All That's Jazz

Season 2 Episode 25 Pete Malinverni

Pianist, composer and educator Pete Malinverni has been a fixture on the New York City Jazz scene since moving there in the early 1980s from his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY. Pete has recorded fourteen times as a leader in solo piano, trio, quartet, quintet, big band and choral contexts. He’s performed and recorded with a host of masters including Joe Lovano, Vernel Fournier, Charles Davis, Mel Lewis, Dennis Irwin, Jon Faddis, Karrin Allyson, Steve Wilson and many, many others.

Having taught at William Paterson University and New York University, Pete now serves as Head of Jazz Studies at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, State University of New York. 

Dropping on January 14, 2022, Pete’s newest release, “On the Town – Pete Malinverni plays Leonard Bernstein” is an intimate trio album that features bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Jeff Hamilton. The album was penned in tribute to the composer who he met in a serendipitous moment while playing in an upscale Manhattan restaurant 25 years ago. This episode is more than a conversation, it’s an education, as Pete sits down at his piano to walk us through some of his creative process as he weaves us through his unbelievably diverse background and the process that led to his new album.

You can listen to “On the Town – Pete Malinverni plays Leonard Bernstein” via Planet Arts Recordings (planetarts.org) by streaming “New York New York.” Learn more about Pete on his site petemalinverni.com

Season 2 Episode 24 Carlos Henriquez

Join us for another in-depth conversation, this time with 

Carlos Henriquez,  one of the preeminent bassists of his generation, as we learn the backstory to his new GRAMMY nominated album “The South Bronx Story.”

 

A member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for over two decades, Carlos has been called one of the first truly “bilingual” musicians - a master of both jazz and Afro-Latin traditions. His upbringing in the South Bronx, a rich musical hub that boasts local legends such as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz, played a major role in his musical and personal development. 

 

On The South Bronx Story, a project that first premiered in 2018 at Jazz at Lincoln Center to wide acclaim, the multi-talented bassist and composer takes listeners on a wide-ranging musical journey through his stomping grounds.

Season 2 Episode 23 Jazz Empowers

ANDREW JOHNSTON is an accomplished trombonist who has performed with jazz greats such as Terrell Stafford, Jeff Hamilton, and Phil Woods. He is also EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER of an organization called JAZZ EMPOWERS, a non-profit organization that’s mission is to transform the lives of youth in underserved schools through jazz education.  

Jazz Empowers fulfills this mission by partnering with underserved schools across the country, helping them to start and develop jazz programs. They are driven by a belief that every child in America has the right to a high-quality music education. They teach jazz because it is rooted in improvisation which maximizes students’ creativity and self-expression, and has the power to transform students’ lives intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Their vision is that one day all students in America will have the opportunity to learn, love and play jazz. 

Andrew taught music and math at an underserved high school in Nashville. He founded Jazz Empowers in 2014 after seeing the major need for jazz programs in underserved schools, and in 2015 launched a pilot program in two schools in Nashville. Since the launch of the pilot program, he’s led the organization to significant growth. Jazz Empowers currently serves 1400 students in 26 states and Andrew has raised over $650,000 for jazz education and amassed an impressive volunteer Advisory Board including Miguel Zenon, Terell Stafford, Dave Douglas,Michael Dease, Jon Irabagon, Ted Nash, Allison Miller, Lakecia Benjamin, Jeff Coffin, and Bob Mintzer.

Season 2 Episode 22 Cory Weeds

Cory Weeds, the saxophonist and creative and entrepreneurial force behind Cellar Music Group and its imprints—Cellar Live, Cellar Music, and Reel to Real Recordings—released his 18^th album as a leader, “What Is There To Say?”, in November. It’s his first backed by a 13-piece string orchestra. Though Weeds headlines and co-produces, he tapped saxophonist, pianist, composer, arranger, and bona fide Canadian jazz hero, Phil Dwyer, as the project’s other co-producer and de-facto music director. In addition to playing piano, Dwyer wrote all the arrangements.

In order to ensure this would be a project Dwyer would really believe in, Weeds gave his pianist and arranger carte blanche over all eight tunes here, even Weeds’ own.

Weeds has compiled some real musical gems on this latest release while also contributing an eclectic trio of original compositions to round out an extremely enjoyable musical program. We talk about the vision of this remarkable album, his partnership with Dwyer, what Cellar Music is doing to find and preserve lost jazz recordings – and about an exciting new project he is working on with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt to record Black jazz artists.

Season 2 Episode 21 Graham Dechter

At the age of 9, jazz guitarist, Graham Dechter, first caught the attention of drummer Jeff Hamilton. He was later hired at age 19 by Hamilton and John Clayton to join the Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He was the youngest member in the history of the band. He was only 22 when Right On Time, his first recording as a leader, was released. His second release, Takin’ It There, spent 22 weeks on the Jazz Week chart, including 12 weeks in the top five and two weeks at #1.

