2014 January

In this episode, brazilian percussionist, band leader and music educator Adriano Santos discusses growing up in Sao Paulo, studying with Ron Carter, and the importance of versatility and musicianship. Listen on itunes!

Adriano Santos was born in São Paulo, Brasil in 1966. Part of a new generation of Brazilian drummers, he began his drum studies at the age of twelve at Zimbo Trio Music School ( CLAM) in his hometown. In 1988 he moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music where he acquired his B.A. in Film Scoring. Moving to New York in 1995, Adriano started his Masters Degree at City College of New York where he had the chance to enjoy ensemble lessons with the great jazz legend Ron Carter. As a professional he has performed with top international artists such as Astrud Gilberto, Gal Costa, Leny Andrade, Luciana Souza, Romero Lubambo, Helio Alves, Claudio Roditi, Nelson Faria, Leo Gandelman, Paulo Moura, Jovino Santos Neto, Nilson Matta, Jared Gold, Yotam Silberstein, Ray Vega, David Binney, John Pizzarelli, Slide Hampton, Harry Allen, Bill Charlap, Cliff Korman, Santi Debriano, Hendrik Meurkens, Dave Pietro, Vana Gierig, Eileen Ivers, Paul Winter and the Boston Pops, to name a few. Adriano is currently performing with the Vinicius Cantuária Group, Matt Geraghty Project and the Afro- Brazilian band Hãhãhães. He has also recorded “Pretty World”, a project produced and arranged by the great Eumir Deodato with Japanese sensation Lisa Ono. Mr. Santos has produced publications in specialized drum magazines and has released a new book through Drummers Collective NYC (where he is part of the faculty) called, “Afro-Caribbean & Brazilian Rhythms for Drum set”. Adriano is endorsed by Vic Firth Sticks, Remo drum heads, Odery Drums and Istanbul Agop Cymbals.

For more information on Adriano, please click here.

Recordings featured in this episode in order of apperance:

“Contemplacao” from Adriano Santos’s album “In Session”

“A Banda” performed by Chico Buarque

Samba Dance Carnaval 2011

“The Chess Players” performed by Art Blakey (Adriano’s teacher John Ramsay worked with Art Blakey for many years

“The Shadow of Your Smile” performed by Ron Carter

“Aviao” performed by Leny Andrade

“From the Lonely Afternoons” from Adriano Santos’s album “In Session”

“Coisa Linda” performed by Vinicius Cantuaria

“Samba da Bencao” performed by Bebel Gilberto

“Brincando com Theo” performed by Vento em Madeira

“Mexe Mexe” performed by Fantcha

“Immigrant Soul” performed by Eileen Ivers

This episode of the Earfull was originally recorded on August 9th, 2013 and released on January 18th, 2014. The cover art for the Earfull was made by Hallie Bean. I’d like to thank Adriano Santos for sitting down with me and you for listening. For more information on Adriano, please visit his website at adrianosantos.com.  As always, you can find the Earfull on the iTunes music store, and also on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.

In this episode composer, trombonist, tuba and euphonium player Joseph Daley reflects on his origins in the island of Montserrat, on his experiences as both a classical and jazz musician, and on the composition process. Listen on itunes!

Born in New York City’s Harlem, Joseph began his musical studies in elementary school and received high honors and recognition throughout his school years (including the renowned High School of Music and Art), and was a member of the most prestigious ensembles in the New York City school system. During his high school years, he began performing on the Latin music scene – well-known as one of the most powerful foundations of higher musical learning – performing alongside such fine musicians as Rene McLean, Monquito Santamaria, Andy Gonzalez, Alex Blake and many others.

A scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music resulted in his Bachelor’s degree in Performance and a Master’s degree in Music Education and led to a career as an educator in the New York and New Jersey school systems from 1976 until his retirement in 2005. Heavily dedicated to the education of young people to the highest values in musical understanding and expression, Joseph balanced his extensive educational commitments with recording and performing in the ensembles of some of the most provocative musicians on the contemporary jazz scene. In addition to those mentioned above, Joseph contributed heavily to groups led by other major artists including Muhal Richard Abrams, Makanda Ken McIntyre, Jason Hwang and Dave Douglas, and was an original member of Howard Johnson’s groundbreaking tuba ensemble, Gravity. He has also been a longtime collaborator with the highly respected composer/ethnomusicologist and master of non-Western instruments, Bill Cole, a relationship that is still intact.

After nearly 40 years of recognition as one of the consummate sidemen on the adventurous music scene – with remarkable artists like Sam Rivers, Carla Bley, Gil Evans, Charlie Haden, Taj Mahal and so many more – Joseph Daley stunned musicians and fans alike with his brilliant CD, The Seven Deadly Sins, released in 2011. The album also received rave reviews and made several Best of 2011 lists. Featuring his Earth Tones Ensemble (a full Jazz orchestra augmented by six additional low-toned horns, and including a seven-member rhythm section and four special guests), this powerfully innovative music mines the same rich vein of musical expression as that of immortals like Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington and George Russell.

Whether performing with his large ensemble; with his evocative Ebony Brass Quintet; or in the sparer solo, duo or trio contexts; sheer musicality, deeply-hewn emotion and jubilant innovation are always at the core of Joseph’s most singular musical expression. Best known for playing the tuba, Joseph also plays euphonium and valve trombone; but these days his growing reputation as a visionary composer is bringing him worldwide acclaim.

Joseph is also currently a member of the highly eclectic ensemble Hazmat Modine, under the direction of musician and visual artist Wade Schuman. It was Schuman’s paintings that helped inspire the creation of Daley’s Seven Deadly Sins project, which was developed at the McDowell Colony in 2001.

