Talk Mode

A brief update from Eamonn... The final three episodes from Season 1 of the podcast will be uploaded as soon as possible. You can learn more about Season 2 from: https://www.talkmodepodcast.com/podcast And please spread the word! Eamonn

Drummer-bandleader David Lyttle speaks of growing up near Belfast in the 1980s, playing the Uilleann pipes as a child, working with Joe Lovano et al, establishing the Lyte label, discovering Andreas Varady, his trips to China and undertaking a US coast-to-coast tour that included performances in Area 51 and outside Art Blakey’s old Pittsburgh address…

In the concluding part of Ronan Guilfoyle's interview, the bassist-composer discusses working with Dave Liebman, Kenny Werner, Larry Coryell, Kenny Wheeler, Julian Arguelles, Rick Peckham, Sonny Fortune and his own son, Chris; speaks of his studies with Dave Holland at Banff; and his efforts to establish the first jazz performance degree in Ireland... Listen to Part 1 of this conversation in Episode #45

Jazz musician, composer and educator Ronan Guilfoyle speaks of the the impact of hearing recordings by Monk, Mingus and The Mahavishnu Orchestra; the steep learning curve of working with players on the Irish scene like Dick Buckley and Louis Stewart; and, above all, the key role his own father played in developing Ronan's musical sensibility... The concluding part of this interview follows in Episode #46  

Singer-songwriter Lili Añel speaks of her move from Spanish Harlem to Philadephia, growing up with a twin sister who's also into music, recording her debut for Palmetto Records in 1994, the recently-released retrospective - “In Spirit” - on Winding Way Records and the new album that she’s in the process of completing…

Today's guest is a freelance reed-player who lives in Dartmoor (a remote moorland located in the southwest of England). Chris Caldwell's travels have taken him to London's West End for productions like "Cats", and as far afield as North Korea. As a member of The Delta Saxophone Quartet, he's interpreted David Bowie's music from the Berlin years, as well as reinventions of Soft Machine's repertoire. His latest project, "Coracle of Life" - a duet recording with flautist Susie Hodder-Williams - was inspired by the sculptures of André Wallace...

Trombonist-cum-singer Nils Landgren plays R’n’B, funk and jazz. He's enjoyed a career in and outside his native Sweden since signing to the ACT imprint in the mid-1990s. It’s an association that continues to this day: on his forthcoming release, Nils is joined by label stablemates Michael Wollny, Lars Danielsson and Wolfgang Haffner…

Recently, Professor Tommy Smith was awarded an O.B.E. for services to education and jazz music. At 17, he left the Berklee College of Music to tour with Gary Burton. Soon afterwards, Smith recorded his debut CD for Blue Note. After returning to Scotland, he founded (and currently directs) the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He also established the jazz curriculum at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. His record label, Spartacus Records, has released - amongst others - one of Smith's favourite sax-players, fellow Scotsman, the late Bobby Wellins...

Pianist/composer Dave Stapleton runs Edition Records, a label with a back catalogue of over 100 albums; is a founder member of Slowly Rolling Camera, a trio + guests unit that released its third CD, “Juniper”, last summer; and a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he was mentored by Keith Tippett. Stapleton is also a big fan of Nordic music in general, and Finnish jazz, in particular…

Pianist/composer Gwilym Simcock's latest solo CD "Near And Now" is shortly due out on ACT Music. Last year, this busiest of jazz musicians collaborated with singer Kizzy Crawford and Sinfonia Cymru on the "Birdsong" project. He tours with the Pat Metheny Group, regularly performs with reed-player Tim Garland and is in great demand - along with Mike Walker, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussabaum - as one of The Impossible Gentlemen.  Welsh-born Simcock also explains why, whenever he does get a break in his schedule, he heads for Berlin…

