2013 December

It is such a pleasure to be celebrating the tenth installment with prolific jazz violinst, composer and music educator Sonya Robinson! In this episode, Sonya discusses her newest album, her friendship with Miles Davis, and working on a children’s book. Listen on iTunes!

Jazz violinist, composer and music educator Sonya L. Robinson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1959. The late great jazz trumpeter Miles Davis said Sonya’s playing is reminiscent of Stuff Smith and Ray Nance, two of jazz’s legendary violinist’s. Robinson is a gutsy player with a beautiful sound and a fluidity that displays her technical finesse. Fans of Sonya have literally jumped out of their seats upon hearing the excitement that Sonya generates with her violin playing. They feel the raw emotion within her music.

Sonya, who has three albums to her name, Fly, Sonya and Sonya Live at Spiral, plays a variety of styles from the baroque, the blues, straight ahead and beyond.

A fluent composer, she writes and performs most of her own music. “Fly” features many old and new compositions.  A for Black is a song that features her trio-violin, drum and bass. It is a rollicking piece that moves with grace and speed and features the violin in its favorite key, a minor. Truth and Honesty is a ballad that displays a level of soulfulness that only her violin and her ideas can project. Eleven is a piece written the day after 911. In some ways a tribute to the survivors and in other ways a musical documentation of what many of us saw and went through on that epic day.

Sonya has been a featured guest performer for the UNCF annual fundraiser, Jazz at Riverside and has performed in festivals such as Summerfest, Jazz Fest Berlin and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. From venues as varied as the Blue Note, NY to Spiral in Tokyo, Japan to Chicago’s Southshore Festival, Sonya always gives a soul stirring-performance guaranteed to make you stand up and say “Where has she been?” She has performed with some of music’s best, such as the late great Aaron Bell-jazz bassist with Duke Ellington, Melvin Rhyne, organist with Wes Montgomery, Bassist Richard Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Aretha Franklin and Liberace.

Sonya has won many honors and nominations. She was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best New Album, Voted one of America’s Ten Most Beautiful Black Women, and Crowned Miss Black America in 1983.

Sonya sitting down for our interview in November

Old school Sonya

Recordings featured in this episode in order of appearance:

“Circle” by Sonya Robinson from her newest album Whistle

“What’ll You Have?” Pabst Blue Ribbon Commercial

“Flying Home” Illinois Jacquet

“Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell

“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire

“Spain” by Chick Correa and Return to Forever

“I Wish I Knew” by Melvin Rhyne

“Afro Blue” by the Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Erykah Badu

“Dream Song” by Sonya Robinson from the album Fly

“I Want To Know” by Sonya Robinson from her newest album Whistle

“Whistle” by Sonya Robinson from her newest album Whistle

“Gymnopedie No. 1 (Satie)” by String Trio of New York

“Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock

“Carib-bean” by Sonya Robinson from her newest album Whistle

This episode of the Earfull was originally recorded on November 8th and released on December 18th, 2013. The cover art for the Earfull was made by Hallie Bean. I’d like to thank Sonya Robison for sitting down with me and you for listening. For mo re information on Sonya, please visit his website at sonyarobinsonmusic.com.  As always, you can find the Earfull on the iTunes music store, and also on Facebook.

Today’s interviewee is New York-based classically trained bass/baritone, Broadway actor and music educator Roosevelt Credit, who grew up in Oakland California. talks about his accidental Broadway career, the spiritual tradition, and his love of conducting. Listen on iTunes!

Roosevelt André Credit’s profound and spirited performances have served to shape his career both nationally and internationally as a bass /baritone.  Roosevelt was featured as a “Fisherman” in the 2012 Tony Award Winning and Grammy Nominated Production of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess on Broadway. He has performed on and off Broadway, playing several roles in the Tony Award winning and national touring companies of Harold Prince’s Show Boat.  He just received the 2012 Most Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award from Oregon State University. Acknowledged for his humanitarianism and good will, Roosevelt André Credit was awarded the Theron Montgomery Award by the Broadway community twice, recognizing him as a positive role model both on and off stage. Some of his other philanthropic associations are Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Rockland Family Shelter, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Metropolitan Ministries, Saint Joseph Episcopal School, and The Whiteside Theatre of Corvallis.