In addition to his Earth Tones Ensemble, Ebony Brass Quintet, duo and trio collaborations and his solo performances, Joseph’s focus right now is on his next recording project, The Seven Virtues, featuring a large string ensemble. He has also designed an extensive series of educational projects for the university level and will be embarking on a series of residency and performance-based projects starting in the 2012/2013 season.

Summing up the purpose and commitment of Joseph Daley…. “If the music I compose provides one with a sense of beauty, inner peace and introspection then I am pleased”

For more information on Joe, please click here.

Jo with Bill Cole and the Untempered Ensemble (above) and with Howard Johnson’s Gravity! (below)

Recordings featured in this episode in order of appearance:

“Patience” composed/performed by Joseph Daly and his Earth Tones Ensemble on the album “The Seven Heavenly Virtues”

“Bam-Chik-A-Lay” Traditional folk song from Montserrat

Field Recordings from “Montserrat – Back Then”

“Pilgrims’ Hymn and Bach Chorale” performed by Luther College Nordic Choir

“Jump in the Line” performed by Harry Belafonte

“Outdoor Overture” composed by Copland and performed by Bernstein NYP Live 1962

“Salt Peanuts” composed/performed by Dizzy Gillespie

“Groove-Time” composed/performed by Monguito Santamria

“‘Round Midnight” composed/performed by Howard Johnson and Gravity!

“Fuschia Swing Song” performed by Sam rivers

“Don’t Wait For The Day of Battle Before Getting Your Weapons Ready“, from Proverbs for Sam by Bill Cole’s Untempered Ensemble, Boxholder Records 2008

“Invidia – Envy” composed/performed by Joseph Daly and his Earth Tones Ensemble on the album “The Seven Deadly Sins”

“Wispercussion (Portraits of Warren Smith)” composed/performed by Joseph Daly and his Earth Tones Ensemble on the album “The Seven Heavenly Virtues”

This episode of the Earfull was originally recorded on August 24th, 2013 and released on January 9th, 2014. The cover art for the Earfull was made by Hallie Bean. I’d like to thank Joseph Daley for sitting down with me and you for listening. For more information on Joe, please visit his website at jodamusic.com.  As always, you can find the Earfull on the iTunes music store, and also on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.

Happy New Year! In this episode, percussionist, composer and band leader Sunny Jain describes growing up Jain in Rochester, New York, his struggles with the music industry, and his composition process. Listen on iTunes!

Sunny Jain was born in Rochester, on April 22nd, 1975. In 2008, he founded the pioneering Brooklyn Bhangra band, Red Baraat. “One of the best party bands around. Favorite Live Shows of 2011” (NPR). This past year Red Baraat performed over 100 club shows and festivals across the world, including Bonnaroo Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival and a special performance at the White House and the Paralympics closing ceremony in London. “Banging out their high-octane fusion they’re irresistible: serial party-starters” (The Guardian, UK).

Sunny Jain is recognized as a lead voice in the burgeoning movement of South Asian-American jazz musicians. His 7 albums have all received international acclaim for their “groundbreaking synthesis” (Coda Magazine), as he brings together the ancient sounds of his cultural heritage, America’s greatest original art form and a host of other sounds.

Jain is also the drummer and dhol player for Junoon, the biggest rock band to emerge from South Asia. In 2011, they recorded the single “Open Your Eyes,” featuring Peter Gabriel, to raise awareness and funds for Pakistani flood victims. In 2010, Junoon delivered a Concert for Pakistan at the United Nations in NYC, for the displaced refugees in the Swat Valley. The band closed out 2007 with a milestone performance at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway, playing for Nobel Laureates Al Gore and Rajendra Paucharia. Jain played dhol/percussion in the first ever Indian Broadway show, Bombay Dreams (2004) and made his Hollywood debut playing dhol in the movie, Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, and Isabella Rossellini.

Jain has performed/recorded with Kiran Ahluwalia, Asphalt Orchestra, Joey Baron, Kenny Barron, Marc Cary, Samir Chatterjee, DJ Rekha, Kyle Eastwood, Peter Gabriel, Grupo Fantasma, Norah Jones, Junoon, Andres Levin, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Marching Fourth Band, Q-Tip, Soul Rebels, Martha Wainwright, Kenny Wollesen, and many others.

Jain has been a recipient of composition and performance grants from the Aaron Copland Music Fund, Chamber Music America, Meet the Composer, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, globalFEST and received the Arts International Award in both 2005 and 2003 to enable touring India with his jazz group, Sunny Jain Collective. In 2002, Jain was designated a Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and The Kennedy Center, for which he toured West Africa. Jain is the author of 2 instructional drum books for Alfred Publishing (The Total Jazz Drummer and Drum Atlas: India).

More about Sunny

Recordings featured in this episode ordered by appearance:

Red Baraat: NPR Tiny Desk Concert

“Meri Bhavan” Jain Bhajan

“Tom Sawyer” performed by Rush

“Round Midnight” performed by the Miles Davis Quintet

“Summertime” performed by Ted Dunbar and Richard Davis

“Shruggy Ji” performed by Red Baraat

Kenny Wollesen & Himalaya at the Willisau Jazz Festival in 2007

“Punjab Wedding Song” performed by Red Baraat

This episode of the Earfull was originally recorded on November 19th, 2013 and released on January 3rd, 2014. The cover art for the Earfull was made by Hallie Bean. I’d like to thank Sunny Jain for sitting down with me and you for listening. For more information on Sunny, please visit his website at sunnyjain.com. For more information on Red Baraat, you can visit their website at redbaraat.com.  As always, you can find the Earfull on the iTunes music store, and also on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.