In this concluding episode of the Joys of Jazz series, Bob shares several personal stories about such things as his first hearing and falling in … Continue reading "“45 Revelations Per Minute” & other series" The post “45 Revelations Per Minute” & other series appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

In this episode, the remarkable jazz violinist talks about her Detroit roots, her important mentors and her special love for playing ballads. In conversation with … Continue reading "REGINA CARTER, Versatile Virtuoso" The post REGINA CARTER, Versatile Virtuoso appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

As we all make our make through the coronavirus era, the traditional blues, “St. James Infirmary,” seems more apt than ever. A simple yet profound … Continue reading "St. James Infirmary Blues" The post St. James Infirmary Blues appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Theodore “Fats” Navarro is considered by many to be the greatest of the bebop trumpeters, famous for his full sound, inventive ideas and remarkable execution. … Continue reading "The Fabulous FATS NAVARRO" The post The Fabulous FATS NAVARRO appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

The legendary cornet player Bix Beiderbecke is often considered to be the first great white jazz musician. But what is his legacy beyond that? And … Continue reading "Why BIX Matters" The post Why BIX Matters appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

In 1959, Bill Evans and Miles Davis collaborated on the famed Kind of Blue album. Scholars have shown that Evans was responsible for composing some … Continue reading "Blue in Green" The post Blue in Green appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Improvisation is at the heart of jazz, and throughout its history there have been many great improvisers, but perhaps none has been truer to the … Continue reading "Lee Konitz, Improviser" The post Lee Konitz, Improviser appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Recognized as one of the foremost contemporary jazz trumpeters, Terell Stafford’s path has been marked by many twists, turns, ups and downs. At various times … Continue reading "Terell Stafford’s Circuitous Path to Jazz Stardom" The post Terell Stafford’s Circuitous Path to Jazz Stardom appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

In this episode Bob talks with the remarkable young singing sensation Veronica Swift, about her parents’ influence and legacy (she is the daughter of bebop pianist Hod O’Brien and the vocalist Stephanie Nakasian) and about her new Mack Avenue Records album, “Confessions.” Playlist “Silver’s Serenade” Hod O’Brien“Something I Dreamed Last Night” Veronica Swift & Benny Green“I’m Hip” Veronica Swift“Pennies from Heaven” Veronica Swift“For Regulars Only” Veronica Swift with Benny Green“September in the Rain” Veronica Swift with the Birdland Big Band“September in the Rain” Lester Young“Yes, I’m in the Barrel” Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five“‘Round Midnight” Hod O’Brien and Barry Harris“Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor” Bach, Leonard Bernstein“I’m in the Mood for Love” Stephanie Nakasian & Hod O’Brien“A Little Taste” Veronica Swift“No Not Much” Veronica Swift“You’re Gonna Hear from Me” Veronica Swift“A Stranger in Town” Veronica Swift“I Don’t Wanna Cry Anymore” Veronica Swift“Naturally” Veronica Swift with Benny Green“No Regrets” Veronica Swift The post Veronica Swift—”Preserving the Legacy” appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Stan Getz once commented on the genius of pianist Jimmy Rowles, describing him as “the best-kept secret to the public at large since the Mona Lisa’s smile!” This understated piano giant was revered by other jazz musicians and sought after by the greatest jazz singers as an accompanist, and yet he never achieved wide-spread fame. So in this episode we are going to pay tribute to this master, “one of the true giants,” as our guest Mike Wofford observes. Playlist “That’s All” Jimmy Rowles & Ray Brown“Evenin'” Jimmy Rowles“What Is This Thing Called Love” Jimmy Rowles with Ben Webster“It Might As Well Be Spring” Jimmy Rowles with Red Mitchell“Cole Porter” Mike Wofford Trio“Puttin’ on the Ritz” Jimmy Rowles with Benny Goodman“Rosalie” Jimmy Rowles“Godchild” Jimmy Rowles“Wave” Jimmy Rowles with Ella Fitzgerald“Stars Fell on Alabama” Jimmy Rowles with Billie Holiday“That Sunday, That Summer” Jimmy Rowles with Sarah Vaughan“Day By Day” Jimmy Rowles with Carmen McRae“I’ll Never Be the Same” Jimmy Rowles with Stan Getz“A Sleepin’ Bee” Jimmy Rowles with Ray Brown“The Ballad of Thelonious Monk” Jimmy Rowles with Carmen McRae“Looking at You” Jimmy Rowles“The Peacocks” Jimmy Rowles with Stan Getz“Drinkin & Drivin'” Shelly Manne with Mike Wofford The post Rowles Rules: The Subtle Art of Jimmy Rowles, with Guest Mike Wofford appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

