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.
Amina Figarova
Amina Figarova — Cafe Coda — Friday, October 14, 2022 — 7 PM
Interview date: 10/01/2022
Amina Figarova looks to a brighter future full of positive vibes with her new album ‘Joy’. Also, surrounding herself with the kind of extraordinary players who will be joining her on this tour, opens a limitless canvas for the realization of her artistic vision.
ROVA's Larry Ochs
ROVA Saxophone Quartet — North Street Cabaret — Saturday, October 8, 2022 — 8PM
Interview date: 09/24/2022
Larry Ochs makes up one-quarter of the world renowned ROVA Saxophone Quartet (he’s the “O” in the name) which formed in San Francisco during the mid-1970s. Drawing inspiration from a spectrum of music that includes everything from Free Jazz to what we sometimes call contemporary classical music, ROVA pushes the envelope of what is possible for four musicians with saxophones.
Photo by Myles Boisen
Aaron Stroessner
Aaron Stroessner Quartet — The North Street Cabaret — Saturday, September 24, 2022 — 8PM
Interview date: 08/05/2022
Aaron Stroessner chased his rock’n’roll dreams to New York City in the 1990s where he spent a decade performing with his band Dead Left and working behind the scenes at the Knitting Factory. Fast forward a few years, he now hangs his fedora in eastern Nebraska where he’s an essential member of that region’s jazz scene.
For those keeping score at home: the frontman of the band Soul Coughing was Mike Doughty; Dan Wilson launched his career with the band Semisonic.
Andy Narell
Andy Narell — The Bur Oak — Wednesday, August 17, 2022 — 8PM
Interview date: 07/11/2022
Even with an unrivaled and prestigious body of work behind him, steel pan maestro Andy Narell continues to strive to improve, explore, reinvent, and push the boundaries of what the steel pan can do. He’ll be in Madison this August for a not-to-be-missed whirlwind of performances, appearances, and collaborations.
Lovely Socialite
Lovely Socialite — Cafe Coda — Saturday, July 30, 2022 — 7 PM
Interview date: 07/08/2022
The band Lovely Socialite celebrates their latest album “The Drift” to be released on the ten-year anniversary of their first record, 2012’s “Registers Her Delight.” Unfolding into its second decade, the band continues to build on its legacy of odd orchestration, subtle mirth, and stylistic alchemy.
Julian Kirshner
Julian Kirshner/Nikolaj Klemens duo — Audio for the Arts — Friday, July 22, 2022 — 8PM
Interview date: 7/11/2022
The duo of tenor saxophone and drums is a classic free improv pairing, but the music and sounds each group makes are guaranteed to go in an infinite number of singular directions. That will certainly be the case at Audio for the Arts on July 22nd when Chicago meets Switzerland in the form of the Julian Kirshner/"Nikolaj Klemins" (aka Sebi) duo.
Michael Hudson-Casanova
Michael Hudson-Casanova Trio— Cafe Coda — Saturday, July 2, 2022 — 7 PM
Interview date: 06/10/2022
After a few years cultivating his craft in Michigan and Philadelphia, Michael Hudson-Casanova has established himself in Chicago with a new trio featuring Erik Skov on guitar, and Gustavo Coriñas on drums. Dance, another art form that has special significance for this alto saxophonist, will feature prominently on the trio’s Madison date.