Jazz Biz 101

In this episode, saxophonist Dave Pollack talks about his journey as a musician balancing between gigging, teaching middle school band, and keeping up with his YouTube channel (currently over 22,000 subs!). He shares his experience, advice, and insights on maintaining a consistent work ethic, building up a YouTube channel, and generating content.

Intro and outro song is “We See” by Thelonious Monk performed by Dave Pollack.

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Dave’s Bio:

Dave Pollack is a New Jersey based saxophonist who has had the pleasure of performing with such musical greats as the Mingus Big Band and Orchestra, Richie Cole and his Also Madness Orchestra, Phil Woods, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, and many others. Along with performing in the New York City area with his own band as well as in other groups, Dave has had the opportunity to perform around the world.  He has toured Europe, Asia, and Australia performing with a wide variety of musical ensembles.

Along with being a performer, Dave is also passionate about teaching music. He continues to be an in-demand clinician and master class presenter at schools of all ages, and works as both a guest artist and faculty member at various music camps. He’s been teaching saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano privately for many years and currently teaches remotely around the world. From 2010-2011 Dave was the Director of Jazz at The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ, and is presently the Instrumental Woodwind Specialist at the Cranbury School in Cranbury, NJ. His students have achieved great musical recognition, including being selected to perform in Region, All-State, and All-America Jazz Ensembles.

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In this episode, NYC-based Japanese saxophonist Erena Terakubo talks about her journey of building an artist career in her native country and following the jazz call all the way to New York City. She shares experiences of diving into the American culture without even knowing the language at the time she moved to the US. Also, how her love for the music and help from mentors drove her to become an established jazz saxophonist in NYC. 

Intro and outro song is "Little Girl Power" by Erena Terakubo off of her newest album "Absolutely Live" (2019).

Erena Terakubo was born in Sapporo, Japan. She began playing the alto saxophone at the age of nine. Terakubo played the saxophone influenced by artists such as Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Sonny Stitt.

In 2010, Terakubo released her first album, "North Bird" with Kenny Barron, Christian McBride, Lee Pearson, and Peter Bernstein, through the Japanese major label King Records. It marked No. 1 on the Japanese jazz charts and was awarded Swing Journal's Gold Disc. Later that year, she performed with Ron Carter, Omar Hakim, and Will Boulware at the Tokyo Jazz Festival. In 2011, Terakubo recorded her second album, "New York Attitude" with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Lee Pearson, and Dominick Farinacci. In the same year, she received a presidential scholarship from Berklee College of Music. She graduated in 2015. She moved to New York in the same year.

Terakubo has performed with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Vincent Herring, Christian McBride, John Beasley's Monk'estra, Lewis Nash, and Lenny White just to name a few. In addition, Terakubo has toured around the globe as a leader including Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, Australia, and the Middle East. Terakubo released 6 albums as a leader.

Today, Jerome Jennings offers his insights on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and how the fight against injustice has continued to be reflected through jazz. What are some viable solutions towards combating the racial injustice we see in this country, especially as jazz musicians? Hear about this and more in today’s episode.

*Opening song is “Pay It No Mind” and closing song is “I Love Your Smile”, both off of the “Solidarity” (2019) album by Jerome Jennings*

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Jerome Jennings is a drummer, activist, bandleader, composer, sideman and  educator. His debut recording ‘The Beast’ is a reflection of the every day joys and  traumas of black life in the U.S. It was named one of the top three Jazz releases by  NPR, received a four star rating in Downbeat Magazine, and was nominated for the  prestigious French ‘Grand Prix du Disque’ award for Album of the Year in 2016. Jerome’s sophomore recording, ‘Solidarity’, released November 2019 was  recognized by NPR as best music that spoke truth to power of 2019.

Jerome is a pertinent performer. To date Jerome has performed, toured and recorded  with legendary musicians like Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson, Christian  McBride, Ron Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis (J@LC), The Count  Basie Orchestra, Philip Bailey, Henry Butler, and countless others. He has also  made recordings and shared the stage with contemporary musicians Sean Jones, Camille Thurman, Jazzmeia Horn, Christian Sands, Charenee Wade, and Bokani  Dyer to name a few.

The summer of 2007 Jerome earned a MM from the prestigious Juilliard School in  Manhattan NY. Jerome has been the Resident Director of The Juilliard Jazz  Orchestra since fall 2017. He passed Jazz At Lincoln Centers Swing University 301  history course: The most comprehensive study of jazz from a non-performance  perspective, available. Jazz At Lincoln Center has Jerome Jennings on file as an accredited jazz scholar.

