Alyn Shipton is an award-winning author, musician and broadcaster, who wrote on jazz for over twenty years for The Times in London, and is a presenter/producer of jazz programmes for BBC Radio. He was Consultant Editor of the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, and has a lifelong interest in oral history, including editing the memoirs of Danny Barker, Doc Cheatham, George Shearing and Chris Barber. His first biography, the life of Fats Waller, published in 1988, has scarcely been out of print since. T...
May 05, 2022•41 min
In the summer of 2015, a grueling and often bewildering four-year battle with a rare cancer had the acclaimed pianist-composer Michael Wolff on the ropes. He’d fallen into a coma at a New York hospital, and the prognosis had moved from doubtful to defeated. His sons Nat and Alex, in the midst of their ascent as two of the most talented actors of their generation, had returned home to be with their father and try to comfort him. They played guitars and sang at his bedside, tapping into the sweet,...
Apr 25, 2022•49 min
Japanese trumpeter and composer NATSUKI TAMURA is internationally recognized for a unique musical vocabulary that blends extended techniques with jazz lyricism. This unpredictable virtuoso’s seemingly limitless creativity led François Couture in All Music Guide to declare that “… we can officially say there are two Natsuki Tamuras: The one playing angular jazz-rock or ferocious free improv… and the one writing simple melodies of stunning beauty… How the two of them live in the same body and brea...
Apr 18, 2022•30 min
John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B. John has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over 30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Charlie Ha...
Apr 11, 2022•38 min
Born in Vancouver and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1989, she went on to record three highly acclaimed CDs for the ENJA record label, soon becoming one of the most in-demand trumpet players on the global jazz scene. Support the show
Apr 04, 2022•51 min
Iconic British jazz vocalist Norma Winstone joins the show to chat about her life, career, albums, heels and wine. Norma Winstone was born in London and first attracted attention in the late sixties when she shared the bill at Ronnie Scott’s club with Roland Kirk. Although she was known initially for evolving her own wordless approach to improvisation, her extraordinary versatility means she is equally at home with the standards repertoire, performing with small groups, orchestras and big bands....
Mar 28, 2022•49 min
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana joins the Blue Note Records family with the release of 12 Stars, her debut album as a leader for the legendary Jazz label. At 33, the Brooklyn-based tenor player from Santiago, Chile has garnered international recognition for her visionary work as a band leader, as well as her deeply meditative interpretation of language and vocabulary. Today Melissa joins us for a chat about her upcoming visit to the UK, interviewed by award winning Briti...
Mar 21, 2022•33 min
Today we welcome the wonderful bassist Mark Wade on the show, previewing his newly released album, True Stories. Based in New York, Wade has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, The Iridium and Birdland. He is a former artist in residence at Flushing Town Hall and tours in North America and Europe. He has played with jazz notables James Spaulding, Eddie Palmieri, Conrad Herwig, Harry Whitaker, Stacey Kent, Peter Eldridge, Don Byron and Jimmy Heath, and is a member of the Pete McGu...
Mar 17, 2022•36 min
Bob Mintzer is a saxophonist/arranger/educator who resides in Los Angeles. He is currently holds the Barbara and Buzz McCoy endowed chair at the USC Thornton School of Music. Bob is a 30 year member as saxophonist with the Yellowjackets. He is also the chief conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne Germany. Bob has written over 500 big band arrangements, several jazz study books, orchestral and chamber works. He has played on over 1000 recordings and has performed with Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, T...
Mar 12, 2022•45 min
WALTER THEODORE ROLLINS was born on September 7, 1930 in New York City. He grew up in Harlem not far from the Savoy Ballroom, the Apollo Theatre, and the doorstep of his idol, Coleman Hawkins. After early discovery of Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, he started out on alto saxophone, inspired by Louis Jordan. At the age of sixteen, he switched to tenor, trying to emulate Hawkins. He also fell under the spell of the musical revolution that surrounded him, bebop. In late 2020, the saxophonist rele...
Mar 05, 2022•48 min
New York City-based bassist Mark Lewandowski originally hails from Nottingham, England. His interest in the bass took him to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Whilst studying at the school Mark was rapidly producing a strong name for himself on the London scene; playing regularly at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club by only his second year in the capital. He was also awarded the Yamaha Jazz award, and is now continuing his studies in New York City as part of the...
Feb 24, 2022•56 min
Luca Manning is an artist who questions rigidity. Shaped initially by the buzzing Glasgow music and arts scene, Luca now finds their heart stolen by all that East London has to offer. In their words, Luca’s music could be described as : ‘An ethereal art-pop adventure peeking down alleyways of Improvisation, storytelling and Spoken Word.’ Luca’s most recent work : ’noises with friends e.p’, is perhaps their most honest and adventurous to date. It is a self proclaimed antithesis to the performativ...
Feb 09, 2022•55 min
“The best new thing that has happened in European jazz for a long time” (Le Monde), Emile Parisien has formed a top-flight American-European sextet for this album, his seventh as leader or co-leader on ACT. The band will be touring in 2022, the year which also marks the tenth anniversary of Parisien’s first appearance on an ACT album. The saxophonist developed his strong sense of direction in music remarkably early: he was 10 years old when the news reached his family in Cahors that a new music ...
