Looking to do Interviews

[xdonx]

I've been doing a weekly jazz / instrumental music show for more than a year now, and I would love to start doing regular interviews on the air with jazz musicians and other folks connected to the music now that I've got a good time slot.

To give an idea of the music I play: I focus on stuff like Andrew Hill, Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Archie Shepp, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk, etc. There are not a lot of places to hear jazz in central Kentucky, but I try to get it out there.

So... who's a good interview and possible to track down?

[Gentle Giant]

You should start with Lois.

[Vince Kargatis]

Originally Posted by xdonx

Andrew Hill, Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Archie Shepp, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk

I've heard rumors that several of these are particularly difficult interview subjects. Just a warning.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I've heard rumors that several of these are particularly difficult interview subjects. Just a warning.

Especially the living ones.

[xdonx]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I've heard rumors that several of these are particularly difficult interview subjects. Just a warning.

[Tom Marcello]

Some information on your show would be a help.
Where are you located?
How long is your show?
What station?
Who else have you interviewed?
Are the interviews archived so they can be heard?

etc.

[xdonx]

Certainly.

My show is on every Wednesday from 2-4pm. The station is WRFL (88.1fm) in Lexington, Kentucky, which also streams online at www.wrfl.fm . It is funded by the University of Kentucky, but I am not a college student. I have a regular listening base who call in all the time, thankful to hear jazz on the airwaves. In the past, the station has hosted great live jazz performances (Sun Ra being the best), and there are a few other jazz focused dj's.

Unfortunately, past show archives are not available to the public right now, but I have access to archive mp3 files and could probably get the webmaster for the station to put the interview(s) up on the site.

I have not done any interviews in my regular show slot yet.

[shrugs]

Call Cadence and see if you can get a backcopy of the Steve Lacy interview done by Larry Nai. It must have been in '98 or '99.
It is as close to a perfect interview as you can get. It would be a good foundation.

[Gary Sisco]

Greg Osby's with Andrew Hill is another.

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by xdonx

I've been doing a weekly jazz / instrumental music show for more than a year now, and I would love to start doing regular interviews on the air with jazz musicians and other folks connected to the music now that I've got a good time slot.

To give an idea of the music I play: I focus on stuff like Andrew Hill, Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Archie Shepp, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk, etc. There are not a lot of places to hear jazz in central Kentucky, but I try to get it out there.

So... who's a good interview and possible to track down?

Who's a good interview, might be turned around to who do you like and what are you listening to?


You can 'track down' pratically anyone you want, plus you'll probably become pleasantly surprised how many would be happy to participate.

It can begin with label websites, and contact information inside CD's, which often include either the musician's publicist, manager, or the artist him/herself. E-mails & phone calls work wonders.....have a concept in mind;how much time, projected date[s],music to be played,etc.

Go for it!

[Tom Hall]

I don't know what the scene is there, but you may want to check out local players whose music you enjoy as well as national acts. Many of them would be happy to have their CD's played, to play live on the radio, and to be interviewed. If you are not an experienced interviewer this would also be a good way for you to hone your skills.

[shrugs]

Also look at Ted Panken's interviews. Many of Chicago area cats are especially worth the read.

http://www.jazzhouse.org/nlib/index.php3?sel=Interviews

[bigtiny]

Get yourself acuainted with all of your local media people....get access to shows. Hook up with local venues so that you can get 'at' visiting artists. Most jazz musicians, when visiting a town, will agree to an on air appearance to promote their latest work. Sometimes this doesn't work because of schedules or fatigue, but usually they are amenable. The trick is getting to them....

Also, use the web. Let people know that you're around and interested in promoting them when they are in your area....postings like this one are good, but you need to do them on multiple sites.


bigtiny

[Lois Gilbert]

I'm going to do one and help xdonx get some other jazzcorner folks.

All exposure is good, but there is an art to the interview

I would suggest listening to some of the ones myself and Reese Erlich do at http://jazzcorner.com/innerviews

You should have a prelim conversation, making sure you have the music on hand and do your research. Know who you are talking to and what the reference point is.

I do consults all the time on the art of the interview. IMO, it's much more important that you ask a question and then get out of the way.

Everyone is right, many of the folks you mentioned were/are difficult interviews.

Let me know
Lois

[scotpgot]

I interviewed John Scofield in college. He seemed to be a pretty friendly guy, used to doing interviews, and plenty willing to help me a long (saying I was an amateur at the time would be an understatement of grandiose proportions).

At any rate, as was said above, just start contacting people. You'd be surprised how eager some artists are for publicity (especially if it is FREE publicity).

[xdonx]

Originally Posted by bigtiny

Get yourself acuainted with all of your local media people....get access to shows. Hook up with local venues so that you can get 'at' visiting artists. Most jazz musicians, when visiting a town, will agree to an on air appearance to promote their latest work. Sometimes this doesn't work because of schedules or fatigue, but usually they are amenable. The trick is getting to them....

Unfortunately there is not much live jazz here that I am into, but I've done in studio interviews with non-jazz musicians that were fun.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

I'm listening to the Jazzcorner Dave Holland interview, which is great.

[xdonx]

Ok, I'm getting an interview together with Rudresh Mahanthappa and have also contacted Dave Holland. I don't know much contemporary jazz, but I really like 'Kinsmen' and 'Pass It On'.

[clinthopson]

You may want to also contact Judy Carmichael and get some tips from her on how she sets up interviews. She does an excellent job.

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by xdonx

Ok, I'm getting an interview together with Rudresh Mahanthappa and have also contacted Dave Holland. I don't know much contemporary jazz, but I really like 'Kinsmen' and 'Pass It On'.

I've had them both on with me (Holland more than once)...very cooperative and willing guests.

[rollhead]

These three would be at the top of my list for any radio interviews:


I would definitely do Karl Berger. He's a great guy. I interviewed him for a short piece I did for Down Beat, and he is working on a VERY worthy project that could use publicity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/ar...html?ref=music

Roswell Rudd -- a fascinating guy, who is not only a great jazz trombonist, but is a musicologist, as well. He taught ethnomusicology at Bard College and worked with Alan Lomax for a long time. He is a good guy, too.

Ran Blake -- Great musician, great educator. Excellent one to interview about the art of improvisation.

You are from Kentucky? Eddie Pennington! (okay, so he's not jazz)

[xdonx]

Originally Posted by rollhead

I would definitely do Karl Berger. He's a great guy. I interviewed him for a short piece I did for Down Beat, and he is working on a VERY worthy project that could use publicity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/ar...html?ref=music

Wow. That's a pretty incredible project. I will seek him out.