Nadje Noordhuis: Jazz Trumpet, Inspiring Collaborations & Building a Career as a Woman in Jazz
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
02/01/26
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The trumpet player and composer Nadje Noordhuis joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, creativity, and carving out a life in music on her own terms. Nadje reflects on her early musical upbringing in Sydney, Australia, and the formative training that led her toward jazz trumpet. She remembers her friend Lois Martin, and Nadje speaks candidly about experiences of sexism in the music world, and the challenges of breaking into the New York jazz scene—financial struggles, years at the Manhattan School of Music, and finding her footing as a woman in jazz.
She reflected on her collaborative project Multitudes with composer James Shipp, and you’ll be hearing clips from that project as well as Gulfoss with Maeve Gilchrist, Full Circle with Fred Hersch. She talked about being about to record with the legendary engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug, and Nadje encourages all of us to take risks to follow our own paths.
Complete Show Notes with all the links! (Video, linked episodes, Transcript, podcast merchandise and Ko-fi support page, newsletter)
photo: Matt Baker
(00:00) Intro
(02:12) Sara Caswell, Dutch heritage
(03:45) Multitudes with James Shipp
(07:06) clip of Run Together from Multitudes
(07:48) more about Multitudes, clip of Say Goodbye
(09:31) Lois Martin
(13:36) Laurie Frink
(16:09) versatility in building a career, Anat Cohen
(19:21) early music training childhood in Australia
(22:20) experiences of sexism, decision to pursue jazz trumpet
(30:15) Full Circle album Elan Mehler, Fred Hersch (clip Little Song from Full Circle)
(34:24) move to New York, financial struggles
(39:06) breaking into the jazz scene as a woman, Manhattan school
(43:54) other linked episodes and ways to support this project
(44:51) youth in Sydney, Australia
(48:40) teaching, Fifth Bridge
(53:26) recording Gulfoss album with clip of Seven Miles
(57:25) working with Jan Erik Kongshaug, recording Ten Sails with Luke Howard
(01:05:35) clip of Rainbow from Multitudes, living as an expat
(01:07:36) clip of Full Circle, reflections on choosing her own path
Previous Episode
Julia Keefe (Nez Perce) is an internationally acclaimed Native American jazz vocalist, actor, activist, and educator currently based in New York City. You’ll hear how her Indigenous Big Band project started, the history behind jazz in Native American communities and inspiration from Delbert Anderson to Jim Pepper. A special influence in her life has been Mildred Bailey and you’ll be hearing some clips from Julia’s Mildred Bailey Project album throughout this podcast; the track names are in the timestamps. Mildred was a very important figure in jazz and Julia is also working on a film about her life and career. Julia spoke about some of the sexual harassment she has experienced and how she was affected by the experience of sexual assault by a professor when she was in graduate school. She opened up about how she got through that time with the support of her vocal teacher Jo Lawry . In the shadow of this challenging time, Julia shared some fascinating specifics into how her voice teachers Jo, Theo Bleckmann and also Kate McGarry helped push her artistic and expressive boundaries, and later what a transformative experience it was to be mentored by Esperanza Spalding.
Julia’s identity as an Indigenous jazz musician shapes her creative life in so many affirming and inspirational ways; I’m so happy to share this meaningful conversation with you.
In the show notes: links to other suggested episodes, newsletter, buy me a coffee, podcast merch, link to Indigenous Big Band video, transcript and of course Julia Keefe's music!
photo: Don Hamilton
(00:00) Intro
(02:38) Indigenous Big Band, Delbert Anderson
(10:21) clip of Jim Pepper’s “Water”, video linked in show notes
(12:24) Mildred Bailey Project
(14:19) clip of “Thanks for Memory" track 8
(15:08) Mildred Bailey Project album release
(18:10) Mildred Bailey with clip of Rockin’ Chair opener track 1
(25:28) clip of track 9 Rockin’ Chair, Mildred Bailey film project with Lily Gladstone, Gary Farmer
(39:23) clip of track 2 “Lover, Come Back to Me” Sterlin Harjo film “Love and Fury”
(41:51) linked episodes and ways to support this podcast
(42:56) Jim Pepper
(49:06) Julia’s childhood, Kamia, learning Nimipuutimt
(55:00) residential schools bands history
(01:00:24) Master’s at Manhattan, Kate McGarry, Jo Lawry, Theo Bleckmann
(01:05:35) personal challenges including sexual assault, support of Jo Lawry
(01:19:11) Esperanza Spalding mentorship
Next Episode
Hank Moore became a radio DJ at just ten years old, then went on to influence the broadcasting industry. You’ll hear about his experiences interviewing Elvis Presley, working as an advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and earning two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From payola to the negative effects of the deregulation of broadcasting, he offers valuable perspectives on the music industry. Hank has crossed paths with legends like Ed Sullivan, Frank Sinatra, and Burt Bacharach, and lived through many moments that defined popular culture. We discussed his Pulitzer Prize nominated "Pop Music Legends" and some of the many highlights from his varied and fascinating career in broadcasting and business.
Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. t’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast and other suggested episodes. Show Notes with All the Links!
(00:00) Intro
(01:53) Hank Moore’s books, celebrities, radio, Lady Bird Johnson, Lee Iacocca, Bing Crosby
(19:16) Elvis Presley, André Previn, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
(30:31) advisor to President Lyndon Johnson, radio industry
(49:18) linked episodes, ways to support this podcast
(50:02) Ed Sullivan, Mitch Miller, popular music history
(58:54) Payola, meeting Burt Bacharach, McCarthy black list
(01:08:39) stars discovered on talent shows, music industry problems
(01:20:40) non-profit work, business and political work
(01:27:45) Carole King, creative process
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