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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). We then briefly discuss his production work, leading into Reboot (Blue Note, 2022), his first album since 1986. With a deeper dive into Reboot we also discuss a few of Foster’s friends and collaborators, including Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, […]

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, the format did not hit its zenith until the late 1950s. Central to the emergence of the organ trio was the rise of soul jazz, an amalgamation of influences from jazz, blues, soul, gospel, and […]

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 used the label “jazz”, they have questioned how to define it. Some – Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Crouch being perhaps the most prominent voices – have even proposed unsupportable theses on the “true” definition of […]

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 so commonplace that many are understandable by mere symbols without text. But at what point does a sign become more than just notice or direction? We are similarly swimming in an ocean of sounds yet […]

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 their new album Nammu (Ropeadope, 2022). We also cover Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, turntablists, and the concept of genre. PostGenre: Ulf, how did you write the parts for Nammu?  Ulf Ivarsson: When I sat down […]

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 Brazier correctly noted, “Laswell’s pet concept is ‘collision music’ .. bringing together musicians from wildly divergent but complementary spheres and seeing what comes out.” The output of Laswell’s first major band, Material, runs the gamut […]

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 line of inquiry, this focus on artistic objectives is also flawed. Too often, the interpreter’s personal biases predominate the analysis. Ultimately, subjectivity is an inescapable part of every artistic study. Statements by, or interviews with, […]

All Connected: A Conversation with Ron Carter (Part Two)

We continue our conversation with Ron Carter by discussing his Foursight Quartet’s upcoming performances at both Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival, his musical explorations of other cultures, and the power of music and education. You can read part one of our conversation here. PostGenre: So far, we have discussed two – the octet […]