Poet, photographer, professor, and bandleader Thomas Sayers Ellis is the author of The Maverick Room and Skin, Inc.: Identity Repair Poems (Graywolf Press). His poems have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies including The Paris Review, Poetry, The Nation, Tin House and the Best American Poetry (2007, 2011, 2010 and 2015). He has been a
Moor Mother (Camae Ayewa) is a Philadelphia-based artist whose work ranges from “slave ship punk,” free jazz, and “Afrofuturist electronics” to photography, poetry, non-fiction writing, and performance art. Originally from Aberdeen, Maryland, she moved to Philadelphia to study photography. As a musician, Moor Mother leads a number of her own projects and has released a
Louise Dam Eckhardt Jensen is a fiery alto saxophonist originally from Denmark who spends a good portion of each year in New York. Over the past decade, she has worked with figures such as Peter Evans, Tom Blancarte, Weasel Walter, Brandon Seabrook, Kevin Shea, Erica Dicker, Matt Nelson, and many other figures on the
Cisco Bradley: How did you first start working as Music Director of Sistas’ Place? Ahmed Abdullah: I became the Music Director of Sistas’ Place in 1998. I had just finished my work with the Sun Ra Arkestra, actually, my wife, Monique Ngozi Nri and I were trying to revive the Sun Ra Arkestra.
James Brandon Lewis is a very versatile tenor saxophone player. Having studied at Howard University and later at CalArts, he has spent the past five years establishing a reputation for himself in New York. A fiery, yet soulful player, Lewis is involved in a number of cutting edge projects including his 2015 release, Days of
Drummer Tom Rainey‘s impact on the New York scene has been immense and often unappreciated (not to mention that his influence has reached far beyond New York). I recently had the opportunity to speak with him about his music and relished the opportunity to discuss his trio (which includes saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and guitarist Mary
In a generation crowded with trumpet talent, Jaimie Branch has emerged in recent years as a unique voice capable of transforming every ensemble of which she is a part. At times fierce and direct, her scintillating tone also has the ability to ignite music from within while propelling a group organically. In 2015, Branch exploded
This month’s feature focuses on the work of violist Joanna Mattrey, who is relatively new to New York. Mattrey has been involved in a number of interesting improvised and composed music projects focusing on music ranging from Karlheinz Stockhausen to Anthony Braxton. Interview Cisco Bradley: Who/what have been your big inspirations as an artist? Joanna
For the first time, Jazz Right Now is featuring an artist who does not explicitly create music or sound, but one who choreographs some of her dance to jazz and especially to free improvisation. Dancer Jinah Parker, who began dancing in her home of Buffalo, NY, at the age of four, trained at University of
Vocalist Anaïs Maviel has been an exciting and unique new presence on the Brooklyn/New York scene over the past few years. Since arriving, her fearless approach to performance has made her an in-demand musician in a number of innovative ensembles, most notably William Parker’s Martin Luther King Project, Parker’s Plaza Band, Dave Ruder’s The Gentleman Rests,
