Take a tour of the MacArthur genius’s home in Harlem, including a look at his Steinway, favorite books and percussion instruments from India.
Vijay Iyer On Q2 Music’s ‘Spaces’
The History Of Jazz Piano In 11 Minutes
Even today’s musicians know jazz has a rapidly-changing, living, breathing history. In a new video, young gun Kris Bowers takes a YouTube tour from ragtime and stride through the present day.
13 Jazz Artists Awarded Over $1.7 Million
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has announced recipients of its 2014 performing arts grants. Noted composers such as Roscoe Mitchell, Oliver Lake and Randy Weston received a first tier award.
Song Of The Day: Ingrid Jensen’s ‘At Sea’
Ingrid Jensen, one of my favorite trumpet players, has one of the most distinctive sounds on the instrument today. I’ve described her approach to the horn as “vocal,” and she’s said she’s just trying to sing her ideas through the instrument. This is not a new concept, but when I listen to her playing, I […]
Song Of The Day: Brian Blade And The Fellowship Band’s ‘Landmarks’
Today we don’t just have a song of the day, but a whole album! I was going to feature drummer Brian Blade and his Fellowship Band anyway, then noticed that NPR has his forthcoming album on its “First Listen” series today. So buckle in and prepare to be transported to another world. If you’re not familiar with […]
First Listen: Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band, ‘Landmarks’
One of the world’s best jazz drummers is also a singer-songwriter, session man for Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell and the son of a preacher man. It’s all potently distilled for his band of over 15 years.
Song Of The Day: Lionel Hampton’s ‘I Got A Heartful Of Music’
Lionel Hampton is a towering figure in the world of jazz. He was one of the first people to play the vibraphone and make that instrument popular, he played in one of the first racially integrated bands in the world, and the list of people he played and recorded with reads like a who’s who […]
Song Of The Day: Vijay Iyer’s ‘Galang,’ Trio Riot Version
Pianist Vijay Iyer is one of the most celebrated and talked-about musicians of his generation. His list of accomplishments and accolades is impressive, including Grammy Nominations, Jazz Musician of the Year awards, and even a MacArthur Genius Award. His body of work is as broad as it is creative, and he’s a powerful piano player […]
Song Of The Day: Sonny Rollins’ ‘Without A Song’
“I want to be connecting with the subconscious, if I can call it that, because there are not to many words to describe the real deep inner part of a human being…I want to be at that place where everything is blotted out and where creativity happens, and to get there I practice, you know […]
Steely Dan On Piano Jazz
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are masters of irony and erudition. The pair perform their Steely Dan hit “Josie” and standards “Mood Indigo” and “Hesitation Blues.”