Shows
Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #180: Sean MasonSean Mason stands as one of the most compelling jazz pianists, composers, and record producers of his generation. A Grammy Award nominee, Bessie Award winner, and Bistro Award recipient, Mason has quickly distinguished himself in contemporary music through his innovative approach and profound connection to jazz tradition. His discography, highlighted by his critically acclaimed 2023 debut album The Southern Suite and Grammy-nominated collaborations, reflects an artist of significant impact on the global jazz landscape.
Mason’s musical journey began at age 13 in his native Charlotte, North Carolina, where he taught himself piano, influenced by gospel music and the mu...
2026-01-0632 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #179: Lori WilliamsAcclaimed international Jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, veteran music educator, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, radio host, business owner/founder (PositiveMusicPM.org), and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performance at music festivals have taken her to Europe (Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, and Ukraine), Japan, The Caribbean (including Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, et. al), Mexico, and across the United States (performing at venues and festivals like The Atlanta Jazz Festivals, Berks Jazz Festival, Th...
2025-11-1036 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #175 - Keith Lamar & Albert MarquesIn 1989, Keith LaMar (aka Bomani Shakur) was sent to prison at age 19 for murder. He had been living in Cleveland, Ohio, where he sold drugs as a means of survival in the Crack-infested streets he knew as home. On a day that would forever change his life, Keith was robbed at gunpoint and exchanged gunfire with his robbers. He was shot twice in his legs and hit one of the other men in the chest. That young man, one a childhood friend, died. Keith pled guilty and was sent to prison for 18 years-to-life.
Four years later, Keith...
2025-08-1153 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #162: Benjamin MakinenBen Makinen is an award-winning filmmaker, music producer, composer, and percussionist with over 40 years of experience in film, television, theater, and music production. A voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS), he is known for his compelling documentaries that explore the rich interplay between music and culture.
Ben has produced two acclaimed music documentaries, JazzTown and Who Killed Jazz, while his latest film, Echoes of Tradition, which delves into the Native American influences on the birth of jazz, has secured national distribution with PBS for 2025. His works are self-distributed through his company, Bmakin Film, with JazzTown available on pla...
2024-11-251h 04Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #159: Lao TizerColorado-bred, LA-based keyboardist Lao Tizer embodies what it means to be a 21st-century musician inhabiting the jazz sphere ¾ that being one who embraces musical diversity and has no fear of crossing boundaries. But Tizer also happens to come by this naturally. As the self-described “child of East Coast Jewish hippies,” he was exposed to and was influenced by his parents' extensive musical tastes
from a young age: “My dad had a huge music collection. He loved classical music and had all this world music ¾ Ravi Shankar, R. Carlos Nakai, music of the Sufis ¾ plus my parents were boomers, so that b...
2024-11-0452 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #155: CestariNew York City-based pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer Cestari creates a world that melds the sounds of jazz, pop, classical, latin, and free improvisation together. With rich vocals, vivid lyricism, and a powerful approach to the piano, Cestari's music takes on various inspirations that have merged into one distinct sound. Studying Music Business at NYU, Cestari aims to use his knowledge to share evocative, captivating, and impactful stories. In conjunction with the release of his debut album “In A Moment”, Cestari organized “MOMENTS”, a 90-minute concert on young adult life, mental health, and acceptance, which premiered all the music off the albu...
2024-08-2647 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #147: Lawrence FieldsLawrence Fields, born and bred in St. Louis, has earned a spot at the forefront of young jazz pianists, thanks to his blending of vintage ideals with a contemporary mindset. For the last five years, in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019, Downbeat Magazine has placed him close to the top of the keyboardist category in their “Rising Stars” critics poll. Fields showcase his dynamic blend of composition and playing in his trio and quartet, and his music is currently being featured internationally. His debut album featuring his trio and solo playing, “To the Surface”, was released to critical acclaim on February 2, 2024.
Veteran...
2024-02-2658 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #146: Christie DashiellBorn in Washington, D.C., and raised in Greenville, NC, contemporary jazz vocalist Christie N. Dashiell honed her skills at Howard University and later at the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Dashiell’s trajectory includes performances with Howard’s premiere vocal jazz ensemble, Afro Blue. She has also performed at the Kennedy Center as a participant in the 2010 Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program; at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C.; and, as a part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People program. She is the recipient of DownBeat magazine’s Best College Graduate Jazz Vocalist a...
2024-02-1956 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #136: Matt ZimbellFor the past 44 years percussionist/producer / composer Zimbel has led the Juno Award-winning nine-piece global / jazz collective Manteca which he cofounded with bassist Henry Heillig in 1979. The group has recorded 14 full-length CD’s, toured the world and shared stages with Miles Davis, Weather Report, Van Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald and become one of Canada top selling domestic jazz artists. Manteca’s most recent CD “The Offspring Project” was released globally on September 15, 2023.
Zimbel has been professional percussionist since 1973 and has recorded more than 50 albums with artists such as Daniel Lanois, Cano, Ellen McIlwaine, Lorraine Segato, Lennie Gallant, Phil Dwyer, L...
2023-10-1647 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #134: Shuteen ErdenebaatarBorn in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, composer, pianist and arranger Shuteen Erdenebaatar (*1998) brings a unique sound to the audience with her yearning melodies enriched with profound and expressive harmonies and rhythms.
The daughter of Erdenebaatar Gombo, who recently earned the title “The Emeritus of Art” for his 40 years as director of the National Mongolian Opera, and Batkhuyag Ochirbat, a television director and journalist, Shuteen was brought up surrounded by arts and culture - particularly classical music. Accordingly, she studied classical piano and classical composition at the State Conservatory of Ulaanbaatar before coming into contact with jazz through a pr...
2023-09-2531 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #132: Sharel CassitySaxophonist, Multi-Reedist, Composer, Recording Artist, Bandleader, and Educator Sharel Cassity (pron. "Sha-Relle") is a musician well-established on the New York and Chicago jazz scenes. Listed as "Rising Star Alto Saxophone" in Downbeat Magazine for the past decade, Sharel has appeared on the Today Show, won the 2007 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award & has been inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Her four albums released as a leader have received top-rated reviews in publications like JazzTimes, Jazziz, Downbeat & American Indian News & earned her a cover story in Saxophone Journal. Cassity's latest album, "Evolve," was recorded and distributed on her...
