Jazz At Studio Z Podcast

In this episode, we have a conversation with drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt, whose storied career saw him playing and recording with iconic artists such as Weather Report, McCoy Tyner, and Joe Henderson. We discuss his roots growing up in Philadelphia, his approach to drumming, how he got the call from Wayne Shorter to join Weather Report, and ultimately why that collaboration ended. 

In this episode, we talk to pianist and composer Bryan Nichols about the history of solo jazz piano, balance in composition, Ethan Iverson, advice for aspiring jazz pianists digging into solo performance, and more. 

Our second episode of the podcast features a conversation with percussionist Babatunde Lea. We discuss how he got into drumming, his unique approach to combining trap set with congas, moving to San Francisco in the late 1960s, and his work with Stan Getz, Oscar Brown Jr. and more. 

The debut episode of the Jazz At Studio Z Podcast features an interview with bassist Chris Bates' Good Vibes Trio with vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn and drummer Phil Hey. In this episode, we discuss playing as a trio, playing free, studying with Ed Blackwell, and some insight into the harmelodics of Ornette Coleman.