All That's Jazz

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

Season 2 Episode 15 Roseanna Vitro

GRAMMY nominated vocalist Roseanna Vitro is celebrating the release of her 15th album called Sing a Song of Bird.

Sing a Song of Bird is but another daring flight from Roseanna Vitro, a study of Charlie Parker, one of the greatest figures in jazz and popular music. Roseanna joins forces with Bob Dorough, Sheila Jordan, and Marion Cowings bringing a lifetime of inspiration to her through their legendary virtuosity. As Her devotees know well, she always weaves a tale through music and lyrics that resonate to the soul.  We talk in depth about this journey, it’s development and what it means to her to finally accomplish a mission that began back in 2017.

Season 2 Episode 14 Sheila Jordan

At the age of 92 and still going strong, singer-songwriter Sheila Jordan has been one of the most revered and utterly unique voices in jazz for decades. Beginning with her debut album, 1963’s Portrait of Sheila on Blue Note Records, she pioneered a bebop-inflected approach to singing accompanied only by solo bass (in that case, a duet with Steve Swallow on one of her signature tunes, Bobby Timmons’ “Dat Dere”). Following the release of that album, however, Sheila retreated from the scene to concentrate on raising her daughter, working as a typist for the next two decades and not recording as a leader again for more than a dozen years.
 
The never-before-released Comes Love: Lost Session 1960 thus adds a crucial new chapter to Jordan’s remarkable story. Recorded on June 10, 1960 at New York’s Olmsted Sound Studios for the little-known Chatam Records, the recently discovered studio date presents the singer in nascent but instantly recognizable form on a set of standards.Release by Colorado-based Capri Records on September 17, 2021, the album is otherwise shrouded in mystery: Jordan has no recollection of the date or the names of her accompanists, a nonetheless deftly attuned trio. We are honored to have her share her rich history and incredible stories.

Season 2 Episode 13 Jonathan Kane

In August 1958, a budding photographer by the name of Arthur Kanofsky (Art Kane) conceptualized the notion of assembling the musicians of New York’s jazz community for a photo in front of an East Harlem brownstone. He came up with the idea of getting as many musicians together in one place as he could. As a result of Kane’s efforts, 57 jazz musicians, including Mary Lou Williams, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie duly assembled at the unlikely hour of 10:00 am at 7 East 126th street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues. The photograph was published in Esquire Magazine in the January 1959 issue. 

In 2018, Wall of Sound published Art Kane: Harlem 1958 – a visual history of the iconic shoot, edited by Art’s son, Jonathan Kane, and Guido Harari. Jonathan Kane is our guest this week to tell us the backstory and share anecdotes of “Harlem 1958” more widely known today as “A Great Day In Harlem.”  

Season 2 Episode 12 Dave Liebman

Dave Liebman has always declared that if he had to name one primary influence and inspiration it would be John Coltrane. Liebman's latest release is titled ‘Selflessness’ and is a tribute to Coltrane. It’s an album featuring his working band, Expansions, that features alto saxophonist Matt Vashlishan, pianist Bobby Avey, drummer Alex Ritz and bassist Tony Marino. All the pieces are newly arranged and rethought – mostly by Liebman, but also by members of the band. It also marks Dave’s return to an album entirely on soprano saxophone, the instrument with which he is most associated.

Dave Liebman is a NEA Jazz Master for good reason. His fluency, clarity and originality on soprano sax is mind-boggling. We’re honored to have him join us for an in-depth conversation on this new release.

Season 2 Episode 11 Anaïs Reno

Anaïs Reno is a 17-year old jazz vocalist who was born on November 29, 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland and now resides in New York. Despite her very young age, Anaïs has been artistically very active, involved in the performing arts since age 8. Anaïs has had a rapidly growing career as a singer with a love for jazz and the Great American Songbook. Since age 10, she has had the opportunity to sing with highly acclaimed professionals in the field and perform in prominent venues: the NY Philharmonic in David Geffen Hall with her own compositions, Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Feinstein’s 54 Below and has performed with the Birdland Big Band, as well as several times at Carnegie Hall.

She has released her debut album celebrating the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn called “Lovesome Thing Anais Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn” accompanied by the Emmet Cohen Trio. Join us for a wonderful conversation about this amazing young artist and her music.