Interviews

Found deep in the DNA of Cava Menzies is a long line of musical talents. Her grandmother was a dancer at the legendary Cotton Club, and her father, Eddie Henderson, was a jazz trumpeter and member of the Herbie Hancock sextet. Also, her mother was a classically trained flutist. Menzies, …

Calming, gentle, tranquil, and relaxing, are a few words that describe the sound of the soon to be released album titled “Moment to Moment” by Nick Phillips and Cava Menzies. The musical creativity that resonates the collaborative union between these two artists can be heard with the ears, and also …

“Snarky Puppy” is a pretty hard name to forget. But it was not too long ago that the mysterious title of the Brooklyn-based band was only being thrown around amongst its fervent cult following. That all changed in December when the collective was nominated for a Grammy Award in the …

Unless you were living under a rock this past November, surely you heard the buzz surrounding the “Blue Eyed Soul” segment of the Soul Train Awards Show that featured legends such as Bobby Caldwell, Vanilla Ice, Dave Koz and Jon B.  The segment couldn’t have been timed more appropriately with …

After contributing six decades of musical direction and genius, Randy Weston remains one of the world’s foremost pianists and composers today, a true innovator and visionary. Encompassing the vast rhythmic heritage of Africa, his global creations musically continue to inform and inspire. Recently an iRock Jazz interviewer sat down with …

Curtis Harmon and James Lloyd James Lloyd began taking piano lessons at age 6.  Being classically trained, he was first introduced to jazz at age 12. When James is not on the road playing music, he’s in his home studio writing music. James has written, co-written and produced for several …

Pianist Kris Bowers is one of the newest and brightest lights on the jazz landscape. Schooled in jazz and classical music, raised amid the rap and hip-hop of the 1990s, inspired by the cinematic power of the great film composers of recent decades, Bowers’ sound – though rooted in traditional …

China Moses, daughter of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Director Gilbert Moses, has been entrenched in music and theatre since she was a child. Moses released her first single Time at the age of 15, along with her first video.  This success was followed by three albums, “China,” “On Toure en …

Make no mistake about it:  Bass goddess Nik West is nobody’s conformist, a fact made abundantly clear for anyone who’s ever seen the video to her blazing, bodacious and accidental cover of AC/DC’s iconic “Back In Black.” The Phoenix, Arizona native is well into a remarkable career as one of …

Sonny Rollins is a jazz icon. He has played saxophone with Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, and more — and performed as leader of his own band on numerous influential recordings. In this recent interview with iRock Jazz, Rollins speaks candidly about his musical influences and training, …

Jessy J is a Latina saxophone player who broke onto the scene in 2008 with her chart-topping debut album Tequila Moon, which combined influences of jazz as well as Latin rhythms. Jessy earned the Radio & Records ‘Debut Artist of The Year’ Award and Contemporary Jazz ‘Song of the Year’ …

At 25 years old, Jon Batiste has already received a number of accolades including the “Movado Future Legend” award, and the “Steinway Performing Artist” award. His style balances virtuosity and openness and is gaining worldwide acclaim. His band, Stay Human, is creating a unique grassroots movement that encourages accessibility and …