Rob Shepherd

Human Nature: A Conversation with Nate Wooley (Part One)

Throughout history, humans have struggled to understand their place in nature. Often, however, perspectives on nature have at least bordered…

2 years ago

Rebooting the Connection : A Conversation with Ronnie Foster (Part Two)

We continue (check out part one here) our conversation with Ronnie Foster by discussing his classic, Two Headed Freap (Blue Note, 1972).…

2 years ago

Rebooting the Connection : A Conversation with Ronnie Foster (Part One)

While Fats Waller, Count Basie, and Wild Bill Davis charted the organ trio’s course across the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s,…

2 years ago

Outside the Comfort Zone: A Conversation with Anna Butterss

On a debut album, many artists play it a little “safe.” Show your capability but save your boundary-pushing for a…

2 years ago

Genuine Expression: A Conversation with Julius Rodriguez

"Is it jazz?" This question has plagued improvised music for nearly half a century. Almost as long as people have…

3 years ago

Informed by Art: Signmaker Nan Parati on Newport, New Orleans, and Her Craft

“Stop.” “Exit.” “Wet Floor.” From a purely functional perspective, readers encounter signs countless times throughout their day. They have become…

3 years ago

Oliver Lake: Making Justice And Love A Reality

Oliver Lake has been at the forefront of creative saxophone music for nearly a half-century. It is partly because of…

3 years ago

Undercurrent: A Conversation with Ulf Ivarsson and Bill Laswell (Part Two)

We continue our conversation with bassists Ulf Ivarsson and Bill Laswell (read Part One here) with a further discussion of…

3 years ago

Undercurrent: A Conversation with Ulf Ivarsson and Bill Laswell (Part One)

One could cogently argue that Bill Laswell is the epitome of an artist unconfined by genre norms. As critic Chris…

3 years ago

Open to Interpretation: A Conversation with Ches Smith

People often start down the path of better understanding and appreciating art by emphasizing an artist's intent. While a valid…

3 years ago