Jazz88's Peter Solomon sspeaks with arranger and composer Adi Yeshaya about his latest recording, "Produce." The album showcases vocalist Jennifer Grimm. Yeshaya discusses his association with the late Twin Cities singer Debie Duncan, sheds some light on the arrangements featured on the album, and talks about his upcoming appearance at the Dakota on Wednesday, October 29th.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Grammy and Tony Award Winning Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater about her musical path and how her latest duet album "Elemental" is a return to her musical roots. Bridgwater talks about the music that she grew up with at home in Flint, MI and listening to the legendary black Memphis station WDIA. Bridgewater jumped into being a jazz musician with both feet when she became the featured singer with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra in the early seventies, She says trumpeter/composer Thad Jones taight her everything she knows about music. Similarly, with no professional acting experience, she was cast as Glinda the Good Witch of the South in the 1975 Broadway production "The Wiz." Her 2025 recording "Elemental" represents a return to the days of singing standards early in her career and she sheds some light on the special musical connection that seems to exist between her and pianist Bill Charlap. Bridgewater and Charlap appear at the Dakota on Wednesday, Octyober 22nd.
Kristin Korb is that rare breed of musician who is equally adept as a vocalist and a jazz bassist. In this conversation with Jazz88 Morning Show Host Peter Solomon, she discusses her path as an artist, her association with bassist Ray Brown, and her latest project featuring jazz interpretations of music by the British synth-pop duo The Eurhythmics. Korb performs at the Danish American Center on October 19th, Carondelet Village on October 20th, and Carleston College in Northfield on October 22. (Picture by Sofie Barfoed)
On his website, drummer, producer and bandleader Makaya MCraven describes himself as a "beat scientist."Much of McCraven's work is involved in picking musical moments from his recorded performances and applying hip-hop style production techniques to reinvent the material. McCraven is releasing four new EPs in October, and he is performing live at Icehouse in Minneapolis on September 25th. He talks about his process and his upcoming musical performance in this conversation with Jazz88's morning host, Peter Solomon.
The Messthetics started as a kind of post-punk instrumental trio including former Fugazi bandmates Brendan Canty on drums and Joe Lally on bass with guitarist and composer Anthony Pirog. In 2023, they brought saxophonist James Brandon Lewis into the ensemble, and the result is a fascinating quartet in which musicians from widely divergent backgrounds find common ground. The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis are at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis Saturday night, September 6th. Drummer Brendan Canty and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis discuss the music in this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Ricky Riccardi, the Head of Research Collections at the Louis Armstrong House Museum, and the author of three books on Armstrong. Riccardi's newest book is called "Stomp Off, Let's Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong." It draws on previously unavailable sources to provide new details and insights about Armstrong's life and music, particularly shedding light on his early years in New Orleans. The book is set to be released in audio book form on Augist 26th.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with guitarist Ryan Picone about how he finds inspiration in the music of gypsy guitar legend Django Reinhardt. Picone shares some insider's knowledge about Django's life and music and stories about his mentors, Howard Alden and Stephane Wrembel. Picone spoke from his apartment in Uptown Minneapolis, where he performed a couple of Django's compositions, including "Nuages" and "Rhythm Future."Ryan Picone's quartet plays the Jazz88 Jazzclectic Stage Sunday, July 6th at The Taste of Minnesota. Picone is putting together Django Fest, featuring several different Twin-Cities based jazz manouche ensembles on July 25th.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon sat down for a conversation with L.A. Buckner, who talks about why he celebrates his home turf of North Side Minneapolis, the influences that inform his music, and the evolution of his band Big Homie. L.A, Buckner and Big Homie are a headliner at this year;s Twin Cities Jazz Festival. You can catch the band Saturday, June 21st at 6 PM at the Jazz88 Main Stage at Mears Park in St. Paul. .
