Updated: Jul 26
August is usually the exciting time of year as I anticipate going to the Newport Jazz Festival to listen to the best Jazz ever and meet the artists. It was not to be for 2020. So here’s a look behind the scenes from last year and the story behind this months interviews.
The Media Tent Inside the Media Tent
Backstage
Photographer Kofi Poku and Friend
Kofi has photographed many of our shows!
"The Jazz Room" August 2020
This month in ”The Jazz Room” the feature interviews are two jazz legends pianist, Ahmad Jamal and singer, Shelia Jordan.
Ahmad Jamal was officially my very first interview at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2010. Also the first artist I interviewed that I idolized.
When the email came that Ahmad Jamal consented to the interview with me I was very excited. When we started the interview, although I thought it was a little unprofessional, I placed my tattered album “Jamal at the Penthouse” on the table. He looked at it, gently smiled and said “You want me to sign this don’t you?” I eagerly nodded yes and he graciously signed. Then we started the interview. He was my first lesson in meeting an artist of his stature. Their human side is part of the greatness.
The same is said of singer Shelia Jordan. I met her at Newport last year. She was unable to do a personal interview at that time so she gave me her phone number and said call me.
When I called she invited us (Peter came too) to her home in upstate New York. When we arrived she said here have some lunch first and we chatted for quite a while.
After lunch we set up the recording equipment and then we went about the business of the interview.
Through the years of meeting
artists at Newport I have learned the most important thing in being a great artist is to have humility and a genuine care for others. It’s part of what makes their talent and music so great.
I hope you listen to these interviews on this site on The Jazz Room page. Each program is 1/2 hour long so take your time, relax and enjoy.
Interview with Abe Perlstein about “Choices”
Another interview has been scheduled. It will be on Tuesday, August 4 @6:30PM ET on Tuesday Lunch with Abe Perlstein . Below is the link to his show. I’m looking forward to it!
Here's a link to his show.
https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/abe-perlstein-2
