30 Albums For 30 Years (1964-1994)

Billy Mohler is a Grammy-nominated bassist, producer, and songwriter who works with legends like Lady Gaga, Sia, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Macy Gray, Ringo Starr, Herbie Hancock, Steven Tyler, and Smashing Pumpkins.  In addition to his incredible success in pop music, he is a noted jazz musician and has released several records under his name; his most recent album release available is called Ultraviolet with saxophonist Chris Speed, trumpeter Shane Endsley, and drummer Nate Wood.

Esperanza Spalding Interview

Esperanza Spalding, a Portland-born jazz musician, rose to prominence with her versatile talent as a bassist, singer, and composer. Trained in classical music from childhood, she explored various genres, leading to groundbreaking albums like "Esperanza" and "Chamber Music Society." Her Grammy win for Best New Artist in 2011 propelled her to international recognition despite competition from mainstream pop acts. Spalding's commitment to artistic integrity is evident in her experimental projects, such as writing and recording an album in 77 hours and exploring spirituality through music on "Songwrights Apothecary Lab." Collaborations with renowned artists like Wayne Shorter and Fred Hersch further cement her status as a jazz luminary. Now, as she embarks on a tour, she continues to captivate audiences with her innovative compositions and virtuosic performances.

Chris Pinnella's musical journey is woven with experiences across diverse landscapes. His career took flight at 16 when he showcased his prodigious talent with Alphonse Stephenson and the Orchestra of St. Peter, a debut that set the stage for his future success. This early triumph was just the beginning of his musical odyssey, eventually leading him to earn a degree from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Post-college, his career trajectory led him to diverse platforms. He delved into off-Broadway and regional theater. Notably, he landed the role of Simeon in the musical "Simeon's Gift," a production co-authored by the legendary Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton-Hamilton. His involvement in this project gave him a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with industry icons. Additionally, he toured with the famed Trans Siberian Orchestra. Over the last several years, Pinnella has led large-scale celebrated tribute shows featuring the music of Frank Sinatra and a tribute show on the music of Billy Joel.

Stephane Wrembel is a Paris-born guitar virtuoso known for his authentic interpretation of Django Reinhardt's music and innovative compositions that blend jazz with various influences. Immersed in the culture, he has dedicated himself to understanding Reinhardt's legacy. Wrembel's career includes numerous albums, collaborations with esteemed musicians, and performances at prestigious venues worldwide. He is also recognized for his work on several Woody Allen films and his annual Django A Gogo Festival.  Wrembel's music reflects his vast experiences and intellectual curiosity, pushing the boundaries of jazz while paying homage to its rich history. This year's Django á Gogo Music Festival will run from May 1st to May 4th. It features international talents honoring Reinhardt's influential style. This year's festival will see the reunion of the Gypsy Guitars Trio, featuring legends like Angelo Debarre and Serge Camps alongside rising stars like Simba Baumgartner and Hugo Guezbar. Additionally, Wrembel's Django New Orleans band will perform. 

https://www.stephanewrembel.com/

Terence Blanchard Interview

Terence Blanchard, born in New Orleans in 1962, is a celebrated jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. Rising from the vibrant musical scene of his hometown, Blanchard's talent quickly garnered attention, leading to collaborations with jazz legends like Lionel Hampton and Art Blakey. His partnership with filmmaker Spike Lee catapulted him to international acclaim, as he composed scores for numerous acclaimed films, including "Jungle Fever," "Malcolm X," and "BlacKkKlansman." Blanchard's music transcends traditional boundaries, seamlessly blending jazz with other genres and addressing social issues through projects like his band E-Collective. He has also ventured into opera composition, premiering successful works such as "Champion" and "Fire Shut Up in My Bones." Blanchard's multifaceted career and unwavering commitment to innovation have solidified his legacy as a pioneering force in contemporary music. Recently, I spoke with the trumpet legend about his life, music, and thoughts on winning an NEA Jazz Masters Award, one of the highest honors for jazz musicians.  You can check out, my article at ​​https://njjs.org/

Drummer Nasheet Waits speaks with host Jay Sweet about his mentor, drummer Max Roach, as we approach the legend's centennial. Waits discusses Roach's impact and his upcoming tribute concert for Roach on 1/26/2024.

Scotty Barnhart is a noted trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. Most of his work has come through his association with the Count Basie Orchestra, where he began as a featured trumpeter in 1993. Since 2013, Barnhart has been the orchestra's director and has continued to preserve the legacy and tradition of one of the most essential musical establishments of the 20th century. Barnhart not only carries Count Basie's musical legacy with elegance and grace but also connects with Basie's personality. Basie was known to be kind, caring, accessible, and positive. The Count Basie Orchestra's newest album, The Count Basie Orchestra Swings the Blues! has been nominated for a Grammy Award. 