Dec 17, 2021•55 min
Malik Al Nasir is an author, performance poet and filmmaker from Liverpool. He has produced and appeared in several documentaries with artists such as Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, Benjamin Zephaniah and Public Enemy, as well as footballer Mark Walters and many other luminaries. Malik started tracing his roots back through slavery over 15 years ago and his pioneering research has been recognised by Sir Hilary Beckles (Chair CARICOM Commission for slavery reparations), historian David Olusoga,...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Tara & Rob speak to soul singing/ pianist and composer Natalie Duncan. She has been compared to legendary and multifaceted global artists such as Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Her career has spanned many years performing her own music, including featuring in London Jazz Festival’s Jazz Voice Opener, Later with Jools Holland and vocalist for Drum and Bass legend, Goldie. Support the show
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Sarah Moule's 5th album, Stormy Emotions, explores the themes of Time and Love in an uplifting collection of songs written by her husband Simon Wallace and the late great jazz lyricist Fran Landesman. In the eighteen years spent working with Simon and Fran, Sarah developed a uniquely close relationship to their material. Born in New York in 1927, Landesman's lyrics have been sung by great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Barbra Streisand and with this collection, including te...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr
Award winning saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson is a Leeds based musician and the bandleader of Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat. Emma’s music has been played on BBC Radio 3 and her writing has been described as ‘a relaxed, melodic and distinctive style of contemporary jazz’. Today she's our guest on a wonderful show recorded at House of Koko in Leeds. Support the show
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Rick is based in London playing a wide variety of music, and leads his own group playing original jazz music. Rick is a regular performer at Ronnie Scotts, the 606 Jazz Club, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Vortex, The Bull’s Head, and he has appeared at larger UK venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room. In 2008 Rick won a Yamaha Scholarship Prize for Outstanding Jazz Musicians. A recording of Rick’s band was put on the front cover of Jazzwise Magazine . Since graduating from ...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Best known as an outstanding scat singer, Anita is also a skilled writer and performer of vocalese, and a sensitive interpreter of standards and jazz originals. She’s collected several awards, including a recent prize for Best Jazz Vocalist from the British Jazz Awards, and her artistry has inspired accolades from fellow singers like Mark Murphy, Roseanna Vitro and Kate McGarry. Yet, up until now, Wardell’s albums have only been available as high-priced imports, and she has made limited trips to...
May 14, 2021•57 min
Singer, songwriter, cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson joins the show today. She is a rare exception to the rule that classical and alternative r&b music cannot successfully coexist. Support the show
Apr 15, 2021•1 hr 10 min
On the show today we welcome award-winning Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis. Tim created a brand new style that embraces classical, gypsy jazz and folk. Hailed as a ‘current-day improvising Paganini’, his inclusive approach to music has united audiences and is influencing a new generation of string players. The Jazz Podcast is sponsored by Presto Music. http://www.prestomusic.com/jazz Support the show
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Linn recording artist Claire Martin has to worldwide critical acclaim established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene gaining many awards, including winning the British Jazz Awards eight times during her career which spans over three decades. In 2018 she was the proud recipient of the BASCA Gold Badge Award for her contribution to jazz. We talk to Claire about her music, life, career, new projects and plans as well as her time at BBC Radio 3 and the many amazing guests she's intervie...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 7 min
We get together for a round the table discussion on anything and everything, particularly bread..! Loz joins us, our very first guest guest 4 years ago, how the time flies! http://lozgarratt.com/ Support the show
Feb 25, 2021•55 min
Tommaso joins the show to chat about his life and music. Creative, inspiring and intriguing, Tommaso is a joy to listen to. Rob and Dan discuss the upcoming shows and Tara takes the lead with Tommaso. Tommaso has performed and collaborated with many great musicians including Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Cobham, Jim Mullen, Liam Noble, Jonathan Gee, Roger Beaujolais, Paolo Pellegatti, Attilio Zanchi, Fabrizio Bosso, Tino Tracanna, Paolo Fresu, Gianni Giudici and Academy Award Winning compos...
Feb 05, 2021•58 min
Danny joins the show to talk about his band Marbin and their new album, Russian dolls. Tara Minton joins us as a brand new co-host. Support the show
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Sammy joins the show to share her career in writing with us . She has covered live gigs for the BBC, co-hosted radio shows, run a festival and have lots of on-going projects including writing for the Library of Congress. Here you can find out what's happening with her new book, Gender Disparity in UK Jazz, due for release this November 2020. Support the show
Oct 30, 2020•1 hr 13 min
Graham South is a trumpeter and composer based in Manchester, UK. Since the mid-2000s he has been involved in a vast array of creative music-making. Whether as a founding and surviving member of Beats and Pieces Big Band , a composer/performer in the Vonnegut Collective or at the core of the Johnny Hunter Quartet, his contributions have become a mainstay of the scene in Manchester and beyond. Today, Graham joins the show to tell us about his new album, By and by, its his debut album for the Grah...
Oct 16, 2020•59 min
We celebrate the release of John's new album by checking out a few of the tracks as well as chatting to the man himself. Dan is offered the chance to retrain as a coroner. Support the show
Oct 09, 2020•54 min
Gary Crosby joins the show to tell us all about his life, career, and being a key figure in the history of Tomorrow's Warriors. What an honour it is to talk to the man himself! Support the show
Sep 09, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Claire joins the show to tell us about her debut album, Small World, her debut album is out now. Dan moves house and we suspect he's now replastering a wall. Support the show
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 1 min
