All That's Jazz

Episode 42 Ben Sidran

Ben Sidran is a jazz pianist and vocalist, lyricist, award-winning national broadcaster, record and video producer, scholar, journalist, father and an author. He was our first guest on All That's Jazz and his original episode is our most downloaded. This week, we catch up with Ben Sidran, on his critically acclaimed book The Ballad of Tommy LiPuma. We also talk about a new final chapter of a book, There Was A Fire, Ben wrote in 2011 that is being reissued in March 2021. Finally, we have fun with his latest album, done with his multi-talented son, Leo, called Who's The Old Guy Now. 

Episode 41 Thana Alexa

Surprising is a word that perhaps best describes Grammy® nominated artist, Thana Alexa, an extraordinarily creative force in music. An awe-inspiring vocalist, composer, arranger and producer – for whom the voice is both a lyrical and experimental instrument – her music pushes the boundaries of the genre into new and unexplored territory with deep seeded roots in jazz and overtones of contemporary soul and world music.

Her latest album, ONA (self-release, March 2020), which earned her two Grammy® nominations (Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Instrumental Jazz Solo for Regina Carter’s performance), is Alexa’s focus, her mission statement. Translated to "SHE" from her family's native Croatian, ONA was inspired by the cross generational and cross-cultural stories of the immigrant women in her family and evolved into an exploration of the experiences of contemporary women everywhere. The album speaks to us musically about every facet of womanhood, conveying a message of strength and empowerment. For more information about Thana Alexa please visit her website www.thanalexa.com

 

Episode 40 Emily Olcott Jazz Standard

A conversation with Emily Olcott, an aspiring actor, singer and writer who worked as a server at the iconic New York City venue, the Jazz Standard which is now closed. Learn about her recent written memoir that went viral recalling her life changing experiences at this venue which she described as “for six years, the Jazz Standard was my home. It was my life. It gave me a life. And now it’s gone.”

Episode 39 The Jazz Exchange

Enjoy our conversation with Candice Reyes and Abel Mireles the co-founders of The Jazz Exchange.  The Jazz Exchange is an organization committed to connecting communities  through music while creating a platform for established and upcoming musicians. This wonderful organization also conducts educational programs for young, aspiring musicians and has also established a Relief Fund Program to benefit jazz artists impacted by the Covid 19-pandemic.

Episode 38 Chris Brubeck

Chris Brubeck is a Performer, Grammy Nominated Composer, Educator and the son of the legendary Dave Brubeck. In this episode we discuss the newly released, remarkable album called Time Outtakes which features alternate takes from the original 1959 iconic Dave Brubeck album called Time Out.  You'll hear the stories behind the discovery of these, until now, unpublished tracks of Brubeck's signature pieces and more.  This new album celebrates and is a tribute to Dave Brubeck's centennial milestone.

Episode 37 Jerome Jennings

Jerome Jennings is a multi-talented drummer, activist, bandleader, composer, sideman and educator.   

His debut recording ‘The Beast’ is a reflection of the everyday joys and traumas of black life in the U.S.  Jerome’s, ‘Solidarity’, released November 2019 was recognized by NPR as best music that spoke truth to power of 2019. To date Jerome has performed, toured and recorded with legendary musicians like Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson, Christian McBride, Ron Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis (J@LC), The Count Basie Orchestra, Philip Bailey, Henry Butler, and countless others. He has also made recordings and shared the stage with contemporary musicians Sean Jones, Camille Thurman, Jazzmeia Horn, Christian Sands, Charenee Wade, and Bokani Dyer to name a few. The summer of 2007 Jerome earned a MM from the prestigious Juilliard School in Manhattan NY. Jerome has been the Resident Director of The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra since fall 2017. 

Episode 36 David Chesky

David Chesky is an American pianist, composer, producer, arranger, and co-founder of the independent, audiophile label Chesky Records. He is also co-founder and CEO of HDtracks, an online music store that sells high-resolution digital music.  Chesky is considered a technological and musical innovator with eclectic interests.    

 

Three time Grammy nominee David Chesky has earned indisputable respect for his unique, eclectic musical compositions spanning both the jazz and classical idioms in addition to his prominence in the audiophile community for the development of new recording technologies and his role as co-owner of Chesky Records. He is the composer of over fifty works including concertos, chamber music, vocal and choral music, symphonic music, ballet, operas, and works for solo piano. 

Episode 35 Regina Carter

Trying to fit Regina Carter into a neatly defined musical category is pointless. She enjoys performing many styles of music—jazz, R&B, Latin, classical, blues, country, pop, African, and on and on. In each she explores the power of music through the voice of the violin.

A winner of multiple readers’ and critics’ poll awards from DownBeat, JazzTimes, and other publications, Regina tours with her own group and has appeared frequently as a guest soloist, including with such performers as Kenny Barron, the late bassist Ray Brown, Akua Dixon, Steve Turre, Stefon Harris, George Wein, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jackson, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton, Omara Portuondo, Cassandra Wilson, and Chieli Minucci and Special EFX.

With her newest album, released in July, “Swing States,” Regina has taken her social justice message to the election booth, stressing not only the extreme importance of the recent 2020 election - what some have termed the most important election in our lifetime. 

Episode 34 Chien Chien Lu

Chien Chien Lu is a jazz vibraphonist, contemporary percussionist, and composer originally from Taiwan and now living in New York City.  Chien Chien has recently stepped forth as a composer and leader on her new album “The Path”.  She previously recorded with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt on his latest record “Jeremy Pelt The Artist” and toured with his band to France, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, and UK. 

Episode 33 Turning The Tables

The tables are turned on All That’s Jazz with our previous guests asking our team some fun - and thoughtful - questions. You’re going to be surprised. We were!