JazzWatch #33 | Jack DeJohnette

March 9, 2015 by jazzwatch in JazzWatch Blog Posts, JazzWatch Podcast and tagged AACM, album, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, bam, band, bill evans, black american music, charles lloyd, chicago, concert, conversation, discussion, drummer, drums, ecm, grammy, henry threadgill, improv, improvisation, Indie, interview, jackie mclean, jazz, jazz legend, jazz night in america, jazz release, jon patton, keith jarrett, label, larry gray, long form, made in chicago, manager, miles davis, mosaic, muhal richard abrams, music, nashville, National Black Journalist's Association, nea jazz master, new york, new york city, npr, podcast, producer, quartet, Rhythm, roscoe mitchell, Roy Wood Sr., Smalls, Smoke, Smoke Jazz Club, song travels, soundcheck, tiny desk, trio, web series, webisode, winner | Leave a comment

Acclaimed drummer and composer Jack DeJohnette is a true master of rhythm. As one of the last distinct voices to emerge from the golden era of improvisational music, DeJohnette is perhaps at the peak of his powers in 2015. His career has spanned through the ensembles of Miles Davis, Charles Lloyd, Bill Evans, Jackie McLean, Jon Patton and Keith Jarrett in addition to his unique ensembles as a leader. Following his 2012 NEA Jazz Master Award, DeJohnette was contacted by the Chicago Jazz Festival and asked to headline one of the evenings the following year with any ensemble of his choosing. Armed with reed-men Henry Threadgill and Roscoe Mitchell, bassist Larry Gray and pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, DeJohnette orchestrated one of his most adventurous live performances in recent years. This reunion of old friends was recorded, edited, mastered, and as is now available on the ECM release, “Made In Chicago.” In this chat, DeJohnette speaks about his origins in Chicago and many of the names and places that helped to develop his conception of music.

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JazzWatch #27 | Lou Donaldson

February 8, 2015 by jazzwatch in JazzWatch Blog Posts, JazzWatch Podcast and tagged album, alligator boogaloo, alto, bam, band, BeBop, black american music, concert, conversation, discussion, dr. lonnie smith, george benson, hip hop, improv, improvisation, Indie, instrument, interview, jazz, jazz legend, label, legendary, long form, manager, music, nashville, new york, new york city, npr, podcast, quartet, samples, saxophone, saxophonist, Smalls, Smoke, Smoke Jazz Club, trio, web series, webisode | Leave a comment

NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson remains one of the foremost practitioners of swinging, feel-good groove music. He cut his teeth playing for original bebop jazz audiences as a sideman and bandleader appearing on the now classic, “A Night At Birdland” recording from 1954. For the next 20 plus years, Poppa Lou set out on his own to develop a touring route that would reach urban jazz audiences from New York to California. The crowd that he cultivated were major supporters and pushed records like “Blues Walk” and “Alligator Boogaloo” to radio and jukebox hits and best sellers. Several of his groovy tunes from the later 60’s and early 70’s saw new life as samples in Hip Hop productions by artists such as De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Mad Lib, Pete Rock and many more. Lou gave us some great wisdom in this conversation. Enjoy!

Lou Donaldson, “8 Classic Albums” www.amazon.com/8-Classic-Albums-Lou-Donaldson/dp/B005BDZLXM

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