F2K Ep. 59 - Saxophonist & Composer Maria Grand

On today's show, the saxophonist, vocalist and composer Maria Grand. Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Maria came to New York to pursue a career in music while still in her late teens. She has been releasing her own music since 2017, recordings that feature her enthralling tenor saxophone playing and vocals in service of exploratory, melodic compositions. She's performed and recorded with Vijay Iyer, Mary Halvorson, Antoine Roney and others and her latest is just out, entitled BOTH SIDES.

Maria was passing through Philadelphia when we met up, the night before I caught a wonderful show with her quartet at the Black Squirrel Club. Maria brought her percussionist Shakoor Hakeem along for the conversation, they've collaborated together since meeting in a youth jazz program as teens. We'll hear Shakoor in our conversation as well, discussing his experiences making music with Maria. We talk about growing up in a musical family, struggles in high school, coming to New York to study in the jazz mecca as well as Maria's work in musical therapy.