2023-09-0459 min
MACHEN - Wie deine Idee zum Startup wirdVon Neuseeland in Die Höhle der Löwen: Otinga | Leander Mellies & Karl Fischer | YFN🌏 Leander Mellies & Karl Fischer kennen sich seit der 5. Klasse. In einem aufregenden Auslandsjahr in Neuseeland wurde ihnen klar, wie unpraktisch herkömmliche Fahrradtaschen designt sind. Und so war die Idee zum Otinga “Flip” geboren. Zu Anfang mit Karls Oma genäht und in 7 Sekunden vom Fahrrad zum Rucksack verwandelt.
⏳ Über einen Zeitraum von 2/3 Monaten arbeiteten sie am ersten Prototypen, nähten und feilten an ihrem Startup. Nach anderthalb Jahren suchten Sie nach starken Partnern in der Branche und konnten die Tasche mit Hilfe von Deuter serienreif machen.
🚲 Die ersten Taschen wurden s...
2023-08-211h 00Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #128: Freddie BryantAt the start of his career, the great guitarist Kenny Burrell wrote, “Freddie Bryant is a brilliant young guitarist and composer.” Since then he has shown his versatile skills in jazz, classical, Brazilian, and other world genres. Freddie is currently in demand in the New York jazz scene. He worked with Ben Riley for over a decade with the Monk Legacy Septet (Memories of T on Concord Records) and The Ben Riley Quartet (Grown Folks Music on Sunnyside Records). He has been a member of the Mingus Orchestra since the millennium and has toured and recorded with Tom Harrell (Para...
2023-08-071h 18Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #127: Gabriela MartinaGabriela Martina is a vocalist, composer, and bandleader who grew up in Switzerland. She spent 13 years living and working in the US (Boston & New York) learning from the people who made Jazz (among many other styles of music originating from the US) as important of an art form as it is today.
Gabriela grew up yodeling with her family and had performances as early as the age of 4. Being raised on a beautiful farm in the heart of Switzerland surrounded by a musical family has influenced her musical path strongly. Martina’s upcoming album ‘Homage to Grämlis’...
2023-07-3139 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #126: Douye“Jazz was the first music that I ever heard. It was introduced to me by my Dad who always played jazz around the house. He regularly sat me down and told me to listen closely to the music, that jazz was life.” Her beloved father passed away when she was 11. “The last time I saw him, he was at the hospital, had me driven in, and he told me that he wanted me to promise him something. He wanted me to promise him that I would sing jazz after I became a woman. Years passed, life went on, and I beca...
2023-07-2434 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #118: Benjamin LapidusBenjamin Lapidus is a Grammy-nominated musician who has performed and recorded throughout the world as a bandleader and supporting musician playing guitar, Cuban tres, Puerto Rican cuatro, touch style/tapping instruments (Warr guitar and Chapman Stick), as well as organ. As a scholar, he has published widely on Latin music, and he is a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, and The Graduate Center.
Since the 1990s, Lapidus has performed and/or recorded Cuban tres, Puerto Rican cuatro, guitar, voice, and other instruments on film soundtracks, video games, television commercials, and albums with some...
2023-05-2938 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #113: Cheryl Ann SpencerCheryl Ann Spencer is a Singaporean jazz pianist specializing in classical and modern jazz. Aside from a banking and finance degree, she has a second degree in Jazz Music from the LaSalle College of Arts. She is pursuing classical composition and piano pedagogy at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore. She majored in jazz piano under her principal study teacher Mr. Kerong Chok at La Salle,. Cheryl reconnects with her first love in music and draws inspiration from the vibrant jazz community around the world including Kenny Barron, Mc Coy Tyner, Oscar P...
2023-04-2426 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #112: Clarie Victoria RobertsClaire Victoria Roberts is a composer, vocalist, and violinist, who blurs the boundaries of jazz, contemporary, and singer-songwriter genres. She collaborates, as an artist, with musicians from classical, jazz, and folk spheres, drawing upon her diverse influences and melding styles together: through improvised vocals, contemporary classical timbres, and melody-driven compositions.
Her work has been performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Psappha Ensemble, cellist Oliver Coates, Opra Cymru, Uproar Ensemble, Solem Quartet, and The Carice Singers. She has collaborated as a violinist and improvising vocalist with Camden Symphony Orchestra, Sherman Theatre, New Voices Choir, Morley Arts...
2023-04-1726 min
Learn Jazz Standards PodcastJazz Talk With Leander Young from Improv ExchangeI got a special episode on the podcast for you today. On the show is Leander Young from the Improv Exchange, and we had a fun little conversation, actually, after I recorded a podcast for his podcast, and just started talking jazz, started talking about playing music, learning how to play music, great jazz musicians, a whole slew of other things.I know you're going to have a lot of fun listening to this one and you'll learn some things along the way.In this episode:1. How Leander started playing drums2. Between...
2023-04-1032 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #111: Branford MarsalisAfter four decades in the international spotlight, the achievements of saxophonist Branford Marsalis continue to grow. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, he has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining unwavering creative integrity. In the process, he has become a multi-award-winning artist with three Grammys, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, and an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence.
Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator, the late Ellis...
2023-04-101h 04Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #105: Jeremy PeltJeremy Pelt has become one of the preeminent young trumpeters within the world of jazz. Forging a bond with the Mingus Big Band very early on, as his career progressed, Pelt built upon these relationships and many others which eventually lead to collaborations with some of the genre's greatest masters. These projects include performances and recordings with Cliff Barbaro, Keter Betts, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Ravi Coltrane, Frank Foster, Winard Harper, Jimmy Heath, Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Charli Persip, Ralph Peterson, Lonnie Plaxico, Bobby Short, Cedar Walton, Frank Wess, Nancy Wilson, and The Skatalites, to name a few. Pelt frequently...
2023-02-2749 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #95: Marcus ClickAs a native of Louisville, Kentucky, Marcus grew up with aspirations of becoming a pro football player, but his goals changed after having committed over 13 years of his young life to the U.S. Navy honorably. During this time, his love for jazz grew by listening and learning from the late Grover Washington, Jr., David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Najee, Dave Koz, the late saxophonists, Art Porter and George Howard. Marcus says on one account,” I became truly inspired by a phone call from the late George Howard, a conversation and experience I’ll never forget.” Marcus would find his way be...
