Episode 31-Jaleel Shaw: Painting the Invisible in Jazz
Release Date: 03/27/2026
Episode 35-Joe Lovano: Still on the Rise
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Having a virtual conversation with someone like Joe Lovano invites you to take in more than the words. You find yourself looking around the room with him — the basement, the books, the CDs, maybe a few records, family photos, and a trombone resting naked on top of a bookcase like it had just stepped away from the bandstand. Behind Joe, as we begin talking, there’s a music stand with sheet music on it, though I couldn’t quite make out the title. Somehow, that feels right. With Joe Lovano, there is always music in view, and always something still being discovered. Grammy Award winning...
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Episode 34-Martin Ludlow: Reclaiming LA's Jazz Legacy
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Los Angeles has long been one of America's great jazz cities, yet its place in the music's history is often overshadowed by New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City, and New York. In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, Steve Braunginn sits down with Martin Ludlow, President and CEO of Bridge Street, Inc., to discuss the vision behind the inaugural LA Jazz Festival and why he believes it's time for Los Angeles to take its rightful place on the global jazz stage. Their conversation explores the rich legacy of Central Avenue, the Dunbar Hotel, Leimert Park, and the generations of musicians who have...
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Episode 33 — Jeremy Pelt: Jazz, Leadership, and Legacy
Strictly Jazz Sounds
When someone says jazz is dead, or that they cannot find great jazz being made today, I always think of the artists, mentors, and leaders who continue to move the music forward. Jeremy Pelt is one of those essential voices. Welcome to Strictly Jazz Sounds, the place where the music talks. I’m your host, Steve Braunginn. In this episode, I’m honored to welcome trumpeter, composer, bandleader, educator, and author Jeremy Pelt, one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. With his recent work holding the number one spot on the JazzWeek chart for eight out of nine weeks, Jeremy has...
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Episode 32-Jenny Scheinman: Improvising Nature Through Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Today on Strictly Jazz Sounds, we enter the musical world of violinist and composer Jenny Scheinman — an artist whose music is shaped as much by landscape and community as by jazz tradition, classical music and folk. Before collaborating with musicians like Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, and Brian Blade, Jenny grew up off-the-grid in rural Humboldt County, surrounded by redwoods, wildlife, and acoustic family music. That environment taught her the art of deep listening — something that still defines her improvisational voice today. We talk about how nature, silence, and influences ranging...
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Episode 31-Jaleel Shaw: Painting the Invisible in Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Episode 31-Jaleel Shaw: Painting the Invisibility in Jazz Jazz for Philadelphia native and alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw is a soulful, boundary-pushing journey. His impressive collaborations include NEA Jazz Masters Roy Haynes and Terri Lyne Carrington, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassists Dave Holland and Christian McBride, and pianists Kris Davis, Robert Glasper, and Jason Moran. Shaw's musical story emerges from his mother’s insistence on raising her son in a household where diverse music was heard throughout his young years, leading to lessons on multiple instruments-piano, the...
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Episode 30-Mark Turner: Jazz and Race-Tells It Like It Is
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Welcome to Strictly Jazz Sounds. In this episode, we spotlight saxophonist Mark Turner, an LA native known for his technical brilliance and soulful undertones. Turner’s music is influenced by R&B and jazz from his upbringing, as well as legendary saxophonists like Warne Marsh and John Coltrane. Mark’s humility and self-deprecation are evident, but his artistry shines through, especially in his latest project, Reflections On: An Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, produced in collaboration with Jimmy Katz and Giant Step Arts. The episode explores how Turner’s experiences as an African...
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Episode 29-John Patitucci: The Soul, Spirit and Sound of Jazz
Strictly Jazz Sounds
It’s a challenge to describe bassist John Patitucci. He’s a 2025 Jazz Journalists Association Award winner for Electric Bassist of the Year, and four-time Grammy Award winning artist, one of today’s elite bassists, not just jazz but in all of music, but that’s too limiting. John is a bassist with not only excellent rhythm but a complex, angular rhythmic style with dynamic and warm tones and a style that moves people emotionally as well as physically. No, that’s too inadequate. John describes himself as, “a man of faith.” But when I step back, I realize all the above pretty much...
