Episode 24-Walter Smith III: Jazz Educator and Saxophone Virtuoso
Strictly Jazz Sounds
World-renowned saxophonist and Blue Note recording artist Walter Smith III is the model music educator and practitioner. This enormously talented saxophonist pursued music education as a profession as far back as high school. In this episode, Walter’s storied career follows the path beginning with performing at McDonald’s at age 7, to an exciting area of study at one of today’s premier high schools, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in Houston, Texas to leadership roles at Berklee College of Music, reflecting on experiences at the Thelonious Monk Institute...
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Episode 23-Kris Davis: Creative Processes and Mentorship in Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
In this episode, I spend time with Grammy Award-winning pianist and Berklee College of Music professor of Jazz Kris Davis on 'Strictly Jazz Sounds.' We do a deep dive into her latest project, Run the Gauntlet, dedicated to six influential women jazz pianists, which drops on September 27, 2024. A common thread is woven throughout the hour, mentoring. As a recipient of it herself, Kris Davis discusses the importance of fostering the next generation of jazz musicians. She also provides a detail description of her fascinating composition process. Kris Davis and I spend time discussing her label,...
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Episode 22-Yuhan Su: The Imagination is in the Music
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Award winning vibraphonist Yuhan Su is another Gary Burton/Chick Corea-inspired musician, lured away from classical to the art form where improvisation reigns, jazz. This Taiwanese-born, New York based artist, left her homeland pursuing a jazz education at Berklee College of music, a frequently told story. Yuhan Su draws on her strengths to survive the intense transitions as a single woman migrating to the US to learn a completely different style of music, knowing no one, new to the language and cultures. And she plays the vibraphone, not an easy instrument to lug around given she’s...
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Episode 21-Wayne Escoffery: Fostering Pride in Black American Music-Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Grammy-Award winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is my guest on the 21st episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds. What attracted me to Wayne was his prolific traveling, extensive performances and recordings with his own band (11 recordings), the Mingus Big Band (3 recordings, one a Grammy Award winner), the Black Art Jazz Collective (4 recordings), and as sideman with trumpeter Tom Harrell (7 recordings, co-producing 4) plus works with other notable jazz musicians. He is now a Harlem resident in the neighborhood where Sonny Rollins grew up, Sugar Hill, but he was born and spent his childhood years in...
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Episode 20-Roni Eytan: Jazz Harmonica Colossus
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Roni Eytan, a renowned Israeli-born, New York based jazz harmonica player, performs with a passion that differs from other harmonica artists. Perhaps it’s the region from which he derives-the Middle East and North Africa. His culture greatly influences his compositions and inspires his passions. Roni’s work is influenced by harmonica legend Toots Thielemans but only partially. The folk cultures that make up the regions and his spiritual influences mostly inspire his writing. Roni Eytan stopped by my studio to talk about his harmonica work and how he got interested in this...
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Episode 19-Alexandra Ridout: Her Journey Into Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Alexandra (Alex) Ridout is a young jazz trumpeter from the UK, now residing in New York City. In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, she lays out her journey as a musician, comparing the experiences and educational backgrounds between the UK and the US. Ridout recalls her time at the Royal Academy of Music in London and Manhattan School of Music, emphasizing her family's influence, especially her jazz musician parents. Highlighting her musical achievements, the conversation includes her participation and victory in the BBC Youth Competition, winning at 17 years old. She talks about her...
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Episode 18-Jocelyn Gould: Striking a Chord
Strictly Jazz Sounds
In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, I have a conversation with Jocelyn Gould, a professional jazz guitarist who fills all the shoes it requires to drive a successful career. Jocelyn shares her journey from pretending to play a cardboard guitar at the age of four to winning a Juno Award for her first album, Elegant Traveler. She later discusses the challenges and triumphs of her career, including her education in the U.S. at Michigan State University, her experiences in New York's rough and tumble jazz scene, and her recent endeavors, including her podcast and latest album releases....
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Episode 17-Yasushi Nakamura: The Shy Bassist with the Groove
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Yasushi Nakamura loves his music. And he truly loves laying down the groove lines behind a hot band like he does for almost a dozen bands. However, being one of today’s first-call bassists means frequent and long show tours that can take him away from his family of two-children and spouse for weeks, even months at a time. It has resulted in an impressive list and number of recordings made on both electric and acoustic or double bass. Pianist and longtime friend, Emmet Cohen, says that Yasushi “…is known in the music community for playing in over a dozen bands and is hardly ever seen...
