Rob Shepherd

Premiere: NEA Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim’s Single “Water from an Ancient Well” from ‘3’

Abdullah Ibrahim has spent most of his life using music to stand up to injustice. Born in Capetown in 1934,…

12 months ago

Complex Dream: A Conversation with Rubin Kodheli on his Music and Remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto

On March 28, 2023, the world lost one of its great composers, Ryuichi Sakamoto. Although emotionally powerful, Mr. Sakamoto’s work…

12 months ago

Marathon of Discovery: A Conversation with Winter Jazzfest Founder/Producer Brice Rosenbloom on the Festival at Twenty Years

For over a century, New York City has been the epicenter of jazz music. While many artists develop their craft…

12 months ago

Cloudward: A Conversation with Mary Halvorson

The Philosopher G.K. Chesterton once commented, "There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds." Here on…

12 months ago

Mourning and Hope: A Conversation with Susan Alcorn

For centuries, music has served as an empowering call for the oppressed and alienated. The origins of Blues, jazz, and…

12 months ago

Dedication: A Conversation with Dr. Eddie Henderson

One would be hard-pressed to find a figure that better represents the evolution of modern improvisation-based music than Eddie Henderson.…

1 year ago

Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Albums of 2023

In terms of my music writing, 2023 started off frustratingly with a few interviews that fell through and one that…

1 year ago

Painting with Sound: A Conversation with Sam Newsome

From advertising jingles to a neighbor’s booming subwoofer we are continually surrounded by music. in modern life But what is…

1 year ago

Viking of Sixth Avenue: A Conversation with Ghost Train Orchestra’s Brian Carpenter on Moondog

For several decades starting in the late 1940s, one could frequently find a blind, long-bearded, mysterious figure - cloaked with…

1 year ago

Sit with Sound: A Conversation with Sarah Belle Reid

Far too many people use the terms listening and hearing interchangeably. But in reality, as composer Pauline Oliveros noted, "listening…

1 year ago