Jazz Interviews
Tips and advice from around the world of jazz
Interviewing the industry
Over the last 3 years I’ve interviewed people from all areas of the jazz industry to get their insight and advice on how you – a gigging jazz musician – can grow your career faster and more effectively.
I’m happy to share my advice and experiences from 10+ years as a jazz booking agent & manager with you, but I’m a firm believer that when it comes to something as important as your career, we should all try to get as many different points of view as possible.
So, I’ve put together this ever-expanding series of jazz interviews and written specific questions for each person – based on their work and experiences – to try to dig out their most useful tips. As always, the goal is to help you:
- Get more gigs
- Release your music successfully
- Promote your project as well as possible
Who’s involved from the jazz industry?
I’m regularly adding new interviews here, but I’ve already persuaded some great guests from the jazz industry to take part.
1) The Jazz Press
On the press side, there are Q&A sessions with the editors of both Jazziz in America and Jazzwise magazine in the UK.
The various journalists featured have written for a whole range of jazz publications, including AllAboutJazz, The Arts Desk, London Jazz, Jazz Journal and many more.
2) Gig Promoters
A BIG focus of this site is on how to actually get more jazz gigs. So, there are plenty of promoters from all around the world in this interview series.
In fact, a while back, I did a survey with more than 40 international jazz promoters who gave some great insight into what they’re looking for when booking bands.
This, along with interviews with bookers for the likes of Cheltenham Jazz Festival in the UK, Jazzkaar in Estonia and Jazz Fest Brno in the Czech Republic provide actionable advice on topics like:
- How to better pitch for gigs by email
- What promoters are looking for (aside from great music!)
- How & why to grow your personal network
- The promo tools you need to have
3) Booking Agents
I’ve also spoken to a bunch of booking agents who work specifically with jazz musicians. They talk about the things they look for in new signings, as well as how they approach getting through to promoters and actually confirming shows.
In particular, Dutch agents from the Good Music Company discuss their role in developing artists like Snarky Puppy & trumpeter Avishai Cohen and Danish agent Kat Jarby talks about booking avant-garde & contemporary jazz.
If you’re focused on booking gigs for yourself, really figuring out what people are looking for – aside from killer music, of course – can give you a big advantage… and I hope some of these agency perspectives will help you do that!
4) Other musicians
The most-read interview on this site is actually with a musician: the great Kurt Rosenwinkel. He talks about his journey from music student through to international touring, a major record deal and then launching his own label.
I’ve featured pieces from a few other musicians along the way too, who had some very specific advice to give:
- American saxophonist Mike Casey explains how he successfully crowdfunded his debut album
- Scottish pianist Alan Benzie talks about how he booked a 16-date European tour fresh out of Berklee College of Music
- Florian Arbenz from Swiss-trio VEIN talks about touring & releasing music with ‘special guests’
I hope some of the things these musicians – and others like them – share, will give you some extra insight and motivation for your own project!
A few highlights from the jazz interviews
You’ll find all of the interviews available below, but if you want a quick overview (or something to check out later) you can download a free copy of my ‘key interview takeaways’ PDF by clicking here.
Here are a couple of quotes I pulled out to get you started…
“There are not anywhere near enough press outlets covering jazz to make it without doing your own outreach directly to fans” – Philip Freeman (USA), jazz journalist & digital marketing expert
“To get international recognition I think it’s important to, beyond obviously presenting great music, invest your time and effort into establishing a following outside of your country” – Ernesto Cervini (Canada), jazz publicist & drummer
[on pitching for gigs] “The best thing is having a live video so I can check what the band is going to look like on stage” – Jakub Zitko, booker of Jazz Dock in Prague
[on breaking into a new scene] “Get in with some well-connected local players… Once you have raised your profile by association, you will likely have the contacts and the opportunity to gig in your own name” – Peter Bacon (UK), writer/editor for London Jazz News
Interview with Nicky Schrire of The Jazz Session
Nicky Schrire is a British-South African vocalist and composer based in Toronto, Canada. Alongside her performing and touring career, she has built a profile as a radio broadcaster and, in 2021 took over the reins at the long-running Jazz Session podcast. With...
