Strictly Jazz Sounds-SJS

Episode 36-Thelonious Monk:Wrong is Right-Part One

Thelonious Monk changed the language of jazz. But behind the unmistakable harmonies, rhythms and compositions was a husband, father and grandfather whose story is still b

Episode 35-Joe Lovano: Still on the Rise

Having a virtual conversation with someone like Joe Lovano invites you to take in more than the words. You find yourself looking around the room with him — the basement,

Episode 34-Martin Ludlow: Reclaiming LA's Jazz Legacy

Los Angeles has long been one of America's great jazz cities, yet its place in the music's history is often overshadowed by New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City, and New Yor

Episode 33 — Jeremy Pelt: Jazz, Leadership, and Legacy

When someone says jazz is dead, or that they cannot find great jazz being made today, I always think of the artists, mentors, and leaders who continue to move the music f

Episode 32-Jenny Scheinman: Improvising Nature Through Jazz

Today on Strictly Jazz Sounds, we enter the musical world of violinist and composer Jenny Scheinman — an artist whose music is shaped as much by landscape and community a

Episode 31-Jaleel Shaw: Painting the Invisible in Jazz

Episode 31-Jaleel Shaw: Painting the Invisibility in Jazz Jazz for Philadelphia native and alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw is a soulful, boundary-pushing journey. His impr

Episode 30-Mark Turner: Jazz and Race-Tells It Like It Is

Welcome to Strictly Jazz Sounds. In this episode, we spotlight saxophonist Mark Turner, an LA native known for his technical brilliance and soulful undertones. Turner's m

Episode 29-John Patitucci: The Soul, Spirit and Sound of Jazz

It's a challenge to describe bassist John Patitucci. He's a 2025 Jazz Journalists Association Award winner for Electric Bassist of the Year, and four-time Grammy Award wi

Episode 28-Zev Feldman: Guardian of Jazz Legacies

 Producing a historical recording requires enormous patience, investigative powers like an investigative journalist. The journey is long, emotional, and exciting when the

Episode 27-Erena Terakubo: The Little Woman with a Big Sound

Alto saxophonist Erena Terakubo, from Sapporo, Japan, began her recording career early, releasing her first album when she was only 15 years old. Inspired by a saxophone-

Episode 26-Chien Chien Lu and Richie Goods: A Real Team

Taiwanese vibraphonist and percussionist Chien Chien Lu, along with Pittsburg, Pennsylvania native bassist Richie Goods, have crafted a sound that is both captivating and

Episode 25-Clarence Penn: Jazz Makes Me a Better Person

There's a not so polite saying about teaching music and music teachers that goes like this: If you can, play. If you can't, teach. That is what jazz legend Ellis Marsalis

Episode 24-Walter Smith III: Jazz Educator and Saxophone Virtuoso

World-renowned saxophonist and Blue Note recording artist Walter Smith III is the model music educator and practitioner. This enormously talented saxophonist pursued musi

Episode 23-Kris Davis: Creative Processes and Mentorship in Jazz

In this episode, I spend time with Grammy Award-winning pianist and Berklee College of Music professor of Jazz Kris Davis on 'Strictly Jazz Sounds.' We do a deep dive int

Episode 22-Yuhan Su: The Imagination is in the Music

Award winning vibraphonist Yuhan Su is another Gary Burton/Chick Corea-inspired musician, lured away from classical to the art form where improvisation reigns, jazz. This

Episode 21-Wayne Escoffery: Fostering Pride in Black American Music-Jazz

Grammy-Award winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is my guest on the 21st episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds. What attracted me to Wayne was his prolific traveling, extensive

Episode 20-Roni Eytan: Jazz Harmonica Colossus

 Roni Eytan, a renowned Israeli-born, New York based jazz harmonica player, performs with a passion that differs from other harmonica artists. Perhaps it's the region fro

Episode 19-Alexandra Ridout: Her Journey Into Jazz

Alexandra (Alex) Ridout is a young jazz trumpeter from the UK, now residing in New York City. In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, she lays out her journey as a music

Episode 18-Jocelyn Gould: Striking a Chord

In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, I have a conversation with Jocelyn Gould, a professional jazz guitarist who fills all the shoes it requires to drive a successful

Episode 17-Yasushi Nakamura: The Shy Bassist with the Groove

Yasushi Nakamura loves his music. And he truly loves laying down the groove lines behind a hot band like he does for almost a dozen bands. However, being one of today's f