Jon Armstrong
Host of Don't Call It JazzHost of Don't Call it Jazz (DCiJ) on KISU-FM. DCiJ air's twice monthly on Saturday nights at 7:00 pm.
Jonathan Armstrong is an Idaho based creative musician, bandleader, composer, and innovative educator. In 2015, he moved to Pocatello to take the job as the Director of Jazz Studies at Idaho State University. Before that he resided in Los Angeles, where we worked as a professional musician. He has released two critically acclaimed albums: “Farewell” (2013) features compositions for a 25-piece large ensemble, and “Burnt Hibiscus” (2015) sets surrealist poetry to Indian ragas for a 10-piece ensemble. He is also a member of the Kobie Watkins Grouptet, a jazz quintet that regularly performs all throughout the country. Their debut album "Movement" was released in 2018.
Jon was recently awarded a 2019 Idaho Commission on the Arts Performing Arts Fellowship. He enjoys long walks in the Pocatello hills with his wife, daughter, and dog.
-
Lenet Neifert is one of my favorite Pocatello people, a wonderful and powerful vocalist who came to Idaho from Los Angeles and has been a frequent collaborator of mine since 2023. -
I’m thrilled to present another episode of my new podcast with Grant Harville. In this episode, we dive deep into the 2014 classic Whiplash, written and directed by Damien Chazelle. -
I’m thrilled to have my student Coulesse Kindle on “Don’t Call it Jazz” to talk about his two recent EPs, “The 3 Step” and “Clarity”, both out on City Creek Records under his artist name, DJ Deka. -
Each year on Don’t Call it Jazz, I produce a Pride show in June, celebrating LGBTQ+ artists as a way of celebrating brilliant artistry while investigating organized and legalized cruelty towards our fellow citizens. 2026 marks my 7th annual Pride show. -
Enjoy this two-part conversation and listening hang with Alexander Noice, an awesome composer, guitarist, improviser, and friend. To talk about his album Perpetually and Forever on Orenda Records. -
Enjoy this two-part conversation and listening hang with Alexander Noice, an awesome composer, guitarist, improviser, and friend. To talk about his album Perpetually and Forever on Orenda Records.
-
I was so happy to invite my good friend, colleague, and collaborator, Eddie Ludema, to the show to discuss his recent album, Modulus, released on Summit Records in late 2025. -
I’m happy to welcome back good friend Grant Harville for another conversation about music and culture. In this episode, Grant takes the lead to discuss Kendrick Lamar winning the Pulitzer Prize for music in 2018 for his album, Damn.
-
For these episodes, I was joined by three commercial music students, Sky Olsen, Max Fedotov, and Brandt Moon, to talk about their trip to Treefort 2026.
-
For these episodes, I was joined by three commercial music students, Sky Olsen, Max Fedotov, and Brandt Moon, to talk about their trip to Treefort 2026.