2022-10-1729 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #93: Nicole JohänntgenNicole Johänntgen, jazz saxophonist, composer, and coach, tours Europe-wide with her band "Henry" and her solo program. Her second solo album was released in June 2022 on her label "Selmabird Records". She has produced 20 albums to date and received numerous awards. Johänntgen also performs internationally as a guest soloist at the invitation of various bands and is given the artistic direction to put together projects for festivals. Her focus is on live playing, studio recording, and mentoring. Thus, in 2022, she will increasingly conduct workshops for young people, as well as adults, who want to expand their knowledge in mu...
2022-09-1928 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #91: Jonas TimmJonas Timm is a Leipzig-based pianist, composer und improviser. He grew up in Berlin in within his parental background of Choir music. Trained in classical Piano and Voice starting in the age of 5, he discovered improvised music in his early teens and went to study Music in Leipzig with Grandmaster Richie Beirach, Albert Bover and Michael Wollny. Besides he learned from: Alexander von Schlippenbach, Sebastian Schunke and Nils Klein among others...
As formative part of Leipzigs prospering young Jazz scene, he tries to develop new spaces in intercultural exchange between people and continents. Jonas is currently collaborating...
2022-06-2036 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #84: Emma RawiczEmma Rawicz is an award-winning young saxophonist and composer, already making waves on the UK music scene. She has been described as a force to be reckoned with' (Jazzwise) and 'a fast-rising star' (London Jazz News). At the age of 20, she has already recorded her eagerly awaited debut album featuring Ant Law, made up entirely of her original compositions, the first single Voodoo was released in February, and the album Incantation is due to be released in May 2022.
She has also created a name for herself both as a bandleader and a sideman. New arrival on the...
2022-04-1131 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #73: Nick Di MariaNick Di Maria is a trumpeter, composer, podcaster, activist, and educator based in New Haven, Connecticut.
A graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance. Nick has been a student Dr. Eddie Henderson since 2003. Other musical mentors include Dave Scott, Jeremy Pelt, Taylor Ho Bynum, and Rich Clymer. Nick also holds a Masters of Science in Music Education.
Nick is also Director of the Outer Space Jazz Series, a local, weekly jazz showcase at the Outer Space club in Hamden, CT. Nick has worked with musicians of the hi...
2021-12-0749 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #72: Mareike WieningDrummer, composer and bandleader Mareike Wiening has distinguished herself bringing “a planar modulating harmonic language and a propulsive drift” (Giovanni Russonello, New York Times) to the most compelling jazz music of today. Ms. Wiening’s music was described as “thoroughly modern, progressive jazz, Mareike Wiening’s album Crosswalk has many layers that unfold with each repeated hearing; she will most definitely become a leading part of the jazz scene in the years to come.” (All About Jazz)
Her new album Future Memories, which follows her critically acclaimed debut album Metropolis Paradise.
If you enjoyed this episode plea...
2021-11-3039 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #71: Louis HayesFor more than forty years, drummer Louis Hayes has been a catalyst for energetic, unrelenting swing in his self-led bands, as well as in those whose respective leaders reads like an encyclopedia of straight-ahead post-bop modern jazz.
Hayes himself an authentic architect of post-bop swing, began his professional activities at the tender age of 18. He started with tenor saxophonist, flutist and oboist Yusef Lateef who like Hayes is a Detroit native (other jazz luminaries hailing from the "motor city" include the Jones brothers, Elvin, Hank and Thad, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Tommy Flanagan, and many others). After...
2021-11-221h 25
The Work-N-Play PodcastSuccess Sparks Success with Leander Howard II | Episode 29If you want big success, you have to be willing to make some huge leaps. Leander Howard II has been on a journey of leaps and bounds on and off the field. and on to the corporate arena.In this episode of the Work 'N Play Podcast we discussed:- The struggle of letting go of your dream- Leander Transitioning from football to business- Developing a business in College- Starting a career in a pandemic
2021-11-061h 09Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #70: Eric WyattEric Wyatt is a saxophonist who plays tenor, alto, and soprano sax. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Eric was taught music by his dad, Charles Jolly Wyatt, who played in the army band in Germany. His dad moved to Harlem in the early 50’s just in time to play with many of the world’s greatest players. Eric can recall stories of his dad taking him to concerts where he would sometimes drive the band members in the family station wagon. Eric at 11 years old drove with his father in 1972 to Storrs, CT with bassist Larry Ridley and pianist Albe...
2021-11-011h 04Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #69: Jared HallTrumpeter, composer, and educator Jared Hall hails from Spokane, Washington. He studied at Whitworth University, the Indiana University Jacobs School Of Music, and The University Of Miami’s Frost School Of Music, where he received the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in 2015. His primary teachers include Terence Blanchard, Joey Tartell, Dan Keberle, Whit Sidener, David Baker, and Brian Lynch, under whom he pursued his doctoral studies. Hall is the winner of the 2013 National Trumpet Competition - Jazz Division, and has performed and recorded with Paquito D'Rivera, Bob Hurst, John Daversa, Arturo Sandoval, Maria Schneider, Vincent Herring, Peter Erskine, Dave Lieb...
2021-10-251h 05Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #68: Barrett MartinLatin Grammy-winning producer, composer, percussionist, and writer, Barrett Martin, has been playing music professionally for over 30 years, including work on over 120 albums and film soundtracks worldwide. His work can be heard on albums by R.E.M., Queens Of The Stone Age, Mad Season, Screaming Trees, Tuatara, Blues legend CeDell Davis, and recording sessions that range from the Peruvian Amazon, to Brazil, Cuba, the Palestinian West Bank, the Mississippi Delta, and the Alaskan Arctic. Barrett also holds a master’s degree in ethnomusicology and linguistics, and has practiced Zen for over 25 years.
He has guest lectured at se...
2021-10-181h 34Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #67: Conrad KorschCONRAD KORSCH is a New York City based acoustic and electric bassist / multi-instrumentalist / vocalist / musical director / bandleader / composer / producer, and educator. After attending the prestigious Settlement Music School throughout his grade school and high school years in Philadelphia, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Bass Performance from Temple University, where he attended on scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude and with other honors. Widely known for his tenure with Rod Stewart from 2002 - 2018 as bassist and eventually Musical Director / Bandleader, and as a member of The Faces since their R&R Hall Of Fame Induction in 2012, he has...
