PODCAST

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show

Jeffrey Siegel

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

music performing arts

All Episodes

48:39

Podcast 784: A Conversation with the Doxas Brothers

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/26

Jazz history is replete with brothers who played and recorded with one another over their careers. I can quickly think of the Montgomery Brothers (Wes and Monk), the Heath Brothers (Jimmy, Tootie and Percy), Randy and Michael Brecker, Nat and Cannonball Adderley, and Winard and Philip Harper. So many others only played or recorded together from time to time – think the many Marsalis Brothers or Elvin, Thad and Hank Jones. On The Circle (from the celebrated Canadian jazz label Justin Time), Canadian

The Official Straight No Chaser Song of Christmas...

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/25

Merry Christmas to you all. I am a practicing Jew who does not celebrate Christmas as the birth of the messiah. However, I can appreciate the universal themes of peace, love and understanding that are prevalent this time of year, and so the Official Straight No Chaser song of Christmas Day is "Peace" written by Horace Silver,. Here is a wonderful duet version of the song, as performed by the François Moutin (bass) & Kavita Shah (Vocals) Duo from their Interplay album. Considered one of the finest

The Official Straight No Chaser Song of Christmas Eve

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/24

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

Repost: The Jazzbo Night Before Christmas

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/23

For years I've been sharing this with you. Originally published in Mad Magazine #52 Jan 1960. It never gets old. ‘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,

39:11

Podcast 785: A Few of My Favorite Things 2020

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/20

As I do every year, this Podcast is "A Few of My Favorite Things" from 2020. It is not intended on being a Top Ten list - I do that for the Jazz Journalist Association - but rather a grouping of recordings that got repeat play in my house, making me take notice among the many recordings I receive. While 2020 seemed to be a cursed year for many reasons, there was much to be optimistic about in jazz recordings that came across my desk during the past twelve months. And while the economic fallout from

Repost: If Billie Holiday sang "Away in a Manger":...

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/14

A Christmas tradition in our house is listening to David Sedaris read his hilarious essay, “Santaland Diaries.” An abbreviated version of his some-what exaggerated memories of working as a Christmas Elf in Macy’s Department Store in New York first was heard on NPR’s Morning Edition in 1992. Since then it has grown to be a long-form essay in his collection Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice. I’ve seen Joe Mantello’s stage adaption for one actor a few times. For me, Sedaris’ humor is always dead on,

01:01:05

Podcast 783: A Six-String Christmas

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/12

Every year I post an hour plus of Christmas jazz to enjoy as you go about your merry business during the holiday season. While 2020 will be a little different due to the pandemic, there are still stockings to hang, trees to trim, and egg nog to consume (maybe a little more than usual). This year, the theme is Christmas music played on the guitar, "A Six String Christmas." I've got performances old and new, so check it out and enjoy: Charlie Hunter - "Christmas Time is Here" Pat Martino - "Santa

Happy Hanukkah!

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/10

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, so please check out a previous podcast, entitled "Jazz for Spinning the Dreidel" and enjoy a jazzy soundtrack for this year’s festivities, including tunes of the season by: Don Byron – “Dreidl Song” Event Horizon Jazz – “Maoz Tzur” Kenny Ellis – “Sevivon, Sov, Sov Sov” The Klezmatics – “Do the Latke Flip-Flip” Ben Sidran – “I Have a Little Dreidle” Jon Simon – “Oh Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah” Dave Koz – “Eight Candles (A Song for Hanukkah)” The Klezmer Conservatory

43:38

Podcast 781: Celebrating Christmas with the 3D Jazz Trio

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/10

When your band’s motto is “Fiercely swinging on purpose, with purpose,” you’ve probably got something special to share with the jazz world. That’s definitely the case with the 3D Jazz Trio, who has released perhaps the finest album of new Christmas jazz this year, Christmas in 3D. Formerly known as 3Divas, based on their common membership in the famous DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the trio gives us their take on all things Christmas here – religious and secular, old and new, as well as the delightfully

59:42

Podcast 780: Dave Brubeck @ 100

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/06

Miles Davis once famously challenged Dave Brubeck, "Your band don't swing, but you do." I'm not sure that's quite true, but as we look back on the life of Dave Brubeck, born this December 6th 100 years ago today, it is something to consider. Of the important jazz musicians who came out of the 1950's, Dave Brubeck wrote and played the piano, making music that personified "Cool Jazz," the laidback sound the blew in from California with the likes of Chet Baker, Brubeck, and Gerry Mulligan. It was

56:09

Podcast 782: New Music for Christmas

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/04

Looking to pick up some new jazz music for the Christmas season. Well, be sure to check this sampler of some of the best choices for new Christmas music this season. There's so much to choose from, with new albums from Warren Wolf and Brian Bromberg on Mack Avenue Records (What? No "Christmas on Mack Avenue" this year?); a compilation of Peggy Lee's classic Christmas music; and vocal albums from Nils Landgren, Amber Weekes, and Jamie Cullum. Add to it a pair of one-offs from Norah Jones and Laila

44:07

Podcast 779: A Conversation with Billy Childs

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/12/01

There have been two hallmarks—standards, if you will—that have been a part of every Billy Childs album. The first is the journey he’s traveled as a composer. He has always written music and to great acclaim: he has received five Grammy Awards and 16 nominations, many for composition and arrangement. Presently in continual demand for symphonic and chamber commissions, he has also innovated a collection of compositions for jazz instrumentation and strings that is unique in the American music lexicon:

Repost: Podcast 714: Songs for Stuffy Turkey

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show ·

2020/11/26

I posted this in 2019, but its even more relevant in this pandemic world of 2020: For past Thanksgivings, I've just posted two songs that set the mood 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