Roosevelt Credit holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Oregon State University, a Master of Music in Voice and Opera Performance, and a Master of Music in Conducting from Northwestern University. He is also an Eagle Scout from Troop 254 of the Golden Acorn District.

His extensive repertoire includes opera, oratorio, jazz, spirituals, pop, and musicals.  He has performed with the Chicago Opera Theatre, Birmingham Opera, New York Contemporary Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and was a featured soloist with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Duke Ellington Orchestra during the Centennial Celebration. Roosevelt made his Carnegie Hall debut singing Schubert conducted by the late Maestro Robert Bass, and his Town Hall debut in Music Is In the Air: A Tribute to Jerome Kern, “brought the cheering audience to their feet.”- Robert L. Daniels, Variety Magazine.

He was a featured performer at the Barack Obama 2009 Pennsylvania Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C., and worship leader for the 2008 United Methodist Women Northeastern Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting. Roosevelt was a guest technician for the North Central American Choral Directors Association Convention in Omaha and guest soloist at theMovements in Peace concert directed by Craig Hella Johnson. He has conducted the Rockland County High School ACDA All City Chorus, South Dakota ACDA Mixed Junior Honor Choir, Orange County Elementary School Music Festival, the Minisink Valley Central School District Chorus, and the well-known Chicago Children’s Choir.

Other featured performances include appearances at the Helen Hayes Theater, Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway concert series, Broadway to Barbados with Leftfield Productions, in concert with the Mississippi Mass Choir, and tours throughout Japan with the New York Ragtime Orchestra. He was featured soloist with the Long Island Symphonic Choral Association, and a featured composer during the American Masterpieces Choral Music Festival, conducted by Gregg Smith.

His operatic roles include Henry in The White House Cantata, Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Sivglia, St. Eustace in Four Saint’s in Three Acts, Jim in Porgy and Bess, and Figaro in Lenozze de Figaro. His world premiers and recordings include Elegies For the Fallen by Joyce Solomon Moorman; For The People by John W. Jones; Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music by Joshua Rosenblum; Robert Greenleaf’s Under the Arbor, telecast by Public Broadcast Systems; and the new orchestrations for the “Gospel Mass” by Robert Ray, conducted by Anton Armstrong of St. Olaf College with the Long Island Masterworks Choral Festival Institute. Most recently Roosevelt Credit is featured in the 2012 cast recording of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

Roosevelt André Credit has performed various works including the Fauré Requiem, Bach’s St. John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s B Minor Mass, and Songs of the Slave by Kirke Mechem. He is the bass section leader of the Saint Peter’s Church in New York City, and is well known throughout New York for his various solo, conducting, and composing skill. He has worked with Kids Project of New York as teacher, actor and puppeteer for disability awareness education for children and received a Proclimation from Mayor Bloomberg for his work. He is an ASCAP Award winner for his published solo vocal/choral compositions, and author of an anthology of spirituals titled “Ol’ Time Religion,” one of his greatest joys.

Poster from the 1993 revival of Show Boat

Roosevelt sitting down for our interview in his apartment in Inwood

Roosevelt pointing to his picture on the poster for the 2011 revival of Porgy and Bess

Recordings featured in this episode in order of appearance:

“Heav’n, Heav’n” performed by Roosevelt Andre Credit from his album Ol’ Time Religion

“Sleeping with the Dogs” performed by Bobbie Mercy Oliver

“Ave Maria” performed by the Indianapolis Children’s Choir

“Say a Little Prayer For You” performed by Aretha Franklin

“Non Piu Andrai (Le Nozze di Figaro)” performed by Ferruccio Furlanetto, Susanne Mentzer, Dawn Upshaw, Thomas Allen

“Ol’ Man River” performed by Roosevelt Andre Credit from his album Ol’ Time Religion

Porgy & Bess Medley performed by the original Broadway cast at the 2012 Tony Awards

“Take the ‘A’ Train” performed by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

“Freedom Train” performed by the Chicago’s Childrens Choir

“This Little of Light of Mine” performed live by Roosevelt Andre Credit

“Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance!” performed by Billy Harper on his album Black Saint

“Goin’ Home” performed by Roosevelt Andre Credit from his album Ol’ Time Religion

This episode of the Earfull was originally recorded on September 4th and released on December 11th, 2013. The cover art for the Earfull was made by Hallie Bean. I’d like to thank Ole Mathisen for sitting down with me and you for listening. For more information on Roosevelt, please visit his website at rooseveltcredit.com. As always, you can find the Earfull on the iTunes music store, and also on Facebook.

