Jazz88’s Peter Solomon caught up with tenor saxophonist Adam Larson, an artist based in Kansas City who is slated to play shows at Jazz Central Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th with drummer Abinnet Berhanu, and bassists Chris Bates and Ted Olsen.Read More
Iconic producer and musician Don Was is bringing his new project, The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, to the Dakota for two shows on Tuesday, May 21. Though much of Was’s work nowadays is working as the head of Blue Note Records, he recognizes the importance of getting out and playing the music. In the conversation, he confesses...Read More
Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with drummer Robert “Sput” Searight, who co-founded the funk/fusion band Ghost-Note with fellow drummer Nate Werth. Sput discusses playing with Werth in Snarky Puppy, the formation of Ghost-Note, the influences that inform the music, and their new recording, Mustard n’ Onions. The new CD is available from Mack Avenue Jazz. Ghost-Note...Read More
Atlanta-based pianist Joe Alterman hopped on the phone recently to catch up with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson about his upcoming show at Crooners. Alterman discussed how a love of bluegrass brought him to his career in jazz, and discussed the humor he sometimes finds in a player’s dynamic range. Full interview: This interview aired on The...Read More
Jazz88’s Peter Solomon caught up with clarinetist Tony Balluff of the Southside Aces. Balluff talked about one of his musical heroes: New Orleans clarinetist Jimmy Noone. He also discussed the formation of the Southside Aces, the group he co-founded twenty years ago with tuba player Erik Jacobson (The Southside Aces will be featured in the...Read More
Ron Carter is THE bass player. He is the most recorded bass player in the history of jazz and he continues to deliver quality recordings and performances as he prepares to celebrate his 87th birthday on Saturday, May 4th. Mr. Carter was nice enough to join Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise on a short...Read More
MPS Voices and Jazz88 host Olive Norvell recently connected over ZOOM with Kamasi Washington in anticipation of Washington’s new album, Fearless Movement, and his upcoming show at the Fitzgerald Theater on May 11. They discussed his new record, his passion for music, his experience in scoring films and his feelings about pasta in general and...Read More
On April 23, 2024 Cornbread Harris celebrated his 97th birthday. Ahead of his birthday festivities at the Hook and Ladder on Thursday, Harris took the time to chat with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson about his life. Special thanks to Andrea Swensson for facilitating the interview. Photo credit: Anthony Markunas Full interview: This interview aired on The...Read More
Saxophonist Steve Cole is a big name in the world of smooth jazz and he has been based in the the Twin Cities for over fifteen years now. He’s bringing his horn and his Super Band onto the stage of the Dakota for two shows on Friday, April 26. Cole dropped by the Jazz88 studio...Read More
Bassist Anthony Cox joined Jazz88’s Sean McPherson to discuss Charles Mingus and Paul Chambers on their birthday (April 22). As a fellow bass player Cox shared the influence these icons of the instrument had on his development as a bass player, including how catching a live performance from Charles Mingus shaped Cox’s decision to pursue...Read More