Mahanthappa brings an explosive blend of jazz and South Indian classical music to the studio.
Rudresh Mahanthappa On Piano Jazz
‘High Water Everywhere’ and the father of Delta Blues
Charley Patton is considered by many to be the father of Delta Blues. What does that actually mean? A combination of location, timing and talent, put him at the leading edge of the new musical direction of the 1920’s. He was one of, if not the first, to play what we might recognize as blues. [...]
Ann Hampton Callaway: Singing the standards, Streisand and making it up as she goes
Vocalist, pianist and composer, Ann Hampton Callaway has had success in the worlds of jazz, Broadway and cabaret. She’s also one of our favorite KPLU Studio Session guests. We invite her to perform every time she passes through Seattle because, from one visit to the next, we never know what kind of surprises she’ll treat [...]
Edmar Castañeda And Friends On JazzSet
Hear passionate improvisation across borders on Colombian harp, Argentinian bandoneón, Venezuelan cuatro and vibes from the U.S. In a passionate set with Castañeda, his trio and special guests perform at the Americas Society in New York.
Woody Herman At 100: ‘A Blues Player From His Heart’
He was a soulful reedman, an amazing talent scout for decades and a bandleader of one of the country’s most popular acts. Born in 1913, Herman led “Thundering Herds” that were both big draws and well-respected by the likes of Igor Stravinsky. Here are five recordings which still sound fresh today.
Gregory Porter: A Lion In The Subway
In the arts mecca of New York City, subway buskers are often overqualified. But they’re not usually world-class jazz singers with the lungs and charisma of old-school soul stars. Accompanied only by a pianist, Porter performs “Be Good (Lion’s Song)” on a vintage subway car in downtown Brooklyn.
Balancing Influences: Saxophonist Mahanthappa Blends Styles
Rudresh Mahanthappa’s work always seems to be filed under jazz, but it’s hard to find a style he doesn’t touch: hip-hop, country, metal and soul fused with traditional sounds from India, Africa and Indonesia. And he makes it rock.
A DIY Guide To The History Of Women In Jazz
“Women in Jazz Day” officially hits New York City Friday, complete with a new documentary on the subject. While the celebration is deserving, it remains incomplete, commentator Lara Pellegrinelli says. She lists many more resources on the subject — on film, print and wax.
Jane Monheit On Piano Jazz
Marian McPartland accompanies the vocalist on music from the Gershwins, Duke Ellington and more.
Donny McCaslin On Piano Jazz
The tenor saxophonist plays “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “All the Things You Are” with host Jon Weber.
Early blues with fife & drum
Written by John Kessler In 1942, Alan Lomax discovered a community of musicians in North Mississippi, who played their own hybrid music that was unmistakably African-sounding. Called “Fife & Drum” music because of its military background, it hearkens back to post Civil War days, when this special and local tradition originated. Although drumming is a [...]
Sexmob: Live From 92Y Tribeca
The quartet specializes in a distinct strain of deconstructionist improvised music: jazz that aims at fun by bouncing off the walls. Led by slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein, the band parties to the themes of spaghetti western film composer Nino Rota.
Eddie Palmieri’s Latin Jazz Septet On JazzSet
Palmieri plays the whole piano, and he’s not shy about throwing an elbow or forearm to get the effect he needs. As a 2013 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, the piano original plays The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Joan Osborne and The Holmes Brothers are a recipe for soul
Want a good recipe for soul music? Here’s what you do: Start with vocalist, Joan Osborne, who has had pop music hits, performed on The Grand Old Oprey, toured with members of The Grateful Dead and yet never strayed from her roots in rhythm ‘n blues music. Now add a good, solid dose of [...]
A Look Back At Jazz Fest, Where Ages Were Made
At the 2013 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, every sort of performer was welcome. But the festival grounds were at the center of a much wider celebration of Louisiana music that continued during, around and after the last two weekends.
Molly Ringwald: Rediscovering her jazz roots
In 2010, actress/singer, Molly Ringwald wrote her first book, Getting The Pretty Back. The “pretty” in the title is a reference to what is perhaps Molly’s most famous movie, “Pretty In Pink” (1986), directed by John Hughes. She also worked with Hughes in “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” But before Molly Ringwald became one [...]
Popping And Bopping: The Electric Bass In Jazz
Written by Nick Morrison Originally posted on September 6, 2011 In the jazz fusion era of the 1970s, a new breed of jazz superstar was born: the electric bassist. Although electric bass wasn’t unheard-of in jazz before jazz-rock fusion, it quickly became an important component in fusion bands, and the bassists themselves became more prominent [...]
Phil Woods On Piano Jazz
Saxophonist Phil Woods is a true master of all things bop. He’s been one of the top alto players since his debut in the mid-1950s, and he’s been called the musical heir to Charlie Parker. In this session from 2003, Woods joins host Marian McPartland, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin in “How About You” and “Fine and Dandy.”
Obscure origins of ‘You Don’t Love Me’
“You Don’t Love Me” is a classic blues song that has roots in the 50′s and is still being recorded and re-invented. Willie Cobbs, an Arkansas rice farmer, made his way to Chicago in the late 1940′s, playing his blues on Maxwell Street, eventually releasing “You Don’t Love Me” in 1961. He never became a [...]
SFJAZZ Center Opening Night On JazzSet
On opening night at San Francisco’s newly constructed, free-standing building designed for and dedicated to jazz, fans filled the stunning Robert N. Miner Auditorium at the SFJAZZ Center for a maiden voyage and festive concert.