Dexter Gordon was influenced by Lester Young and in turn influenced John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The tenor sax-player enjoyed an upswing in popularity late in his career, following an Academy Award nomination for his acting performance in “Round Midnight”, a movie that’s notable for its use of real jazz musicians playing live in Dexter’s fictional backing band (among them, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, John McLaughlin and Tony Williams). Dexter is also the subject of a recent biography, "Sophisticated Giant", written by today’s guest, his widow Maxine Gordon…

American singer René Marie reveals how she quickly came to sign recording contracts with the Maxjazz and Motéma labels. She also speaks about her one-woman show “Slut Energy Theory”, her one-to-one online vocal therapy sessions Slam! and her four favourite female jazz singers… Part 1 is available in #Episode 36.

Grammy-nominated René Marie speaks about the joy music has always brought to her and how, after merely singing in the home for over 20 years, she was persuaded to leave the day job by a brother and a son… Part 2 of this conversation will be available in #Episode 37.

Zurich keyboard player-cum-composer Nik Bartsch speaks about playing solo piano, leading the ensemble Ronin, taking part in 35-hour concerts with Mobile, founding the Ronin Rhythm Records label and running the club Exil… Part 1 is available in Episode #34.

ECM recording artist Nik Bartsch speaks of his early interest in drums, the differences between Japan and his native Switzerland, the importance of practising the non-violent martial art Aikido, and the influence of composers like Stravinksy, Feldman and Thelonious Monk on his approach to composition… Part 2 to follow in #Episode 35.

Norwegian jazz guitarist and independent record label owner Knut Mikalsen was studying Engineering in Edinburgh when he chanced upon, and was quickly mesmerised by the playing of, Louis Stewart on BBC radio. Three years later, Knut unexpectedly met his hero in a small venue in distant Tromsø…

Havana-born Ignacio Berroa followed in his father's footsteps to formally study violin as a child, before switching his attentions to percussion. After defecting to the US in 1980, Berroa quickly found himself playing drums in the Dizzy Gillespie Quartet. The move didn't come without complications, however...

A second call to Chris McNulty finds her in Perth, settling in to a new composer's residency. The singer from Melbourne, a long-time resident of New York, also speaks about her latest album "Eternal" and using a funding platform to posthumously release recordings made by her late son, the hip hop artist known as Chap One... Part 1 is available as Episode #30.

Chris McNulty became a fixture on the New York jazz scene after relocating to the US in 1988 (with her young son in tow). Eamonn catches up with the singer/composer, following her return home to Australia. Today, Chris discusses her favourite jazz recordings and authoring “Vocal As Complete Musician”, an educational e- and print book that uses a system of tetrachords as a basis for improvising and ear training...   Part 1 of 2 (the concluding part follows in Episode #31).

Trumpeter and flugelhorn player Bryan Corbett was raised in a small village near Hereford, in the west of England, before taking a music degree at university in Liverpool. He leads his own jazz quartet and has worked, as a sideman, with acid jazz outfits US3 and, most recently, The Brand New Heavies. On today's podcast, he speaks about a mystery illness that proved to be - quite literally - as important as life and death...

Jethro Tull's frontman Ian Anderson speaks of an 8-year-old who listened to his father's big band 78s, trading in his (and Lemmy's old) Fender Strat for a fancy microphone and a flute, the similarities between "Hotel California" and Jethro Tull's "We Used To Know", working with the Carducci Quartet and making use of jazz meters in his songwriting. Part 1 of this interview is available, on the platform of your choice, as Episode #27...

