Podcast 859: A Conversation with Stephanie Matthews from A Tribe for Jazz

Podcast 859 is something of a follow-up from Podcast 839 earlier this summer. At that time, saxophonist Jon Irabagon talked about his involvement with a new organization based in Columbus, Ohio. Stephanie Matthews and her business partner, Bruce Halliburton, started "A Tribe For Jazz" in April 2021. It's a new nonprofit that works to market global jazz musicians, but it's goals are far loftier. Their Vision Statement reads: "Our vision is to advance the future of Jazz for generations by producing content, events and activities that transform, educate and lead to purposeful actions and impactful conversations surrounding the preservation of the genre." It came into being with a mission to preserve the legacy and advance the future of jazz through storytelling, live and virtual performance, education, and community engagement. In the collaboration between Irabagon and A Tribe for Jazz, Jon is showcased as never before in the innovative performance film Legacy: Jon Irabagon. Directed by Julian Melanson and produced by Ms. Matthews, the film features Irabagon completely solo, in a beautifully lit, artistically shot black-box theater environment, playing original compositions drawn from just about every stage in his career. Throughout the film, he reveals a formidable, deeply felt mastery of the tenor saxophone — arguably jazz's most iconic instrument. Legacy: Jon Irabagon is both an extended reflection on the lineage of the horn itself, and a statement on Irabagon's own considerable artistic legacy, still very much  still in formation. Podcast 859 is my conversation with Stephanie Matthews, as we discuss the founding of A Tribe for Jazz, the work with Jon Irabagon, and possible future projects with the likes of Fabian Almazon and Linda May Han Oh . Legacy: Jon Irabagon is available on demand through October 31. Visit here for more information.