One of the most amazing improvisational trios in jazz today is Fly featuring saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. The trio has been together since 2004 and their music is based on collective improvisation, creative compositions and virtuosic jazz playing. Having grown up with Larry and Jeff in the Bay Area and having known Mark since the late 1990’s, I was well aware of their passion for the Prestige era Miles recordings which prompted me to include these musicians in the series. Although that mid to late 1950’s Miles material is nothing like what Fly plays, it is still quite influential to each musician and the trio as a whole. – Joseph Vella
Fly recommends these recordings:
Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet
Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet
Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet
Links:
Fly
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: Lourdes Delgado
All I can say about having the opportunity to interview Mr. DeJohnette is “WOW, what a tremendous honor.” Truly one of my favorite musicians on the planet, and “I” get to interview him. As I began listing the musicians that he has worked with, Coltrane, Rollins, Evans, Jarrett, Miles, Monk, Freddie, Herbie, and on and on, I thought to myself, how can this be true? Playing with just one of these artists would offer enough clout to award anyone a jazz badge of honor, but Jack has worked with literally every major jazz artist and more. Throughout the interview, it was quite obvious that he holds no pretense and pursues his craft with total passion and persistence. During the interview he recounted the first time he moved to New York City in the 60’s, “I threw my caseless drum set under a Greyhound Bus, arriving in the City looking for the nearest session.” I loved this interview!
- Dave Schroeder, NYU Jazz Interview Series Host
Recommended:
Special Edition
Music We Are
Golden Beams Collected, Vol. 1
Links:
Jack DeJohnette
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.
I have started a new daily routine in my office by blindly selecting a CD from the over filled shelves to listen to throughout the day. Yesterday, I selected a 2-CD set from violinist Jean-Luc Ponty titled Le Voyage-The Jean-Luc Ponty Anthology which was issued by Rhino. While listening to Jean-Luc’s classic fusion works from 1975-1993, I found myself marveling at just how pioneering he was on his violin both acoustically and electronically. The three tracks that I remembered hearing during much of my youth and really had to crank up were “Renaissance,” “New Country” and “Mirage.” Those tunes, for me, capture the essence and musical spirit of the classic Jean-Luc vibe that was so popular and appealing back in the day. The music still works and holds up well. A real testament to Jean-Luc Ponty’s creativity and artistry for sure. A few years ago, I interviewed Jean-Luc and asked him about his influences, roots in jazz and beyond. - Joseph Vella
How or when did you first discover jazz?
I was studying classical violin at the Conservatory in Paris in 1958 and one of the students had two jazz albums which I borrowed. None of the students played jazz but a few liked to listen to it. One album was by the Modern Jazz Quartet and the other was Chet Baker with strings. I still remember. It was a smooth introduction to jazz for classical musicians and it worked like a magic spell on me.
Do you remember the first recording you ever purchased (jazz or otherwise)?
I purchased my first record player right before I discovered jazz in the 50s. It looked like a small cardboard suitcase, there was one speaker located in the cover which you could remove. It was in mono of course and sounded like …..nothing we hear today, thank God. With it came a small vinyl of A Little Night Music by Mozart. I purchased some classical concertos that I was studying and I believe my first jazz record was the Benny Goodman Trio.
Name one of your greatest creative influences and why?
That’s an impossible question for me because I had so many diverse influences. My jazz phrasing was directly inspired by several of the great bebop masters especially Clifford Brown and Miles because the range of the trumpet is close to that of a violin. But I also listened to Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane and some pianists as well. This was a period of learning how to adapt a general concept of music to my instrument. It was so new to me, and it was just being created as well. I feel I became creative the day I decided to make something personal out of all the early influences I received from classical composers and jazz innovators.
You have said that although you donˇt categorize your music, you have a strong affinity for jazz. Please elaborate.
After graduating from the Conservatory, I was hired by a symphony orchestra but at the same time I started performing in jazz clubs in Paris, such as the Blue Note. I eventually left the symphony to play jazz exclusively and spent about 10 years playing first with be-bop bands, then hard-bop, then avant-garde or free-form, before I connected with progressive rock bands in the late 60s. So, although jazz is not the only element in the music I have produced for many years now, I have strong roots in that idiom.
Name one jazz recording that you cannot live without.
Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard
What is the best thing about playing jazz?
It has to be the passion for it….since you make less money than with pop music…..Seriously, it gives the player a chance to create his/her unique voice in music and it stimulates the intelligence of both performers and listeners alike.
Recommended:
Le Voyage-The Jean-Luc Ponty Anthology
Links:
Jean-Luc Ponty
Photo credit: Steve Ritter
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
Audio version below:
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.
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