For over 40 years, alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges was the primary solo voice of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. 2019 brought the first ever biography of this timeless jazz giant: “Rabbit’s Blues: The Life & Music of Johnny Hodges” by author Con Chapman, published by Oxford University Press. For this episode we talked with the author of this important biography. Playlist “Jeep’s Blues” Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington“Smada” Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington“In a Sentimental Mood” Johnny Hodges with Lawrence Welk“The Intimacy of the Blues” Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington“Wishing & Waiting” Johnny Hodges“Bechet’s Fantasy” Sidney Bechet“The Blues with a Feelin'” Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” Johnny Hodges“Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” Johnny Hodges“Passion Flower” Johnny Hodges“Funky Blues” Johnny Hodges & Charlie Parker“On the Sunny Side of the Street” Johnny Hodges“Blood Count” Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington“Warm Valley” Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington The post Rabbit’s Blues: The Story of Johnny Hodges appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

There is no question about it… Milt Jackson revolutionized the way the vibraphone was played in jazz, and continues, twenty years after his death to be considered the modern master of the instrument, influencing everyone who has followed. As writer Don Heckman wrote in Jackson’s obituary in 1999, “Jackson gave language and voice to the vibraphone–a totally touch-dependent assemblage of metal bars and tubes. Without him, the instrument would have remained a jazz stepchild with no capacity for the sort of bent tones and contrasting timbres essential to jazz expressiveness.” So In this episode we take a look at this giant of the jazz vibes… Playlist “Bags’ Groove” Barry Harris“Bags’ Groove” Modern Jazz Quartet“Moonglow” Benny Goodman Quartet“Misterioso” Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk“Yesterdays” Modern Jazz Quartet“Trav’lin” Modern Jazz Quartet“Skating in Central Park” Modern Jazz Quartet“Bags’ Groove” Modern Jazz Quartet“‘Round Midnight” Milt Jackson“Bags’ Groove” Bobby Hutcherson“Bags’ Groove” Bobby Hutcherson and Milt Jackson The post Milt Jackson—Bags’ Groove appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

In this episode Bob Hecht and former Poet Laureate Billy Collins continue their conversation about jazz and poetry, and Billy reads poems about Art Blakey, … Continue reading "Poet Billy Collins on Jazz & Poetry—part 2" The post Poet Billy Collins on Jazz & Poetry—part 2 appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Billy Collins is a modern poetry phenomenon. The former U.S., and New York State, Poet Laureate, Collins is one of the most-read poets anywhere—and also … Continue reading "Poet Billy Collins on Jazz & Poetry—part 1" The post Poet Billy Collins on Jazz & Poetry—part 1 appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

There was only one Jaki Byard—he was a jazz pianist without peer. No one else combined elements from so many different genres of jazz piano … Continue reading "The Many Worlds of Jaki Byard" The post The Many Worlds of Jaki Byard appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Sean Jones is recognized as one of today’s top trumpeters, and in this conversation with Bob Hecht he talks about his formative roots in Ohio, … Continue reading "The Sean Jones Interview" The post The Sean Jones Interview appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Zoot Sims was one of the hardest-swinging jazz musicians, who had his own immediately identifiable sound… and that sound was one of the warmest and … Continue reading "Zoot Sims: Warm Tenor" The post Zoot Sims: Warm Tenor appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Lester Young is recognized as one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists, and one of the all-around giants of jazz. But in this episode we … Continue reading "Genius on a Cheap Clarinet" The post Genius on a Cheap Clarinet appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

Featuring an interview with jazz trumpeter Charlie Porter, this episode explores the living legacy of trumpet great Clifford Brown. Though gone for over sixty years, … Continue reading "Clifford Brown LIVES!" The post Clifford Brown LIVES! appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.

It’s rare to be able to hear about the Harlem Stride greats from someone who knew several of them personally, but that’s exactly what Stride … Continue reading "More Harlem Stride!" The post More Harlem Stride! appeared first on The Joys of Jazz.