2021-10-111h 17Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #66: Jane Ira BloomSoaring, poetic, quicksilver, spontaneous, and instantly identifiable are words used to describe the soprano sound of saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom. She's been steadfastly developing her singular voice on the soprano saxophone for over 40 years creating a body of music that marks her as an American original. She is a pioneer in the use of live electronics and movement in jazz, as well as the possessor of "one of the most gorgeous tones and hauntingly lyrical ballad conceptions of any soprano saxophonist - Pulse." She is the winner of the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album for her trio...
2021-10-0458 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #65: Marc JohnsonAs a virtuoso bassist, versatile composer, and acclaimed bandleader, Marc Johnson has been a major innovator on the jazz scene for the past two decades.
Born in Nebraska in 1953, Johnson took up bass at the age of 16, having already studied piano and cello. While completing his formal education in the celebrated music program at the University of North Texas, at age19, Johnson began performing professionally with the Fort Worth Symphony. In 1977, he was on the road with the Woody Herman Band. A stop with Herman in New York City marked a major turning point for Johnson, where...
2021-09-271h 13Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #64: Benito GonzalezPianist Benito Gonzalez “Two times Grammy nominee” is an internationally beloved artist who combines a long lineage of American jazz traditions with rhythms from around the world. He’s worked with dozens of the greats, and he always brings some of the best rhythm section players in the world.
Today a rising tide of young jazz pianists are attempting to find their distinct voices by taking cues from their elders. But only a few take their artistry beyond their predecessors to make bold 88-key statements on their journeys to new vistas, fresh sounds, inspired expressions. That personal-touch devoti...
2021-09-2048 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #63: Alex CorreaAlex Corrêa was born on august 17th, 1981. As the son of a classical pianist was at the age of five his first contact with the piano but was at thirteen when he decided to follow the music path. At seventeen, Alex began his undergraduate studies at Universidade Estadual de Londrina - Brazil, which brought him into significant contact with many sound environments, anthropological and philosophical studies, and skills aimed at teaching music. In this episode, Alex shares his background, education, and musical journey.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or...
2021-09-1357 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #62: Arturo O’FarrillArturo O’Farrill, pianist, composer, and educator, was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. He received his formal musical education at the Manhattan School of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Arturo’s professional career began with the Carla Bley Band and continued as a solo performer with a wide spectrum of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte.
O’Farrill’s well-reviewed and highly praised “Afro-Latin Jazz Suite” from the album CUBA: The Conversation Continues (Motéma) took the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental...
2021-08-171h 28Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #61: Ches SmithOriginally from Sacramento, California, Ches Smith is a drummer, percussionist, and composer based in New York. He has collaborated with a host of artists on many scenes since the early 2000s, including Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Darius Jones, David Torn, John Tchicai, Nels Cline, Mary Halvorson, Trevor Dunn, Terry Riley, Kris Davis, Dave Holland, Secret Chiefs 3, Xiu Xiu, Good for Cows, Theory of Ruin, and Mr. Bungle, among others.
He has nine records to his name as a bandleader that features his writing and ensemble curation, and is a devout student of Haitian Vodou drums...
2021-08-0328 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #60: Michel MeisThe Luxembourgish drummer regularly proves his versatility and openness through numerous projects going from jazz to melodic hardcore to art music and electronic music. He was recently chosen by the American Drummer Jim Black to represent Luxembourg at Crisis Cross Europe. Michel Meis Endorses Paiste Cymbals.
Diversity runs through the Michel Meis 4tet's music like the proverbial thread. Through its diverse moods and complex yet never arbitrary structures. The band offers compositions that are as elaborate as they are playful, as danceable as they are melancholic. This eclectic character is crystallized in Meis' playful drums. In this e...
2021-07-2032 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #59: Tawanada Suessbrich-JoaquimTawanda Suessbrich- Joaquim is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from New Mexico. As a first-generation American, growing up in a multi-cultural European, African and American household meant becoming familiar with music, culture, and experiences from all over the world. Soon enough, she was gravitating solely towards singing and performing, from her early youth all the way until graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Contemporary Music from Santa Fe University of Art and Design, where she was studying vocal jazz under Mirabai Daniels and chair of her program, saxophonist and flute-player Horace Alexander Young.
During those years she could...
2021-07-1437 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #58: Steven FeifkeFeifke is an internationally recognized arranger and orchestrator and has written commissioned works for notables like the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra featuring Sean Jones and John Faddis, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Ken Peplowski, the Malmo Big Band with Katie Thiroux, and the New Generation Festival with Orchestra Senzaspine and Dominick Farinacci. He is the recipient of the 2020 David Baker Prize in composition from the Ravinia Festival and serves as musical director for the Tony Award Winning actor and singer Santino Fontana. In this episode, Steven shares his background, education, and musical journey.
If you...
2021-06-2831 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #57: Nicolas StockerNicolas Stocker is a core member of the celebrated ritual groove music ensemble Nik Bärtsch's Mobile since 2015. His extensive sideman work includes collaborations with Ricardo Villalobos, Maarja Nuut, Areni Agbabian, Witch’n’Monk, and many more - «...the music is really enhanced by Stocker's outstanding work on drums. In addition to numerous album productions, he has recorded drums for several movie soundtracks and worked with GRAMMY-Award-winning producers Manfred Eicher and David Odlum. He is featured on the ECM Records releases Continuum by Nik Bärtsch's Mobile, Bloom by Areni Agbabian, as well as on John Zorn’s Tzadik Records r...
2021-06-2138 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #56: Mark KavumaBorn and partly raised in Uganda, Mark Kavuma is a prominent young Trumpet player on the British jazz scene. Leading his own Quartet, the 'Floor Rippers' house band, and his main outfit 'The Banger Factory'. As well as, playing with Jean Toussaint's Young Lions, Jazz Jamaica, Nu Civilisation Orchestra and also one of the brass leaders at London based carnival band Kinetika Bloco.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, ect.
Connect with us on all social media platforms a...
2021-06-1447 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #55: Dani RabinDani Rabin is a member of MARBIN, with fellow bandmate Danny Markovitch. MARBIN is a progressive jazz-rock band based in Chicago, IL, with a unique story that stands out in today's music world. With a do-it-yourself approach, Marbin started touring extensively in 2011, bringing their original instrumental music to every part of the United States. Through word of mouth, Marbin has gained hundreds of thousands of devoted fans all over the world and has sold tens of thousands of albums. Check out his Latest release Fernweh.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate...
