Through her latest project with Septet+, the accomplished flutist transforms works by Adrienne Rich, Naomi Shihab Nye, and other poets into conversations between words and improvised music.
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Today, the Spotlight shines On flutist Jamie Baum.
When COVID hit, Jamie found inspiration and solace in poetry. What started as daily readings of women poets became something much bigger: an album blending jazz and spoken word.
As leader of her long-running Septet+, Jamie has crafted wide-ranging music for over twenty years. She has played everywhere, from major jazz festivals to tiny clubs in 35 countries, bringing her distinctive sound to collaborations with artists like Paul Motian, Randy Brecker, and Kenny Barron.
Now, she's channeling the power of poetry through her ensemble, creating music that speaks to this moment while honoring timeless artistic traditions. Jamie's here to share how verses and melodies came together to tell these stories.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the Jamie Baum Septet+’s album What Times Are These)
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00:00 Introduction
01:29 Origins of the Septet+ Poetry Project
04:28 Bill Moyers' Influence and Poetry Discovery
09:45 Politics, Art, and Relevance
11:33 Shared Human Experiences Through Poetry
13:20 Connection with Bill Moyers
16:04 The Creative Process: From Poetry to Music
22:10 Musical Influences and Evolution
30:16 The Flute's Journey in Jazz
34:48 History of Septet+ and Ensemble Evolution
39:17 Album Structure: Opening and Closing Instrumentals
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Visit Jamie Baum at https://jamiebaum.com/
Purchase the Jamie Baum Septet+’s What Times Are These from Bandcamp → https://jamiebaum.bandcamp.com/album/what-times-are-these
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/what-times-are-these-the-jamie-baum-septet/dmf3knvig8b6a#
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://album.link/i/1735621047
Follow Jamie Baum on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/people/Jamie-Baum/100057736733831
and YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8YmG0WSHIbG6TNSEruMz-w
For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com
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