Strictly Jazz Sounds-SJS

Stephen Braunginn

5.0 (6)
Music Interviews

Strictly Jazz Sounds (SJS) features the finest legacy and contemporary jazz musicians and beyond. Every episode will feature an in-depth interview with current jazz musicians and their music, or jazz music producers, music critics and writers and jazz music venue owners/operators. SJS is about all things jazz. Host Steve Braunginn was on the air 20+ years for WORT89.9-FM.

Jul 11

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 York. In this episode of Strictly Jazz Sounds, Steve Braunginn sits down with Martin Ludlow, President and CEO of Bridge Street, Inc., to discuss the vision behind the inaugural LA Jazz Festival and why he believes it's time for Los Angeles to take its rightful place on the global jazz stage. Their conversation explores the rich legacy of Central Avenue, the Dunbar Hotel, Leimert Park, and the generations of musicians who have shaped the sound of jazz—from Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, and Eric Dolphy to Kamasi Washington and Terrace Martin. Ludlow also explains why the festival is designed as a community-wide celebration rather than a traditional concert event, featuring more than 160 artists from over 20 countries, free performances, youth education initiatives, and programming that reaches neighborhoods across Southern California. Steve and Martin also discuss the evolving definition of jazz, the relationship between jazz and contemporary genres, the importance of mentoring young musicians, and how festivals can strengthen both cultural identity and local economies. Whether you're planning to attend the LA Jazz Festival or simply care about the past, present, and future of jazz, this conversation offers an insightful look at one of the most ambitious new festivals in America. Photo by Joel Marasigan.
Jun 19

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 forward. Jeremy Pelt is one of those essential voices. Welcome to Strictly Jazz Sounds, the place where the music talks. I'm your host, Steve Braunginn. In this episode, I'm honored to welcome trumpeter, composer, bandleader, educator, and author Jeremy Pelt, one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. With his recent work holding the number one spot on the JazzWeek chart for eight out of nine weeks, Jeremy has built a reputation as an artist deeply committed to both the tradition and the future of jazz. His trumpet playing is powerful and expressive, and his influence extends well beyond the bandstand through his recordings, writing, teaching, and mentorship. We explore the experiences and influences that shaped him, from growing up in Los Angeles surrounded by the sounds of Michael Jackson, Prince, R&B, and soul to initially considering a classical path before discovering jazz through the music of Miles Davis. What began as curiosity became a lifelong calling. Jeremy also shares his perspective on mentorship, leadership, and what it means to guide younger musicians with professionalism, presence, and respect for the music's lineage. We discuss his acclaimed 23rd album, Our Community Will Not Be Erased, a powerful statement celebrating the resilience, beauty, and enduring strength of Black communities. The project reflects Jeremy's belief that music can honor history, affirm identity, and strengthen the connections between people. Throughout the conversation, Jeremy reminds us that jazz is more than a genre. It is a living tradition, a form of storytelling, and a community built on shared experience and collective memory. Music for this episode was graciously provided by Jeremy Pelt's label, HighNote Records, from Jeremy's latest recording, Our Community Will Not Be Erased. The album was composed and produced by Jeremy Pelt (jeremypelt.net) and features Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, Orrin Evans on piano, Buster Williams on bass, Lenny White on drums, and special guest Lasse Corson on keyboards. Playlist: "Fathers and Sons" (5:19) featuring Lasse Corson, "The March into Resilience," (8:00) and "Fathers and Daughters,"(5:09). Thank you for listening. Photo by Eva Kapanadze
May 19

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 as by jazz tradition, classical music and folk. Before collaborating with musicians like Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, and Brian Blade, Jenny grew up off-the-grid in rural Humboldt County, surrounded by redwoods, wildlife, and acoustic family music. That environment taught her the art of deep listening — something that still defines her improvisational voice today. We talk about how nature, silence, and influences ranging from Ludwig van Beethoven and The Beatles to Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis's Kind of Blue shaped her musical identity. We also dive into her acclaimed double album, All Species Parade — a sweeping work inspired by biodiversity, coexistence, and community, featuring the brilliant guitarists Frisell, Julian Lage, and Nels Cline. You'll also hear music from the album throughout the program, courtesy of Royal Potato Family. The music on this show is from Jenny Scheinman's album, All Species Parade. The quintet plays throughout the album: Jenny Scheinman-violin, Bill Frisell-guitar, Carmen Staaf-piano, Tony Scherr-bass, and Kenny Wollesen-drums. Playlist: "House of Flowers" 7:56-feat. Nels Cline-guitar; "All Species Parade" 11:01 [a party to which all animals of all sizes, colors and adaptations are invited."] closes a three-part suite, said to be Ellington-inspired; "Nocturne for 2020" 11:41-feat. Julian Lage-acoustic guitar. This is a conversation about music, ecology, identity, and collective listening. Thank you for listening to Strictly Jazz Sounds as you have many other podcasts to which to listen. Strictly Jazz Sounds, conversations that let the music breathe. Photo by Kory Thibeault.
Mar 27

