Meg Okura: Jazz Violinist and Composer

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

09/16/24

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110m

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Meg Okura is an award-winning Jazz composer and brilliant Grammy-nominated violinist, and the leader and founder of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble. This episode features several excerpts from Meg’s wonderful recent duo album “Lingering” with the Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Kevin Hays. This was a wide-ranging conversation, including Meg’s musical tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto, her experiences playing for Cirque du Soleil, some of the challenges she’s faced, and about her search for a new spiritual community. She shared with me her thoughts on mentorship and the power of music to create real understanding and connection.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/meg-okura

Album Lingering: https://megokurakevinhays.bandcamp.com/album/lingering

Meg Okura Website https://www.megokura.com/home

Phantasmagoria: https://open.spotify.com/track/4YG1HjeJF3qgK2AsmiqcXh

Original Merch for sale: https://www.leahroseman.com/beautiful-shirts-and-more

Can you buy this independent podcaster a coffee? ⁠https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman⁠

Complete Catalog of Episodes: ⁠https://www.leahroseman.com/about⁠

Newsletter sign-up: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter⁠

Linktree for social media: ⁠https://linktr.ee/leahroseman⁠

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:19) meeting Kevin Hays, album “Lingering”

(06:49) Again and Again

(10:18) intro to Maim Korim

(11:25) Maim Korim

(15:07) Meg’s classical training, early interest in composing was discouraged, Pan-Asian Youth orchestra experience

(19:56) commentary on Will You Hear My Voice

(21:56) excerpt from Will You Hear My Voice

(23:06) finding her own path into jazz in New York, influences and opportunities

(27:41) BMI Jazz composers workshop

(29:30) founding the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble

(40:38) excerpt from Tomiya Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble from album Ima Ima

(42:09) Ryuichi Sakamoto tribute project

(47:02) Michael Brecker, new album with Randy Brecker

(48:54) ISJAC prize, Silent Screams: an Anthem for the Unheard

(50:18) commission to write trio Phantasmagoria for Tasha Warren and Dave Eggar, writing for classical ensembles

(56:00) excerpt from Phantasmagoria

(57:23) parenting decisions, importance of education and community, decision to convert to Judaism

(01:08:42) changes with education and music online

(01:11:36) coommentary on Shamaim

(01:13:28) excerpt from Shamaim

(01:15:50) different ways you can support this independent podcast

(01:16:43) the importance of intuition and emotion in musical composition and improvisation

(01:23:06) commentary on Lingering, nostalgia and changing sense of self as we age

(01:26:10) excerpt from Lingering

(01:28:02) use of electric violin as a tool for composition and in performances

(01:29:54) Scorchio Quartet, David Bowie, Sirius quartet, Pharaoh’s Daughter

(01:35:10) Cirque du Soleil, decision to return to New York, marriage to Sam Newsome, learning jazz

(01:43:19) the importance of mentorship, community, the healing power of music

Previous Episode

Julia MacLaine: Cellist

September 9, 2024

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81m

I have known the Canadian cellist Julia MacLaine for many years in her role asAssistant Principal Cello of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, of which I am also a member. In this episode we’re highlighting her gorgeous album Preludes which pairs the Preludes of J.S. Bach for Cello solo and with newly commissioned works for solo cello by Canadian composers. Julia and I talked about many things, including how best to address the challenges of maintaining high levels of playing and inspiration, studying the craft of songwriting with the legendary Ian Tamblyn , the intricacies of putting together ambitious projects, her childhood in Prince Edward Island, and strategies to cope with performance anxiety. It was really inspiring to hear some of the wisdom Julia gained from her mentors including Timothy Eddy and the late Antonio Lysy. This episode features excerpts of music from Preludes including that of J.S. Bach, Airat Ichmouratov, Carmen Braden, Roy Johnstone and Nicole Lizée.

Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website, everything linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/julia-maclaine

Julia MacLaine website: https://www.juliamaclainecello.com/bio

Preludes album https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9309403--preludes?srsltid=AfmBOoop593ZT29pz3RSsEMawTjbiHPF_8oMICuS2ruzUn1Qo2dkujCn

Preludes album on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC80c6WS5jNMk-L5RhXOknCA

Original Merch for sale: https://www.leahroseman.com/beautiful-shirts-and-more

Can you buy this independent podcaster a coffee? ⁠https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman⁠

Complete Catalog of Episodes: ⁠https://www.leahroseman.com/about⁠

Newsletter sign-up: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter⁠

Linktree for social media: ⁠https://linktr.ee/leahroseman⁠

My episode with Rachel Mercer, Principal Cellist of NACO: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e9-s2-rachel-mercer

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:02) J.S. Bach solo Preludes, Julia’s childhood in Singapore and Prince Edward Island

(10:59) Prelude in D minor, Suite number 2 J.S. Bach

(14:43) Antonio Lysy, bow control, intonation

(20:03) boundaries with technology, Julia’s childhood no TV

(22:48) Bonnie Hampton, Julia’s career trajectory, staying in good playing shape

(28:08) commissioning Airat Ichmouratov’s Praeludium with excerpt

(29:30) excerpt from Airat Ichmouratov’s Praeludium

(31:33) commissioning new works inspired by Bach, securing funding

(34:30) Carmen Braden collaboration on interpretation

(37:44) excerpt from Play Time by Carmen Braden

(39:01)more discussion about interpretation and editions

(39:59) Timothy Eddy, Julliard and New York experience

(44:22) different ways you can support this independent podcast!

(45:15) Roy Johnstone

(46:36) clip of No. 6 Post Bach by Roy Johnstone

(47:52) PEI, Matt Zimbel

(48:51) multi-disciplinary project in New York Voice of the Whale

(54:38) songwriting with Ian Tamblyn

(57:48) mental game, perfectionism, performance anxiety

(01:04:33) Nicole Lizée with clip from Prayers for Ruins

Next Episode

Alicia Svigals: Fidl Afire Catch-Up Episode

September 19, 2024

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25m

This episode is a special short Catch-Up episode with the Klezmer violinist and composer Alicia Svigals. I first spoke with her in 2021 in Season 1 of this podcast, and that wide-ranging in-depth conversation is here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e15-s1-alicia-svigals-klezmer-violinist-and-composer

Today we are focusing on Alicia’s new album Fidl Afire https://borschtbeat.bandcamp.com/album/fidl-afire, with several excerpts from the album with her insights.

Alicia Svigals website: https://aliciasvigals.com/home

I have many episodes featuring klezmer musicians such as Polina Shepherd https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/polina-shepherd

and Marilyn Lerner https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/marilyn-lerner, and many artists in the folk and world music scene, so please check out my catalog of episodes. https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on YouTube, or read the transcript, everything linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/alicia-svigals-catch-up-fidl-afire

Original Merch for sale: https://www.leahroseman.com/beautiful-shirts-and-more

Can you buy this independent podcaster a coffee? ⁠https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman⁠ Thanks!

Newsletter sign-up: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter⁠

Linktree for social media: ⁠https://linktr.ee/leahroseman⁠

Timestamps

(00:00)Intro

(01:18)Fidl Afire album

(05:17)excerpt from Alician’s Patsch Tants