Mario Castro: "Estrella de Mar"
August 13, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, New Music
Puerto Rican saxophonist Mario Castro talks about his new album, "Estrella de Mar," which honors his father with a suite for voices and strings.
The album features Castro's group with Josh Shpak on trumpet, Tamir Shmerling, bass, KyuMin Shim, piano, and Jonathan Pinson, drums, as well as David Sanchez on tenor saxophone and Casey Benjamin on vocoder.
The strings are Kailey Shaffer, violin, Fung Chern, violin, Allyson Clare, viola, and Brian Sanders, cello.
Alex Ariff produced this segment.
Erik Deutsch: "Outlaw Jazz"
August 13, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, New Music
Pianist Erik Deutsch talks with guest producer Kyle Eagle about the intersection of country and jazz on his album "Outlaw Jazz," which features his adaptations of Bo Diddley, The Rolling Stones, and his own compositions.
Edmar Castañeda: "World Ensemble"
August 12, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, Interviews
Colombian Edmar Castañeda brings musicians from eight different countries together with his World Ensemble. The harpist also performs solo in our studio. He talks about growing up in the high plains of Colombia and Queens, and his group's new album, recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard.
The group includes Gregoire Maret on harmonica, Marshall Gilkes, trombone, Itai Kriss, flute, Shlomi Cohen, soprano sax, Pablo Vergara, piano, Rodrigo Villalon, drums, David Silliman, percussion, Andrea Tierra on vocals, Tamer Pinarbasi on kanun and Sergio Krakowski on pandeiro.
The Edmar Castañeda World Ensemble performs at The Jazz Standard August 12.
Jon Batiste, Ashley Kahn on Miles At Newport
August 6, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, Shows

Simon Rentner talks with pianist Jon Batiste and writer Ashley Kahn about the 60th anniversary of trumpeter Miles Davis's first performance at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Jon Batiste on Newport & Colbert
August 4, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, Interviews
Pianist Jon Batiste talks with Simon Rentner about his appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival and his hiring as bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Ashley Kahn on Miles Davis At Newport
August 4, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, Playlists
Author Ashley Kahn talks with Simon Rentner about the sixtieth anniversary of trumpeter Miles Davis's first appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Newport Jazz Festival Founder George Wein
August 4, 2015 by Tim Wilkins
Filed under Featured, Interviews
Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein talks with guest producer Leo Sidran about the 2015 festival and some of his favorite musicians.
The segment includes music by John Hollenbeck, Anat Cohen, Amir ElSaffar, Paul Gonsalves with Duke Ellington, Stan Getz and Lew Tabackin, all of whom have performed at the Newport Jazz Festival over the years.
This is an excerpt of Leo's 90-minute interview with Wein which can be heard at third-story.com.