All Of It (WNYC) – Luther S. Allison Performs Live from 'I Owe It All To You'

Host: Koosha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Luther S. Allison, with band: Imani Roussel (vocals), Ryan Sands (drums), Zwelake Duma Beleper (bass)
Date: August 15, 2024

Episode Overview

WNYC’s All Of It dedicates this episode to rising jazz pianist, composer, and Grammy-winner Luther S. Allison. Fresh off his debut as a bandleader with the album I Owe It All To You, Allison performs tracks live in-studio, reflects on his influences, and discusses the spirit behind his music. The conversation explores creative process, musical influences, and the cultural roots embedded in Allison’s artistry, culminating in a conversation about gratitude, honesty in composition, and the journey of making music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The New Album: I Owe It All To You

• [00:33] Host highlights Luther’s blend of original compositions, jazz standards, and a Stevie Wonder cover in his new album.
• Allison shares that the spirit of the record is gratitude—dedicated to mentors, family, and musicians who shaped his journey.

2. Live Performances

• “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was”

  • [01:39] Luther introduces the song as a Donald Brown-inspired arrangement:

    “I expanded this from his solo piano arrangement… a reimagined version inspired by Donald Brown.”

• [02:41-04:49] The band delivers an emotive, expressive performance.

• “Until I See You Again”

  • [14:27] Allison shares:

    “This song is rooted in longing. That's kind of where this came from. A newfound relationship that I had just entered into about five years ago now…”

  • Inspired by his now-fiancée.

• [18:09-18:32] Host describes the performance as full of hope, resolve, and mystery.

• “I Owe It All To You” (Title Track)

  • [28:47] Allison intros the closing song and the band.
  • [29:13] Vocal delivery laden with affection and gratitude, echoing the theme of the episode.

3. Influences & Upbringing in Charlotte

• [07:37-11:04] Luther details the Charlotte music scene’s impact; from local jazz venues to church and familial roots.
• Fond memories of attending jam sessions incognito:

  “There was a hookah lounge... Anthony Hamilton's band... I would go there, play some pool, but I would always try to hang with the cats and listen to the music.” ([10:31])

4. Musical Development and Learning Multiple Instruments

• [11:13-12:51] Early exposure to drums and saxophone, adapting techniques and styles across instruments.

  "I feel like even when I got to saxophone, I would think about the piano... Or when I'm playing the piano, I kind of tend to think about the drums." ([12:20])

• Recognizes the interconnectedness of musical language:

  “They are both percussion instruments.” – Koosha Navadar ([12:51])

5. Recording the Album in a Single Day

• [06:11-07:25] The energy and “sinew” captured by recording all songs together:

  “I feel like there's something that happens... from hour to hour, throughout the progression of the recording, there's just a different feeling and a different energy that you develop with the band.” ([06:26])

  • Discussion about the merits and risks of “raw” recordings:

    “Raw is good. Sometimes raw cannot be too good... Sometimes the chicken needs to bake.” ([07:33-07:38]) “I'm vegan. But, you know, so they could probably go to mushroom.” ([07:41])

6. Composing with Honesty

• [20:16-22:52] Approaching composition with honesty instead of overthinking:

  “For me, honesty and composing is just being true to myself and not limiting myself... But I feel honesty also has a sense of deference... in that honesty, you have to be inviting and welcoming.” ([20:22])

7. Theme of Gratitude

• [22:02] Album title reflects Allison's intent to say “thank you” to mentors, family, and friends:

  “Thank you is what it needs to is what it's intended to say... It's just kind of my way of saying thank you to all of them for what you've done.” ([22:02])

• Sees himself as just beginning, always learning.