Jerome has participated on several panels including Chamber Music America:  Music, Language, and Revolution; Lincoln Center: Freedom’s State of Mind; Winter  Jazz Festival: Jazz & Gender: A Discussion Of Community, Culture & Participatory  Allies. Fall 2020, Jerome co-curated with Naomi Extra, a series of panels,  performances and discussions at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem entitled  ‘Jazz in The Era of Black Lives Matter.’

Currently, Jerome is keeping busy teaching, conducting clinics and educational  youth out reach nationally and internationally. He is one of the most successful in  the field of Black American music education. Jerome has been artist in residence,  and have lectured at dozens of Universities, Academy’s, and Camps nationally and  internationally including UNC Greensboro, John Hopkins Peabody Institute,  Rutgers University, The Juilliard School, Jazz Music Institute (Brisbane, AU), Sydney  Conservatory of Music, Xavier College (Melbourne, AU), The Ohio State University,  Aspen Colorado, Brigham Young University,

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IG: @iamjeromejennings

Bandcamp: https://jeromejennings.bandcamp.com/album/solidarity

Main Website: www.jeromejennings.com

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Rob Duguay joins us for our very first episode of 2021! On top of being a fantastic bass player, he also helps fuel the jazz scene in NYC and abroad with his participation and activism with different organizations. Hear the in-and-outs of working at the Jazz Standard, starting KEYED UP!, as well as a plethora of helpful advice from a working musician!

*Opening and Closing Song by Rob Duguay (2010) called Afrikan Morning Dove as heard on SONGEVITY Trio's "Safe in Sound" Album (2016)*

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This week, hear how Terence Hsieh went from studying at Oberlin, to becoming one of the most in-demand trombonists, producers, and all-around musician over in China! We also talk about his newest album, The Adventures of Pie Boy, which just released the other week. Lots to go over here today!

In this episode, we talk to Terence about:

• His upbringing in North Carolina, and how he moved to China after studying at Oberlin.
• Getting to know the jazz scene in Beijing, China.
• How he founded the Blue Note Beijing Jazz Orchestra and the challenges of being a big band leader.
• Talking about the role of a musical director.
• Inspiration behind the newest Spice Cabinet album.
• Important tips for young musicians!

*Intro & Outro Music by Spice Cabinet entitled “Pie Boy Moon Bone”*

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Terence’ Bio: Terry Hsieh is a trombonist, keyboardist, producer and composer from Durham, North Carolina who currently lives and works in Beijing, China and is the creative mind and founder of The Spice Cabinet.  He graduated in 2012 from Oberlin College and Conservatory where he studied Robin Eubanks. He has worked in the Chinese pop industry in the house bands on such as shows as I Am A Singer我是歌手, The King of Masks蒙面歌王, Bands of China中國樂隊, Rising Star中國之星, Phantacity幻樂之城, Super Vocal声入人心and more. Hsieh founded and led the Blue Note Beijing Jazz Orchestra for two years from 2016-2018.

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After an intensive 5 hour recording session at Bill’s Place for an upcoming virtual concert, we sit down and discuss Bill Saxton’s history growing up and performing here in Harlem as well as what it is like owning a jazz club for over 16 years.

In this episode, we talk to Bill about:

• Bill Saxton’s history growing up in Harlem
• Learning saxophone from jazz legends
• Attending New England Conservatory of Music in Boston
• Current state of jazz education
• The hustler spirit
• Running a historic jazz club in Harlem
• Excitement for the upcoming virtual concerts from Bill’s Place

*Intro & Outro Music by Bill Saxton performing Johnny Griffin’s composition “56”*

PURCHASE YOUR VIRTUAL TICKETS TO THE BILL SAXTON QUARTET LIVE FROM BILL’S PLACE!

The Founders of Yardbird Entertainment, Abel Mireles & Peter Lin, are back with Jazz Biz 101... in audio form!

So... Why are we starting this up again? What is an Asian-American and Mexican-American jazz musician trying to do nowadays during quarantine days?

Find out in this intro episode! Other topics covered (kinda) include pivoting during COVID-19, networking online, the “1000 Followers on YouTube” fad, getting paid for your content, live music vs. live-streaming, paywall systems, copyrights, and livestreaming software.

Sorry for the chaotic nature of this first episode. We'll be sure to bring on some special guests to keep us focused and organized moving forward. 

Intro / Outro Music by The Jazz Exchange Virtual Big Band