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Francisco Pais: Melodic and Sophisticated Modern Jazz from Newport

Francisco Pais
Francisco Pais

I had the pleasure in early October of this year to see the Francisco Pais Quintet play the Jamestown Arts Center. Although he has four albums out, his music is a new discovery to me even though he only lives across the bay in Newport, Rhode Island. The show was the first of a series of shows  in New York, Rhode Island and western Massachusetts promoting his new album Verde.

A guitarist, singer and songwriter/composer Pais plays sophisticated modern jazz that is flavored with rock, blues, brazilian and the music of his native Portugal. The show focused on his instrumental works and his band (mostly from New York) had a chance to blow. The show closed with the premier of a video of his song Million Galaxies Away produced by Newport videographer Sky Sabin.

We talk about Verde, the video, his influences, and instruments. Unfortunately the show that we talk about at Sandywoods was canceled and is being rescheduled for early 2017.

Special thanks to photographer Erin X. Smithers for letting me use her work for this post. She has a wonderful blog with radio host Eric Jackson at: followthesoultrane.com

franciscopais.com

Million Galaxies Away video

Music Used in this Podcast:

Music Used in this Podcast

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Wadada Leo Smith Talks About His Work and America’s National Parks

Wadada Leo Smith
Wadada Leo Smith

This is the second time that I’ve had the chance to talk to Wadada Leo Smith. A trumpeter and composer, an early member of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) and a distinctive and powerful voice in jazz and creative music for over 50 years.

Although his music is often described as Avant Garde it is rooted in the blues and has soul or as he would probably say it comes from the soul. He talks about his new album America’s National Parks not necessarily as the physical National Parks but as cultural and natural resources to be preserved and renew the nation. We also talked about his creativity, how he works and his upcoming projects.

Music Used In This Podcast
Music Used In This Podcast

 

wadadaleosmith.com

Previous Wadada Leo Smith interview from April 2015

 

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Eric Hofbauer: Two New New Albums and a Book

eric-hofbauer-solo-guitar-ghost-frets-hofbauer_ghost_frets
Eric Hofbauer

Eric Hofbauer tends to release his work in bunches and in series. He has two new albums out this fall on his own Creative Nation label. The first is his fourth solo guitar albumcover Ghost Frets, dedicated to his close friend and guitar collaborator Garrison Fewell who recently died of cancer. It is performed on his hollow body Guild with no amplification. The second, Three Places in New England is the third in his Prehistoric Jazz series recorded with his quintet. In this series he deconstructs composed classical works to incorporate improvisation within their structure, not just playing over changes but in the spirit or “dna” of the work.

October also saw the release of a music book for advanced students: Prof Hof’s Thirty Nearly Impossible Études for Guitar Duo. The name says it all.

cover This is the second time I’ve had the chance to talk with Eric. He is a virtuoso who has developed a very personal style and approach to music.

erichofbauer.com

My first interview with Eric Hofbauer.

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