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The Jazz Podcast
Rob Cope & Tara Minton
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Rob Cope and Tara Minton bring you the jazz podcast, in conversation with musicians from around the world.
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Jemma Freese - Shadow Boxing
May 16 2022
35 mins
Jemma Freese - Shadow Boxing
Jemma Freese started playing piano around the age of 10 and quickly discovered that she liked making up songs and only enjoyed playing her own material. As a teenager, she was heavily influenced by Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Muse and Tom Waits, this fed into her interest in jazz as a vocalist as well as piano player. From the age of 17 she started writing her own songs to help her get through the bullying she went through at school. She then went on to study Pop Composition and Jazz vocals at Leeds College of Music from 2014-2017 for which she graduated with First honours. Today we feature her new album, Shadow Boxing. Support the show
May 16 2022
35 mins
Alyn Shipton
Alyn Shipton is an award-winning author, musician and broadcaster, who wrote on jazz for over twenty years for The Times in London, and is a presenter/producer of jazz programmes for BBC Radio. He was Consultant Editor of the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, and has a lifelong interest in oral history, including editing the memoirs of Danny Barker, Doc Cheatham, George Shearing and Chris Barber. His first biography, the life of Fats Waller, published in 1988, has scarcely been out of print since. Today we preview his new book, On Jazz.Support the show
May 5 2022
40 mins
Michael Wolff
In the summer of 2015, a grueling and often bewildering four-year battle with a rare cancer had the acclaimed pianist-composer Michael Wolff on the ropes. He’d fallen into a coma at a New York hospital, and the prognosis had moved from doubtful to defeated. His sons Nat and Alex, in the midst of their ascent as two of the most talented actors of their generation, had returned home to be with their father and try to comfort him. They played guitars and sang at his bedside, tapping into the sweet, winsome gifts that had made the Wolffs a famous musical family nearly a decade earlier, via the hit TV series The Naked Brothers Band. At one point, as Wolff was being cared for by his wife, the award-winning actress, director and writer Polly Draper, a doctor asked her if she’d signed a Do Not Resuscitate order. Through the haze of drugs and debilitating illness, Wolff interjected. Lifting his head up, he growled: “Resuscitate me!”“I guess it just wasn’t my time,” he recalls! Today, he joins us on The Jazz Podcast for a chat about the journey. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Apr 25 2022
48 mins
Natsuki Tamura
Japanese trumpeter and composer NATSUKI TAMURA is internationally recognized for a unique musical vocabulary that blends extended techniques with jazz lyricism. This unpredictable virtuoso’s seemingly limitless creativity led François Couture in All Music Guide to declare that “… we can officially say there are two Natsuki Tamuras: The one playing angular jazz-rock or ferocious free improv… and the one writing simple melodies of stunning beauty… How the two of them live in the same body and breathe through the same trumpet might remain a mystery.”Born on July 26, 1951, in Otsu, Shiga, Japan, Tamura first picked up the trumpet while performing in his junior high brass band. He began his professional music career after he graduated from high school, playing in numerous bands including the World Sharps Orchestra, Consolation, Skyliners Orchestra, New Herd Orchestra, Music Magic Orchestra, and the Satoko Fujii Ensemble, as well as in his own ensemble. He was the trumpeter for numerous national television shows in Japan from 1973–1982, including The Best Ten, Music Fair, Kirameku Rhythm and many others. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Apr 18 2022
29 mins
John Scofield
John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B.John has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over 30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil Lesh. He’s played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, Terumasa Hino among many jazz legends. Throughout his career Scofield has punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with funk-oriented electric music. All along, the guitarist has kept an open musical mind. Today he joins us for a chat. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Apr 11 2022
38 mins
Ingrid Jenson - 150th Episode
Born in Vancouver and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1989, she went on to record three highly acclaimed CDs for the ENJA record label, soon becoming one of the most in-demand trumpet players on the global jazz scene.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Apr 4 2022
50 mins
Norma Winstone
Iconic British jazz vocalist Norma Winstone joins the show to chat about her life, career, albums, heels and wine. Norma Winstone was born in London and first attracted attention in the late sixties when she shared the bill at Ronnie Scott’s club with Roland Kirk. Although she was known initially for evolving her own wordless approach to improvisation, her extraordinary versatility means she is equally at home with the standards repertoire, performing with small groups, orchestras and big bands. In the late seventies she joined pianist John Taylor and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler to form the group Azimuth, which was described by Richard Williams of The Times as “one of the most imaginatively conceived and delicately balanced of all contemporary chamber jazz groups“. In this setting she combines the instrumental use of the voice with words, most of which she writes herself. Azimuth has recorded several albums on the ECM label (the first three of which have been re-issued as a CD boxed set).Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Mar 28 2022
