Piano Summit, 2023
Piano Summit, 2023: Jane Reynolds, Matt Blair, Paul Hastil, David Stoler — North Street Cabaret — Saturday, January 28, 2023 — 8PM
Interview date: 01/12/2023
Zakk Jones
Zakk Jones Trio — Audio for the Arts — Friday, January 20, 2023 — 8PM
Interview date: 01/10/2023
Zakk Jones is a guitarist who thrives on variety as evidenced by the range of groups he plays with and the repertoire he plays with his own trio. He’s also someone who believes in giving back, which he does through teaching at a couple of Ohio colleges, through an online presence focused on education, and on his own guitar-oriented podcast “Beyond the Frets.”
Chad McCullough and Bram Weijters
Chad McCullough-Bram Weijters quintet — North Street Cabaret — Saturday, January 14, 2023 — 8PM
Interview date: 12/30/2022
Trumpeter Chad McCullough began a fruitful collaboration with Belgian pianist Bram W. in 2009 while both were attending the acclaimed Banff Jazz Workshop. Fourteen years later, with a half dozen quartet and duo recordings behind them, this ambitious duo will assemble a cast of exceptional regional players for a live recording–right here in our fair city.
Rempis, Johnson, Heinemann, Cunningham
Rempis, Johnson, Heinemann, Cunningham— The Bur Oak — Friday, January 13, 2023 — 8PM
Interview date: 01/03/2023
The tireless and adventurous improviser Dave Rempis has once again assembled a heavyweight cast to probe the reaches of collective improvisation. Joined on this outing by world-class trumpeter Russ Johnson, celebrated catalyst Jeremy Cunningham, and home-town hero Jakob Heinemann, the field of play is wide open.
Joe Policastro Trio
Joe Policastro Trio — North Street Cabaret — Friday, December 16, 2022 — 8PM
Interview date: 11/28/2022
With the Joe Policastro Trio, everything is on the table: eccentric repertoire, unique orchestration, and an approach that veers from the center to the frontier. Among the elements that are not up for grabs, however, are outstanding musicianship, telepathic interaction, and a palette that extends well beyond the standard spectrum.
Javier Red's Imagery Converter
Javier Red's Imagery Converter — Cafe Coda — Saturday, December 10, 2022 — 7 PM
Interview date: 11/28/2022
Javier Red’s Imagery Converter is a device that transforms ideas about music from the Jazz tradition and contemporary composers into an organic sonic ecosystem. Oh, and they’re also a band of accomplished musicians pushing the boundaries of the familiar with an eye toward new directions.
Laminal Animil
Laminal Animil — Audio for the Arts — Saturday, December 3, 2022 — 8PM
Interview date: 11/13/2022
I interrupted the breakfast of Luke Leavitt, Ari Smith, and Tim Russell — the band Laminal Animil— to chat about their improvising, experimental trio and the way they purposefully subvert language, music, and everything else they can think of in their serious exploration of new sound frontiers.
Chico Freeman
Chico Freeman — North Street Cabaret — Sunday, October 23, 2022 — 7PM
Interview date: 10/09/2022
At one time legendary saxophonist Chico Freeman was himself a young lion on the scene breathing the life of a new generation into this music. Now the internationally renowned artist and statesman is mentoring the next generation to advance this music into another century.
Mr. Chair's Mark Hetzler
Mr. Chair — The Bur Oak — Friday, October 21, 2022 — 7PM
Interview date: 10/01/2022
Mr. Chair opens a new chapter with the release of “Better Days,” an album full of optimism, joy, and, of course–as Mark Hetzler puts it “lots of notes.” Mark joins me on this episode to talk about this collective, collaborative band and his career as a trombone professor.
The Esthesis Quartet
The Esthesis Quartet — Cafe Coda — Saturday, October 15, 2022 — 7 & 9 PM
Interview date: 10/01/2022
The Esthesis Quartet took the adversity of a global pandemic head on by supporting each other's need to stay creative and focused. These adventurous musician-composers–with deep roots in the continuum of this music–have crafted a compelling universe of jazz.