Interview with Timo Hoyer, the writer of “Anthony Braxton – Creative Music”
British journalist Bruce Lindsay once said: what would jazz sound like today if no-one had ever written about it? Well someone who has dived very deeply into that topic is Timo Hoyer, a German professor and writer who recently published a deeply...
Interview with Danilo Pérez: Each Culture Has Its Own Blues
Today we hand over the digital microphone to writer Estefanía Romero who hosts the Mexican jazz website Bopspots and talked to legendary modern jazz musician Danilo Pérez about life, music and global challenges and issues today. The piano player, composer, and...
Interview with Maurine Knighton (DDCF): $1M for Leading Jazz Artists and Presenters
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) recently announced nearly $1 million in grant funding through its Creative Inflections program. It provides up to $200,000 for seven jazz artists at the top of their craft to collaborate with five presenting...
Interview with Steve Williams of UK Vibe
Steve Williams is the editor and publisher of UK Vibe, a now-online magazine which celebrates its 30th year in 2023. It’s a treasure trove of reviews and other pieces covering everything from the newest releases in the jazz world, to retro classics and vintage...
Interview with Robert Soomer – Artistic Manager of The Metropole Orchestra
Based in The Netherlands, The Grammy-winning Metropole Orchestra is one of the longest-running and most prolific jazz & pop orchestra's in the world. Mixing together a jazz big band with symphony orchestra, it features upwards of 50 musicians who perform both on...
Miguel Zenon – Interview with the Puerto Rican Saxophonist
In today's Jazzfuel interview we welcome renowned New York-based Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón who has a career spanning more than 20 years taking in recordings, touring, education and composition. As you might expect from a musician who has successfully...
Interview with Mario Steidl of the Austrian Jazzfestival Saalfelden
At the end of August, many international musicians and industry people come together in Saalfelden for a jazz festival against the backdrop of breathtaking mountain scenery. Ranging from intense listening experiences to exuberant dance parties, concerts take place on...
Interview with Dutch Jazz Journalist Mathijs van den Berg
If the goal is to win fans, book more gigs and sell more music, actually making a brilliant album is only half the story: you need to get it out there so people can discover it! Of course, a great way to do this is by getting reviews from trusted journalists...
Women In Jazz Media | Interview with Fiona Ross
For today's interview we welcome Fiona Ross, founder of Women In Jazz Media, a not-for-profit organisation created to help support and create an equal, diverse, safe and healthy Jazz Industry. WiJM is a team of writers, photographers, painters, musicians, presenters,...
“20 BEST TIPS FROM THE JAZZFUEL INTERVIEWS”
CHECK OUT ALL THE JAZZFUEL INTERVIEWS
Interview with Nicky Schrire of The Jazz Session
Nicky Schrire is a British-South African vocalist and composer based in Toronto, Canada. Alongside her performing and touring career, she has built a profile as a radio broadcaster and, in 2021 took over the reins at the long-running Jazz Session podcast. With...
Interview with Timo Hoyer, the writer of “Anthony Braxton – Creative Music”
British journalist Bruce Lindsay once said: what would jazz sound like today if no-one had ever written about it? Well someone who has dived very deeply into that topic is Timo Hoyer, a German professor and writer who recently published a deeply...
Interview with Danilo Pérez: Each Culture Has Its Own Blues
Today we hand over the digital microphone to writer Estefanía Romero who hosts the Mexican jazz website Bopspots and talked to legendary modern jazz musician Danilo Pérez about life, music and global challenges and issues today. The piano player, composer, and...
Interview with Maurine Knighton (DDCF): $1M for Leading Jazz Artists and Presenters
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) recently announced nearly $1 million in grant funding through its Creative Inflections program. It provides up to $200,000 for seven jazz artists at the top of their craft to collaborate with five presenting...
Interview with Steve Williams of UK Vibe
Steve Williams is the editor and publisher of UK Vibe, a now-online magazine which celebrates its 30th year in 2023. It’s a treasure trove of reviews and other pieces covering everything from the newest releases in the jazz world, to retro classics and vintage...
Interview with Robert Soomer – Artistic Manager of The Metropole Orchestra
Based in The Netherlands, The Grammy-winning Metropole Orchestra is one of the longest-running and most prolific jazz & pop orchestra's in the world. Mixing together a jazz big band with symphony orchestra, it features upwards of 50 musicians who perform both on...
