JAZZIZ Conversations

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JAZZIZ Travel: Angélique Kidjo and Ibrahim Maalouf Jul 28, 2022

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International music superstars, Angélique Kidjo and Ibrahim Maalouf, have teamed up for their very first album together and both join us in our latest episode of JAZZIZ Travel to tell us all about it. Queen of Sheba is a spectacular record that is inspired by and reimagines the myth of Queen Sheba, the African Queen who challenged King Solomon’s wisdom via a series of wisdom. An icon of female empowerment, her story has appeared in several sacred texts, literary traditions, films and other artworks. Queen of Sheba was composed and scored entirely by Maalouf with all lyrics by Kidjo, who sings in the Yoruba language, and prior to it being recorded, the album has been performed live by Maalouf and Kidjo on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.

JAZZIZ Travel: Elsa Nilsson Jul 21, 2022

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Flutist/composer Elsa Nilsson joins us in our latest episode of JAZZIZ Travel to talk about Coast Redwoods - 41°32'09.8"N 124°04'35.5"W, her latest trio album with Jon Cowherd on piano and Chris Morrissey on bass. This is also the first release in her Atlas of Sound series, inspired by human connection to locations of the natural world, and its music originated from her visit to the north end of Redwood National Park. Nilsson also talks with us about the Esthesis Quartet, the new group where she plays alongside pianist Dawn Clement, bassist Ema Dayhuff and drummer Tina Raymond and that recently released its debut album.

JAZZIZ Travel: Kibrom Birhane Jul 14, 2022

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Multi-instrumentalist and keyboard extraordinaire Kibrom Birhane has been called the future of Ethiopian jazz. His third and most adventurous album to date, HERE AND THERE, showcases his unique style, which not only delivers the ancient traditional and deep jazz roots of his native Ethiopia but is also influenced by many other styles and genres, including East African funk, spiritual jazz, psychedelia and beyond. The result is described as a conscious exploration and deep dive into the waters of life and features a cast of great instrumentalists, including members of the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Ethio Cali ensemble, led by Todd Simon, that he is a part of and that includes none other than Kamasi Washington in its extended family.

JAZZIZ Travel: Ken Druker on "Ella at the Hollywood Bowl" Jul 07, 2022

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In this episode of JAZZIZ Travel, we travel back in time to discover a previously unheard Ella Fitzgerald concert recording, capturing a very special performance at the Hollywood Bowl from August 16, 1958. On this day, the First Lady of Song performed selections from an album she recorded a few months earlier, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook, which would become one of the most beloved of her celebrated oeuvre. Conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, who also arranged and conducted the studio sessions, this concert marked the only time that the legendary jazz vocalist would perform these iconic arrangements with a full orchestra. We spoke about this amazing new release with Ken Druker, VP of Jazz Development at Verve Music Group.

JAZZIZ Travel: Nate Najar Jun 23, 2022

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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the release of Jazz Samba, the landmark 1962 collaborative album by Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz that helped launch bossa nova to international stardom. Acclaimed guitarist Nate Najar pays homage to the spirit and iconic repertoire of Jazz Samba on his very own LP,Jazz Samba Pra Sempre, a loving reimagining of this seminal record, navigating the tracklist with equal parts reverence and invention. In this latest episode of JAZZIZ Travel, Najar talks with us about this new album, his love of Jazz Samba and bossa nova, the influence of Charlie Byrd and more.

JAZZIZ Travel: Gabriel Mark Hasselbach Jun 16, 2022

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Trumpeter extraordinaire Gabriel Mark Hasselbach is a U.S.-Canadian artist who has the rare distinction of regularly topping simultaneously the Mainstream and Contemporary Jazz charts everywhere. Indeed, there are two sides to his personality explored in two of his latest albums. The first is the latest installment of his acclaimed MidCentury Modern series, which finds him engaging with jazz tradition in a modern and unique way. The second is his latest smooth jazz record, Tongue & Groove, which reasserts him as one of the elite trumpeters in smooth jazz today. We talk about both of these sides of Hasseblach's creativity and more in our latest JAZZIZ Travel conversation.

JAZZIZ Travel: Vik Sohonie, founder of Ostinato Records Jun 08, 2022

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Vik Sohonie is the founder of Ostinato Records. Based in New York City and founded in 2016, Ostinato's mission is to celebrate the music of countries and societies underrepresented in the music industry in an authentic way. During its lifespan, the label has released albums celebrating the cultural legacies of such countries as Haiti, Senegal, Somalia and more. Their upcoming new release, Beja Power!, captures the music of Noori & His Dorpa Band from Sudan's Red Sea Coast and will be released on June 24. This is the first-ever international release of the Beja sound, a six-track portal to another time and place, of melodies long forgotten and never before interpreted by an electric and brass-driven ensemble.

JAZZIZ Travel: Sonny Singh May 25, 2022

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For over a decade, Sonny Singh has brought his fiery trumpet and lead vocals to audiences around the world with his acclaimed group, Red Baraat. Now, he has released his solo record, Chardi Kala, named after the Sikh concept of revolutionary, eternal optimism. Offering a response to the violence and tumultuousness of these times, Chardi Kala, released and recorded independently, pushes the boundaries of Sikh Kirtan and South Asian spiritual music. It also represents Singh's return to his early Punjabi and Sikh roots, as seen now through the lens of his experiences as a touring musician, educator and activist.

JAZZIZ Travel: Vincent Peirani May 12, 2022

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Vincent Peirani is one of the world's foremost accordionists, especially prominent in today's jazz scene. He is also the latest guest of our JAZZIZ Travel conversation, where we discuss two of his latest projects, each of which showcases a different side of the French composer/musician's creative personality. The first is Abrazo, a collaborative project with saxophonist Emile Parisien released last year, which offers the two artists' unique vision of the tango tradition, as well as playing with other South American idioms and rhythms. The second, Jokers, was released earlier this year and is a trio album where Peirani makes prominent use of electronics and effects, perhaps more than ever before in his internationally acclaimed career. The result is exciting, experimental, expressionistic and, often, cinematic.

JAZZIZ Travel: Tigran Hamasyan Apr 21, 2022

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Having mesmerized listeners everywhere with his own compositions and traditional Armenian music, pianist Tigran Hamasyan is set to release his first album of American standards on April 29 via Nonesuch Records. StandArt finds him applying different techniques and ideas that he has developed over the years to a revered repertoire, breathing new life into well-worn songs and lesser-known gems. The music on StandArt is performed in a piano trio with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Justin Brown, augmented with special guests Mark Turner and Ambrose Akinmusire on selected tracks. The latest project offers us an opportunity to chat with him about his love and admiration for American standards, as well as the influence of his Armenian background and the folk traditions of his native country, and the freedom that his music expresses and has helped establish him as one of today's top names in creative music.

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