Now years later for his third release titled Major Influence, Graham reunites with his dream team rhythm section from his earlier recordings: Tamir Hendelman on piano, John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums. The album was recorded prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the release was delayed until the group could return to touring and live performances.

About the cuts on Major Influence, Graham says, “After completing seven originals and co-arranging the classic ‘Pure Imagination’ with Mr. Hamilton, I came to the realization that every song on this recording, whether consciously or subconsciously, was dedicated to and/or directly influenced by one or more of my musical heroes.”

Those musical heroes include jazz guitar luminaries Herb Ellis and Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, George Shearing, Hank Mobley, Louis Cole, Art Blakey, Larry Goldings - and Genevieve Artadi of the synth-heavy avant-pop duo KNOWER.

This is a delightful conversation we know you’ll enjoy, and it will make you want to know more about this talented guitarist. It’s quite a journey.

Season 2 Episode 20 Antonio Adolfo

In September of 2020, we had the distinct pleasure of speaking with pianist, arranger, producer and educator Antonio Adolfo (Season 1, Episode 22) At that time, Antonio had just released his album titled “BruMa.” Now, a little over a year later, we catch up with him about his newest release, “Jobim Forever,” a tribute to the music of Brazil’s greatest maestro, composer Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Another ATJ guest, acclaimed music critic Scott Yanow, said in L.A. Jazz Times, “Jobim Forever is an easy album to enjoy and it does full justice to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Thus far, every recording of Antonio Adolfo that I have heard is recommended - and this one is certainly no exception.”

We could not agree more.

Explore with us the backstory of how Antonio Adolfo came to create this exquisite tribute to the icon of Brazilian music known as Bossa Nova.

Season 2 Episode 19 Hiromi

“I think there are only two genres: the genre which moves my heart and the genre that doesn’t. I’m just playing the music which moves my heart.” - Hiromi

Ever since the 2003 release of her debut, Another Mind, pianist and composer Hiromi has electrified audiences with a creative energy that encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication.

On her new album, Silver Lining Suite, Hiromi pairs her virtuosic and emotive piano with a string quartet assembled by violinist Tatsuo Nishie, concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic. The results blur the lines between classical music and jazz, crafting a vibrant hybrid of rock-inspired energy and cinematic beauty that Hiromi has always instilled in her music. Silver Lining Suite epitomizes Hiromi’s emotional range by finding strength and hope amidst the turmoil of the pandemic.

Season 2 Episode 18 The Baylor Project

Generations, the second offering of The Baylor Project, is a soulful, sonic story quilt.
Like many quality quilts, it didn’t come together overnight. It took over three years to design, create and assemble and involved the contribution of the intricate handiwork of many artists from all over the world, across several generations and so-called genres.

The finished product is a patchwork of 11 songs (9 originals and 2 covers) carefully and lovingly stitched together by the powerhouse couple Jean and Marcus Baylor to tell an overall story about the universality of the human condition. It's a story that we all need to hear and be reminded of about the things that matter the most like faith, love, community, culture and family.

Season 2 Episode 17 Soapbox Gallery

Jimmy Greenfield is not or only a noted artist but the owner and director of a unique and special venue in Brooklyn, New York called the Soapbox Gallery.

Dedicated to presenting music with an emphasis on jazz, performance and works of art that engage the issues of our time, Soapbox was inspired by the idea that a simple, humble box–that one stands on and delivers a speech from–can start a movement and perhaps even help to change the world.
 
During these unprecedented times, Soapbox Gallery has been committed to keeping music alive by providing artists of all types a safe and professional environment to perform. Musical performances are both live with an audience in-house as well as live-streamed.  Since May, Soapbox Gallery has been presenting live-streams six days a week from Greenfield’s former sculpture studio. Its state-of-the-art, three-camera system provides a great view of the action, and video overlays are increasingly a part of the performance equation, providing a unique multimedia experience.

Season 2 Episode 16 Louis Armstrong House Museum

The Louis Armstrong House Museum (LAHM) is a National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark and sustains and promotes the cultural, historical, and humanitarian legacy of Louis Armstrong. Its mission is to preserve and interpret Armstrong’s house and grounds through collecting and sharing archival materials that document Armstrong’s life and legacy. LAHM develops programs for the public that educate and inspire as well as engaging with contemporary artists to create performances and new works.

Armstrong was widely recognized as a founding father of the uniquely American art form of Jazz. His influence as an artist and cultural icon is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. We talk with Ricky Riccardi, Director of Research Collections, about the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the extensive archives, and Ricky’s personal journey and dedication to preserving and telling the story of the man known around the world as Satchmo.  

To learn more, visit their website www.louisarmstronghouse.org