49 mins
Melissa Aldana
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana joins the Blue Note Records family with the release of 12 Stars, her debut album as a leader for the legendary Jazz label. At 33, the Brooklyn-based tenor player from Santiago, Chile has garnered international recognition for her visionary work as a band leader, as well as her deeply meditative interpretation of language and vocabulary. Today Melissa joins us for a chat about her upcoming visit to the UK, interviewed by award winning British saxophonist and composer, Andy Scott.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Mar 21 2022
32 mins
Mark Wade - True Stories
Today we welcome the wonderful bassist Mark Wade on the show, previewing his newly released album, True Stories. Based in New York, Wade has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, The Iridium and Birdland. He is a former artist in residence at Flushing Town Hall and tours in North America and Europe. He has played with jazz notables James Spaulding, Eddie Palmieri, Conrad Herwig, Harry Whitaker, Stacey Kent, Peter Eldridge, Don Byron and Jimmy Heath, and is a member of the Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra. On the classical side, he has appeared with the Key West Symphony featuring Grammy Award winners Sharon Isbin and Robert McDuffie, Orchestra of the S.E.M./Janacek Philharmonic (Czech Republic) at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as Orchestra of the Bronx, Bronx Opera, DiCapo Opera and Light Opera of New York. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Mar 17 2022
35 mins
Bob Mintzer
Bob Mintzer is a saxophonist/arranger/educator who resides in Los Angeles. He is currently holds the Barbara and Buzz McCoy endowed chair at the USC Thornton School of Music. Bob is a 30 year member as saxophonist with the Yellowjackets. He is also the chief conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne Germany. Bob has written over 500 big band arrangements, several jazz study books, orchestral and chamber works. He has played on over 1000 recordings and has performed with Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band, Eddie Palmieri, Jaco Pastorius, Mike Manieri, Randy Brecker, and the New York Philharmonic.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Mar 12 2022
45 mins
Sonny Rollins
WALTER THEODORE ROLLINS was born on September 7, 1930 in New York City. He grew up in Harlem not far from the Savoy Ballroom, the Apollo Theatre, and the doorstep of his idol, Coleman Hawkins. After early discovery of Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, he started out on alto saxophone, inspired by Louis Jordan. At the age of sixteen, he switched to tenor, trying to emulate Hawkins. He also fell under the spell of the musical revolution that surrounded him, bebop. In late 2020, the saxophonist released Rollins in Holland, a 2-CD/3-LP deluxe set via Resonance Records. The collection of unheard live and studio trio recordings from Rollins’s 1967 Netherlands tour feature “take no prisoners” performances with bassist Ruud Jacobs and drummer Han Bennink. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Mar 5 2022
48 mins
Mark Lewandowski
New York City-based bassist Mark Lewandowski originally hails from Nottingham, England. His interest in the bass took him to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Whilst studying at the school Mark was rapidly producing a strong name for himself on the London scene; playing regularly at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club by only his second year in the capital. He was also awarded the Yamaha Jazz award, and is now continuing his studies in New York City as part of the celebrated Artist Diploma programme at the prestigious Juilliard School. He has been lucky to perform with a diverse range of musicians including such names as John Surman, Wynton Marsalis, Buddy Greco, Sheila Jordan, Henry Grimes, Steve Wilson, Paul Dunmall, Vic Juris, Martin Carthy, Jean Toussaint, Tcha Limberger, Julian Joseph, Bobby Wellins, Peter King, Soweto Kinch, Zoe Rahman.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Feb 24 2022
56 mins
Luca Manning - 5th Anniversary Special
Luca Manning is an artist who questions rigidity. Shaped initially by the buzzing Glasgow music and arts scene, Luca now finds their heart stolen by all that East London has to offer.In their words, Luca’s music could be described as : ‘An ethereal art-pop adventure peeking down alleyways of Improvisation, storytelling and Spoken Word.’Luca’s most recent work : ’noises with friends e.p’, is perhaps their most honest and adventurous to date. It is a self proclaimed antithesis to the performative perfection that has us chasing our tales amongst the current rat race, fogging our creative process. ‘noises with friends’ sinks in to the messiness and spectrum of emotions intrinsic to our experience as we try to figure it all out. As a 2021/21 Resident artist at London’s iconic Roundhouse, right now feels like an exciting time for Luca. In their spare time Luca enjoys dancing to disco, turning lewks and dreaming of the day they’ll own a baby sausage dog called Aretha.lucamanningmusic.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Feb 9 2022
55 mins
Émile Parisien
