Easy Jazz Spotlight

Easy Jazz Spotlight

by Easy Jazz FM

Music Commentary Music History Music Interviews

Season 7

From Instrumentals to the Spoken Word - Deepspawn_Logic

After going through a period of loss between 2018 and 2020 in which her grandmother, mother, other people close to her - and even her dog - all passed away, jazz artist Deepspawn_Logic was at a low point. Her husband gave her a keyboard and told her to just "create" and create she did! Her first instrumental track was released in 2022 and she hasn't stopped since. Deepspawn specializes in smooth jazz, neo soul and electronic fusion. Our host Stefan Zaichkowski talks to Deepspawn about her career and her entry into music with the spoken word.

Focused and driven, with a calm smile: Ron Carter

He's the most recorded jazz bassist in history. Ron Carter, also known as "maestro" has won three grammy awards and was part of Miles Davis's "Second Great Quintet" from 1963 to 1968. Since then, Ron has performed with a wide range of major jazz stars. But, as our host Kerilie McDowall found out - Ron is anything but boastful. To the contrary, despite being regarded as a living legend - Ron is down-to-earth, approachable and gracious - all with an incredible work ethic.

"There's the bitter, there's the sweet" - the emotionally charged music of Halie Loren

Award-winning jazz singer and songwriter Halie Loren was raised listening to the Great American Songbook from her mother's record collection. She started writing songs at age 13 and recorded her first album "Full Circle" at age 19. Since then, Halie has performed all over the world with her music hitting number one on the charts in Japan. Her latest album "A Kind of Wilderness" carries an emotional depth that is timeless. In this wide-ranging interview with host Stefan Zaichkowski, Halie takes a deep dive into the human condition and talks about the emotions embedded within her music.

Season 6

"I was too shy to sing" - Juno Award Winner Bria Skonberg

Canadian trumpeter, vocalist and songwriter Bria Skonberg has been described as the "shining hope of hot jazz" by the New York Times and "one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation" by the Wall Street Journal. The Juno-award winner's debut album reached number five on the Billboard jazz charts. In this extensive interview by our host Kerilie McDowall, Bria explains: she began playing trumpet in the 7th grade; was raised in British Columbia (and now lives in New York); juggles being a performer and parent; the benefits of being her own boss; and that in her early days, was too shy to sing!

The "Sheer Will and Daring" of Jazz Impresario Cory Weeds

Known as the hardest working man in the jazz business, saxophonist and entrepreneur Cory Weeds successfully ran his own jazz club for 14 years. Downbeat Magazine acknowledged that Vancouver's "Cellar Jazz Club" was among the best in North America. But Cory has been far more than a club owner. His jazz recordings have received accolades worldwide, including reaching number one on the JazzWeek charts. Today, the busy artist, producer, educator, book publisher and Grammy Award winner oversees his record label "the Cellar Music Group" while performing and touring with many top jazz artists. Author Chris Wong has said that Weeds has "...realized ambitious jazz dreams, through his talent, sheer will, and daring" all of which becomes apparent in this special interview conducted by our host Kerilie McDowall.

50 Years on the Bass - Rick Kilburn

Rick Kilburn of Vancouver, British Columbia has enjoyed a 50-year career as a jazz bassist. Over the years, Rick has worked with the top names in jazz - including Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Paul Desmond, Diana Krall and many more. In this fascinating interview - Rick talks to our host Kerilie McDowall about his early introduction to music and his incredible career.

We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time) - Clayton Hill from Trooper

Clayton Hill is a Canadian rock drummer best known as a long-time member of the iconic Canadian rock band Trooper. In this animated interview - Hill tells our host, Ken Boyd, that he remembers the days he was eating beans out of a can and made very little money in music. But it was a last-minute audition in 2006 that Hill learned 26 songs in short order to join Trooper. He tells Ken how he came to be part of the band and his other ventures in music.

American Jazz Singer / Songwriter Halie Loren

Halie Loren is an international, award-winning jazz singer/songwriter. Her multi-genre and multi-lingual musical blend across her ten albums to-date has earned several national and international awards in multiple genres as well as significant critical and chart success along the way, with her albums consistently reaching #1 on the Billboard Japan, iTunes (Canada and Japan) and Amazon jazz charts. She speaks with our host Stefan Zaichkowski.

Award-winning Canadian Saxophonist, composer and music educator Christine Jensen

Award-winning Canadian Saxophonist, composer and music educator Christine Jensen has led a distinct voice to the creative jazz scene for the last twenty-five years with her large and small ensembles. In this interview with host Kerilie McDowall - Christine reveals what she teaches her students, gives advice on jazz composition, and talks about getting inspiration from paintings.

R&B/Hip-Hop artist Chlo

Introducing "Chlo", an R&B/Hip-Hop artist from New Westminster, British Columbia whose unique tones and bold energy light up every stage she touches. Chlo says she learned, from her musician father, that taking risks can lead to great things. Interviewer Ken Boyd sat down with the new young artist about her life and music.

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