In the first part of a conversation with singer-songwriter, guitarist and flautist Ian Anderson, we learn about "The British Invasion", celebrating 50 years in music, playing annual benefits for cathedrals and churches, some of Ian's less enjoyable live appearances (including the first concert at Shea Stadium since one by The Beatles) and the imminent release of Mark Blake's authorised biography on Jethro Tull. The concluding part, which follows in Episode #28, will include Ian’s thoughts on growing up listening to his father’s big band collection…

At a time of the year when we’re likely to meet up with family and toast absent friends, Eamonn chats to longtime Irish resident Tomi Reichental about his detention in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, the need to address the current refugee crisis and the enduring power of music…

Dan Morgenstern is a jazz journalist, archivist and former editor of “Downbeat” magazine, as well as someone who’s garnered 8 Grammy Awards for writing re-issue liner notes. In the first of his occasional conversations with Eamonn, Dan reveals how he (and his mother) fled from Vienna in 1937, before eventually arriving on 52nd Street in time to hear bebop in its prime…

C.E.O. of Basho Records, Christine Allen, explains the difficulties of running a small, independent jazz label from its London base, as well as the services that Basho Music provides for artists like pianist Gwilym Simcock and saxophonist Trish Clowes...

More from bassist/composer Ben Allison: representing the rights of performing musicians with regard to terrestrial and online radio airplay; reissuing material on his own Sonic Camera label; and issuing “Quiet Revolution” in CD and download formats for the first time…  For the first part of this conversation, go to Episode #22.

Today’s guest, Ben Allison, was a recipient, in 2005, of a Bird Award - something he has in common with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Ray Brown, Art Blakey, Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman. The bassist/composer/bandleader reveals how a local record store geek introduced him to the music of Ornette Coleman, via Metheny and Jimmy Page! The concluding part follows on Wednesday...

Days after his thirteenth birthday, guitarist Andreas Varady recorded his debut studio album for David Lyttle’s Lyte Records. Dates at at The Montreux Jazz Festival and Ronnie Scott’s in London quickly followed. As did a management deal with Quincy Jones. His first Verve release featured guest turns from Gregory Porter and the late Roy Hargrove. This year, the now 21-year-old released his third CD, “The Quest”. None of this seems to have gone to the young man’s head - he’s back living with the parents in Limerick city, Ireland…

Curtis Stigers on making Nick Lowe rich, writing lyrics to the music of Larry Goldings, singing Sinatra with the Danish Radio Big Band, being produced by Larry Klein, raising funds for the homeless in his home town; as well as his admiration for movie director Bill Forsyth… Part 1 of this conversation is available as Episode #19.

American jazz singer Curtis Stigers reveals how he learned to play the saxophone in guitar keys before concentrating on singing. From his mid-teens, Stigers was encouraged to perform on stage by a former Blue Note recording artist who’d decided to retire in his locality. As luck would have it, the pianist - Gene Harris - would allow himself to be talked out of retirement by Ray Brown. Part 1 of 2. Part 2 follows on Wednesday…

Hakon Kornstad studied at the Trondheim Jazz Conservatory before becoming a founding member of the improvising electronica ensemble Wibutee towards the end of the 1990s. These days, he’s been referred to as “The Two Tenors”, because he’s a) a tenor saxophonist and b) sings arias, often communicating in both ways during the same tune. Jazz meets opera - hear his extraordinary tale on today’s episode of “Talk Mode”…

Swiss-born Julie Campiche had been studying classical harp at Geneva Conservatory for a decade when she was politely asked to leave. By chance, one of her private tutors subsequently passed on a gig with a big band and suddenly everything made sense: discovering jazz in the rehearsal room proved to be a revelation. Despite encountering several obstacles along the way, she's persisted with jazz harp as a career. Eamonn chats to Julie ahead of her quartet's debut CD release...

Norwegian Arild Andersen learned the double bass as a schoolboy, while playing guitar in a unit that appeared at at local functions. When the trio's bassist decided to concentrate on cello, Arild bought the instrument. Since then, he's worked with everyone from Jan Garbarek to Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and, most recently, saxophonist Tommy Smith...

Saxophonist/bandleader/composer Dave Liebman talks about his admiration for Sidney Bechet, getting the gig with Miles Davis, hanging out with Charles Lloyd on Sundays and teaching Masters students in New York. He also singles out some of his own recording projects. Part 1 available as Episode #14...

