The ever-active Brooklyn-based saxophonist joins us to discuss improvisation, honing compositions from the small stage, and his ambitious album project, The Depths of Memory.
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The Spotlight shines On saxophonist/composer Kevin Sun.
Kevin joined us to discuss, among other things, his dramatic double album from 2023, The Depths of Memory, which was released in two halves: From All This Stillness in July of that year and The Depths in Slow Motion in October of that year.
Kevin’s an intense yet accessible player and composer—and a true working musician. He leads an ensemble most Tuesday nights at Lowlands Bar and appears regularly at Bar Bayeux and Ornithology, all three in Brooklyn, NY.
In the time since we recorded this talk back in January, Kevin has released a new record, a live one, recorded at Lowlands. Fate of the Tenor has him leading a trio which, to my ears, gives more than a passing nod to Joe Henderson’s great 1985 live trio recordings with Ron Carter and Al Foster, State of the Tenor. Even the cover art seems a bit of an homage. The saxophone trio is one of my favorite configurations, and Kevin’s new record is a terrific contribution to the canon.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Kevin Sun's double album The Depths of Memory)
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00:00 - Introduction
03:21 - Kevin Sun's musical upbringing and early exposure to jazz
12:20 - The role of memory as a motif in Sun's work
15:13 - The compositional elements and classical influence in The Depths of Memory
21:41 - The extended release strategy for The Depths of Memory
25:14 - Sun's appreciation for the sound and acoustics of Lowlands Bar
27:50 - The importance of Sun's weekly gig at Lowlands for developing as a showperson
34:10 - The theatricality and impact of avant-garde music in live performances
37:23 - Sun's musical influences, including Henry Threadgill, Mark Turner, and Ryuichi Sakamoto
41:58 - Recording a live trio album at Lowlands Bar
47:12 - Conclusion
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Visit Kevin Sun at https://www.kevinsun.com
Purchase Kevin Sun's music on Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/kevin-sun/4690060
and Bandcamp →https://thekevinsun.bandcamp.com/music
or listen on [your favorite streaming platform → https://songwhip.com/kevinsun
Follow Kevin Sun on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/sunthekevin
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thekevinsun
and YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/V1812470
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