Interviews

Antonique Smith is very much known for her acting career, but she is now following her dream as a singer/songwriter. It has taken her two years of working on her album and she is very excited for its release. She has worked with Dr. Dre, Jukebox, and Danja Handz, to name a few. This New …

Jon Faddis has had a long and illustrious career. At the tender age of  18, he joined Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra, then was lead trumpet in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. He also had stints with Charles Mingus. Renowned as a trumpeter with masterful command of an unparalleled range on the …

Jazz greats like Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, or Charlie Parker; or you can stand and listen to a trumpet player blowing sweet sounds out of the doors of the famous musical venue,Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. Louisiana’s rich history for musical talent is known world-wide and that part of …

Savion Glover honors the art form of tap. This dancer, choreographer, and teacher has had the highest regard for the dancers that have paved the way for him and many other tap dancers. In addition, Glover has had the privilege to work with many great Jazz musicians. Glover’s Broadway debut …

Saxophonist Steve Cole is one of the most celebrated players in jazz today. This Chicago native burst onto the scene in 1998 with his debut album Stay Awhile, which was produced by fellow Chicagoan Brian Culbertson. His catchy singles made him an instant radio favorite and he put out those …

John Coltrane, who was considered one of the most prominent and well known Jazz performers of his time, has inspired many.  However, few people know little about the historical significance of the place he called home.  This home, located in Long Island, N.Y., was where he shared his life with his wife, …

Ryan Cohan is the recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. This pianist and composer began his journey in music as a child and was able to read sheet music at the age of five. Cohan’s mother was a music teacher and introduced him to music. This Chicago native released his …

I remember hearing Bitches Brew for the first time. I was new to the Jazz scene and it seemed appropriate to first navigate Miles Davis. Up to this point in my travels, I had made stops at Kind of Blue, ‘Around Midnight,’ and Sketches of Spain, but the moment I …

The diatonic harmonica has long been associated with the Blues styles of artists such as Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson. However, Frederic Yonnet defies expectations and brings the harmonic into new roles and settings within diverse styles of urban jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. His philosophy is one of challenging …

iRock Jazz recently interviewed vocalist and film maker Brandon Bain, the creator of Capsulocity, an online video series. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Bain emerged on the Jazz scene just a few years ago with an understanding that whether an artist is in New York City, or somewhere on the …

Brian Culbertson began his musical journey at the age of 8 on piano, adding drums at 9, trombone at 10, then bass at 12. Loving genre-crossing jazz-pop artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Chicago, and Tower of Power, Culbertson’s artistry cannot be categorized into one genre. Brian has released …

Singer Alicia Olatuja’s mix of jazz, classical, gospel and pop brought national recognition for her performance at the Presidential Inauguration ceremony. It’s the “breath taking” voice of a classically trained, mezzo-soprano who has drawn the most critically acclaim notice since the inauguration. Originally from St. Louis Missouri, Olatuja is a …