Archival Dreams: Zev Feldman in Conversation with CJ Shearn
Welcome to the New York Jazz Workshop podcast I’m CJ Shearn. Usually on the podcast I’ve spoken with some of the finest players on the scene today, this podcast is special because it’s the first time I’ve invited a record producer to speak about their role in new releases. Zev Feldman is the executive vice president and general manager of Resonance Records and this year has produced three new archival releases by organist Larry Young, pianist Bill Evans and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. These two releases add immeasurably to the artist’s catalogs. I spoke with Feldman via phone from his home in Los Angeles before he embarked on a trip to New Orleans to promote “Some Other Time: The Legendary Session From the Black Forest” the marvelous 2 CD set from Bill Evans documenting a rarely recorded trio with Eddie Gomez on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums. I spoke with him about this and Larry Young in Paris: The ORTF Recordings” the first newly heard recordings from Young in 38 years since his death in 1978.
I have been the staff writer for the New York Jazz Workshop School of Music blog in midtown Manhattan since 2014, and that has broadened my freelance writing skills considerably. In addition to writing artist bios, and articles of interest that pertain to the mission of the school, I have interviewed (in print on the site) legendary guitarist and NEA Jazz Master Pat Metheny, trumpeter Cuong Vu, and in 2015 embarked on producing a podcast for the school where I have achieved my dream and interviewed jazz giants such as Dave Liebman, Lenny White, rising talents like Thana Alexa, Logan Richardson, guitarist and bassist Brian Kastan, among others. I also work on SEO optimization for the blog. In 2015 I started my blog Jazz Views with CJ Shearn, and have written liner notes for 5 time Grammy winner and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, Antonio Sanchez (for his latest recording “Channels of Energy”) and guitarist Gene Ess for his latest recording, scheduled to be released in November 2018.
My passion for jazz music is what drives me, which is an interest I’ve had since I can remember. I initially began writing about jazz at the age of 13 for my high school newspaper, and in my late teens contributed occasionally to jazzreview.com. In college I was member of the Harpur Jazz Project which brought jazz acts to campus. I’ve also contributed in the past to AllAboutJazz where I was mentored by John Kelman. I decided to focus on my passion for jazz music journalism after a job in the social services field as a caseworker went south, and as a person with a physical disability I work on going against the odds, living independently and having accomplished things people had said I’d never do.