To read host Jay Sweet's article on Scotty Barnhart,visit New Jersey Jazz Magazine https://njjs.org/.

To learn more about Scotty Barnhart, go to http://www.scottybarnhart.com/ 

To learn more about the Count Basie Orchestra,https://www.thecountbasieorchestra.com/

Olivia Pérez-Collellmir is a solo pianist, bandleader, and composer from Barcelona, Spain. Noted in Arts Fuse as a “Spanish virtuoso” who adds “a flamenco touch to her chamber jazz,” Collellmir’s performance highlights include playing on the soundtrack of Isla Bonita by renowned director Fernando Colomo, a solo performance at the 25th anniversary gala of the six-time Grammy nominated Boston Baroque Orchestra, touring with Spanish Grammy nominee Rosana Arbelo, performing an honorary concert at Berklee for the legendary Rita Moreno, and performances for United States Secretary of State John Kerry, opera star Renée Fleming, and Metropolitan Opera General Manager Peter Gelb. 

Peréz-Collellmir started playing piano at the age of five and began studying under Núria Bonells, a disciple of Alicia de Larrocha, and entered The Superior Conservatory of Music in Barcelona at the age of 8. As a young scholar pianist, Collellmir toured performing Faure's Nocturnes and Bach's Partitas and alsorecorded for the National Radio of Spain. In addition, she was selected to play at the Centre de Musique Hindemith in Switzerland on the international performance piano stage. After receiving bachelor’s degrees in classical performance from theConservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona and philosophy from the University of Barcelona, Collellmir became a head of music for the Department of Education of Catalonia where she conducted, recorded, toured, and performed. In 2014, she received a full scholarship from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she moved, to expand her studies within the idioms of jazz and multicultural music, arrangements, orchestrations and conducting.

An honors graduate of Berklee with a dual major in Performance and Professional Music, Collellmir is the composer and performer of the award-winning compositions “Barcelona” and “Together,” which she premiered at the Berklee Performance Center. She is a winner of the Berklee Piano Department’s prestigious Chair Award, as well as a Piano Achievement Award. Currently, Pérez-Collellmir is a member of the faculty in the Berklee piano department. ]

Her first full album featuring her original music “Olivia” has been recorded in the fall of 2021 (Boston) and in the Summer of 2022 (New York). Her recording has been awarded with the "Berklee Faculty Fellowship Grant 2021-2022”. The album was released on September 15, 2023 produced by Gonzalo Grau.

The first album 'Olivia' (Adhyâropa Records) was released on September 15th. A collection of songs representative of the eclecticism and musical fusion that Pérez-Collellmir professes, exploring jazz, flamenco, classical music and Spanish folk traditions to create a universal sound without borders. 'Olivia' captures the native sounds of Barcelona, her hometown. Original songs composed by the Catalan artist and arrangements of pieces by Maurice Ravel and Frederic Mompou with 'Barcelona' as the centerpiece of the project. She also takes some exotic approaches to India and the Middle East.

'Olivia' features 18 stellar collaborations such as Catalan singer Judit Neddermann, percussionist Aleix Tobias, flamenco artists Sonia Olla and Ismael Fernández, bassist John Lockwood (legendary bassist who played with Dizzy Gillespie, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny and Gonzalo Rubalcaba) and cellist Naseem Alatrash (member of the Turtle Island Quartet and 2023 Grammy nominee)

For more on Olivia Perez https://www.oliviaperezcollellmir.com/welcome

https://open.spotify.com/album/1jXWZWRnCPN2RnLsOOQYOP?si=d38EdcLhQBybbszXUZGCcw

Charlie Apicella was voted onto the 84th and 86thDownBeat Readers Pollfor Guitar. He studied composition and improvisation with musical titans Yusef Lateefand Pat Martino and was trained as a historian by Archie Sheppand Dr. Billy Taylor. As a young guitarist he met his idol BB King, who offered him advice and shared some stories.

He has performed concerts and recorded with jazz legends Dave Holland, Sonny Fortune, John Blake, Jr., and Avery Sharpe as well as contemporary masters Joe Magnarelli, Vic Juris, Dave Stryker, Don Braden, and Jon Herington of Steely Dan.

In 2022 he formed The Griots Speak with bassist William Parker, saxophonist Daniel Carter, and percussionist Juma Sultan who is known for his work with Jimi Hendrix.

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Charlie Apicella is the founder and program director of Blues Alive: the living tradition of the blues

He is an Eastman Guitars Featured Artist a

Guild Guitars Sponsored Artist and a

ZT AmplifiersOfficial Artist

For more on Charlie Apicella go to https://www.ironcity.nyc/

Chuck Lambert Interview

Chuck's musical education started long before he picked up a guitar. At age eight, he studied oboe and piano.  Four years later his godfather exposed him to the musical diversity of Caribbean culture and encouraged him to play guitar.  While in high school he played bass and guitar in small R&B combos, rubbing elbows and jamming with future members of Parliament Funkadelic. While attending Lafayette College in the early 70's, he was a member of the Tim McCabe Blues Gang. The band's primary function was that of a backup band for touring blues legends on the East Coast college circuit. It was then that he was able to play for legends John Lee Hooker, J.B. Hutto and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. He also gained valuable exposure playing college parties and small clubs in the Delaware River Valley.