In this episode, Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Ole Mathisen talks about growing up playing music in Norway, being a studio musician in South Korea, and composing in New York. Jazz trombonist, composer, and educator Chris Washburne is often mentioned in this interview. For more on him, please see episode 2 of this podcast. Listen on iTunes!

Ole Mathisen was born in Sundfor, Norway in 1965. received his Bachelor Degree in Professional Music from Beklee College, graduating summa cum laude in 1988, and earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music in 1995. His teachers include renowned saxophone guru Joe Viola, woodwind master Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider (arranging), and Ed Green (composing/ film scoring). He is the brother of Jazz musicians Per Mathisen (bass), Hans Mathisen (guitar) and Nils Mathisen (keyboards, guitar and bass) and has been a member of the Jazz Studies Faculty at Columbia University since 2005.

Over his 18 years in the New York Jazz and studio scene, Ole Mathisen has been involved with classical, jazz, electronic, ethnic, and experimental music, and established himself as someone with a unique voice both as an instrumentalist and as a composer, relentlessly experimenting and pursuing new standards for himself through playing and writing. Jerry D’Souza of All About Jazz writes: “His saxophone wanders into seductive odd time signatures,… riding an angular trail, adding fast jabs and a tumble of notes that blow across in an intense whirl.” Charles Farrell of eMusic writes: “Mathisen has already moved away from any forebears into his own territory.” Ole continues to tour worldwide, teach, and contribute to numerous recordings every year. With the group FFEAR, he was awarded the Chamber Music America “New Jazz Works” grant of 2009. The premiere of his CMA composition, “Mirage,” was featured on JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater. Ole has worked on over 100 CD releases, composed several movie and television scores, and has participated on innumerable commercials. In 2007 he released “CHINESE HOROSCOPE,” (Jazzheads) his first album as a leader to critical acclaim. The follow up album “PERIODIC TABLE,’ (Jazzheads) was released in April of 2010. The trio album, “ELASTICS,” (Losen) with Per Mathisen and Paolo Vinaccia, was released in the spring of 2011 to rave reviews. He is the leader of Ole Mathisen ZERO-SUM, co-leader of FFEAR, and a member of Chris Washburne’s SYOTOS, Alex Garcia’s Afromantra, Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers Ensemble, and Mamak Khadem Ensemble.

Ole Mathisen and Chris Washburne

Recordings featured in this episode in order of appearance:

“Standing Waves” performed by FFear from the 2012 album Mirage

“Eg rode meg ut (I rode out)” performed by Pelle Joner in 1958 from the Smithsonian collection of Norwegian Folk songs

“The Great Gig in the Sky” performed by Pink Floyd on their 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon”

“Clarinet Piece” performed by Thelma Yellin Big Band

“Some Skunk Funk” performed by the Brecker Brothers live in Barcelona

Drum Solo performed by Bob Moses

“Papa Lips” performed by Bob Mintzer from the album Canyon Cove

“동네” performed by Hyun Chul Kim

“Methane Mambo” performed by the SYOTOS Band live in Washington DC, August 8th, 2010. Composed by John Walsh.

“Voyage into the Golden Screen” performed by NYNDK live in New York City, 2010

“Lyric Suite Part 1 Allegretto Giovale” composed by Alban Berg

“A Love Supreme, Part 1 – Acknowledgement” performed by John Coltrane on the 1965 album

“Other Side of Night” performed by FFear live in Norway this year

This episode of the Earfull was originally recorded on September 30th and released on December 4th, 2013. The cover art for the Earfull was made by Hallie Bean. I’d like to thank Ole Mathisen for sitting down with me and you for listening. For more information on Ole, just google him. As always, you can find the Earfull on the iTunes music store, and also on Facebook.