New York Jazz Workshop Podcast Series with CJ Shearn: featuring guest Doug Beavers
For this edition of the NYJW Podcast I spoke with trombonist Doug Beavers by telephone about his upcoming “Titanes del Trombon” released through ArtistShare on June 16th. We discussed his founding of the Harlem School for Urban Musicians, and his role as faculty member at New York Jazz Workshop and working with his mentors, trombonist Conrad Herwig, and the great Eddie Palmieri. In August, he will be resuming his Latin Jazz improv class there. A record release party for his new album will be held June 19th at SOB’s in New York City. I would like to thank Doug Beavers for taking time out of his busy schedule in California for this podcast. Enjoy and keep swinging.
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.