Pablo Held Investigates

Savannah Harris is an incredible drummer & great person. I not only admire her musicality & playing, but also her honesty and her rare no-BS-mentality, which is so apparent both in her playing and when you talk to her. We bonded right away when we first played and hung out in 2023. (Both of us ? Continue reading Savannah Harris

What an absolute joy to nerd-out with saxophonist & composer Mark Turner about music after all these years of listening to him! As I tell Mark during this episode, his tune ?Jacky?s Place? was my ring-tone for a while in the early 2000s ? I think we hit it off right away and covered a ? Continue reading Mark Turner

This my conversation with recording engineer & multi-instrumentalist Joseph Branciforte. I had been a fan of his work on albums by Ben Monder, Caroline Davis, Matt Mitchell, Jen Shyu & Kate Gentile and loved his duo work with Theo Bleckmann. So naturally I was excited when Joseph reached out to me and said that he ? Continue reading Joseph Branciforte

Talking to master bassist Robert Hurst was a big highlight for me. My earliest memory of listening to him goes back to my childhood where I often picked out the ?Mo Better Blues? soundtrack from of my parent?s record collection. While listening to the record I stared at the pictures of the musicians in the ? Continue reading Robert Hurst

About a year ago I saw Isabel Hagen?s appearance on the Jimmy Fallon Show became an instant fan, quickly diving into as much of her work as I could find. I love her standup and her incredible web series ?Is A Violist?. The way Isabel combines comedy & music is really something else. I?ve been ? Continue reading Isabel Hagen

Here?s my conversation with singer, bassist & composer Fuensanta ? one of the most original artists that I know. We reflect on her life in music, her creative process, challenges and important lessons, band leading, composing methods, influences and also we relive our own musical encounter with Louis Cole and Shannon Barnett. This is episode has ? Continue reading Fuensanta

Legendary bassist & composer Buster Williams came on the podcast to talk about Sarah Vaughan, the role of the bass, patience in music, playing with the Miles Davis Quintet, his record ?Something More? ? and much more! Such an honor to talk to him! I?m glad we get to learn from him together.

Here?s my in-depth conversation with Blake Mills & Chris Weisman about Blake?s ?Jelly Road? album. We talk about each track and Blake & Chris often take out their guitars to show specific things in the music. It was so great to talk with them! Deepest gratitude to Blake & Chris for letting me study this ? Continue reading Blake Mills + Chris Weisman

A conversation between Cuban pianist & composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba and German pianist Pablo Held

Guitarist & composer Ella Zirina in conversation with Pablo Held.

Producer, composer, singer, and songwriter Ethan Gruska in conversation with Pablo Held

Percy Pursglove is not only an incredible trumpet player, he?s also an adventurous composer and educator, a great musical mind, a great bassist and? he?s also my friend. I?ve been a fan of him ever since we first met during a little tour with Chris Potter in 2013. We bonded right away and a few ? Continue reading Percy Pursglove

The album Portals, Vol 1: Mourning was my entry point into the wonderful music by saxophonist & composer Caroline Davis. It was exactly what the title entails: I felt transported right away! It led me to check out so many other beautiful albums, videos and articles, which impressively show Caroline?s exceptional talent and vision. My ? Continue reading Caroline Davis

Saxophonist Charles McPherson is a living legend, a musician of the highest order. I?ve learned a lot by listening to him play (and speak!) over the years. When I got the chance to interview him as part of the Mingus100 Festival at the Stadtgarten in Köln, I was delighted! Since this happened in between sets ? Continue reading Charles McPherson

It was a dream come true to talk with master bassist & composer John Patitucci. Easy going, inspiring and deep! Plus he played lots of bass, some piano and we went through several of his compositions- as you know, I always hope for these things to happen and John was totally open for it. I ? Continue reading John Patitucci

Jason Seizer brings people together. As saxophonist and bandleader, but also as a producer & engineer of 100+ albums for the great German label Pirouet Records. He has big ears and an open heart, a personal sound on the saxophone and a distinct vision for the music. Jason and me go way back. What started ? Continue reading Jason Seizer

I first noticed David Virelles? name in 2011. I was checking out which bands were playing at the Village Vanguard, which is when I saw that Chris Potter had a new pianist in his group. I had been following Chris? music heavily for quite some time back then, so naturally I was curious about a ? Continue reading David Virelles

Pianist Danilo Perez is one of my biggest heroes. Ever since I first heard the magical album ?Footprints Live? by the Wayne Shorter quartet two decades ago I became an instant fan. I still remember having NO clue what these guys were doing. They played the songs I thought I knew, but in a way ? Continue reading Danilo Perez

Madison Cunningham is a natural. A master singer/songwriter with incredible abilities on the guitar and a singular voice. To me, everything she does sounds effortless and passionate at the same time ? that?s a rare combination! I just love her music and I?m thrilled that I got to talk to her. Madison generously shared insights ? Continue reading Madison Cunningham

