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Jazz Music Interviews

Rudresh Mahanthappa's latest album is Gamak.

Listen Balancing Influences: Saxophonist Mahanthappa Blends Styles

May 12, 2013 – Rudresh Mahanthappa blends Indian and Western styles, and still makes it rock.

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John Beasley has now served as music director for both editions of International Jazz Day.

Read Meet The Man Who Assembles The World's Biggest Jazz Concert

April 30, 2013 – Pianist John Beasley isn't a household name, but he directs many of them for International Jazz Day.

Hugh Masekela

Listen Jazz Great Hugh Masekela, Fresh Because He's Fascinated

April 17, 2013 – The South African trumpeter says at age 74, "I feel like I'm just beginning."

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Classically trained Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf plays a four-valved trumpet, an innovation he credits to his famous father.

Watch Bridging Arabic And Western Music With An Unusual Instrument

March 31, 2013 – Ibrahim Maalouf's four-valve trumpet plays "blue notes" common to jazz and Middle Eastern styles.

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Hiromi's latest album is called Move.

Listen Hiromi: Finding Music In The Daily Din

March 10, 2013 – The pianist's new LP begins with a tribute to a sound she's never liked: the ring of an alarm clock.

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Jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen has a new album out called Claroscuro.

Listen Anat Cohen: Bringing The Clarinet To The World

February 6, 2013 – On a new album, Claroscuro, the clarinetist explores influences from Louis Armstrong to Latin jazz.

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Read When Your Grandfather Is The Greatest Living Jazz Drummer

February 6, 2013 – Marcus Gilmore, 25, is in high demand these days. So is his grandpa: jazz legend Roy Haynes.

Wayne Shorter turns 80 this year. His newest album is called Without a Net.

Listen Wayne Shorter On Jazz: 'How Do You Rehearse The Unknown?'

February 2, 2013 – The 79-year-old saxophonist and composer discusses his new album Without a Net.

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The interior of the auditorium at the new SFJAZZ Center.

Read The New SFJAZZ Center, As Seen By Its Musicians

January 22, 2013 – Two artists who played the first SFJAZZ festival 30 years ago reflect on its new $64 million home.

First Listen

Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins engineer an idea-packed collision of funky, soulful sounds.

First Listen: G&D, 'The Lighthouse'

Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins engineer an idea-packed collision of funky, soulful sounds.

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Hear the elusive electronic duo in conversation with <em>All Things Considered</em>'s Audie Cornish.

Daft Punk On 'The Soul That A Musician Can Bring'

Hear the elusive electronic duo in conversation with All Things Considered's Audie Cornish.

Amidon says the melodies of shape-note hymns are some of the "deepest-seated for me."

Sam Amidon: Reshaping An American Folk Tradition

Amidon says the melodies of shape-note hymns are some of the "deepest-seated for me."

A reedman, talent scout and bandleader, Herman led "Herds" that were both popular and respected.

Woody Herman At 100: 'A Blues Player From His Heart'

A reedman, talent scout and bandleader, Herman led "Herds" that were both popular and respected.

Mvula's debut is ambitiously confident, as if she and her band had perfected their sound years ago.

Laura Mvula's Velvet 'Moon' Is A Revelation

Mvula's debut is ambitiously confident, as if she and her band had perfected their sound years ago.

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