JAZZIZ Not What You Think

Latest Episodes:

B.D. LENZ | The JAZZIZ Podcast #22 Mar 30, 2023

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This week's JAZZIZ Podcast is a conversation with another top jazz guitar talent on the scene. B.D. Lenz is a New Jersey native and a graduate of the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. He has been an active musician since his early teens and has forged a unique sound by mixing several styles and genres, including the sophistication of jazz, the grit of blues and the grooves of funk and soul. That sound and those varied influences are heard all across the albums he has released as a bandleader. The latest of these is titled It's Just a Dream, and includes such renowned special guests as Randy Brecker and Mike Stern.

PAUL MEHLING | The JAZZIZ Podcast #21 Mar 16, 2023

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This episode of the JAZZIZ Podcast features a conversation with Paul Mehling, the celebrated guitarist and one of today's foremost interpreters of the Gypsy Jazz tradition. Mehling is also known as the founder and leader of The Hot Club of San Francisco, the group that has been wowing audiences for over three decades. Their latest release, Don't Panic, comprises recordings from 2002 and was issued on Panda Digital. In addition to speaking about this album, Mehling talks with us about the art of Gypsy Jazz and the legend of Django Reinhardt, as well as sharing with us some of the memories from his artistic journey and the genesis of The Hot Club of San Francisco.

MIKE CLEMENT | The JAZZIZ Podcast #20 Mar 09, 2023

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In the latest episode of our JAZZIZ Podcast, we speak with Mike Clement, a fiery up-and-coming jazz guitarist, originally from the West coast of Canada and currently based in New Orleans. Upon his relocation to the birthplace of jazz, Clement quickly became a much sought-after sideman, performing with different bands at countless venues and festivals in various styles and genres. Last year, Clement released his debut album as a bandleader, Unfinished Business, which reimagines the classic '60s jazz organ trio sound on a set of originals and reimagined classics. The record is also a fine showcase of his bold, exuberant sound, as well as his passionate improvisation.

JOCELYN GOULD | The JAZZIZ Podcast #19 Mar 02, 2023

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Guitarist/composer Jocelyn Gould is the guest of our latest JAZZIZ Podcast. Aside from being a JUNO-winning artist and one of the most exciting rising star jazz guitarists today, Gould is a Professor and Head of the Guitar Department at Humber College in Toronto. Her latest album, released last year, is titled Golden Hour. It showcases her virtuosic musicianship, her compositional prowess and, for the first time in her recorded oeuvre, introduces her voice. Golden Hour also finds her playing alongside internationally-acclaimed musicians, evoking the aura of the great classic jazz guitar quartets of the past.

RON BOSSE | The JAZZIZ Podcast #18 Feb 23, 2023

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Guitarist/composer Ron Bosse has been an active player for many years, performing and recording with many jazz greats and with his renowned band Pursuance. He has also released projects under his own name, including his latest album, Burning Room Only, a collaboration with acclaimed keyboardist/producer Jeff Lorber. In our latest JAZZIZ Podcast conversation, we talk about this album, as well as other topics, including some his Bosse School of Music that he created in 2004, his formative years and some of his thoughts on the collaborative nature of music performance and music making.

Laufey May Be Just What Jazz Needs Feb 20, 2023

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Another young aspiring recording artist in the social media age with a massive reach, Laufey only recently started putting out music at the start of the COVID lockdown, and thanks to TikTok, her debut EP has had over 40 million plays and she can count Billie Eilish, Willow Smith and dodie as fans. Laufey’s song Valentine reached No. 1 on Spotify's Jazz charts which was a sped-up version that’s was trending on TikTok before being picked up by V from BTS on his IG story which at the time already had over six million followers on instagram. Not just another TikTok star, Laufey has also released a single with the London Philharmonia, a track with English singer, songwriter, author and YouTuber Dodie (with over 100 million views) and recently concluded her 22 episode series " Happy Harmonies with Laufey on BBC Radio 3 & BBC Sounds (previous hosts included Celeste and Jorja Smith and her North American, EU and UK tour last fall sold out in minutes. JAZZIZ Publisher Michael Fagien caught up with Laufey on the JAZZIZ Not What You Think podcast to see what all the fuss was about. #jazziz

BOBBY BROOM | The JAZZIZ Podcast #17 Feb 16, 2023

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Our latest episode of the JAZZIZ Podcast features a conversation with Bobby Broom, a guitar legend who has performed with some of the all-time greats and who has established his reputation as one of the most skilled and versatile six-strings interpreters of his generation. His latest album, Keyed Up, is a tribute to the great pianists and documents a collaboration with rising star musician Justin Dillard, sitting in the piano chair. Broom talks about this latest project and more, including his beginnings and thoughts on the jazz art form, as well as his idea that playing music "comes down to being sensitive enough to know how to not clutter up the space based on the sonic environment."

MICHAEL VARVERAKIS | The JAZZIZ Podcast #16 Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Michael Varverakis is a foremost guitarist and composer. Michael Roberts, in his recent piece on JAZZIZ Magazine, also defined him as "a performer who takes pride in his eclecticism." Having spent much of his professional career forging his reputation as part of the acoustic duo Four Hands, he recently reinvented himself on a one-two punch of recently-released albums that find him playing solo and on electric guitar. Songs from My Blue Guitar from 2021 and Wonderland from 2022 reflect a musical exploration of sound and space that is joyful, reflective and melodious. We talk about this and more in our JAZZIZ Podcast conversation with the artist.

JOHN DAVERSA | The JAZZIZ Podcast #15 Feb 02, 2023

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John Daversa is one of today's foremost trumpeters, as well as a multi-GRAMMY-winning artist and the current Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at The Frost School of Music. Throughout his career, he led many projects of several configurations, from large orchestral works to smaller combo sessions. In our JAZZIZ Podcast conversation with the artist, we talk about his personal history and formative years, as well as some of his recent prolific and remarkable recording schedule. He also introduces to us his latest exciting project: a duo collaboration with acclaimed pianist Tal Cohen on The Art of Duo, Vol. 1.

GRANT GEISSMAN | The JAZZIZ Podcast #14 Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Over the years, guitarist Grant Geissman lent his virtuosity to recordings by several mainstream artists. He has also written numerous scores for film and television. His pop and jazz recordings as a leader put his talents on display and helped define the contemporary instrumental music of his era. Geissman shows no sign of slowing down and his latest album, BLOOZ, recently received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. A stunning collection of new bluesy and jazzy tunes by Geissman, BLOOZ features several special guests, including Randy Brecker, Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith and David Garfield, among others.

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