What do Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Claudia Schmidt, Thelonious Monk, Eric Clapton, Charles Mingus, Ron Getz and Duke Ellington have in common? Find out each week, when acclaimed Michigan jazz composer, musician and educator Jeff Haas hosts an hour of music with a little commentary exploring jazz and its connection to a rock, blues, R&B, classical and world music.
“Sometimes the musical connections are direct and obvious," explains Haas. "At other times, they are a little more obtuse. One show begins with Miles Davis, followed by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington and Ron Getz. Another starts with Thelonious Monk and moves on to the Kronos Quartet, Carmen McRae, Claudia Schmidt and Sting performing Monk, then Andy Summers of the Police, John Mayall and Eric Clapton, Cream and the Ginger Baker Jazz Trio. Every two or three tunes, I make some brief comments about how the music is connected.”
“The concept for Jazz Connections was inspired by Duke Ellington’s philosophy,” says Haas. “When asked to define jazz, the Duke responded, ‘as long as it’s good music there is no need for definitions or categories – it’s all music.’”
Contact Jeff at jazzconnections@interlochen.org.
