fbpx

Intervalic Awakening: A Conversation with Modney on ‘Ascending Primes’

Prime numbers – whole numbers greater than one that are not the products of two smaller whole numbers – are something of an enigma. While primaility has been under human consideration since at least 1550 BC, there is still a general lack of clarity about these numbers. While generations of mathematicians have formulated equations to […]

Solo? : A Conversation with Josh Johnson on ‘Unusual Object’

Certain instruments seem destined for solo explorations. Perhaps the best example would be the piano, where a single artist can easily use one hand to accompany the other. Less stereotypical, yet no less significant, are the long run of solo saxophone recordings. Many horn players over the years have found that playing alone can provide a […]

Reflections : A Conversation with Karriem Riggins on Jahari Massamba Unit’s ‘YHWH is Love’

The corporate-led division of music into genres ignored the reality of the music presented. This is perhaps no better seen than in the relationship between “jazz” and “hip hop.” Over the last two decades, many have written about the meeting of these two stylistic influences. This analysis, however, is incredibly misguided. Technically speaking, it is […]

Pushing Off: A Conversation with Christopher Hoffman on ‘Vision is the Identity’

Henry David Thoreau once noted, “The perception of beauty is a moral test.” Regardless of whether we wish to acknowledge it, one cannot deny that their biases and history shape how they experience everything around them, including art. Interestingly, this artistic predisposition extends to ideas of how a particular instrument “should sound.” In the case […]

Watchtower: A Conversation with Dezron Douglas

Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way of interviews making it to print. This interview with Dezron Douglas, which took place on November 10, 2022, is one such conversation. At the time, the bassist was about to release his quartet’s record, Atalaya (International Anthem, 2022). As that same group – with pianist George Burton, drummer […]

Traveling the Sound World : A Conversation with Brandon Ross on Phantom Station

Borrowed from the ancient Greek φαντάζω, the idea of a phantom evokes a shadowy force that someone cannot precisely locate. The term suggests something seen or heard but which is not actually present. The power of a phantom comes from the perceiver’s inability to fully understand their surroundings. In this sense, Phantom Station is an […]

Collaborative High Intensity : A Conversation with Anthony Pirog on ‘The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis’

Jazz and punk have long had a fascinating relationship. Mixing both styles dates back to at least fifty years ago, with punk powerhouse The Stooges incorporating jazz-influenced saxophone solos on “L.A. Blues” and the title track on Fun House (Elektra, 1970). Actually, many of the early punk icons were fans of jazz music, particularly the grittiness and […]

Easier to See from the Outside: A Conversation with John Lurie

Symbolist painter Gustave Klimt once noted, “Art is a line around your thoughts.” Of course, as the march of time progresses, an artist’s thoughts change and adapt. No one should expect 1950s Miles Davis to sound precisely the same as his 1970s or 1980s counterparts. But what happens when an artist’s life circumstances change so […]

Moving by Breath: A Conversation with David Leon on ‘Bird’s Eye’

Arguably, the essence of jazz lies in its use of improvisation. The ability of an artist to create in the moment based on the artist’s then-existing perspective – rather than merely trying to put their own spin on the choices of another or their past self – often causes the artist to reveal more about […]

Translating the Language: A Conversation with Lenny White (Part Two)

We continue our conversation with Lenny White (read part one here), with a discussion of his work with Santana, Azteca, Gato Barbieri, Return to Forever, Jaco Pastorious, and much more. PostGenre: A lot of your music has Latin influences. You worked with Santana on Caravanserai (Columbia, 1972). Around that time, you also performed and recorded with Azteca. […]