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 impressive collaborations include NEA Jazz Masters Roy Haynes and Terri Lyne Carrington, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassists Dave Holland and Christian McBride, and pianists Kris Davis, Robert Glasper, and Jason Moran. Shaw's musical story emerges from his mother's insistence on raising her son in a household where diverse music was heard throughout his young years, leading to lessons on multiple instruments-piano, the drums, clarinet, violin and alto saxophone. Jaleel Shaw's mother and the rich tapestry of Philadelphia's jazz scene, where early guidance from teachers like Dennis Sandole and Lovett Hines and mentorship from legends like Roy Haynes shaped his improvisational voice and stage presence. Shaw often recalls lessons learned in dim-lit clubs and crowded rehearsals, experiences that have fueled his growth across two decades in the spotlight. It's through learning about African American history that Jaleel Shaw has been able to feel the pride of being a Black man and convey it in his music. This has enabled him to dive deeper into composing music that speaks to his emotions and the Black condition in this country. Shaw's first album in 13 years showcases an all-star quartet—Lawrence Fields (piano), Ben Street (bass), Joe Dyson (drums)—and guests Sasha Berliner (vibraphone) and Lage Lund (guitar). The project pays tribute to ancestors and victims like Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor, addressing invisibility, grief, and community, while reflecting Shaw's advocacy against book bans and erasure of "woke" narratives. As Shaw navigates both his artistry and fatherhood, his music becomes a living testament to resilience and hope. Through "Painter of the Invisible," listeners witness not only Shaw's technical brilliance but also his deep commitment to social justice and personal storytelling. Each note and lyric echoes the journey of a musician determined to bring unseen stories and marginalized voices into the spotlight, creating a legacy that intertwines family, community, and creative exploration. Thanks to Changu Records, there are three featured tracks from Painter of the Invisible (2025) are: "Gina's Ascent, Featuring Sasha Berline-vibraphone, 9:32," "Tamir (For Tamir Rice), 10:53" and "The Invisible Man, Featuring Lage Lund, 9:32." Thank you for choosing Strictly Jazz Sounds. Photo by Yusuke Yamanouchi. #jaleelshaw #strictlyjazzsounds
11/20/2025

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 music is influenced by R&B and jazz from his upbringing, as well as legendary saxophonists like Warne Marsh and John Coltrane. Mark's humility and self-deprecation are evident, but his artistry shines through, especially in his latest project, Reflections On: An Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, produced in collaboration with Jimmy Katz and Giant Step Arts. The episode explores how Turner's experiences as an African American have shaped his work in the thematic 10-part suite inspired by the novel penned by civil rights activist, author and poet, James Weldon Johnson, "An Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man." Our conversation covers Turner's compositional process, the challenges of identity and race, and the historical context behind his music. He also shares plans for future projects, including those inspired by Sci-Fi author Octavia Butler, with hopes of returning to Giant Step Arts. You'll hear four movements from the quintet: Mark Turner-tenor sax and narration, Jason Palmer-trumpet, David Virelles-piano, Matt Brewer-bass, and Nasheet Waits-drums. The featured compositions are Movement 1: Anonymous-4:04 (4:24), Movement 4: New York-12:03 (45:18), Movement 9: Identity Politics-6:11(1:07:00), and Movement 10: Closure-2:22 (01:20:08). I am grateful to Jimmy Katz and Giant Step Arts for use of the recordings. Thank you for tuning in. If you haven't subscribed yet, please do so to stay updated on future episodes, jazz news, and our annual Top 20 Jazz playlist. All the music played on this podcast has been authorized. Support jazz musicians by buying their music and support live jazz wherever you are. Now, let's begin with Movement 1. Enjoy the conversation! Photo by Jimmy Katz.
05/07/2025

