Interviews

In a music industry often rife with shameless self promotion and ambitious arrogance, humility is a characteristic that is found in minimal proportions. Contrary to popular thought, humility is not the meek position some may think. It is the quiet strength of the humble that does not step on others …

How many people are fortunate enough to be mentored by the legendary jazz trumpeter Clark Terry? Say, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. And how about those Quincy Jones mentored; Michael Jackson, Tevin Campbell and Tamia to name a few. There is an individual who can say he has been blessed …

Kiku Collins Photo by Andrew T Foster Kiku Collins is a well-traveled performer, navigating the music scene via her play on both the trumpet and the flugelhorn. Within her dynamic career, she has been invited to perform with Beyonce, Jill Scott, Michael Bolton, and Gloria Gaynor amongst a bevy of …

Melvin Van Peebles belongs on the short list of the most innovative filmmakers of the 20th century. The renegade director’s approach to storytelling has made him a true original. His guerilla style quick camera cut approach to his breakout film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassssss Song laid the groundwork for the sub-genre …

  Jazz, the genre that has sub-genres within the culture itself. There is Swing, Bebop, Harmony, Afro-Cuban, Modern, Smooth, Cool, Avant-Garde and Free or what some call Cosmic/Mystic/World Fusion Jazz. This sound of the 1970’s includes artists such as Sun Ra, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronnie Laws, Yusef Lateef, Alice Coltrane …

Christian Scott is a Grammy Award-nominated trumpeter, composer, and producer. The nephew of Jazz Saxophonist Donald Harrison, Scott has been called “Jazz’s young style God,” after receiving critical acclaim for both his progressive sound as well as his innovative fashion sense. His most recognizable attribute is a practice known as …

(l-r) Cynda Williams, Wesley Snipes, and Bill Nunn in Mo’ Better Blues Anyone from the ages of 35 – 45 who love jazz, either loves the movie Mo’ Better Blues and or loves Clarke Bentancourt one of the leading ladies in the film. After the movie came out women were …

Peter Escovedo and Sheila E. Creating music that will make history and giving back are a part of the Escovedo legacy, and whether or not she realized it, singer and percussionist Sheila E. inherited the birthright. Before she was known as the Pop and R&B sensation “Sheila E.”, the artist …

Legendary Trumpeter Clark Terry “If Clark Terry told me I was playing shit, man, I’d take that seriously. I’d take it to heart.” – Miles Davis Musicians can be a selfish or cryptic people. Even though it may or may not be a fair assessment to make, the truth of …

Meshell Ndegeocello Singer, songwriter and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello’s liberation from her birth name and adoption of her current surname that means “free as a bird” in Swahili at the age of 17 foreshadowed her unrestricted views on love, life and the creative spirit we know today. With a sincere and …

Victor Wooten “My mom always said the world needs more than just good musicians. She said we need good people.” There are some individuals who are quick learners and have a knack for learning a specific thing and running with it. Bassist Victor Wooten is one of those people. The …

Strength, power, commanding, fierce and spirit filled describe the voice of Jazz singer Dianne Reeves. She has strength and power that commands the listener to become engaged in every word she sings. Her fierceness and spirit draws us in even deeper and we become one with her and her voice. …