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Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show

Jeffrey Siegel

The Award-winning jazz podcast, hosted by Jeffrey Siegel.

music performing arts

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27:12

Podcast 877: A Conversation with Javon Jackson

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2022/02/08

Javon Jackson turns to one of the finest poets in America for inspiration on his latest release, The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni, on his Solid Jackson label. Jackson, in addition to leading his own group, is a faculty member of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford and director of its Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. It was in that capacity that he invited Giovanni, one of the world's most well-known African-American poets, once called “The Poet of the Black Revolution,” to speak

25:31

Podcast 876: A Conversation with Bob James

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2022/02/06

Keyboardist Bob James is so deeply associated with electric music from the 1970’s and the all-star band Fourplay that it’s easy to forget his roots lie in the acoustic piano trio. From his days working with Sarah Vaughan and then with a series of solid trios (check out The Lost 1965 New York Studio Sessions for proof), James has always had the chops to play in that demanding format. His latest trio, with bassist Michael Palazzolo and long-time drummer Billy Kilson, recorded a “live in the studio"

34:30

Podcast 875: A Conversation with Steve Slagle

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2022/01/30

When I spoke with saxophonist Steve Slagle last summer, he had a number of projects ready to go. One of those, his first album of all ballads, Ballads: Into The Heart Of It, will be released in February on Panorama Records. The album features pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, drummer Jason Tiemann and Richard Sussman, who provides synth orchestrations and drum programming to great effect on three selections. Add to that lineup special guest Randy Brecker on trumpet, and you just know this

36:50

Podcast 874: A Conversation with Pete Malinverni

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2022/01/10

Having spent four decades on the New York City jazz scene, pianist Pete Malinverni has crossed paths with countless revered artists and come away with a host of tales to tell. But few moments measure up to the time that Malinverni met the iconic composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein. The seeds planted in that meeting decades ago come to fruition on Malinverni’s new album, On the Town – Pete Malinverni Plays Leonard Bernstein. This top-notch trio recording reimagines nine Bernstein favorites, along

24:54

Podcast 873: A Conversation with Fred Hersch

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2022/01/05

Once he got over the funk that so many of us experienced during the COVID-19 shutdown of early 2020, Fred Hersch was musically active, streaming live from his home and playing music that made people smile and tap their toes. He began playing live again this summer, and now has a new recording of original material, Breath By Breath, the first time he has written for a jazz piano trio and string quartet. Breath By Breath contains an eight-movement suite, entitled “Sati Suite.” The piece draws

The Official Straight No Chaser Song of New Year's Eve

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/31

To all who are traveling on an evening that often becomes "amateur night" take extra care and pick that designated driver! A perennial favorite song for New Year's Eve, and the Offical SNC Song of the evening is Frank Loesser's classic, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Written in 1947, when Loesser was already an accomplished songwriter, having co-written hits like "Two Sleepy People" and "Spring Will Be a Little Late this Year". However, his greatest work was just before him - in 1948 he was

30:11

Podcast 872: A Conversation with Kelly Peterson

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/26

In a time when archival releases are becoming almost commonplace, it’s worth taking an extra moment to focus on A Time for Love: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Helsinki, 1987 from Two Lions/Mack Avenue Records. The final gig of a long international tour that began with 4 concerts in Brazil, this date was the 14th of a European tour that took the quartet all over mainland Europe and Scandinavia. With a remarkable quartet of Joe Pass on guitar and the bass/drums tandem of Dave Young and Martin

The Official Straight No Chaser Song of Christmas Eve

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/24

It's December 24, which means that once again it's time to break out the Official Straight No Chaser Song of Christmas Eve. It's not really a song, actually, but Louis Armstrong reciting "Twas the Night Before Christmas", in his inimitable raspy voice. Recorded on February 26, 1971 at his home in Queens, New York, this ended up being the final recording Armstrong made, before succumbing to a fatal heart attack on July 6th. The poem, written by Clement Moore, is technically titled "An Account of a

The Jazzbo Night Before Christmas

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/22

From Mad Magazine, circa 1960 - still gets a giggle sixty years later: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad, Not a hipster was swinging, not even old Dad; The chimney was hung in the stocking routine, In hopes that “The Fat Man” would soon make the scene; The moon and the snow were, like, faking together, Which made the scene rock in the Day People weather, When, what to these peepers should come on real queer, But a real crazy sleigh, and eight swinging reindeer, As

If Billie Holiday Recorded a Christmas Album....

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/20

It's not the Christmas season until my wife Nancy and I hear "The Santaland Diaries," David Sedaris' always hilarious account of his time as a costumed Elf named Crumpet at Macy's flagship department store in New York. Classic. One of my favorite parts of the story comes when Crumpet, asked to sing a Christmas carol by the store Santa, decides to sing "Away in a Manger" as if he was Billie Holiday. Click here, since you have to hear it to believe it.