Doreen Ketchens reflects on growing up in New Orleans historic Treme neighborhood, her development as a jazz clarinetist, and playing music with her family on the streets of New Orleans and in concerts and festivals around the world. Ketchens plays the Twin Cities Jazz Festival Friday June 20th at 6 PM on the Jazz88 Main Stage in St. Paul.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with trumpeter Frank London about the history of klezmer music in America and 40 years of Genre Bending klezmer interpretations and collaborations by the Klezmatics. The Klezmatics play the Dakota Tuesday night (May 27th) with Minneapolis-based ensemble Red Thread. Pictured: The Klezmatics. Frank London is seated holding a flugelhorn.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with three of the musical directors involved in an event commemorating George Floyd called "Weather: Stand the Storm." Participants include Dr. G. Philip Shoultz, conductor of Singers of This Age; Waigwa, director of One Voice Mixed Chorus and Elevate Vocal Arts and Elevation Ensemble; and Dr. Rollo Dilworth, director of Singing City. Dilworth composed the musical setting for Claudia Rankine’s poem “Weather,” which is the centerpiece of Saturday night’s program. More details about Saturday’s program are available at www.mnonevoice.org. Image: Waigwa
Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with legendary saxophonist Charles McPherson about his formative influences, including Charlie Parker, Barry Harris, and Charles Mingus. McPherson also discusses his contributions to the Soundtrack for the Clint Eastwood Charlie Parker bio-pic "Bird" and his tenure as resident composer of the San Diego Ballet. McPherson is 85 years old and still performing. He is playing at the Dakota on May 22nd.
In the days of silent film, women had prominent roles in filmmaking and made movies that explored feminist themes that might seem surprising today. Peter Solomon speaks with Maggie Hennefeld, Professor of Cultural Studies and Comparitive Literature at the University of Minnesota. Hennefeld curated a 4-DVD collection of female film pioneers called "Cinema's First Nasty Women." Hennefeld also curated the program "Accordo with Silent Film: Women in Early Cinema" that is taking place at the Ordway on Tuesday, May 13th.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with guitarist Martin Taylor about his musical influences and his collaboration "Great Guitars" with Ulf Wakenius and Bireli Lagrene. Taylor and Wakenius perform together at the Dakota Monday evening 4/14. Lagrene cannot make the show because of an injury.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with singer Karrin Allyson about a show at Crooners Thursday April 3rd called "The American Songbook Jazz Party." The program is a collaboration with music journalist Daborah Grace Winer, who will tell stories behind the music. Karrin talks about her own relationship to the songs she will be performing and talks about her Grammy-nominated album "Many a New Day" that focuses on the Rodgers and Hammerstein songs.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Riley Helgeson, a trumpeter who handles publicity for Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis. To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, Jazz Central is presenting free concerts by Twin Cities big bands each Sunday in April. Venues for the concerts include the Hook and Ladder Theater and MCN6.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Renee Rosnes, who has been a major player on the New York Jazz Scene since 1985. She discusses her early career when she worked with iconic artists like Joe Henderson, J.J. Johnson, and Bobby Hutcherson. She also discusses her recent Brazilian album "Crossing Paths," and the new Blue Note album "Arboresque," by the all-female jazz ensemble Artemis, which Rosnes founded. (Pictured: Members of Artemis. Rosnes is second from the left. Photo by John Abbott).
Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with banjoist Bela Fleck about his recent Grammy Award winning recording with the late Chick Corea and his new project, a collaboration with Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda and drummer Antonio Sanchez. They perform at the Dakota on Monday, March 24th and Tuesday, March 25.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Tony Balluff, clarinetist and founding member of the Southside Aces, about the Jazz Age Rumpus IV taking place at the Hook and Ladder Theater on Sunday, March 23rd from 3 - 7 PM. The music will focus on the New York sounds of Bix Beiderbecke, Ellington small groups, and singer Lee Wiley. The Southside Aces will perform at Sunday's event, as well as singer Maude Hixson and her Town Talkers, and a new combo Balluff has organized called the 4 AM Orchestra.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with singer Madeleine Peyroux about her 2024 album "Let's Walk." It focuses entirely on original music - songs that address issues of social justice, life, and love. Peyroux will perform in a double billing with blues and soul singer Bettye LaVette Thursday, March 20th and Friday, March 21 at the Parkway Theater.