Sax-player, flautist and composer Dave Liebman has worked with Miles Davis, Chick Corea and Elvin Jones; been tutored by Lennie Tristano and Charles Lloyd; and mentored by Bob Moses. And he knows how to verbally communicate… Part 2 follows on Friday.

Theo Bleckmann reveals why, after befriending Shelia Jordan at a workshop in Austria, he chose to abandon his dream to represent Germany in the Winter Olympics in favour of a move to New York city. The Big Apple remains his home, thirty years on. The singer also talks about one of his favourite performances, in which 3 machinists stitched a suit made from the sheet music he sang from, live on stage…

Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren remembers the effect of hearing Oscar Peterson’s “Night Train” for the first time and speaks about “Mare Nostrum III”, his forthcoming release with Paolo Fresu and Richard Galliano; the influence Arne Domnérus played in his career; recording Johnny Mandel tunes with American sax-player Harry Allen; and his own tribute album to Matt Dennis, a crooner/pianist whose music was covered by Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker…

Kyle Eastwood is Wednesday’s podcast guest. The bassist/composer/bandleader from Carmel, California, speaks about writing music cues for his father’s movies, his love for Charles Mingus and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the renewal of an association with English sidemen for his most recent release “In Transit”…

In the concluding part of our conversation with Jean Luc Ponty, the French violinist shares some memories of his time with Frank Zappa, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Jon Anderson. He also speaks of his current projects with Biréli Lagrène and Kyle Eastwood, and the Atlantic Years Band... Part 2 of 2. For the start of the interview, listen to Episode #9.

Today’s guest graduated from the Paris Conservatoire with a Premier Prix but eschewed a career in classical music for one in jazz. A bandleader in his own right, the master of electric violin has worked with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever and Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention… Part 1 of 2, continues on Monday.

Tigran Hamasyan has fused jazz with Armenian folk music for his releases to date, among them, albums for the Nonesuch, ECM and Verve labels. Today’s guest is a past winner of the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition, the Solo Piano award at the Montreal Jazz Festival, as well as Montreux. He's someone who favours an original repertoire...

Londoner Norma Winstone was influenced by the vocal stylings of Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne before coming under the spell of the instrumental jazz of Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck. Her wordless improvisation sprang from associations with Michael Garrick and Kenny Wheeler. “Descansado”, her most recent ECM album, features 12 tunes from movies, with lyrics written by Norma herself…

Continuing the chat with trumpeter Dave Douglas, we learn about his long-term involvement with the Banff Centre in Canada, composing for silent film, why he performed hymns and folk songs at his mother’s funeral, recording an album with the bluegrass singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan (best known for her work with Crooked Still and Sometymes Why) and the latest Greenleaf release by Rudy Royston. For Part 1 of this interview, listen to Episode #5...

New York trumpeter Dave Douglas speaks of getting hooked on Cecil Taylor and Booker Little while still a pre-teen, touring with Horace Silver and why he dedicated the Greenleaf label’s inaugural release to his own father. Part 1 of 2, continues on Friday…

Jazz fan and programmer Michael Ricci drew on his computer skills to conceptualise the online resources All About Jazz and Jazz Near You… Be sure to subscribe if you enjoy!

Norwegian Bugge Wesseltoft has enjoyed crossover success in the techno and dance scenes, cut a best-selling Christmas album for ACT & has just recorded with 2 ex-members of E.S.T... Be sure to subscribe if you enjoy!

Today’s guest, the Israeli-born drummer Asaf Sirkis, leads his own bands — Inner Noise and The Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet, among them — is a founder member of Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble and often collaborates with Chick Corea’s saxophonist, Tim Garland… Be sure to subscribe if you enjoy!

Cassandra Wilson is a two-time Grammy-winner. In our inaugural podcast, the singer from Mississippi discusses interpreting songs considered alien to the jazz repertoire, as well as one or two other topics that may come as a surprise to you... Be sure to subscribe if you enjoy!