Today, the Spotlight shines On EMBER, a trio featuring saxophonist and trumpeter Caleb Wheeler Curtis, bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Vincent Sperrazza. Their latest album, August in March, came out August 11, 2023 on Imani Records (https://imanirecords.bandcamp.com) and is “a vivid representation of the musical, interpersonal and community-oriented ideas that the three forward-thinking musicians that make up EMBER…care deeply about.”
Today’s conversation explores the heady thematic elements of EMBER’s music: humanism, community, place, and the importance of being a band of equals.
Stick around after the discussion to hear the track “Flotation Device and the Shivers” from August in March, by EMBER.
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Dig Deeper
• Visit EMBER at emberband.com (https://emberband.com)
• Listen to EMBER’s August In March on Bandcamp (https://emberband.bandcamp.com/album/august-in-march) or your favorite streaming platform (https://songwhip.com/ember4/august-in-march)
• Follow EMBER on Instagram (https://instagram.com/emberjazz)
• Also on Instagram: Caleb Curtis (https://www.instagram.com/calebwcurtis/) , Noah Garabedian (https://www.instagram.com/noahgnoahg/) , and Vinnie Sperrazza (https://www.instagram.com/vinniesperrazza/)
• Vinnie Sperrazza’s Chronicles email newsletter (https://vinniesperrazza.substack.com) (Substack)
• Frank Zappa & Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Improvisations, Boston 1969 (https://youtu.be/j6CWrpm96VM?si=BS8-RahHHhuKNGQZ)
• Alice Coltrane Documentary (1970) (https://www.thecoltranehome.org/alice-coltrane-documentary/)
• Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers (https://www.abkco.com/store/complete-recordings-sam-cooke-soul-stirrers/)
• Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson - Very Tall (https://songwhip.com/oscar-peterson/very-tall)
• The state of Utica’s jazz scene (https://www.uticaod.com/story/news/2008/12/25/the-state-utica-s-jazz/45077479007/)
• Joe Henderson’s The State of the Tenor (https://www.bluenote.com/spotlight/joe-hendersons-the-state-of-the-tenor/)
• Be sure to check out other musical projects from Caleb Curtis (https://songwhip.com/calebwheelercurtis) , Noah Garabedian (https://songwhip.com/noahgarabedian) , and Vinnie Sperrazza (https://songwhip.com/vinniesperrazza)
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