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 winning artist, one of today's elite bassists, not just jazz but in all of music, but that's too limiting. John is a bassist with not only excellent rhythm but a complex, angular rhythmic style with dynamic and warm tones and a style that moves people emotionally as well as physically. No, that's too inadequate. John describes himself as, "a man of faith." But when I step back, I realize all the above pretty much sums it up. A Brooklyn, New York native, John Patitucci's musical history is, in his words, a "Cinderella story." At 25 years old, he was suddenly whisked away by iconic jazz pianist Chick Corea to join his new band, the Chick Corea Elektric Band and later the Akoustic Band where he played a large role in developing the sound of jazz fusion of the 1980s and 90s. It was Chick Corea who facilitated Patitucci's connection with GRP Records to make his first recordings and then tour the world, quickly becoming a global jazz figure. The story continues in 1986 when he was invited by saxophonist legend Maestro Wayne Shorter to contribute to his Columbia Records project Phantom Navigator. This led to Patitucci joining Wayne Shorter's 20-year four-time Grammy Award winning quartet, along with his good friends, pianist Danilo Perez and drummer Brian Blade. For John, this was the ultimate life. While Chick's band set John on a forward trajectory, it was in Wayne Shorter's band that he grew spiritually as well as technically. "The things that happened on stage are spiritual experiences for me. It's been transformative." It's this spiritual development that is the pinnacle component of our conversation. John's "faith" plays a large role in his music, his stage presence, and his relationships with key band members including saxophone giant Chris Potter and legendary drummer Brian Blade. His fondness for pianist Danilo Perez continues from their brotherhood in the Wayne Shorter Quartet. This conversation occurs just as John, Danilo Perez, and Brian Blade returned with iconic saxophonist Ravi Coltrane on the three-week Wayne Shorter Legacy Tour in Europe. We open the episode recounting the tour and the importance faith played in it. We spent time delving into his recent recording, Spirit Fall, laughing and enjoying ourselves describing the compositions that impressed us the most. The creation and emotional depth of Spirit Fall, recorded without rehearsals, is a focal point of the conversation, illustrating the trio's deep connection and improvisational synergy that's felt throughout the album. Thanks to Edition Records, there are three tracks to listen to on this episode. The John Patitucci Trio: John Patitucci-double bass/electric bass, Chris Potter-tenor saxophone/bass clarinet, and Brian Blade-drums/percussion. The playlist: Think Fast (6:51), Spirit Fall (6:18), and Lipi'm (7:40), all John Patitucci compositions and produced by John Patitucci. Thank you for listening to this podcast. I know you have many others to listen to, but you chose Strictly Jazz Sounds. When you subscribe you become one of the first to hear new episodes, read articles, see new photos, and learn of my annual "Best of" list. Soon, I will introduce a Patreon opportunity, your way of saying thanks to me for spending the more than 25 hours per episode to bring it to you. John Patitucci and I dove right into the conversation talking about one of his most cherished people, Brian Blade, and the impact their collaborations had on John's sound, particularly highlighting Brian Blade's dynamic drumming. Photo by Dave Stapleton.
03/21/2025