01:15:30

Podcast 871: Noted in Passing 2021

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/19

We continue to lose talented jazz masters at an alarming rate. All of the musicians featured in this podcast will be terribly missed. Take some time to listen to "Noted in Passing 2021" featuring the music of some of my favorite musicians who are now gone, but never forgotten so long as we can hear their music: Barry Harris - " Uno Dos Tres" Chick Corea (with the Akoustic Band) - "Humpty Dumpty" Chris Barber (with Eddie Durham + Jazz & Blues Band) - "Jack Teagarden Blues" Curtis Fuller - "Be-Back

33:24

Podcast 870: A Few of My Favorite Things 2021

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/16

As I do every year, this Podcast is "A Few of My Favorite Things" from 2021. It is not intended on being a Top Ten list - I do that for the Jazz Journalist Association, where I posted a list of 14 - but rather a grouping of recordings that got repeat play in my house, making me take notice among the many recordings I receive. While 2021 got off to a very rocky start here in the USA, there was much to be optimistic about in jazz recordings that came across my desk during the past twelve months

25:01

Podcast 869: A Conversation with Paul Winter

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/11

Every December since 1980, Paul Winter and his colleagues have celebrated the Winter Solstice at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine with a feast of music from cultures around the world. Over these past 40 years, Paul Winter’s Solstice Celebration has become New York’s favorite holiday alternative to the Nutcracker and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, as well as becoming a “can’t miss” for lovers of Jazz and New Age music. This December, with their beloved cathedral closed for

58:01

Podcast 868: Nuthin' But Christmas Jazz 2021

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/06

Perhaps you are decorating your house for the holidays. Or wrapping gifts. Hanging with family and friends. Enjoying some seasonal food or libations. Have I got a musical soundtrack for you! Yes, it's the return of Straight No Chaser's "Nuthin' But Christmas Jazz" podcast, an hour of curated Christmas music for your enjoyment. This year's podcast features: Stan Kenton - "The Twelve Days of Christmas" Kat Edmonson - "Happy Holiday" Duke Pearson - "Go Tell It On a Mountain" 3D Jazz Trio - "I Wonder

30:48

Podcast 867: A Conversation with Jeff Hamilton

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/03

Sometimes a Christmas jazz album is more than just a holiday treat. That’s the way I heard Merry and Bright, the latest release from drummer Jeff Hamilton and his trio, bassist Jon Hamar and pianist Tamir Hendelman (Capri Records). Sure the classic tunes of the holiday are there, and there are a few more obscure tunes as well. But once the trio gets things going, the result is simply a solid, swinging performance by a top piano trio. The music on Merry and Bright transcends the Christmas music

30:02

Podcast 866: A Conversation with Kirk Whalum

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/12/01

One of the joys of listening to the music of saxophonist Kirk Whalum is diving deeper into the songs he selects and the way he performs them. I point to his series of The Gospel According to Jazz albums, where he interprets and refracts music from the church and gospel tradition through his jazz prism. If you’ve not heard them, stop now and give a listen. So it was with great anticipation that I listened to Kirk’s second holiday-themed release, How Does Christmas Sound? I was not disappointed, since

23:00

Podcast 865: A Conversation with June Bisantz

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/11/28

Straight No Chaser is always on the prowl for new and exciting jazz releases for the Christmas holiday season. This year has a number of wonderful releases, and we’ll be featuring several of the more exciting ones over the next week or so. One of those releases is an EP by singer June Bisantz on the Arabesque label, a collection of unusual, upbeat holiday/winter songs written by Arnold Miller and Connie Pearce for June Christy in 1961. The EP combines a cool-jazz vibe with soulful introspection

Repost: Jazz for Spinning the Dreidel

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/11/28

The story of Hanukkah is one of revolution and miracles: Greek influence over the Jews in the Land of Israel was getting out of hand. Hellenism was spreading, an affront to Jewish culture and religious practice. When the Greek ruler of the time, Antiochus, forbade Jewish religious practice, a small group of Jews, the Maccabees, revolted. The Maccabees were successful and, as a first order of business, restored the desecrated Holy Temple. The menorah in the Temple needed to be lit. Traditionally,

58:59

Podcast 864: New Christmas Jazz 2021

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/11/26

Every year right after the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, I post a podcast that serves as sort of a consumer guide to new jazz releases featuring Christmas music. I mean, really - how is the jazz fan to know what is fresh and new out there to listen to as they do there shopping, decorating and general making merry? Here are thirteen tracks from new release, ranging from artists well known to the general public (Norah Jones) to those well known to jazz cognescente (Robert Irving III, Jeff

Repost: Songs for Stuffy Turkey

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2021/11/24

Prior to 2019, I had just posted two songs that set the mood for Thanksgiving for me - George Benson's "Giblet Gravy" on the night before, to help out those cooking a festive meal, and Diana Krall's version of "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)". The latter, an Irving Berlin masterpiece, is often played for Christmas, but to me it sums up all that the day should be about - sharing with others as we realize the many gifts we are given each day and year. This year, I put those two tunes in an

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