Posted under Site Updates
Thanks to everyone who supports this show! My family and I have completed our move to Albany. We’re in our new house. The studio is 95% rebuilt, and the show will be back in full swing very soon. On our way to 100,000 downloads!
Posted under Jazz Writing
My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with saxophonist and composer John Ellis:
Saxophonist John Ellis is a hybrid of New Orleans funk, New York modernity, Presbyterian sanctification and good ol’ performing skills. He blends all those things together on his new record, Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow (Hyena, 2008), which features saxophone, sousaphone, organ and drums.
Ellis celebrated the release of his new album with a two-night stand at the Jazz Standard in New York on May 13 and 14, 2008, participating in the following interview on May 14 just before taking the stage for the first set, where he spoke about getting the band together, the sousaphone, and music past, present and future.
Posted under Podcast
Jason Crane interviews drummer, composer, arranger, educator and NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton. The 86-year-old Hamilton released four albums (!) in 2006, and then collected tracks from the four albums on 2007’s Hamiltonia (Joyous Shout, 2007). This year will see the release of two more recordings — a remix album featuring new takes on classic Hamilton tracks, and an EP that pays tribute to his first recording with a guitar-drum-bass trio. The show features two tracks from the upcoming trio record along with music from Hamiltonia.
Posted under Jazz Writing
My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with percussionist and educator Bobby Sanabria:
Bobby Sanabria is a living museum of Afro-Cuban music. Sanabria is a percussionist, drummer and educator who is at the forefront of Afro-Cuban music—particularly the frontier where it intersects with jazz. In 2007, Sanabria released Big Band Urban Folktales (Jazzheads, 2007), an album he says takes the music “beyond the 21st century.” Jason Crane, AAJ contributor and host of The Jazz Session, sat down with Sanabria in May 2007 to talk about the history of Afro-Cuban music, Sanabria’s own career, and “The Ugliest Man In America.”
Posted under Jazz Writing
My latest article for All About Jazz is an interview with Russian-born, Jersey-raised pianist Misha Piatigorsky:
Russian-born pianist Misha Piatigorsky fled from behind the Cold-War-era Iron Curtain with his family to make a new life in a small New Jersey town. He started out as a classical pianist before discovering jazz. Since that discovery, he’s moved from bebop to Brazilian to groove music, melding them all seamlessly on his record, Uncommon Circumstance (Misha Music, 2007). Jason Crane, AAJ contributor and host of The Jazz Session, spoke with Piatigorsky in April 2007.
Posted under Site Updates
On February 9, I was thrilled to report that The Jazz Session passed 50,000 downloads. Well, here we are just five weeks later, and let’s go to the big board:
60,000!
That’s right, folks — 10,000 downloads in 5 weeks. Not bad at all. Thank for your support!
Posted under Podcast
Jason Crane interviews trumpeter and composer Avishai Cohen. (Not to be confused with bassist and composer Avishai Cohen.) Cohen is at the center of a vibrant musical scene in New York City — full of experimentation, melding musical styles, and an appetite for adventure. More than that, Cohen is a philosopher-musician, using his compositions to explore larger societal questions. His 2007 album After The Big Rain (Anzic Records, 2007) looks at the planet after a worldwide flood. The album is the final part of a trilogy (although Part 3 was recorded first) that explores the steps leading up to the flood, the flood itself, and its aftermath.
Posted under Jazz Writing
Here’s my latest article for The Island Packet:
Freddy Cole keeps jazz in the family
By JASON CRANE
Special to the Guide
Published Friday, February 1, 2008
Yes, singer Freddy Cole is Nat’s brother and Natalie’s uncle, and no, that’s nowhere near the end of the story.In fact, the New York Times has called Cole “the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.”
There’s no question that Cole is a pianist and singer with impressive chops: He’s got a warm baritone voice that melts over his words and makes them go down easy, and he’s got a swinging piano style that can drive a fast number or lope along lightly on the ballads. Island audiences can check out his style at a series of performances over the weekend at the Jazz Corner.
Posted under Site Updates
On Feb. 25, The Jazz Session celebrates its first anniversary. One year ago, I sat down with saxophonist Grant Stewart to record show #1. It’s been a great ride since then.
As a matter of fact, TJS hit its 50,000th download today! Thank you very much to all of you for the amazing support you’ve given me. That goes out to all the artists, labels, PR folks, jazz broadcasters and writers, and especially the listeners.
As you know, TJS has been on a hiatus recently because of my ongoing relocation to Albany, NY. I’m still working in Albany five days a week and commuting back to Rochester on the weekends as we get our house ready to sell and look for a new home in Albany. New shows will be on a less-than-regular schedule until that gets straightened out.
But never fear, a new show is here! Trumpeter Avishai Cohen joined me to talk about his album After The Big Rain. The interview is available right now, so check it out!
I’m also getting back into the swing of things with All About Jazz. I’ll have several interviews out soon (I promise, John K!), so look for those at AllAboutJazz.com.
Thanks again for all your support, and for making The Jazz Session more successful than I ever imagined. Onward into 2008!