Most recently, Chuck has been playing guitar and singing his blues for crowds up and down the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia New York City and metropolitan New York areas while always returning to play venues in his hometown of Red Bank, NJ. As a member of the Norman Seldin Big Band, The Panama Chapel Band, The Cal Vetrane Blues Band, The Haugenes Project and a guest artist with The Red Bank Blues Band, Heavy Soul, Herd of Blues, Al Holmes and The Tribe, Poppa John and The Jam Band he has lent his vocal talents and guitar to many a fantastic night.

 Chuck has led the band as they opened for popular artists such as Little Feat and Kenny Wayne Shepard. The band has performed in prestigious musical venues like NJPAC, The Count Basie Theatre and SOPAC. They have performed at Le Festiblues International de Montreal; The Riverhead Blues Festival in Riverhead L.I.; The Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival at Six Flags Great Adventure, Freehold NJ; The Westfield Jazz & Blues Festival in Westfield NJ; The Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, Riverfest and The Jazz in the Park Series in Red Bank NJ; The Clearwater Festival at Gateway National Park at Sandy Hook NJ and Asbury Park NJ; The Blues by The Beach Concert Series in Long Branch NJ and represented The Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation in 2007 and 2013 at The International Blues Competition held in Memphis Tenn.  

For more on Chuck Lambert-https://www.chucklambert.com/schedule

Rufus Reid

With an incredible resume as a sideman, bandleader, and educator, bassist Rufus Reid represents one of the most significant links to the great jazz tradition. His remarkable accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, and Reid has worked and recorded with legends like Eddie Harris, Dexter Gordon, Andrew Hill, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Quartet, Kenny Barron, Stan Getz, J.J. Johnson, Jack DeJohnette, and many others.  In fact, he has recorded on over 500 albums. His reputation as an educator is equal to that of his musical achievements.  His book⁠ ⁠The Evolving Bassist⁠⁠ (Myriad Limited, 1974) remains the industry standard for double bass methodology.  Reid and Dr. Martin Krivin created the Jazz Studies and Performance Bachelor of Music Program at William Paterson University.  This program offered the first professional academically accredited Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in the NY, NJ, and CT tri-state areas. On November 19, 2022, Mr. Reid was honored as part of the Giants of Jazz Series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. Before the celebration, I was asked to interview the bassist for New Jersey Jazz Magazine, and here is that interview.

For more on Rufus Reid⁠https://rufusreid.com/⁠

For Jay's article on Rufus Reid⁠(https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle2.php?titlelink=giants-of-jazz-bassist-rufus-reid-to-be-honored-at-annual-sopac-concert) 

Vincent Herring is a masterful alto and soprano saxophonist who first toured the U.S. and Europe with Lionel Hampton’s Band. Heavily influenced by Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Herring's talents came to the attention of Nat Adderley (Cannonball’s Brother). He joined the trumpeter's band and toured and recorded with the group for nine years. After Nat’s death, He worked with drummer Louis Hayes to form the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band and worked with piano master Cedar Walton for more than two decades.  Additionally, he has also appeared on stage and or on recordings with Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Wynton Marsalis, Horace Silver Quintet, Jack DeJohnette’s Special Edition, Larry Coryell, Steve Turre, The Mingus Big Band (Won a Grammy in 2010), Kenny Barron, Nancy Wilson, Dr. Billy Taylor, Carla Bley, and so many more. Vincent's discography reveals over 20 titles as a leader and over 250 as a sideman. Herring is also a noted educator who teaches at the Manhattan School Of Music and William Patterson University.

Ron Carter Interview 4/14/ 2022 

For this show, you will hear Jay's discussion with bass legend Ron Carter from 4/14/2022. This interview occurred when he spoke to Ron Carter for a cover article celebrating his 85th birthday and his May 10th, 2022, Concert at Carnegie Hall celebrating the maestro forNew Jersey Jazz Magazine (https://njjs.org/). Ron Carter is often listed as the "world's most recorded bassist." He has appeared on well over 2000 recordings and was a member of Miles Davis's second classic quartet from 1963-1968. He has won three Grammy awards and is on some of the greatest jazz albums ever recorded. He has also recorded numerous albums as a leader and has written many fine compositions. Most recently, he was featured in a biographical film called Ron Carter, Finding the Right Notes, which aired on PBS. To learn more about the legend go to https://roncarterjazz.com/