2021-05-3135 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #54: Irwin HallIrwin Hall got his start at the age of 9 when he won a lottery in school and was gifted an alto saxophone. By the age of 11, he was on stage performing professionally and began winning state and national competitions. Irwin attended Princeton University on a full ride to study East Asian philosophy. He learned Japanese and after graduating began work at a major Japanese newspaper in Tokyo. As fate would have it, he ran into songstress Melody Gardot backstage at the Tokyo Jazz Festival who heard him play and immediately hired him to tour with her band. He quit...
2021-05-2440 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #53: Ulysses Owens JrOne of the most sought-after drummers of his generation, Ulysses Owens Jr sets the mark. From GRAMMY award-winning performances with Christian McBride’s acclaimed Trio and Big Band to world tours with Kurt Elling and Joey Alexander, Owens’s artistic command of percussion has earned him positions in some of the most successful jazz ensembles of the 21st century. Owens’s reverence for tradition distinctly manifests in his straight-away playing style, but it is the versatility of his talent— his unique ability to manipulate texture and create penetrating musical shapes— that attracts the attention of jazz’s heavy hitters. His performa...
2021-05-171h 09Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #52: Isobella BurnhamIsobella Burnham is a vibrant Bassist, Vocalist and Composer from England. Growing up in Barbados she soaked up the rich musical culture around her and studied Jazz at the Barbados Community College. Since moving back to London, Isobella has played and toured around Europe, Africa and Asia with Connie Constance, Steamdown, Tom Misch, Sampa The Great and Poppy Ajudha. The Boss/Roland, Rotosound artist is featured on Blue Note’s Reimagined Album performing bass and vocals for Steamdown. Her Debut EP Dancin’ Garuda set to be released on 21 st May 2021. In this episode, Isobella shares her background, education, and musi...
2021-05-1039 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #51: Christophe SchwizerReturning to Improv Exchange, Christophe Schweizer talks about his latest project PLENITUDE by Brazilian trombone legend Raul de Souza.
Christophe Schweizer is considered one of the most innovative and creative musicians on the European Jazz scene, both with respect to his abilities and versatility on the trombone and other low brass instruments (also as an interpreter of classical and new music), as well as especially to his work as a composer, arranger, and bandleader.
Born in Switzerland and nowadays residing in Hamburg, Germany, he lived in New York for seven years starting in the mid-nineties...
2021-05-0328 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #50: Lynne ArrialeLynne Arriale is an active educator and adjudicator. She has conducted master classes and clinics internationally throughout the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Brazil, and South Africa. She adjudicated the Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works, the Montreux Jazz Competition, American Pianists Association Fellowship Awards, The Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Competition, The American Jazz Pianist Competition, and the Jacksonville Piano Competition. She was a featured mentor at The Mary Lou Williams Emerging Artist Workshop at the Kennedy Center.
Lynne is a Yamaha Artist and is currently a Professor of Jazz Studies and Director of Small Ensem...
2021-04-1955 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #49: Diego RiveraA world-class musician, composer, arranger, and educator, Diego Rivera has entertained audiences for over 20 years. Rivera is known for his muscular tone and unique blend of straight-ahead mainstream jazz fused with music inspired by his Latino background and heritage. He is a tenured Associate Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Michigan State University where he also serves as Associate Director of Jazz Studies.
Rivera was born in Ann Arbor, MI, and raised ‘just up the road’ in East Lansing, MI. Born into a Mexican-American family, his Chicano heritage has always been important to him and shaped his creative endea...
2021-04-081h 20Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #48: Nadje NoordhuisDescribed as "one of the most compelling voices to emerge on her instrument in recent years", Australian-born-based trumpeter/composer Nadje Noordhuis possesses one of the most unforgettably lyrical voices in modern music. Her deeply-felt, clarion tone and evocative compositional gift meld classical rigor, jazz expression, and world music accents into a sound that is distinctively her own. Noordhuis was one of ten semi-finalists in the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition and was selected as a Carnegie Hall Young Artist in 2012. Based in New York since 2003, she is a member of the multiple Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra, Grammy-nominated Darcy...
2021-03-2456 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #47: Amanda MonacoGuitarist/composer Amanda Monaco has performed at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Jazz Standard, and Flushing Town Hall, and with artists such as Milt Hinton, Steve Wilson, Rufus Reid, and the Mingus Orchestra. She has released eight albums to date and her current jazz projects include her eclectic quartet Deathblow, rambunctious organ quartet Glitter, an all-female jazz sextet Lioness. Her New Music ensemble The Pirkei Avot Project performs her original music with lyrics from selected verses (from a collection of rabbinical teachings with the same name) compiled in the third century C.E. An educator since 1990...
2021-03-151h 16Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #46: Jihee HeoBorn in Incheon, South Korea, Jihee Heo is a New York-based jazz pianist, composer and keyboardist. Heo holds a Master of Music degree (Jazz Piano Performance) from Manhattan School of Music (2013), and a Bachelor’s Degree (Jazz Piano Performance) from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2008). Heo has performed at acclaimed festivals and venues such as The Washington D.C. Jazz Festival, O+ Festival, Leverkusen Jazz Festival, The International African Arts Festival, The Jersey Shore Festival, Bergen Pac, Harlem Stage, National Sawdust, The Bitter End, Arthur’s Tavern, Rockwood Music Hall, Nublu, Cornelia Street Cafe and Brooklyn Bowls, among others. In this...
2021-03-0838 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #45: Terri Lyne CarringtonMultiple Grammy Award–winning drummer, producer, and educator Terri Lyne Carrington has recorded and toured with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, Dianne Reeves, David Sanborn, John Scofield, Diana Krall, Yellowjackets, Cassandra Wilson, Kassa Overall, and countless other jazz luminaries. Carrington made history as the first woman to win a Grammy Award in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category for Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue, a reimagining of the Duke Ellington classic. Her collaborations with Esperanza Spalding and Geri Allen, as well as her female-driven Mosaic Project recordings, have received critical acclaim. She is Zildjian Chair in Performance at Be...
2021-03-011h 02Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #44: Jonathan BarberInternational Recorded artist, composer, educator, and bandleader Jonathan Barber was voted the #1 Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018 in Modern Drummer. Barber has already recorded and toured worldwide with such artists as Pat Metheny, Erykah Badu, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Jimmy Greene, Jeremy Pelt, Wallace Roney, Terrace Martin, Jennifer Holiday, Harold Mabern, Steve Davis, J.D. Allen, The Brooklyn Philharmonic and many more. In addition to his first-call status as a sideman, Barber has recently stepped forth as a composer and leader with his Vision Ahead band. Even with Barber’s history of high-profile gigs and recordings taken into consideration, DownBeat magazine gave hi...