Posted under Jazz News
There’s a benefit concert for pianist George Cables coming up on Jan. 25 and 26 in NYC. For details, visit Doug Ramsey’s excellent site, Rifftides. And to hear Laurie Pepper talk about her husband Art Pepper’s relationship with George, listen to Laurie’s appearance on The Jazz Session.
Posted under Site Updates
For those of you who’ve wondered why there have been so few recent episodes of The Jazz Session, the answer is simple. I’m moving. I work for UNITE HERE, a labor union. About a month ago, I was transferred from the Rochester office to the Saratoga Springs office, just north of Albany, NY. I’ve been working in Saratoga Springs since the beginning of December and commuting back to Rochester on the weekends. Until my wife and kids and I have a new home, it’s a bit challenging (read: just about impossible) to schedule and record new interviews. So the show has slowed down a wee bit.
But never fear — The Jazz Session will be back at full speed shortly. In fact, I hope the show will be bigger and better than ever, thanks in part to a partnership will All About Jazz.
So stay tuned, and thanks again for your support!
Posted under Jazz Writing
All About Jazz just published its Top Twenty Interviews of 2007 list. I’m very honored to have two of my interviews on the list:
You can read the entire list at AAJ’s site.
Posted under Site Updates
Happy Holidays from all (one) of us here at The Jazz Session. Where, by the way, we’ve just hit 40,000 downloads!
See you in ‘08!
Posted under Jazz News
From Lois Gilbert at JazzCorner.com:
George Cables Healing Fund
As many of you know, George Cables received a liver and kidney transplant in early October 2007. His recovery is going very well, but of course, bills are mounting. We have set up the “George Cables Healing Fund” to help offset some of George’s expenses. The money will go directly to George with no operational costs (except what PayPal takes out) or administrative costs. George will also get a copy of every donation made, and you have an opportunity to write a short note with your donation.
To donate, visit GeorgeCables.com and click on “Healing Fund.”
If you prefer sending a check, please make it payable to:
GEORGE CABLES
c/o JazzCorner.com
245 West 25th St. #2F
New York, NY 10001
You can learn more about George Cables and his relationship with Art Pepper on The Jazz Session #34: Laurie Pepper on Art Pepper
Posted under Podcast
Jason Crane interviews Laurie Pepper, wife of the late alto saxophonist Art Pepper (1925-1982). Laurie has recently put out two sets of previously unreleased live recordings by Art Pepper — Unreleased Art, Vol. 1: The Complete Abashiri Concert — November 22, 1981 (Widow’s Taste, 2006) and Unreleased Art, Vol. 2: The Last Concert (Widow’s Taste, 2007). Both concerts show Pepper at the height of his emotional expression, and still very much in command of his instrument. In this interview, Laurie Pepper talks about the concerts and the process of releasing them, and also gives insight into the troubled and triumphant life of her husband.
Posted under Site Updates
The headline says it all — the show passed 30,000 downloads, which means I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the listeners, artists, record labels and promotional folks who make The Jazz Session possible. Thank you!
Posted under Uncategorized
Here’s my latest article for The Guide, the entertainment magazine put out by The Island Packet newspaper on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This piece is credited on the Web site to “Joshua Klein.” I promise, I wrote it.
Cookie Coogan: Straight Outta Maine
BY JASON CRANE
Published Friday, November 9, 2007
When most people hear the word “jazz,” they associate it with particular geographic areas, such as New York City, Chicago, New Orleans and, um, Maine?
“I was introduced to jazz as a junior high school student in rural Maine,” said pianist and vocalist Cookie Coogan.Many of the school music teachers in the area were and are also fine jazz musicians. I started out playing piano and vibes in the school stage band and went on to study at Maine Jazz Camp during the summers.”
Posted under Podcast
Jason Crane interviews vocalist Kate McGarry about her new album, The Target (Palmetto, 2007). It’s yet another stellar album in a career that has seen her working with everyone from Fred Hersch to Maria Schneider. On The Target, McGarry is joined by her husband Keith Ganz on guitar, Gary Versace on organ and piano, Reuben Rogers on bass and Greg Hutchinson on drums, along with guest appearances from saxophonist Donny McCaslin and Theo Bleckman on voice loops. On both American songbook classics and impressive new compositions, the band finds an organic chemistry that brings something new to the old tunes and makes the new tunes sound familiar.
Posted under Podcast
Jason Crane interviews pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen. His most recent recording, Being There (ECM, 2007), is part of a trilogy of records exploring the intimate territory traversed by the pianist and his trio. With bassist Harald Johnsen and drummer Jarle Vespestad, Gustavsen delves deeply into the rich musics of the world, filtering the results through a contemplative lens. Being There is an album that rewards repeated listening, and the interview makes it clear that a lot of thought and passion has gone into the music.
Posted under Jazz Writing
My latest article for All About Jazz is an in-depth interview with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts:
If you’ve listened to any jazz at all in the past couple decades, you’ve probably heard drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. His discography is long and impressive, including appearances on many Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed recordings by various men named Marsalis. He’s also led several of his own dates, including the new album Folk’s Songs (Dark Key Music, 2007) with his band The Ebonix.
All About Jazz contributor Jason Crane talked with Watts about his roots, his musical relationships, and the burgeoning career of vocalist Juan Tainish.