8. Grammy Experience & Advice to Young Musicians

• [23:12] On playing with Samara Joy at the Grammys:

  “Everybody's just so young. The whole band is young and everybody's just so excited…” “Afterwards… like, when I got home, I'm like, man, I just played at the Grammys. That's kind of crazy.” ([24:24])

• Dealing with nerves and self-belief:

  “Those nerves came from some ounce of lack of belief in myself… It's just kind of being able to be comfortable with where I am and who I am and what I've done to get to this point.” ([24:33])

• Advice to others:

  “My biggest piece of advice is probably number one, to realize that we're always students… Always be working and always be progressing and grow and trying to grow. Ask questions, have mentors…” ([27:32])

9. Personal Life & Music’s Role

• [18:34] Allison discusses composing music for his wedding:

  “I'm recording something for her to walk down the aisle to… I have a couple other surprises to come maybe shortly after the wedding.” ([18:42])

• Keeps the wedding traditional with music, dance, and a DJ.

10. Generosity & Joy

• [26:05] Host quotes Samara Joy applauding Luther’s “openness and generosity.”
• Luther roots his generosity in his faith, family, and community:

  “I have to give it up to the Lord, to God, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior... It's also to my parents and my community, my tribe back home in Charlotte...” ([26:05])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Honesty in Music
  “It's not really allowing my mind to get in the way of what needs to be said... For me, there's a sense of openness to that as well.” – Luther S. Allison ([20:22])
• On Standing on Shoulders of Giants
  “Even if I'm not playing their music, even if I'm writing music that's of my own, that's Coming from my own inspiration. It's still coming from them, from the people who came before me.” ([22:55])
• On Recording Raw in Studio
  “When something's raw, I feel like it's always good when everybody is sensitive, when everybody's checking out what's going on... when people are attentive and sensitive, then raw is always going to be happening.” ([07:46])
• On the Grammy Experience
  “We were all still clowning, we were all having a good time, we played the show... it just kind of felt like the continuation of the hang with the band.” ([23:25]) “Afterwards... when I got home, I'm like, man, I just played at the Grammys. That's kind of crazy.” ([24:24])
• Advice to Young Musicians
  “Everybody is a student of the music. None of us are bigger than it. None of us are bigger than each other. Regardless of how far everybody is along their journey musically, don't let the glitz and the glam fool you. Always be working and always be progressing and grow and trying to grow.” ([27:32])
• Reflections on Joy
  “There is joy at the center of what you're doing, which is beautiful. It's so hard to hold onto that, too, you know, especially as a professional musician.” – Koosha Navadar ([27:04])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:33] Introduction of guest and album themes
• [01:39] "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" performance
• [04:49] Reaction to live performance, discussion of arranging and inspiration
• [06:11] Making the album in a single day—discussing energy and process
• [09:00] Charlotte jazz scene and venues that shaped Luther
• [12:20] How playing sax and drums inform his piano style
• [14:27] Introduction and performance of "Until I See You Again"
• [18:42] On integrating music into wedding plans
• [20:22] Honesty in composition and creative process
• [22:02] The album as "thank you" to mentors and peers
• [23:12] Memories of the Grammy performance with Samara Joy
• [24:33] Overcoming nerves with self-belief
• [26:05] Sources of generosity and joy—faith, family, and mentors
• [27:32] Advice to young and emerging musicians
• [28:47] Introduction and performance of “I Owe It All To You”

Episode Tone and Style

The episode is warm, conversational, and reflective, with an undercurrent of gratitude, humility, and musical camaraderie. Both host Koosha Navadar and Luther S. Allison maintain an open, supportive dialogue, with Luther frequently crediting his upbringing and his collaborators for his success. Allison's humility and commitment to growth stand out, as does his faith and desire to give back to the communities and mentors who have helped him.

For Listeners New and Old

Whether you’re discovering Luther S. Allison for the first time or following his journey from sideman to bandleader, this episode paints an intimate portrait of an artist deeply rooted in both tradition and personal evolution. With heartfelt performances and behind-the-scenes insights, it’s an inspiring listen about artistry, gratitude, and finding one’s place in the lineage of jazz.

Recommended tracks to revisit:

• [01:39] "I Didn't Know What Time It Was"
• [14:27] "Until I See You Again"
• [28:47] "I Owe It All To You"

To see Luther S. Allison live:
August 29, 7:00 PM – Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center