“The best new thing that has happened in European jazz for a long time” (Le Monde), Emile Parisien has formed a top-flight American-European sextet for this album, his seventh as leader or co-leader on ACT. The band will be touring in 2022, the year which also marks the tenth anniversary of Parisien’s first appearance on an ACT album.The saxophonist developed his strong sense of direction in music remarkably early: he was 10 years old when the news reached his family in Cahors that a new music school would be opening up roughly 200 kilometres away in Marciac. The youngster told his parents that this was the school he wanted to go to as a boarder...and so, with their support and approval, off he went. And it was through the school and the festival in Marciac that he received mentorship from some of the greats of North American jazz: Wynton Marsalis (who appeared as a guest on the album Sfumato Live), Clark Terry, Bobby Hutcherson, Oscar Peterson…https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=iePU0KXS610Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Dec 17 2021
55 mins
Malik Al Nasir
Malik Al Nasir is an author, performance poet and filmmaker from Liverpool. He has produced and appeared in several documentaries with artists such as Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, Benjamin Zephaniah and Public Enemy, as well as footballer Mark Walters and many other luminaries. Malik started tracing his roots back through slavery over 15 years ago and his pioneering research has been recognised by Sir Hilary Beckles (Chair CARICOM Commission for slavery reparations), historian David Olusoga, and The University of Cambridge, where Malik is reading a PhD in history with a full scholarship in recognition of the significance of his research.His band Malik & The O.G’s have performed exclusive UK shows of ‘The Revolution Will Be Live!’ – a 10th anniversary celebration of Gil’s musical influence – at Wilderness Festival, The Jazz Café, London, and Blues Kitchen, Manchester, in honour of Gil Scott-Heron’s memory and coinciding with the September release of Letters To Gil.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Oct 15 2021
1 hr 10 mins
Natalie Duncan
Tara & Rob speak to soul singing/ pianist and composer Natalie Duncan. She has been compared to legendary and multifaceted global artists such as Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Her career has spanned many years performing her own music, including featuring in London Jazz Festival’s Jazz Voice Opener, Later with Jools Holland and vocalist for Drum and Bass legend, Goldie.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Oct 1 2021
1 hr 6 mins
Sarah Moule & Simon Wallace
Sarah Moule's 5th album, Stormy Emotions, explores the themes of Time and Love in an uplifting collection of songs written by her husband Simon Wallace and the late great jazz lyricist Fran Landesman. In the eighteen years spent working with Simon and Fran, Sarah developed a uniquely close relationship to their material. Born in New York in 1927, Landesman's lyrics have been sung by great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Barbra Streisand and with this collection, including ten previously unrecorded songs, Sarah will have introduced forty-five Landesman/Wallace songs to the world.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Jun 28 2021
1 hr
Emma Johnson
Award winning saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson is a Leeds based musician and the bandleader of Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat. Emma’s music has been played on BBC Radio 3 and her writing has been described as ‘a relaxed, melodic and distinctive style of contemporary jazz’. Today she's our guest on a wonderful show recorded at House of Koko in Leeds. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
Jun 9 2021
1 hr 2 mins
Rick Simpson
Rick is based in London playing a wide variety of music, and leads his own group playing original jazz music. Rick is a regular performer at Ronnie Scotts, the 606 Jazz Club, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Vortex, The Bull’s Head, and he has appeared at larger UK venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room.In 2008 Rick won a Yamaha Scholarship Prize for Outstanding Jazz Musicians. A recording of Rick’s band was put on the front cover of Jazzwise Magazine.Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2008 he has performed with musicians such as Christian Scott, Eric Harland, Joe Sanders, Michael Janisch, Ernesto Simpson, Martin Speake, Earl Burness Travis, Stan Sulzmann, Jeff Williams as well as younger musicians in London. Rick plays in the ensembles of Michael Janisch, Leo Richardson, Jay Phelps, Rory Simmons, Alice Leggett, Riley Stone-Lonergan, Andre Canniere, and Kristian Borring amongst others. Rick also teaches on the prestigious MEhr Clef courses alongside Stan Sulzmann, Steve Waterman, Alan Barnes, Malcolm Edmonstone Mark Hodgson, Lee Gibson, Ursula Malewski and Martin France. www.mehrclef.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
May 21 2021
1 hr 1 min
Anita Wardell
Best known as an outstanding scat singer, Anita is also a skilled writer and performer of vocalese, and a sensitive interpreter of standards and jazz originals. She’s collected several awards, including a recent prize for Best Jazz Vocalist from the British Jazz Awards, and her artistry has inspired accolades from fellow singers like Mark Murphy, Roseanna Vitro and Kate McGarry. Yet, up until now, Wardell’s albums have only been available as high-priced imports, and she has made limited trips to the east and west coasts of the United States…Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejazzpodcast)
May 14 2021
56 mins