2021-02-2238 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #43: Andrew McGowanAndrew McGowan is a New Orleans born pianist who played with renowned artists such as Jason Marsalis, Joe Dyson, and Sasha Masakowski in New Orleans as well as bands such as The Stooges Brass Band and The Session at venues such as Snug Harbor, The Jazz and Heritage Festival, and also many international clubs and festivals such as the Edinburgh Jazz festival and South by Southwest. After moving to NYC in 2016, Andrew played at major jazz clubs in NYC such as Blue Note, Minton’s, Dizzy’s, Smalls, and Fat Cat.
Andrew's most recent releases are "MicroCosmos" with Micro...
2021-02-1151 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #42: Eric ReedThrough more than a quarter-century as a first-caller on the jazz scene, Eric Reed has articulated this inclusive conception as a leader of numerous ensembles, solo performer, composer, producer, educator, and sideman with numerous artists, including extended stints with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Buster Williams, and Wynton Marsalis. Whatever the context, whatever the style, he consistently animates the flow with fresh ideas, virtuosic chops, intellectual clarity, and an unwavering will to groove. In this episode, Eric shares his background, education, and musical journey.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or...
2021-02-011h 03Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #41: Art Hirahara
Art Hirahara is a jazz keyboardist and composer based in New York, NY. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Art moved to New York in 2003 to be challenged by its pool of world-class musicians. Here he has honed his craft, performing in a wide range of musical situations ranging from straight-ahead standards to time cycle-based progressive jazz to working with singer/songwriters. From the traditional to the avant-garde, Art has found a sound of his own that cuts across genres and boundaries. Art has had the privilege to perform with Don Braden, Stacey Kent, Freddy Cole, Akira Tana, Rufus...
2021-01-2535 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #40: Nathan EastNathan East is one of the most in-demand bassists of all time. A founding member of the chart-topping contemporary jazz group Fourplay, Nathan was 16 years old when he got his first break and found himself on the road with Barry White. The next time the phone rang, Quincy Jones was on the line. The calls kept coming and for the last forty years, Nath has been churning out hit songs with artists as legendary as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Wonder. In this episode, Nathan shares his background, education, a...
2021-01-111h 20Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #39: James HudsonLondon-based jazz vocalist James Hudson has all of the unique qualities that epitomize the 21st-century crooner. An assured and charming performer, his natural affinity with an audience is complemented by effortless vocals, tasteful phrasing, and interpretive prowess.
James’s debut album 'TOMORROW', set for release in February 2021, will be the biggest milestone of his career so far. Over a year in the making, the album features James and his band performing brand-new interpretations of classics from The Great American Songbook. Greatly influenced by Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett, James is fu...
2021-01-0446 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #38: John BeasleyJohn Beasley, Multi-GRAMMY® and Emmy Award-nominated pianist, composer, arranger, producer, music director. An uncommonly versatile pianist, he has backed such jazz icons as Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard – playing in the bands of both these trumpet greats while still in his 20s. Since then, Beasley has performed with a wide range of artists from Dianne Reeves, Ivan Lins, John Patitucci, Chaka Khan, Christian McBride, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, Lee Ritenour, Somi, A.R. Rahman, and James Brown’s last concert at the Hollywood Bowl. His extensive work as a composer-arranger extends beyond jazz, with many credits in television such as St...
2020-12-2154 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #37: Jim LangJim Lang is a seasoned composer in the film and television world, having strengthened many projects through his diverse musical palette. He is most recognized for his theme music, original songs, and score for Nickelodeon‘s hit animated series Hey Arnold!, which has aired in over 70 markets worldwide. Most recently, Jim scored Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie, the highly-anticipated return to television after a 13-year hiatus. The film, which features updates to the iconic themes from the series, picks up after the cliffhanger ending of Hey Arnold: The Movie, and finds Arnold and friends searching for his parents in Central...
2020-12-1445 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #36: Dejan IlijicDejan has performed in more than twenty – five countries around the globe (USA, Russia, China, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, etc.) both independently and as the leader of the acclaimed jazz-rock band EYOT. Aside from 4 released albums of EYOT, where he is signed as the sole composer of all compositions, Dejan also released three solo piano projects for the US market, under 90&9 Records and Magnatune labels, and one more for Serbian label Metropolis. Ilijic has composed music for multi-awarded documentaries and TV shows that aired on numerous national and local TV channels in Serbia and Europe, and also at international fi...
2020-12-1029 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #35: Christope SchweizerChristophe Schweizer is considered one of the most innovative and creative musicians on the European Jazz scene, both with respect to his abilities and versatility on the trombone and other low brass instruments (also as an interpreter of classical and new music), as well as especially to his work as a composer, arranger, and bandleader.
Born in Switzerland and nowadays residing in Hamburg, Germany, he lived in New York for seven years starting in the mid-nineties. During this period, he worked with the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band for three years, and occasionally with the orchestras of...
2020-11-3050 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #34: Danny MarkovitchDanny Markovitch is the co-leader and founder of the jazz-fusion band Marbin. Marbin is a progressive jazz-rock band based in Chicago, IL, with a unique story that stands out in today's music world. With a do-it-yourself approach, Marbin started touring extensively in 2011, bringing their original instrumental music to every part of the United States. Through word of mouth, Marbin has gained hundreds of thousands of devoted fans all over the world and has sold tens of thousands of albums. Marbin has released eight albums: Marbin (2009), Breaking the Cycle (2011), Last Chapter of Dreaming (2013), The Third Set (2014), Aggressive Hippies (2015), Goatman and...
2020-11-161h 06Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #33: Allison MillerNYC-based drummer/composer/teacher Allison Miller engages her deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to explore all music. Described by critics as a Modern Jazz Icon in the Making, Miller won Downbeat’s 67th Annual Critics Poll for “Rising Star Drummer” and JazzTimes’s 2019 Critics Poll for “Best Jazz Drummer.” Boom Tic Boom, Allison’s longtime band, won Jazz Journalists Association’s 2019 award for “Best Mid-Sized Ensemble.” Her composition, “Otis Was a Polar Bear”, is included on NPR’s list of The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+. She is also the first recipient of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Commissi...
