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The Jazz Session #504: Gordon Grdina

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Gordon Grdina is a guitarist and oud player with many different irons in the fire. In this interview the focus is initially on his new album Nomad (Skirl Records, 2020) with Matt Mitchell and Jim Black. Then the topics move to his many other ensembles; his study with Gary Peacock and Tim Berne; Vancouver as a jazz town; and more.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Frank Christopher for becoming a member.

Theme music by The Respect Sextet

Logo by Dave Vrabel

Intro voice: Chuck Ingersoll

Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Subscribe to my twice-monthly newsletter.

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The Jazz Session #503: Jason Palmer

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Trumpeter Jason Palmer is a busy man. He’s about to release a new quartet record, followed by an album funded by a grant from Chamber Music America. He’s also an educator, touring musician, and composer. In this interview, Palmer talks about his early days at Wally’s in Boston; what it meant to his career to have a working band with a regular gig for 15 years; why he loves to teach; and how a true crime podcast inspired his most recent music.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Frank Christopher for becoming a member.

Theme music by The Respect Sextet

Logo by Dave Vrabel

Intro voice: Chuck Ingersoll

Follow The Jazz Session on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Subscribe to my twice-monthly newsletter.

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The Jazz Session #502: Cooper-Moore (2009)

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(Photo by Peter Ganushkin)

In this archive interview from December 2009 (updated with a new intro), Cooper-Moore talks about his childhood days as the town musician; why he feels that playing music is far more than a profession; how and why he began creating his own instruments; and more.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Ron Weinstock for becoming a member.

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The Jazz Session #501: Roberta Piket

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Pianist Roberta Piket recorded an entire album of her husband Billy Mintz’s compositions as a surprise birthday gift for him. Now we’re all receiving a present, because Piket decided to release the record, which is called Domestic Harmony – Piket Plays Mintz (Thirteenth Note Records, 2019). In this interview, Piket talks about the recording process; Mintz’s reaction on hearing the record; her approach to solo piano; and, interestingly, the actor Brent Spiner.

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I’ve been recording conversations with jazz musicians since 2007. I think it’s important work that deserves public support. I’d also like to be able to do it for my living. If you agree that The Jazz Session is worth supporting, become a member today at thejazzsession.com/join. For $5 a month you’ll get a monthly bonus episode, early access to every show, and a yearly gift. For $10 a month you get all that plus an extra bonus show exploring a classic jazz album. Big thanks to Russell Archibald for becoming a member.

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The Jazz Session #500: Sheila Jordan

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The Jazz Session celebrates its 500th episode with NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan. In this interview, Jordan talks about how a nickel changed her life; her early years on 52nd Street with Charlie Parker; her work with Steve Swallow and the poetry of Robert Creeley; her approach to ballads and teaching; and more.

A Special Note:

Five hundred episodes. Twelve years. The Jazz Session is, if I do say so myself, a one-of-a-kind archive of the past decade and more of this music. Hundreds of hours of stories by the people who create the music we love. I started this show in 2007 with no idea what I was doing, other than knowing I loved interviewing jazz musicians and thought other people might like it, too, if this whole podcasting thing ever caught on. When I started this show my older son was 4 and my younger son was not yet 1. Now both are over 6’ tall and one is about to start college. And through all these years, all the moves, all the life changes, The Jazz Session has kept going. Now the question becomes, how much further can it go? And the only person who can answer that question is you. I’m only able to make this show because people like you make the switch from listeners to members. I’d like to be able to do so much more with The Jazz Session: more in-person interviews, more festival coverage, more travel. That’s possible only if you decide that you value this show enough to support it. If you do, go to thejazzsession.com/join and become a member for $5 or $10 a month. You’ll get bonus episodes, early access to every show, and more. Thank you for being here all these years. Now, become a part of the next 500 episodes by becoming a member.