Miguel Zenon – Interview with the Puerto Rican Saxophonist
In today's Jazzfuel interview we welcome renowned New York-based Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón who has a career spanning more than 20 years taking in recordings, touring, education and composition. As you might expect from a musician who has successfully...
Interview with Mario Steidl of the Austrian Jazzfestival Saalfelden
At the end of August, many international musicians and industry people come together in Saalfelden for a jazz festival against the backdrop of breathtaking mountain scenery. Ranging from intense listening experiences to exuberant dance parties, concerts take place on...
Interview with Dutch Jazz Journalist Mathijs van den Berg
If the goal is to win fans, book more gigs and sell more music, actually making a brilliant album is only half the story: you need to get it out there so people can discover it! Of course, a great way to do this is by getting reviews from trusted journalists...
Women In Jazz Media | Interview with Fiona Ross
For today's interview we welcome Fiona Ross, founder of Women In Jazz Media, a not-for-profit organisation created to help support and create an equal, diverse, safe and healthy Jazz Industry. WiJM is a team of writers, photographers, painters, musicians, presenters,...
Interview with Øyvind Skjerven Larsen of Oslo Jazz Festival
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges as an independent jazz musician is finding the time to pitch for gigs whilst still practicing, rehearsing, writing and doing all the other jobs you're expected to take care of... But until you have someone doing this for you,...
Interview with Pianist, Composer & Arranger Shai Maestro
Widely regarded as one of the most talented musicians of his generation, Israeli pianist Shai Maestro has, in a relatively short amount of time, built a reputation as a strong musical personality and an in-demand bandleader and sideman. As part of our jazz interviews...
Q&A with the booking agent Jakob Flarer of Saudades Tourneen
For today’s interview we asked a few questions to Jakob Flarer from the Austrian booking agency Saudades Tourneen whose motto is this: Creative, experimental, improvised, avantgarde, progressive, contemporary music is THE MUSIC WE LOVE In “normal” times, Saudades...
jazzahead! 2021 (Interview with Sybille Kornitschky)
If, like us, you were preparing for Jazzahead! last year, we know how disappointing it was to hear it was being postponed to 2021. As one concert after another was cancelled with the onset of the pandemic, we waited anxiously for the inevitable news from jazzahead!...
Interview with Patrik Lindgren of the Swedish Lira Magazine
If you're familiar with Jazzfuel already, you'll know that we try to talk to as many other 'industry' people as possible to extract great advice, strategies and insight that you can use as an independent musician. Of course, releasing music and getting international...
Interview with Krzysztof Komorek of Donos Kulturalny
If you want to discover more about the thriving Polish jazz scene, Donos Kulturalny, by jazz journalist Krzysztof Komorek, is a great place to start! Krzysztof joined us for a short interview to share his long and varied experience in covering this music. He is not...
Interview with Tina Heine of Jazz & The City
Today's interview guest is Tina Heine who, after founding and running the Elbjazz festival in Hamburg for many years, now runs the Jazz & The City Festival in Salzburg, Austria. It's certainly not a conventional festival - with 'blind date' concerts, unusual gig...
Dave Liebman – Interview with a Jazz Sax Master
For today's interview we're joined by a real jazz legend with a career in contemporary music which stretches back nearly 50 years. NEA Master Dave Liebman emerged in the 70s performing saxophone (and sometimes flute) with artists including Miles Davis, Elvin Jones...
Jazz Special (Danish Magazine) | Interview with Editor Cim Meyer
If you're looking to get your new music to the widest possible audience - as well as use it to get gig bookings later - press coverage is a very important focus. In order to run our own press outreach campaigns better, as well as advise musicians who go down the DIY...
Interview with Don Lucoff of DL Media
For today's interview we welcome Don Lucoff, a jazz music industry veteran who's worked with some of the biggest artists and labels in a career spanning more than 30 years. Don Lucoff is the founder and president of the American PR agency DL Media Music. Since the...
