Stephan Thelen Warms Up to Musical Mathematics
On the album Worlds in Collision, the mathematician-turned-musician fragments voices and field recordings according to the same geometric principles that govern his guitar compositions.
Jazz
Web Web's Blueprint for Spontaneous Kosmische Jazz
Roberto Di Gioia of the German jazz collective Web Web explains his philosophy of treating music "like a newborn baby," and why, when recording their sixth album, 'Plexus Plexus,' less preparation led to deeper focus.
Speaking from the Soul — Brittany Davis on 'Black Thunder'
How the Seattle-based poet and keyboardist found her true voice through improvisation, plus Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard explains why Davis's talent helped revive his independent label after twenty years.
Fragments of Revelation — A Lost Conversation with Matthew Shipp & Ivo Perelman
A technical failure erased the interview, but the spiritual dimensions of 'Armageddon Flower,' Shipp and Perelman's forty-sixth collaboration together, prove more durable than digital memory.
Kinan Azmeh Takes the Sound of Syria's Streets on a World Tour
The Damascus-born clarinetist discusses his philosophy of musical freedom, the power of long-term collaboration, and how his latest release, 'Live in Berlin,' captures nearly two decades of creative partnership with his CityBand quartet.
Disappearing Act — Tal Yahalom's Generous Guitar Moves
The composer behind 'Mirror Image' talks about challenging guitar-hero expectations, finding inspiration in Argentine rhythms, and why the best band leaders sometimes disappear into the music.
For Stefan Hegerat the Song Never Remains the Same
The stef.in mastermind talks about his latest album 'Icterus II,' why he's against Spotify, and how Toronto's underground scene shaped his genre-defying approach to composition.
Claire Cope's 'Every Journey' and the Women Who Dared to Explore
The pianist-turned-composer discusses her philosophical views on improvisation, the challenges of writing for larger ensembles, and the inspiring tales of extraordinary female explorers.
Golden Years — Red Snapper Keeps On Swinging
Red Snapper's Ali Friend reflects on three decades of creative restlessness, working with David Harrow, and why live performance has become more precious than promotional tool.
Electric Relaxation — Cinephonic's Return to Turntable Jazz
Rather than sample other musicians, Cinephonic's Pierre Chrétien recorded his own jazz trio only to deconstruct and rebuild it. The resulting album, 'Refuge,' is a sonic diary that documents a search for stability amid life's unpredictability.
Professor Groove — Leon Anderson Takes the Lead
For drummer and composer Leon Anderson, the long-awaited 'Live at Snug Harbor' is a debut album that documents decades of performance, education, and preservation of jazz traditions.
The Beautiful Debris of Sam Sadigursky's 'The Solomon Diaries'
With clarinet and accordion, Sam Sadigursky and Nathan Koci transform the ghostly silence of Borscht Belt ruins into a meditation on memory and absence.