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 recordings are discovered, and the final package completed. This is what Zev Feldman does. He is the producer for and co-president of Resonance Records, a record label that releases archival recordings that are previously unissued. The Resonance catalogue includes John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, among many other legendary musicians. In this episode, Zev Feldman and I discuss his insights into his multifaceted career, how he got started in the music industry and his subsequent journey through various roles in sales, marketing, and ultimately producing rare jazz recordings. Feldman works with numerous other labels including Blue Note, Verve Label Group, Elemental Music as well as own his own labels, Jazz Detective and Deep Digs. Feldman spins many stories about his adventures in discovering music long forgotten. It's music that is not just good; it must be GREAT! Curating legacy music requires a sense of understanding about the elements of a dynamic recording, one that exceeds others in the quality of the performance, the importance of a certain date, and the historical aspect of the show or studio recording. Then there is the emotional involvement with the families of these jazz legends, many of whom become close friends, such as it has with the families of jazz guitar legend Wes Montgomery (Zev produced the first archival recording of Wes Montgomery for Resonance) and piano virtuoso Bill Evans as Feldman is just releasing his 13th archival recordings of Bill Evans. Then there is the importance of Record Store Day on April 12. Feldman highlights the significance of this little-known observed day in bringing these projects to life. This episode is rich with music, thanks to Zev Feldman and Resonance Records. There is more than 36 minutes of full tracks of music along with clips of recordings discussed. The playlist includes: Freddie Hubbard-On Fire, "True Colors-Breaking Point Closer" (13:32); Freddie Hubbard-trumpet, Bennie Maupin-tenor saxophone, Kenny Barron-piano, Herbie Lewis-bass, Freddie Waits-drums. Charles Mingus-Mingus in Argentina-The Buenos Aires Concerts, "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" (9:32), Charles Mingus-bass, Ricky Ford tenor saxophone, Jack Walrath-trumpet, Robert Neloms -piano, and Dannie Richmond-drums. Kenny Dorham-Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco, "Blue Bossa", (13:31), Kenny Dorham-trumpet, Sonny Red-alto sax, Cedar Walton-piano, Paul Chambers-bass and Denis Charles-drums. Short music clips: Charles Mingus-"Pork Pie Hat", Freddie Hubbard-"Crisis", Kenny Dorham-Blue Friday, Bill Evans-"Ro(u)nd Midnight". Thank you for listening to this podcast. I know you have many others to listen to, but you chose Strictly Jazz Sounds. When you subscribe you become one of the first to hear new episodes, read articles, see new photos, and learn of my annual "Best of" list. Soon, I will introduce a Patreon opportunity, your way of saying thanks to me for spending the more than 25 hours per episode to bring it to you. Photo by Zak Shelby-Szyszko
02/27/2025

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-playing M&M doll, Erena developed an interest in music that led her to become a notable figure in contemporary jazz. Her journey inclu0des playing in big bands in Sapporo and preferring jazz over classical music. In this episode, Erena Terakubo exuberantly shares her early influences, including J Fusion and musicians like Charlie Parker and David Sanborn. She shares insights into her life in the United States, cultural adjustments, and the challenges she encounters in New York City's jazz scene. With guidance from fellow alto sax player Vincent Herring, Erena navigated the business side of jazz. Erena talks about overcoming initial nervousness, gaining confidence, and arranging music for big band performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center. She highlights the significance of emotional expression in music and how her influences have shaped her improvisational style. Additionally, Erena discusses her experiences as a woman in the predominantly male jazz industry, her ongoing project, and her future goals. This episode delves in her story and explores various aspects of jazz. Erena acquired the nickname, North Bird. Find out at the end of this episode how she earned it. The discography for this 32-year-old saxophonist is impressive. Erena now has six recordings as a leader: Absolutely Live (King Records, 2019), Little Girl Power (King Records, 2018), A Time for Love (Cellar Live/King International, 2016), Erena Terakubo with Legends: Burkina (Eighty-Eight's, 2013), Erena Terakubo with Legends: New York Attitude, (King Records, 2011), and North Bird (King Records, 2011). What is more impressive are the personnel for her first three projects. Listen to this conversation to learn about this. Thanks to King Records, we will listen to three tracks from Erena's latest recording, Erena Terakubo: Absolutely Live! The quartet includes Erena Terakubo-Alto Saxophone, soprano saxophone; Mayuko Katakura-piano, Rhodes; Motoi Kanamori-bass; Shinnosuke Takahashi-drums, percussion. All compositions written by Erena Terakubo. 1. Little Girl Power 8:26), 2. A Crystal Path (6:54), 3. Be Nice (4:47) Thank you for listening. We appreciate your choice to listen to Strictly Jazz Sounds among numerous available podcasts. Photo by Yasuhisa Yoneda

5

out of 5

6 Ratings

Strictly Jazz Sounds (SJS) features the finest legacy and contemporary jazz musicians and beyond. Every episode will feature an in-depth interview with current jazz musicians and their music, or jazz music producers, music critics and writers and jazz music venue owners/operators. SJS is about all things jazz. Host Steve Braunginn was on the air 20+ years for WORT89.9-FM.

Creator

Stephen Braunginn
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

35
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2022
Show Website

Strictly Jazz Sounds-SJS