Interview with Ray Jefford, Manager to Avishai Cohen
Avishai Cohen is one of the most in-demand and well known musicians of today. The Israeli bassist sells out large concert halls and has millions of listeners all around the world, all whilst playing what has been described as a sophisticated mix of post-bop and...
Interview with Răzvan Scurtu of Smida Jazz Festival
Amongst the many brilliant jazz festivals around Europe, there are those that stick out as being extra special in terms of where they're happening. Smida Jazz in Romania is one of these. Built out of nothing each year, it takes place in a small village in the heart of...
Interview with Michael Stückl of Munich’s Jazzclub Unterfahrt
For anyone familiar with the European jazz club scene, one name that has been around longer than many is the Unterfahrt Jazz Club in Munich, Germany. Across its 40-year life, it's hosted many of the biggest names in jazz - as well as countless rising stars and brand...
Interview with Saxophonist, Bandleader & Producer Ben Wendel
Today's interview is with Ben Wendel, the Vancouver-born, Los Angeles-raised and New York-based jazz saxophonist, bassoonist, composer and pianist. We thought he'd be a really interesting guest because, alongside making killer music, he seems to have a great all-round...
Interview with American Saxophone Great Greg Osby
Hailed by The New York Times as one of the “most provocative musical thinkers of his generation” New York saxophonist and composer Greg Osby has been pushing the boundaries of contemporary improvised music for more than three decades. He recorded 15 albums for Blue...
Interview with jazz journalist Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther
Today's interview guest is German-based journalist Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther who currently writes for the Jazz'Halo magazine. He's been a active on the European jazz scene since the 1970s and, as such, has seen firsthand the influx of talented musicians performing on...
Interview with Frank van Berkel of Bimhuis Jazz Club
Despite its relatively small size as a country, the Dutch jazz scene presents an impressive array of music featuring both homegrown and international artists. In this interview we caught up with Frank van Berkel who is the programmer at Bimhuis in Amsterdam - one of...
Jazz in Japan – Interview with James Catchpole of the Tokyo Jazz Site
For most Western jazz musicians, touring in Japan is pretty high up the dream to-do list. Ever since the 1960s, the jazz greats have been performing and recording there, with "live in Japan" (or sometimes "live in Tokyo) albums gracing the discographies of everyone...
Interview with music journalist Charles Waring
Today's interview guest is Charles Waring, a British music journalist who is co-founder of the website Soul & Jazz & Funk and freelance writer for a host of magazines including MOJO & Record Collector. Over the last 2 decades he's written liner notes on...
Interview with Kim Macari
From Kurt Rosenwinkel talking about his early days phoning Spanish jazz clubs to pianist Alan Benzie running through how he booked a 16-date European tour, some of the most-read Jazzfuel interviews and guest articles have involved musicians who've done the industry...
Why setting goals makes you a better musician
This is a guest article by Danish music manager & coach Kat Jarby of Kaja MANAGEMENT As jazz musicians navigating in the modern-day music landscape, you are often required to be your own booking agent, tour manager, publicist and strategist in order to run a...
Interview with Wulf Muller | Jazz A&R and marketing
With over 35 years of experience in the music business, Wulf Muller started out as manager for the Miles Smiles jazz club in Vienna in 1980, before joining PolyGram Austria as a Product Manager. Since then, he's held roles at major record labels including Sony and...
Talking music videos with Dan Redding
Great video content is one of the most effective 'tools' a jazz musician has when it comes to convincing a promoter, winning a new fan or motivating a journalist. As a jazz booking agent I've experienced first-hand the effect a simple but well-produced video can have...
Interview with Christian McBride
Over the last 3 decades, Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride has become one of the most requested, most recorded and most respected figures in the music world. On top of a busy touring & bandleader schedule, he also works as a radio host, producer, educator,...
Interview with Jan Hocek of JazzPort
For today's interview we're handing over to Maggie Samkova, Czech booking agent and jazz publicist who's worked with Jazzfuel for several years now. As an expert on the local jazz scene, she's adding to her existing catalogue of interviews (Jakub Zitko of Jazzdock...
Interview with Russian Jazz promoter Roman Khristyuk
As the internet makes the world a smaller place, savvy musicians are looking not just at building the number of fans & industry people they're connected to, but at whether there are new territories they could try to develop their career in. A place that has, until...