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Episode 28-Zev Feldman: Guardian of Jazz Legacies
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Producing a historical recording requires enormous patience, investigative powers like an investigative journalist. The journey is long, emotional, and exciting when the recordings are discovered, and the final package completed. This is what Zev Feldman does. He is the producer for and co-president of Resonance Records, a record label that releases archival recordings that are previously unissued. The Resonance catalogue includes John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, among many other legendary musicians. In this episode, Zev Feldman and I discuss his insights...
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Episode 27-Erena Terakubo: The Little Woman with a Big Sound
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Alto saxophonist Erena Terakubo, from Sapporo, Japan, began her recording career early, releasing her first album when she was only 15 years old. Inspired by a saxophone-playing M&M doll, Erena developed an interest in music that led her to become a notable figure in contemporary jazz. Her journey inclu0des playing in big bands in Sapporo and preferring jazz over classical music. In this episode, Erena Terakubo exuberantly shares her early influences, including J Fusion and musicians like Charlie Parker and David Sanborn. She shares insights into her life in the United States, cultural...
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Episode 26-Chien Chien Lu and Richie Goods: A Real Team
Strictly Jazz Sounds
Taiwanese vibraphonist and percussionist Chien Chien Lu, along with Pittsburg, Pennsylvania native bassist Richie Goods, have crafted a sound that is both captivating and rhythmic. Their music draws from a rich tapestry of cultural influences including Taiwanese, American, and African-American traditions, especially within the jazz sub-culture. Chien Chien Lu and Richie Goods are dedicated to expanding their musical repertoire, creating a unique connection that resonates deeply with listeners. In the fall of 2024, Chien Chien Lu and Richie Goods visited Columbus, Ohio, where they met with...
info_outlineEpisode 31-Jaleel Shaw: Painting the Invisibility in Jazz
Jazz for Philadelphia native and alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw is a soulful, boundary-pushing journey. His impressive collaborations include NEA Jazz Masters Roy Haynes and Terri Lyne Carrington, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassists Dave Holland and Christian McBride, and pianists Kris Davis, Robert Glasper, and Jason Moran.
Shaw's musical story emerges from his mother’s insistence on raising her son in a household where diverse music was heard throughout his young years, leading to lessons on multiple instruments-piano, the drums, clarinet, violin and alto saxophone. Jaleel Shaw’s mother and the rich tapestry of Philadelphia's jazz scene, where early guidance from teachers like Dennis Sandole and Lovett Hines and mentorship from legends like Roy Haynes shaped his improvisational voice and stage presence. Shaw often recalls lessons learned in dim-lit clubs and crowded rehearsals, experiences that have fueled his growth across two decades in the spotlight.
It’s through learning about African American history that Jaleel Shaw has been able to feel the pride of being a Black man and convey it in his music. This has enabled him to dive deeper into composing music that speaks to his emotions and the Black condition in this country.
Shaw’s first album in 13 years showcases an all-star quartet—Lawrence Fields (piano), Ben Street (bass), Joe Dyson (drums)—and guests Sasha Berliner (vibraphone) and Lage Lund (guitar). The project pays tribute to ancestors and victims like Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor, addressing invisibility, grief, and community, while reflecting Shaw’s advocacy against book bans and erasure of “woke” narratives.
As Shaw navigates both his artistry and fatherhood, his music becomes a living testament to resilience and hope. Through "Painter of the Invisible," listeners witness not only Shaw’s technical brilliance but also his deep commitment to social justice and personal storytelling. Each note and lyric echoes the journey of a musician determined to bring unseen stories and marginalized voices into the spotlight, creating a legacy that intertwines family, community, and creative exploration.
Thanks to Changu Records, there are three featured tracks from Painter of the Invisible (2025) are: “Gina’s Ascent, Featuring Sasha Berline-vibraphone, 9:32,” “Tamir (For Tamir Rice), 10:53” and “The Invisible Man, Featuring Lage Lund, 9:32.” Thank you for choosing Strictly Jazz Sounds. Photo by Yusuke Yamanouchi. #jaleelshaw #strictlyjazzsounds