Interview

Feminist Jazz Review: Amirtha Kidambi Talks Gender and Composition

Amirtha Kidambi is a composer, there’s no denying that at this point in time. But there was a time where this talented musician and intellectual had to break through gender stigmas and discouragement when it came to her studying composition as a young woman. She and I talked for nearly an hour, so this interview

Artist Feature: Anna Webber

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Anna Webber has emerged as a major force since arriving in New York in 2008. She has released a series of innovative records including her trio, Simple (2014) and Binary (2016), both on Skirl Records, and most recently, her septet, Clockwise, just released in February. Her performances and recordings bristle with compositional ideas and sophisticated

Interview: Pianist Amina Claudine Myers

Composer, pianist, organist and vocalist Amina Claudine Myers sat down to talk with Hillary Donnell about some upcoming projects, her most memorable collaborations and her work with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. Hillary Donnell: How was it playing the Sheen Center on closing night at Winter Jazz, did you enjoy yourself? Amina

Artist Feature: Eli Wallace

Since pianist and composer Eli Wallace moved to Brooklyn in 2015, he has been a steadily growing presence on the music scene. On March 1, he released his debut solo record, Barriers, and I had the opportunity to speak with him about his work. Cisco Bradley: You just released a solo piano record, Barriers. Has that been

Artist Feature: Violinist/Poet Sarah Bernstein

In January, I had the opportunity to ask Sarah Bernstein (violin, electronics, poetry, composer) about her new record, Crazy Lights Shining, released in 2018 on the Phase Frame Music label. Bernstein is a singular player on the New York scene, with more than two decades of work, numerous records, and a number of key projects

Interview: Bassist Adam Hopkins

Bassist Adam Hopkins moved to New York in 2011 and played extensively as a sideperson in a range of innovative projects. In 2018, he launched his own label, Out of Your Head Records, while simultaneously releasing his debut record as a leader, Crickets. I had a chance to speak with Mr. Hopkins in January about

Feminist Jazz Review: In Conversation with ​Angel Bat Dawid

Chicago based composer, clarinetist and pianist, Angel Bat Dawid took the time to speak with me about her new album, The Oracle (International Anthem), which was released on February 8. Dawid’s spiritual collection of music takes you through the watery depths of travel, ancient and ancestral connections, and improvised composition led by the talented multi-instrumentalist.

Interview with Sam Weinberg about BLOOR debut release “Drolleries” Out Jan 25

Tenor saxophonist Sam Weinberg releases his debut record as a leader, Drolleries, with his band BLOOR on the Astral Spirits label. I had the chance to talk with Mr. Weinberg about the record. See below for streaming of two exclusive tracks. The record drops tomorrow in both CD and cassette formats. The record release show is

Artist Feature: Drummer Devin Gray

Originally from Maine, drummer Devin Gray has been active in New York City for over a dozen years. His two main projects as a leader have been Dirigo Rataplan, a quartet with saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, trumpeter Dave Ballou, and bassist Michael Formanek, and RelativE ResonancE, a quartet with reedist Chris Speed, pianist Kris Davis, and

Artist Feature: Guitarist Jessica Ackerley

Jessica Ackerley is a leading guitarist in her generation of improvisers and experimentalists in Brooklyn today. Originally from Alberta, and having trained at Grant MacEwan and Rutgers, she has played with many contemporary figures since arriving in New York City in 2013. Her debut record as a leader, Coalesce, was one of the underground surprises of