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PODCAST

The Jazz Real Book

In this podcast, Jazz History professor, biographer, musician, and popular podcaster Jay Sweet will help guide you through the tunes included in the Jazz Real Book. For decades, this book (often called "The Jazz Bible") has been a resource for jazz musicians looking to learn jazz standards and repertoire. This podcast will discuss essential recordings and details associated with the songs in the Jazz Real Book, the musicians who created the material, and the recordings that inspire jazz musicians

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:20:26

E.S.P. and Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/02/08

“E.S.P.” and Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet (110)Standards Rating 5, Difficulty Rating 7 “E.S.P.” stands as a defining statement of Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, featuring Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. Written by Shorter, the tune captures the group’s concept of “time, no changes,” where pulse remains steady but harmony feels fluid and constantly shifting. Its 16-bar A and A’ sections, filled with syncopation and chord tensions (#11s, 9ths, altered dominants),

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00:55:49

Interview with Few Of A Kind ( Andrew Gutauskas , Ben...

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/02/05

Few Of A Kind is a boundary-blurring chamber ensemble bringing together five fearless musicians from strikingly different musical worlds, united by a shared spirit of curiosity and collaboration. Fronted by acclaimed singer-songwriter Vienna Teng alongside violinist and vocalist Ben Russell, the group blends lyrical storytelling with improvisation and the tonal richness of contemporary classical music. Trumpeter Brandon Ridenour contributes dazzling virtuosity and genre-crossing flair, while

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00:18:55

Equipoise and Stanley Cowell

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/02/01

“Equipoise”and Stanley Cowell (109) Standards Rating 3, Difficulty Rating 7 “Equipoise” is a perfect title for Stanley Cowell’s composition—everything about the piece feels balanced, even while the harmony and rhythm are in constant motion. Set in F♯ minor with a medium, quasi-Latin groove, the tune blends space, syncopation, and subtle tension. Its unusual 28-bar AAB form and shifting root movement—often by half and whole steps—create a floating sense of tonal gravity. Stanley Cowell’s touch as

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01:37:14

Soulive Interview (Alan and Neal Evans)

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/28

Soulive is a genre-blurring powerhouse that sits at the crossroads of funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop, built around the deep musical chemistry of guitarist Eric Krasno, drummer Alan Evans, and organist Neal Evans. Formed in the late 1990s, the band made a bold statement early on by embracing the classic organ-trio format—Hammond B-3, guitar, and drums—while pushing it into thoroughly modern territory. What sets Soulive apart is their ability to be both technically sophisticated and irresistibly

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00:15:43

Equinox and Bassist Steve Davis

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/25

Equinox and Bassist Steve Davis (108) Standards Rating 7, Difficulty Rating 3 “Equinox” is a brooding minor-blues jazz standard composed by John Coltrane, first recorded in 1960 and released on Coltrane’s Sound in 1964. Built on a slow, hypnotic 12-bar minor blues groove, the piece stands out in Coltrane’s oeuvre for its earthy spiritual depth, reflecting his deep connection to the blues tradition more than virtuosic bebop complexity. Its stark, modal theme unfolds over repeated figures that create

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01:01:13

Will Downing Interview

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/21

Will Downing’s career spans more than three decades, a journey built on talent, versatility, and a deep connection to love and relationships. From his Brooklyn roots, he first made waves as a background vocalist, lending his smooth baritone to hits by Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Jennifer Holliday, and others. In 1988, he went solo, finding early success overseas before establishing himself as a fixture on the U.S. R&B charts. Albums like A Dream Fulfilled, After Tonight, and Classique brought

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00:21:04

Epistrophy and Kenny Clarke

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/18

Epistrophy and Kenny Clarke (107)Standards Rating 7, Difficulty 7“Epistrophy” isn’t just a Monk tune—it’s a historical artifact, a blueprint for modern jazz, and a flex by two geniuses who knew exactly what they were doing. Co-written by Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke, the piece feels like organized chaos: jagged melody, looping phrases, and harmonies that never quite settle, which is precisely the point. Monk’s chords grind and shimmer, while the melody keeps circling back on itself like a

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00:38:56

Jordan Williams Interview

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/14

Jordan Williams is a rising American jazz pianist whose playing balances deep tradition with a clear, contemporary voice. Raised in Philadelphia, he began playing piano by ear at a young age, developing strong melodic instincts before entering formal classical and jazz training. By his early teens he was already performing publicly, showing a natural command of swing, harmony, and groove.Williams later studied jazz while remaining active as a performer, earning a reputation for lyrical phrasing,

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00:15:39

El Gaucho and Joe Chambers

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/11

“El Gaucho” and Joe Chambers (106) Standards Rating: 5: Difficulty Rating: 6 “El Gaucho” exemplifies Wayne Shorter’s distinctive compositional voice through its unconventional 18-bar form, Latin-inflected groove, and harmonically ambiguous structure. Rather than relying on standard ii–V progressions, the tune drifts through whole- and half-step root movement, creating a floating tonal center. Shorter heightens expression by sustaining upper extensions—9ths, ♭9ths, and 11ths—over shifting harmonies,

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00:20:38

Eighty One and Ron Carter

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/04

“Eighty-One” and Ron Carter (105) Standards Rating 5: Difficulty Rating : 6“Eighty-One” is a 24-bar tune with a 12-bar A section and a 12-bar bridge, written in F and first recorded on E.S.P. (1965). Though credited in The Real Book to Miles Davis/Ron Carter, the piece is widely regarded as Carter’s, and it reflects his expanding role in the Second Great Quintet. Carter’s concept—shaped by intervallic thinking, pedal points, and harmonic ambiguity—defines the tune’s character. The chart’s