Who are You? This is the leitmotif of my musical discussion with drummer, pianist and vibes player Jorge Rossy. He shares his journey as a multi-instrumentalist, how working with Wayne Shorter forced him to escape his comfort zone, what it was like to work on odd-meters with the iconic Brad Mehldau Trio, how Guillermo Klein ? Continue reading Jorge Rossy

Ben Solomon is an incredible saxophonist who I first heard through the music of the late Wallace Roney. I was immediately struck by his sound, the energy and his love for the music. In fact, that was the only note I wrote down prior to this interview: Love. You can often tell when people are ? Continue reading Ben Solomon

I had been admiring Melissa Aldana?s playing and music for many years, when I suddenly received a message from her, saying that she really liked the podcast. I was flattered and amazed that she would reach out to me. We made plans to do an interview and here it is! We talked about learning from ? Continue reading Melissa Aldana

Master drummer Jochen Rueckert is a personal hero of mine. I?ve been checking him out since my teenage years, when I discovered Achim Kaufmann?s ?Weave?, Paul Heller?s ?Kaleidoskop? & Jochen?s own ?Introduction?, three massively influential records for me. He is an outstanding drummer and a great guy who always speaks his mind, and this conversation ? Continue reading Jochen Rueckert

I still remember when I first heard Kurt Rosenwinkel?s epic album ?The Next Step?. In the early 2000s I was visiting my guitar friend Riaz Khabirpour in his apartment in Amsterdam. When he went out to practice, I stayed in his place, going through his record collection. I can still tap into the feeling I ? Continue reading Kurt Rosenwinkel

What a pleasure it was to talk to composer/arranger/pianist/accordionist Gil Goldstein! I?ve been in awe of his work with Michael Brecker, Milton Nascimento, Jim Hall, Wallace Roney and of course his own music (check out his album ?Under Rouseau?s Moon?). Furthermore, his book ?Jazz Composer?s Companion? was a great help to me, especially because of ? Continue reading Gil Goldstein

Sometimes you can?t predict in which direction an interview will go. When I spoke with Laura Mvula we didn?t nerd out about theoretical stuff. In the beginning you can notice me wanting to go in this direction. But instead we get something much deeper and more meaningful: Laura opened up about her life as an ? Continue reading Laura Mvula

Ralph Towner is my hero. He?s a musical pioneer, a poetic and lyrical storyteller, always searching for something new, a giant of jazz & improvised music. I have childhood memories of listening to his records in my parents collection ? His duo recording with Gary Peacock ?Oracle? always comes to mind. So do his solo ? Continue reading Ralph Towner

Scott Colley is an amazing musician. He always serves the music in a very engaging and creative way, never letting his incredible facility on the instrument getting the best of him. This is one of the many things I admire about him, so naturally I am glad I could talk to him about that. We ? Continue reading Scott Colley

I heard about Mike Gibbs through my good friend Sebastian Gille, who invited Mike to arrange his music for a special project with the NDR Bigband. I was amazed by Mike?s writing right away. Everything he does sounds so rich and full yet very open at the same time. He?s a true master who has ? Continue reading Mike Gibbs

When Larry Goldings told me that ?we should do another podcast where we talk about our classical influences?, I was beyond excited. In this 3-hour conversation about our musical upbringings and influences we also play a lot of piano for each other. As you can imagine, this is exactly what I was dreaming of all ? Continue reading Larry Goldings? again!

Pablo Held talking about the creation of his solo album ?Embracing You?. Supported by NICA artist development, a program funded by

Percussionist & composer Marilyn Mazur is like a magician. Through her imaginative playing and her rich palette of sounds she casts spells on the music, her bandmates and us as listeners. When I listen to her I feel transported into places that I didn?t know existed and that?s something I?m fascinated by. How does one ? Continue reading Marilyn Mazur

Kevin Hays is one of my absolute favorite piano players, period! The first time I saw him live was in 1996 on a concert of John Scofield?s Quiet Band and this made a deep impression on me. I?ve been following Kevin?s playing very closely since then. Out of his own records ?Andalucia?, ?Seventh Sense?,?El Matador? ? Continue reading Kevin Hays

Master drummer Peter Erskine is on so many of my all-time favorite recordings that it?s almost ridiculous! I love everything that he?s done with Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Joni Mitchell, John Abercrombie, Joe Henderson, Marc Johnson, Vince Mendoza, Kenny Wheeler, Michael Brecker and SO many more! Of course, let?s not forget his own records!! Especially ? Continue reading Peter Erskine

Sam Amidon is one of the most open minded artists I know. Right away I was struck not only by his beautiful music, I was also amazed by the vast range of things he welcomes into his world. Every Sam Amidon album is a winner. They build on top of each other and yet each ? Continue reading Sam Amidon