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Episode 16-Terri Lyne Carrington: Changing the Faces of Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Question: What would jazz music sound like if it had been born in a country without patriarchy; taught without bias and performed on a stage with radical inclusivity? That’s what jazz titan Terri Lyne Carrington says is the foundation behind Berklee College of Music’s Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. Terri Lyne is the founder and artistic director of the Institute and a professor at Berklee, her alma mater. In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, I spend time with Terri Lyne Carrington, getting deep into this question along with how to lift women and nonbinary individuals in this...
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Episode 15-Brandee Younger: Jazz Harp Meets Hip-Hop
Strictly Jazz Sounds
In jazz, two legendary harp musicians come to mind. Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. Now, there is a third musician whose image immediately erupts into focus. For harp artist, educator, and Grammy nominated musician Brandee Younger, both Ashby and Coltrane made a tremendous impact on her. And with her latest recording, Brand New Life, on Impulse Records, Brandee Younger embraces Ashby and her impact on the harp. I caught up with Grammy nominated harpist Brandee Younger at the Spoleto Jazz Festival in Charleston, North Carolina. This was a major opportunity for me to learn how the harp,...
info_outlineEpisode 11- Jon Irabagon: Always Moving Forward
Jon Irabagon is always driving ahead whenever he wants to make a statement with a new recording. With his saxophones facing forward, Jon’s bold and articulate improvisations draw on his singular drive to create a pathway for the future of jazz. He draws on the forces of the hand-chosen musicians, each becoming a lifelong ally in the music business.
Jon is first-generation Filipino American, and the father of two girls. Jon is influenced more by the individualistic philosophies and accomplishments of the Chicago-based organization, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, or AACM. These mixed complex-compositional ensembles, highly influenced by the works of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Albert Ayler, are the basis for Jon’s work but it’s the future of this music that he seeks to play, not the rehashing of the music of the past.
Jon Irabagon ’s life story begins in Chicago, the town of the tenor sound. It was in high school in the Chicago north suburbs when he was driven to seek out the music of the tenor titans: John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins and an alto titan, Sonny Stitt. After earning a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University, Jon went on to earn a Master of Arts from the Manhattan School of Music and then post-graduate studies at Julliard. In 2008 Jon went on to win the Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition and years later the Philippine Presidential Award.
Jon prefers to look ahead, seeking the future of the music, of the sound of jazz. For him, it’s all about what’s next. This is the main driving force for him. He’s fortunate to have a gaggle of musicians with whom he can play the music. Furthermore, Jon has his own label, Irabbagast Records which gives him a label to publish music that may be considered more challenging to other commercial labels. Jon also accommodates his friends who are true to the music and the sound they prefer to play.
In this episode we hear story after story about Jon and his music, his family, the creation of a record label so he can have a place to record his music, spreading the music as an instructor, and when Jon went to stay with his in-laws in South Dakota at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown intending an eight-week stay and winding up living with them for eight months, spending countless hours playing to the canyons, and so much more. The stories insistently pique your interest. So, strap yourself in for this ride.
This will be the opening episode, complete with two tracks of music. There is a bonus episode that completes the full episode. The interview weaves great tales and the music wraps it all up tightly. In the opening episode you will find this music. Thanks to Jon Irabagon for all the music. Please remember to subscribe if you haven’t already.
The music tracks in Episode 11 include the following and with the noted personnel: Anchors (Outright! Innova Recordings, 2008) 8:27
Jon Irabagon-alto saxophone, Russ Johnson-trumpet, Kris Davis-piano, Eivind Opsvik-bass, Jeff Davis-drums
Mammoth (Rising Sun, Irabbagast Records, 2022) 11:59
Jon Irabagon-tenor saxophone, Adam O’Farrill-trumpet, Matt Mitchell-piano, Chris Lightcap-electric bass, Dan Weiss-drums
When you’re done with this episode, listen to the bonus episode complete with more music. Enjoy the conversation with Jon Irabagon, the sax player who’s always looking forward. Here on Strictly Jazz Sounds. Thanks for listening.
Steve Braunginn