The big band concept has existed for well over a century. Throughout that time, dance has always been an essential part of the music. In the 1910s, artists used the format to support polka and waltzes. Thirty years later, the big band was the essence of the rage of swing music. While artists have continued […]
For the second part of our conversation with Michael Leonhart on The Normyn Suites (Sunnyside, 2022), we discuss Elvis Costello, the Avant-Garde, scoring Red Dead Redemption II (Rockstar, 2018), and how the beauty of “Catharsis” with Bill Frisell came to life. Check out part one here. PostGenre: How did Elvis Costello get involved with The […]
Sometimes the most complicated things in life are those that appear deceptively simple. We all understand, at a surface level, our emotions. We learn, from an early age, what it means to be happy, sad, or angry. But the reality is that these sensations are often far more complex than they seem. While we all […]
We continue our conversation with Jim Anderson (click here for our prior discussion with him and Ulrike Schwarz on immersive audio) by covering some of his prior recordings. Our selections show that while Anderson defines most of his work within the jazz tradition, that category is broad. Its breadth encompasses everything from a funky lost […]
On the interplay between music and technology, discussions generally emphasize two areas. The first is the emergence of new instruments, from the electric guitar to the synthesizer to the turntable. The second couches itself in terms of formatting; how streaming overcame physical media or the arguable resurgence of vinyl. But technology’s influences go deeper. Another […]
In this second part of our conversation with Sonny Rollins, we do a deeper dive into one specific area we circled in the first. Music plays a significant role, including some coverage of his various outings as a sideman and his retirement from performance. But in our continued discussion, the focus is more on Rollins’ […]
Fans have long recognized Sonny Rollins as among the upper echelon of figures in improvised music. Some have even ventured to call him “the greatest living improviser.” Critics and those in the music industry seemingly concur. Not only has Rollins been awarded several honorary doctorates, but he is the recipient of the Grammy Award for […]
One can summarize much of the COVID-19 pandemic in one word: isolation. Travel restrictions made walls between countries seem higher. Shutdowns and social distancing only further underscored divides within local communities. And quarantine itself was the direct removal of individuals from those around them. With this backdrop, South Australian drummer Alexander Flood’s latest, The Space Between (Stretch […]
In our prior conversation with Fred Seibert, we discussed his role as a young producer and engineer capturing Cecil Taylor and other artists. Despite working with heavyweights like Rudy Van Gelder and Tony May, Seibert ultimately chose not to make music his career. Instead, his focus became, primarily, television. At the beginning of the 1980s, […]
Many artists can make great music. Very few can change the course of musical history. Cecil Taylor was one of the latter. By breaking apart conventions, both on and off of the bandstand, he opened up new realms and possibilities. While Ornette Coleman – another brilliant trailblazer – is often credited with creating free jazz […]
