Interviews

In a space defined by its progressive thought and forward-thinking, Sonny Rollins maintains his place as one of jazz’s most eccentric personalities. And as such, it affects the way in which we examine his life. For most artists, we track their lives through the lens of artistic output, because what …

It was clear from the start that The Brand New Heavies were something special. For over 20 years the band has been playing old school funk, soul and jazz on an extraordinary level. Part of the group’s lasting appeal is the fact that they have mastered the sounds of funk …

  I often wonder if, as a young boy growing up on E. 85th and Quincy in Cleveland, Ohio, sneaking licks on his father’s precious guitar, Bobby Womack even imagined the impact he would have on the music industry. Womack or “Mr. Womagic” as the old heads still call him, …

When examining the arc of one’s artistry, what must be considered above that individual’s personal aptitude of his respective skill is the fact that you are a product of your environment. Terence Blanchard is an arc type for this principle, extracting the rich spirit of his New Orleans upbringing from …

Talib Kweli has released some of the most seminal albums in hip-hop, such as Reflection Eternal with DJ Hi Tek, and Black Star his collaboration with Mos Def — among many other great releases. He appears as a guest with some of the cream of hip-hop, including Kanye West, Common …

We will never fully understand the genius of Thelonious Sphere Monk, Sr. He embodied a particular brand of intellect that extended far beyond the scope of music. His was a way of life. Intelligently designed, it dictated the vivacious artistry we know him for, but also his most significant undertaking …

Of those that studied under Thelonious Monk – a list that includes Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bud Powell amongst many others – T.S. Monk may be his most successful pupil. Now before you cry foul, understand this: Education is not simply the accruement of knowledge, but its application. If …

Nik West   From as early as she can recollect, bassist Nik West rocked to the beat of her own tune. Growing up, she traded in her Mary Jane’s and ballet flats for L.A. Gears as she played basketball with the boys, and preferred a Transformer over a Barbie doll …

From as early as she can recollect, bassist Nik West rocked to the beat of her own tune. Growing up, she traded in her Mary Jane’s and ballet flats for L.A. Gears as she played basketball with the boys, and preferred a Transformer over a Barbie doll any day. Her …

Trombonist and seashellist Steve Turre has been a jazz favorite of critics and listeners for many years. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, Turre was exposed to great music at an early age by his parents. They would take the young musician to listen to live big band …

Steve Cole, the jazz artist, returns to his roots as a classically trained musician on his latest release Moonlight. “I started off as a classical musician. I love the sound of the orchestra, and some of the great relationships between arrangers and artists,” said Cole. Moonlight is a seamless combination …

What makes the 21st century Jazz musician so appealing and innovative is his or her open-mindedness when it comes to inspiration. Vibraphonist Stefon Harris is one of many great artists to flourish in this generation of Jazz chameleons. With every new project comes a new challenge and a new sound; …