2020-11-021h 08Improv Exchange PodcastEpisode #32: Giveton GelinAt a young age, Giveton taught himself how to play the trumpet. From there he has gone on to share the stage with some of the biggest names in music such as Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, and Ben Wolfe. On top of that, earlier this year he was awarded the Letter One Rising Star Jazz Award. All that while he’s still continuing his studies at The Juilliard School. Giveton’s debut album, True Design, was released on April 19, 2020, which also happens to be his birthday. Giveton isn’t the only top-notch player on this album, Immanuel Wilkins (alto sax), M...
2020-10-2633 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #31: John FedchockJohn Fedchock’s illustrious career in jazz has spanned four decades. Since his emergence on the scene in 1980, Fedchock has established himself as a world-class trombone soloist, a heralded bandleader, and a Grammy-nominated arranger. An in-demand performer and writer in New York City, his multifaceted talents have led him to become one of NYC’s premier jazz artists. His critically acclaimed John Fedchock New York Big Band has become a marquee group, showcasing Fedchock’s trombone and arranging as well as the band’s all-star soloists. The JFNYBB’s five CDs on the MAMA and Reservoir Music labels have all receiv...
2020-10-1954 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #30: Jasper SomsenDutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He collaborated amongst many others with Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Lynne Arriale, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, E.J. Strickland, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband and Gabriele Mirabassi. In this episode, Jasper shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-10-1537 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #29: Brian ScarboroughBrian Scarborough is a top call trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator in the greater Kansas City area. He can be seen performing around Kansas City with his own ensembles, and is a member of the People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the Boulevard Big Band, Zen Brass, The Kansas-Nebraska Act, and is a sub for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Brian has also appeared with the Fountain City Brass Band. In this episode, Brian shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-10-1231 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #28: Steve DavisSteve Davis, the father of Tony Davis, is widely regarded as one of today’s leading improvisers on the trombone. Davis has appeared in Downbeat Magazine’s Readers and Critics Polls numerous times, winning the TDWR (Rising Star) Trombone Category in 1998. Davis has also been recently nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association four years in a row (2010-2013) as Trombonist of the Year. In this episode, Steve shares his background, education, and musical journey.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, etc. ...
2020-09-2853 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #27: Keita OgawaHailing originally from Nagasaki, Japan, Keita Ogawa is 2 times Grammy nominees and Grammy Award winner and one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionist and drummer in New York City if not the world. Currently, he works several projects like Snarky Puppy, Bokanté, Banda Magda, Bokantè, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Charlie Hunter, JSquad, Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra, Clarice Assad, and more. In this episode, Keita shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-09-2142 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #26: Jason BurtWhen Jason Burt found the recordings in his late grandfather’s attic, he thought they might belong in a World War II museum gift shop. His grandfather, Richard Burt, was a Juilliard-trained musician; before becoming a music teacher in West Sacramento, he volunteered his talents as the lead trumpet player of the 746th Air Force Band. Quite the storyteller, he often spoke of his time with the band, and his experience of being stationed in the Philippines during World War II. In this episode, Jason shares his background, education, and his journey to make his Grandpa and the 746th Ai...
2020-09-1544 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #25: Yuri HoningDutch saxophonist Yuri Honing has widened his musical scope through collaborating with such great talents as Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden. Honing achieved his first international breakthrough with his trio recording Star Tracks, an album consisting only of pop songs. Another landmark recording was Seven, made in New York and featuring Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, and Paul Motion, which received the prestigious Edison (Dutch Grammy) Award. In this episode, Yuri shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-09-0747 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #24: Kyle BenfordKyle Benford is a percussionist we believe will be making noise for years to come. After hearing his recordings with raising Jazz artist Micah Thomas and Giveton Gelin we seem to be correct. A Juilliard Alum, Wynton Marsalis has mentioned that Benford is indeed an "MVP". In this episode, Kyle shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-09-0129 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #23: Takuya KurodaTakuya Kuroda is a powerhouse talent, whose writing has been praised as “soulful” and “modern,” “effortlessly bridging the gap between jazz and soul, between history and tomorrow.” This interview marks the upcoming release of Kuroda’s widely-anticipated Album, Fly Moon Die Soon - a fitting title for the work of a musician on the ascent. In this episode, Takuya shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-08-2442 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #22: Jocelyn GouldJocelyn Gould is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader. Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, she grew up singing every chance she got and became enthralled with the guitar as a teenager. Jocelyn maintains an active international performance career, including performances at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Jocelyn’s debut recording, Elegant Traveler, was released in March 2020. In this episode, Jocelyn shares her background, education, and musical journey.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Go...
2020-08-1728 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #21: Micah ThomasThe New York Times wrote "Only occasionally — a few times in a generation, even — does a pianist come along who seems to have gobbled up and processed so much music, their style can make sense of both jazz’s history and its presence in a single motion. Micah Thomas is one of those players." Micah performs in venues throughout the city both as a leader of his own groups and as a sideman for such luminaries as Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, Lage Lund, Melissa Aldana, Etienne Charles, Gabe Schnider, Harish Raghavan, Stacy Dillard, and Joshua Redman. He also appeared as a g...
2020-08-1135 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #20: Yoosun NamYoo Sun Nam is an up and coming alto saxophonist and composer from South Korea. At a young age, she was very intrigued by many different styles of music including classical, Korean traditional, pop, and funk. In 2011, Yoo Sun moved to New York City, where she began pursuing her Master’s degree in jazz studies from NYU Steinhardt. During her time in New York, Yoo Sun was fortunate enough to have studied and performed with great jazz artists such as Artist Faculty members Joe Lovano, Dave Pietro, Gill Goldstein, Kenny Werner, Alan Ferber, and Ralph Alessi. In this episode, Yoos...
2020-08-0333 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #19: Yasushi Nakamura“One of the most commanding voices on bass today” Yasushi Nakamura is praised for imaginative, quicksilver bass lines that deepen the groove. His blend of guitar-like precision and gut-level blues has sparked collaborations with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Hank Jones, Dave Douglas, Steve Miller, etc. With his charismatic stage presence and artful, hard-swinging melodic touch, Nakamura is a first-call performer capturing new audiences and fans around the world. In this episode, Yasushi shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-07-3026 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #18: Shane CooperShane Cooper is a bassist, composer, and producer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is part of the new wave of South African Jazz artists pushing the music forward and is also known for his work in the electronic/dance music world, as well as commissioned works for films and theatre. In 2017 he launched MABUTA with band members Bokani Dyer, Sisonke Xonti, Robin Fassie, and Marlon Witbooi. Their new album Welcome To This World is out now on all digital platforms through Shane’s record label Kujua Records. In this episode, Shane shares his background, education, and musical journey.
