For more than thirty years, David Schroeder has been quietly building one of the most extensive spoken archives of jazz history. His work—spanning video interview series and now an active podcast—captures the voices of jazz legends in conversations that might otherwise be lost to time.
Schroeder’s jazz interview series began with prestigious showcases including the Artists’ House Jazz Masterclass Series, the Barnes & Noble Jazz Interview Series, and the NYU Jazz Interview Series on YouTube. These visual catalogs feature rare, extended conversations with artists who shaped modern jazz: Wayne Shorter, Toots Thielemans, Benny Golson, Jack DeJohnette, Jimmy Cobb, and Carla Bley, among scores of others.
The depth of these archives is striking. While many jazz documentaries offer brief soundbites, Schroeder’s approach allows musicians to tell their own stories in full. His subjects discuss not just their music, but the creative processes and life experiences that informed their art.
A Living Archive Continues
His current project, “From the Minds of Jazz Musicians,” extends this mission into podcast form. The series features both established icons and contemporary innovators, alongside family members of jazz legends who offer unique perspectives on the artists they knew personally.
A recent episode features Sallie Sanborn, sister of saxophonist David Sanborn, sharing intimate stories about her brother’s musical journey and his triumph over health challenges before his death in 2024. Another conversation with Mercedes Ellington, Duke Ellington’s granddaughter, reveals her experience as the first dancer of color to perform weekly on television through the Jackie Gleason Show in 1963.
Perhaps most notable is Schroeder’s interview with Sonny Rollins. At 95, Rollins rarely grants one-on-one interviews, making this conversation about jazz history particularly valuable for understanding an artist whose recording career spans seven decades and more than sixty albums.
Documenting the Creative Process
Throughout his work, Schroeder focuses on revealing what he calls the “keys to living a creative, inspired life.” His interviews with vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, now 87, cover decades from performing with Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins to founding the jazz fusion band Steps Ahead. Bob Mintzer discusses his 36-year tenure with the Yellowjackets and his time with the Buddy Rich Big Band, while younger artists like Ben Wendel—a Grammy nominee for his 2023 album “All One”—describe their approach to creating new work.
The project serves musicians, journalists, and jazz enthusiasts looking for primary source material directly from the artists themselves. As Schroeder describes his mission: documenting those who “fearlessly chart their own course” by tapping into their inner consciousness and continually seeking new ways to define themselves and their art.
For anyone interested in unfiltered jazz conversations and musical storytelling, the archive represents a growing resource—one conversation at a time, preserving the voices and stories that shaped American music.