My dear friend and trio colleague Jonas Burgwinkel and I went into the studio to talk about the recording process of my first-ever album Forest Of Oblivion.  It was pure time-travel and I stayed in nostalgia-mode for the following days, reminiscing about the past and our journey as a trio. As I often tell, it?s ? Continue reading Forest Of Oblivion (Audio Commentary)

I had been following Johanna?s playing for quite a while, ever since my buddy Robert Landfermann told me to check her out. ? If you don?t know Johanna?s music yet, a great place to start is her album ?Schumann Kaleidoskop? , where she interprets Robert Schumann?s music in her very own adventurous ways. To me ? Continue reading Johanna Summer

This interview with bassist Doug Weiss took place after our first concert together in June 2020 at the Green Room in Köln. Such cool way to get to know each other: After a rehearsal and dinner, we played a concert and had this conversation in front of a live audience. Right from the start I ? Continue reading Doug Weiss

Marcus Gilmore is one of the most influential drummers of our time. The first time I heard him was on Gonzalo Rubalcaba?s ?Avatar? record and I was drawn to his rhythmical world right away. I got to play with Marcus in Chris Potter?s quartet back in 2015 and the feeling of playing with him is something ? Continue reading Marcus Gilmore

I first heard Chris Potter?s music sometime in my teenage years. I immediately became a fan, trying to get all his records as a leader and as a sideman. There?s always something to learn from Chris? playing? in a way I always feel encouraged to work on something after I?ve listened to him. Especially his ? Continue reading Chris Potter

I found out about Robert Stillman?s unique musical world through my friend Kit Downes. (Whenever Kit recommends something I listen very closely) So when my first sitting with Robert?s debut ?Horses? was over, I had to listen to it again right away. Everybody on the record played their butts off, but it was the songs ? Continue reading Robert Stillman

As I tell Jeff Ballard in the beginning of our conversation, every time I hear him I?m amazed by the lively sound and feel he gets out of the drums. I think that?s something we as musicians all strive for: to have our sounds (and the music in general) be reflective of life itself, to ? Continue reading Jeff Ballard

Maria Schneider is one of the most important composers & arrangers of our time. A singular voice who is always recognizeable. To me, Maria is a pioneer, always finding new ways of ensemble writing that inspire her musicians to really engage with the music, and not just play their part. In the tradition of Duke ? Continue reading Maria Schneider

(This episode is available only in German) Das etwas andere Interview mit Antoine Burtz eröffnete mir einen tiefen Einblick in den kreativen Geist dieses besonderen Künstlers. Antoine spracht mit mir über die Entwicklung seines Rap-Flows  von ?Lohn Isch Da? bis hinzu ?Deutschland Isch Stabil?, sein Unterrichtskonzept im Rahmen der Rapskill School, die Erwartungen an Mitmusiker*innen, ? Continue reading Antoine Burtz

My dear friend Jonas Burgwinkel was the one who told me about Blake Mills first, hipping me to his album ?Heigh Ho?. I liked it right away. But it was Blake?s ?Mutable Set? that completely turned me around. It really hit me and I somehow became addicted to it, listening to it all the time. ? Continue reading Blake Mills

Interview in German, the video version has English subtitles.  SALOMEA is one of the most exciting bands that has emerged from Cologne scene in the last years. Singer & founder Rebekka Salomea Ziegler and her trusty comrades Yannis Anft (keys), Oliver Lutz (bass) & Leif Berger (drums) are good friends of mine and I?ve been ? Continue reading SALOMEA

This is the second album of my trio, recorded in 2009 and released in 2010 on Pirouet Records. Going back to this album was like stepping into a time machine. I talk about how we applied our live concept into the studio situation on some of the tunes. I also talk about how my trio ? Continue reading Music (audio commentary)

Marilyn Crispell is a master improviser, a musician of the highest order. To me she embodies focus, presence and selflessness. And I just love the way she plays the piano! Here are some of my favorite records of Marilyn?s: Amaryllis Nothing Ever Was, Anyway: The Music of Annette Peacock Vignettes For Coltrane Pianosolo ? A ? Continue reading Marilyn Crispell

The first time I became aware of Marc Copland was when a good friend of mine showed me the album ?Softly??. I was immediately drawn to Marc?s personal approach to harmony and his ability to tell a story on the piano. To this day this album remains one of my favorites of his. Discovering Marc?s ? Continue reading Marc Copland

If you like this series, please consider supporting me on Patreon. I first heard Vince Mendoza?s music through my parents, who had albums of his collaborations with Joni Mitchell. Then around 2003 I discovered his wonderful album ?Epiphany? which I then listened to for a whole summer. I was blown away by the music and ? Continue reading Vince Mendoza