Rob Shepherd

Inevitable Funkiness: A Conversation with Larry Goldings on Scary Goldings

A fifth of the way into the twenty-first century, James Brown’s question of “Ain’t It Funky Now?” Is perhaps best…

1 year ago

Arcus Pluvius: A Conversation with Steve Lehman on Big Bands, Artificial Intelligence, and ‘Ex Machina’

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to kill us all. Or, at least, that is what some theorize. Many commentators portray…

1 year ago

Five Music Boxes: A Conversation with Kris Davis on ‘Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard’

In Brian Kiwanuka’s excellent review of Kris Davis’ latest Diatom Ribbons album, he outlines how the music presented fits within…

1 year ago

Process Prevails: A Conversation with Darius Jones on ‘FluXkit Vancouver (i̶t̶s suite but sacred)’

What is music? What is art? How is art experienced aurally connected to its visual manifestations? To most people, these…

1 year ago

Something Bigger: A Conversation with James Brandon Lewis on Mahalia Jackson

Often, many place a wall between the secular and the religious, as though neither influences the other. In reality, both…

1 year ago

Observations from Day One of the 2023 Newport Jazz Festival

On Friday, August 4, 2023, the historic Newport Jazz Festival presented a highly pleasurable afternoon of music, as it has…

1 year ago

Friends Old and New: Artistic Director Christian McBride Previews the 2023 Newport Jazz Festival

We conclude our series of 2023 Newport Jazz Festival pre-event interviews with a conversation with Christian McBride. Fittingly, our third…

2 years ago

Tide is My Witness: Cautious Clay Previews his 2023 Newport Jazz Festival Performance and New Blue Note Album

Jazz music has long had an interesting, albeit complicated, relationship with more popular musical forms. Swing bands were the pop…

2 years ago

Magic is Real: Vijay Iyer Previews the ‘Love in Exile’ Trio’s 2023 Newport Jazz Festival Performance

Often the best music seemingly transports the listener - by the artist’s direction - to another time and place. The…

2 years ago

Armstrong Now: Giveton Gelin Previews Louis at Newport

When one considers a historical museum, thoughts of those no longer with us often come to mind. Figures who made…

2 years ago