Odie Wallace Interview - Katchie's Planet Jazz

Odie Wallace, our lucky and talented 2013 A-JAM representative to the 23rd annual International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) jazz meeting, held forth on Monday, July 15, 2013 on Katchie's Planet Jazz, KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM (krtu.org). He was fresh back from his "mind-blowing," "enlightening," and "inspiring" trip, which was held this year in two locations in beautiful Denmark.

You can hear it all right here...

We spun some gorgeous sides from the brand new CD featuring the 2012 IASJ student groups, recorded live in Graz, Austria, including our 2012 A-JAM alum, Stephen Bennett from Northwest Vista College. Between cuts, Odie reflected on the music and spoke about his experiences, his fellow students, the nightly jam sessions, original compositions, teachers, and multi-lingual fun on the bus. We looked at what's next for him on his musical path, and he gave words of wisdom for the next A-JAM crew. The 2014 jazz meeting will be held in Cape Town, South Africa. Could be YOU next year!

And what's that crazy earthship? It's a huge iron sculpture called ELIA, created by Ingvar Cronhammar, who gave us a guided tour in Herning.  We were privileged to enter this incredible meditation space full of parabolae. It's set to spew flames into the sky on a randomized clock, with sensors that prevent it from firing if there are birds or humans in the area, or winds that would make it dangerous. Absolutely unbelievable!