions with his quartet at Oakland’s famed jazz club and Japanese restaurant Yoshi’s. Read more