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01:02:01

Sullivan Fortner Interview

The Jazz Real Book ·

2026/01/02

Sullivan Fortner’s 2025 stands as a defining chapter in an already remarkable career. The year brought a Grammy nomination for Southern Nights, a live-in-the-moment trio recording born from a spontaneous Village Vanguard engagement, captured in a single four-hour studio session. Alongside it came high-profile collaborations with Theo Croker, Kurt Elling, and Lauren Henderson, each revealing different facets of Fortner’s musical identity—from free-form duo exploration to intimate vocal-piano

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00:17:12

Ecclusiastics and Charles Mingus

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/28

“Ecclusiastics” and Charles Mingus (104) Standards Rating 2, Difficulty Rating 7 “Ecclusiastics” offers a concentrated portrait of Charles Mingus’s artistic personality: volatile, spiritual, blues-soaked, and uncompromising. Drawing its title from the Jewish wisdom text attributed to Ben Sira, the piece reflects Mingus’s lifelong engagement with moral struggle, Black church traditions, and personal prophecy. Marked at an extremely slow ♩ = 52, the tune demands patience and emotional control,

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00:24:17

Easy To Love and Gene Ammons

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/21

“Easy To Love and Gene Ammons” (103)Standards Rating 7, Difficulty Rating 5 “Easy to Love” is a model of Cole Porter’s understated brilliance: a 32-bar form with a spacious, lyrical melody and harmonies that move fluidly through ii–V progressions and subtle chromatic color. Its clarity and emotional openness have made it a durable jazz standard, adaptable to ballad, swing, or groove-based treatments without losing its essential elegance. On Jug (1961), Gene Ammons reshapes the tune through a relaxed

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01:17:50

John Goldsby Interview

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/18

John Goldsby (b. December 10, 1958) is an American jazz bassist, composer, author, and educator, best known for his long tenure with the Grammy-winning WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany, which he joined in 1994. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of a Baptist minister, he played several instruments before committing to the double bass at age 18. Early professional work with visiting jazz greats led him to New York City in 1980, where he spent 14 years performing and recording with artists

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00:22:27

Easy Living and Paul Desmond

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/14

“Easy Living” & Paul Desmond (102) Standards Rating 7, Difficulty Rating 6“Easy Living” is a model of songwriting elegance: a 32-bar AABA form whose beauty lies in balance—lyricism paired with subtle harmonic motion. The A sections unfold in F with graceful chromatic touches and flowing ii–V movement, while the bridge’s unexpected shift to Db major adds color without disrupting the tune’s calm, unhurried mood. Its melody favors long, singing lines and spacious phrasing, making it ideal for

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01:00:09

Mauricio Morales and Adam Hersch Interview

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/10

Mauricio Morales & Adam Hersh Between Dreams & Twilight, released November 14, 2025, is a modern-jazz collaboration between bassist-composer Mauricio Morales and pianist-composer Adam Hersh. The album features nine pieces—blending intricate composition with cinematic atmosphere. Their writing moves between dreamy lyricism, modernism, craftsmanship, rhythmic inventiveness and layered textures. The project is supported by a standout ensemble that brings depth and color to every track

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00:18:14

Easter Parade and Roy Eldridge

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/07

“Easter Parade”- Roy Eldridge (102)Standards Rating 5 Difficulty Rating 5 Irving Berlin’s “Easter Parade,” first drafted in 1917 and introduced in As Thousands Cheer (1933), remains one of the most graceful standards of the American songbook. Its balanced 32-bar AABA design, gentle chromatic inflections, and elegant melodic lift evoke the optimism of springtime in New York, making it a natural vehicle for improvisers who appreciate Berlin’s clean, song-focused craft.Roy Eldridge’s 1944 Decca

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01:13:14

Alan Broadbent Interview

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/12/03

Alan Broadbent has built a remarkable career as a pianist, composer, arranger, and educator, blending deep jazz tradition with classical sophistication. Now in his late seventies, he continues to perform and compose with undiminished vitality, including appearances at the Deer Head Inn 12/12 alongside longtime collaborators Harvie S. and Billy Mintz. Broadbent’s newest album, Threads of Time (Savant Records), features original compositions spanning five decades, scored for a sextet he had long

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00:21:20

Always and Irving Berlin

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/11/30

“Always” — Irving Berlin (101)Standards Rating 5 Difficulty Rating 4 “Always” stands as Irving Berlin’s most intimate composition, a love song written not for the public but for one woman—his wife, Ellin Mackay. While Berlin built a career on anthems, showstoppers, and holiday standards, this song reveals his quiet emotional core. There is no theatrical flourish here, no novelty or comedy—only devotion stated with rare simplicity. The lyric unfolds like a spoken promise rather than a performance,

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00:49:48

Steve Smith Interview (Vital Information and Journey)...

The Jazz Real Book ·

2025/11/26

Steve Smith Interview (Part 2 ) Steve Smith has long stood as one of the most technically accomplished and musically versatile drummers of his generation. Known globally for his work with Journey, Vital Information, and an array of jazz legends, Smith combines precision, historic knowledge, and a deep respect for the lineage of drumming. His approach marries power with nuance, always serving the music while expanding its rhythmic possibilities. Beyond performance, Smith has become an influential

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125 results

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