Interviews

Harvey Mason’s nickname, “The Chameleon,” was not just given to him, but was also earned.  Mason’s drumming work has run the gamut across many musical genres, and his ever changing styles have morphed to accommodate legends from Herbie Hancock, James Brown, and Nancy Wilson, to contemporary artists like Mary J. …

Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Willie Ziavino began writing songs at the tender age of 14. The essence of his songs captured the daily life out on the Ecuadorean streets and garnered him some national acclaim. After a serious car accident, Willie moved to Havana, Cuba where he fell in love …

Regarded as one of the strongest talents in R&B, Brian McKnight is a quiet storm known for his strong falsetto range and love ballads. By the age of 19, McKnight had signed a recording contract with a major record label. During those first years in music, he mastered eight instruments, …

Freddy Cole. The name may sound familiar not only because of the iconic family name, but also because Cole has been a mainstay in the jazz industry for over 50 years. The Chicago native began playing piano at the age of 6, and at 81 years old, he is still …

Zeola (Zee) Gaye, the baby sister of the late R&B artist, Marvin Gaye chronicles the true story about life with her famous sibling in her book, My Brother, Marvin, A Memoir by Zeola Gaye. Twenty-seven years after his death, the public hears directly from Marvin’s sister about her brother’s iconic, …

Photo of Roy Hargrove by John Whiting Jazz legend Sonny Rollins once said, “Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one’s own,” and Roy Hargrove has taken those words to heart.  In an exclusive interview with iRockJazz, multiple Grammy winner, bandleader and jazz trumpeter extraordinaire, Roy …

Albert Einstein once said, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music,” Bill Ortiz has shown us the interconnection between his life and music with Highest Wish, …

Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, flutist Elsa Nilsson brings an exciting sound to jazz. A graduate of the Cornish College of the Arts, Elsa began playing the flute at the age of 11. Her music, birthed from personal pain, is a beautiful expression of human emotions that transcends cultural boundaries. In …

Multi-Grammy Award winning percussionist Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts is one of the most sought after musicians in the world. Watts’ extraordinary career includes a role as Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, a three year stint on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a legendary Grammy run with …

When the grown folks were educating me on Billy Eckstine, this was the third part of the lesson.  It’s a funny choice of words when you consider the fact the first two were about his charm and his attire. The talented Mr. B, in his suave sartorial splendor, was also …

Jacques Schwarz-Bart was born in Guadeloupe where he was first exposed to voodoo ritual chants and found his musical expression and voice. As an infant, his mother sang voodoo chants to him, which settled deep in his heart as nuggets of gold. Those nuggets would resurface and give birth to …

It is no mystery that music is a great way to unite people. It forges bonds, inspires change, carries us through difficult times, clears away differences and brings people together in a way only music can. Often times, musical partnership develops into deeper connections that ignite romantic ties. Such is …