2020-07-2729 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #17: Ellen Andrea WangBassist, singer, and composer Ellen Andrea Wang has distinguished herself as an inventive artist, blending genres in new and unprecedented ways. Wang received the Kongsberg Jazz Festivals great musician award in 2015. The prize is awarded to a musician who has a leading position on the Norwegian jazz scene. We believe she's talent on the rise and a force to be reckoned with. In the episode, Ellen shares her background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-07-2324 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #16: Tony DavisMost jazz listeners are surely acquainted with one of the genre’s foremost trombonists, Steve Davis. The good news is his 25-year-old son, guitarist Tony Davis has also picked up the mantle and is continuing the family’s musical legacy. Not only does Davis display considerable talent with his swinging guitar style, but he also wrote most of the tunes on this debut as a leader, Golden Year. In this episode, Tony shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-07-2035 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #15: Maik KrahlMaik Krahl was once described as “represents his generation’s as the top German jazz trumpeter. His musical statements enrich me and let me look forward to the future of a whole genre, which will always exist.” We tend to agree. His first album Decidophobia was released in 2018 with Double Moon/Challenge Records International. His second album Fraction featuring Seamus Blake was released in May 2020. In this episode, Maik shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-07-1324 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #14: Chris McCarthyHot House Jazz Magazine described Chris McCarthy as “one of the most imaginative and impressive voices on the New York jazz scene.” Since arriving in New York City in 2016, McCarthy has made a name for himself as one of the scenes most in-demand young sidemen. He steps into the foreground as a bandleader with the release of his April 2020 Ropeadope debut, Still Time To Quit. In this episode, Chris shares his background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-07-0626 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #13: Lauren HendersonJazz and Latin Jazz vocalist, Lauren Henderson, paints reflective and impassioned stories with her haunting voice and enchanting compositions. Henderson's compositions navigate journeys imposed through the African Diaspora in connection to her Panamanian, Montserratian, and vast Caribbean roots as they interplay with her North American upbringing. In this episode, Lauren shares her background, education, and musical journey.
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2020-06-3028 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #12: Steve Perry (from Cherry Poppin' Daddies)Steve Perry is best known as lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the Oregon ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Their hit song "Zoot Suit Riot,” was a subversive, punk-forward cocktail of jazz and ska with a swing finish that sends listeners back to the 1940s. In this episode, Steve shares his background and his musical journey.
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2020-06-2336 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #11: Alexa TarantinoAlexa Tarantino is an award-winning, vibrant, young jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator. Alexa was also recently named one of the “Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019” by the JazzTimes Critics’ Poll. In this episode, Alexa talks about her musical journey and her latest release Clarity.
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2020-06-1728 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #10: Benny Benack IIITrumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be a rare talent: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the postbop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Blue Mitchell but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. Benny shares his educational background, his music career, and his latest release A Lot of Living to do.
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2020-06-1542 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #9: Fabian AlamazanIn addition to being a solo artist, Almazan is the founder and director of Biophilia Records. In this episode, Fabian Almazan joins us as he talks about his music journey and the future of Jazz.
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2020-06-0824 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #8: Dayna StephensDayna Stephens is a Brooklyn-born Bay Area-raised artist, who is known as an improviser educator and a written composer. In this episode, Dayna shares his music career, his experience playing the Sax, his latest and upcoming release.
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2020-06-0327 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #7: Theo HillTheo Hill is hailed by the New York Times as "a vital young pianist at play in New York's straight-ahead tradition." Something which couldn't be more true. In this episode Theo Hill shares his music career, his experience playing the Vibes, and his latest release Interstellar Adventures.
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2020-05-2541 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #6: Kassa OverallKassa Overall is something like a cross between a jazz musician, a backpack rapper and a bedroom producer. Kassa's combination of live performances, studio recordings and remixes and his bridgings of jazz and hip-hop cultures is the short list of what makes him amazing.
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2020-05-1842 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #5: Emmet CohenEmmet Cohen is committed to the inter-generational transfer of the knowledge, history, and traditions of jazz. Which I can honestly say is one thing I love about his style and his Masters Regency series. In this episode Emmet Cohen talks about his music career, his mission, and his future.
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2020-05-1132 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #4: Warren WolfYes! That metal xylophone is actually called a vibraphone and one of its eminence is Warren Wolf. In this episode Warren Wolf shares his music career, his experience playing the Vibes, and his latest release Reincarnation.
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2020-04-3037 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #3: Leon Foster ThomasLeon Foster Thomas: The Road Seldom Traveled. When most people think of Jazz Instruments, Steel Pan isn't what normally comes to mind. In this episode, we have Leon Foster Thomas joining us. He is a seasoned jazz musician from Trinidad and Tobago, currently based in Miami, Florida. Leon shares his educational background, his music career, and his experience playing this unique instrument.
If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast ect.
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2020-04-2229 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #2: Kathrine WindfeldIn this episode, we have Kathrine Windfeld joining us. She is a seasoned jazz musician from Denmark. Kathrine will be sharing with us her music journey.
Being a bandleader, Katherine shares with us how she created her first big band and a sextet. Also, she will be telling us about her new album, and where she sees jazz music in the next ten years.
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2020-04-2027 minImprov Exchange PodcastEpisode #1: Tristan EggenerIn this premiere episode, the host Leander Young, invites his friend and bass player from his band, Tristan Eggener to share his musical journey.
Tristan shares his educational background, his music career, and his experience as a music professor. He also shares his take on trends and changes in the jazz music scene and how they affect musicians today.
Listen to hear how Tristan learned to deal with the reality of life that he was not taught in music school.
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2020-04-2033 min
ACTS Church Leander: MessagesRich Young Ruler // Encounters with JesusPastor Josh walks us through Jesus' encounter with the Rich Young Ruler as found in Mark 10. Join us on Sundays as we continue in our series, Encounters with Jesus!
2019-03-3120 min