Jazz Profiles presented by Tim Owens & 32 Bar Blues

John Haley “Zoot” Sims was a saxophonist’s saxophonist, a musician everybody wanted to work with because he made everything he played sound better. Largely self-taught, he was renowned for his rhythmic drive, lyrical warmth, and effortless swing – jumping from the “Four Brothers” section of Woody Herman’s big band to later become a standout soloist in the cool jazz and West Coast jazz scenes. He once said of his own work, “What interests me is music that sounds and feels good. If it doesn’t w...

From the late 1940s through the early 21st century, James Moody was an institution in jazz – whether on tenor sax, flute, occasional alto, or yodeling his way through his “Moody’s Mood for Love.” Ebullient and ever-smiling, he defied the stereotype of the modern jazz musician as austere and humorless – often telling jokes on stage and peppering his repertory with numbers like “Beer Barrel Polka” and the theme from “The Flintstones.” He played with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk...

Toshiko Akiyoshi changed the face of jazz music over her six-decade career. As one of few women and Asian musicians in the jazz world, Akiyoshi infused Japanese culture, sounds, and instruments into her music. A pianist, bandleader, and composer-arranger with 14 Grammy nominations, Akiyoshi cemented her place as one of the most important jazz musicians of the 20th century. The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the Univers...

McCoy Tyner’s piano style – complete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand – transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. Along with Bill Evans, Tyner has been the most influential pianist in jazz of the past half-century, and his rich chord clusters continue to be imitated by many young jazz pianists. The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at t...

Peggy Lee was the essence of cool in the world of hot jazz, the small-town blonde who could sing blues, bebop, swing and rock. She learned her craft singing in smoky clubs, and traveling on trains with big bands in the wee hours of the night. Jazz royalty called her one of their own. “If I’m the duke, man, Peggy Lee is the queen,” decreed Duke Ellington, adding, “I consider her as great a musician as Frank Sinatra, who in that world is king.” Sinatra offered his take on the matter: “Pe...

Famed jazz pianist Oscar Peterson commanded the entire keyboard with incredible dexterity, drive and precision. He performed around the world for more than 50 years, accruing countless honors, awards and critical accolades. Though he would have been a success by any measure, Peterson always set his own high standards – and always fulfilled them. The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the University of North Texas Mus...

One of the first important jazz soloists, Sidney Bechet’s recordings precede those of Louis Armstrong (three years his junior), with whom he would later play duets. Largely self-taught and prodigiously talented on both clarinet and soprano saxophone, he developed a singular solo style – a wide and rich vibrato – giving the soprano saxophone a prominent place in jazz. The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the Univers...

With a laid-back, familiar style, the composer, pianist and singer Hoagy Carmichael created popular hits for decades – and logged numerous entries into the Great American Songbook. When asked about his tuneful gift, he credited his early roots in jazz. But his foremost gift was melody, as “Star Dust,” “How Little We Know” and “The Nearness of You” attest. In jazz-influenced pieces like “Lazy River,” “Memphis in June” and “Baltimore Oriole,” he created themes that move through unexpected inter...

Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk had a gift for unusual and daring composition, for confounding and delighting the world. He did things with rhythm, melody and chords that had never quite been heard before. Early on, Monk was criticized by observers who failed to listen to his music on its own terms, and he suffered through a decade of neglect before being suddenly acclaimed as a genius. The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at ...

Cuban pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader Chucho Valdés is one of the most influential figures in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. He was named a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master – and the recognition crowns a 60-year career that includes seven Grammy Awards, six Latin Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, and being inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. His style is characterized by a virtuosic and highl...

Vocalist Carmen McRae was an expert on rhythm, deft phrasing and personal, bittersweet ballads. Her enigmatic, dark contralto voice helped place her among the pantheon of great female jazz singers. In a long and distinguished music career, she was also an excellent pianist, songwriter and storyteller. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this edition about Carmen McRae was produced in 1996 by Joan Merrill and narrated by the show host Nancy Wilson.&nb...

Celebrated for his technical virtuosity and swinging lyricism, jazz trumpeter Clark Terry was a mentor to Miles Davis and performed with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. A great innovator and educator, he’s also one of the most recorded musicians in the history of jazz – with more than 900 recordings – playing with such greats as Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Ben Webster, Aretha Franklin, Charlie Barnet, Doc Severinsen, Ray Charles, Billy Strayhorn, and Dexter Gordon. ...

Keith Jarrett is one of the most celebrated pianists in jazz – a musician acclaimed for his emotionally intense and physically energetic performances. A prodigy who started playing piano at the age of 3, Keith built an uncanny talent for channeling genre-defying improvisations and lyrical sensitivity, bridging jazz, classical, and folk traditions. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Keith Jarrett was produced in 2000 by John Dilber...

Singer Etta Jones was an understated, underrated American jazz artist best known for her soulful, blues-influenced style. Words and lyrics meant a great deal to her, and she brought a deeply felt gravitas to every song she performed, which made her shows and recordings all the more captivating. Whether it was a traditional 12-bar blues or a Broadway show tune, she sang with an unaffected sincerity that defied traditional notions of interpretation. As part of the Peabody Award-winning d...

A giant by any standard and a powerful presence in jazz, Sonny Rollins is a master of improvisation in an art form that is drenched in spontaneity. Yet his roots are as deep as they are deeply American, and he both celebrates tradition and innovates whenever he plays his sax. He has shared the stage with such legends as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Dizzy Gillespie – and he has re-shaped modern jazz many times over the course of a career lasting more than 60 ye...

Gene "Jug" Ammons was one of the tenor giants of his era. He had a big, deep tone that was perfect for everything from warm ballads to groove-intensive blues or sweet swing. He could blow with the best, too. Ammons' record label, Prestige, allowed him to record prolifically in the '50s and early '60s because he was so popular. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Gene Ammons was produced in 2000 by Greg Fitzgerald and narrated by the show...

More than any other musician, Herbie Mann was responsible for establishing the flute as an accepted jazz instrument. Prior to his arrival, the flute was a secondary instrument for saxophonists, but Mann found a unique voice for the flute, presenting it in different musical contexts, beginning with Afro-Cuban, and then continuing with music from Brazil, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Japan, and Eastern Europe. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” thi...

Once described as an “excitement merchant” for his soul-stirring sound, Jimmy Smith brought the Hammond B-3 organ to the forefront of the jazz community. The virtuosic keyboard man was the first to use the unwieldy instrument extensively in jazz, leading bassless trios, fronting powerful big bands and pioneering a path for every organist who followed. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Jimmy Smith was produced in 1998 by Njemile C. Jo...

Mose Allison is an American music icon – but his sound is hard to categorize. Cleverly blending boogie-woogie, bebop, blues and jazz piano, he created innovative and fresh songs shot with brilliant lyrics and his unique half-spoken, half-sung vocal style. His songs have been recorded by the Who (“Young Man Blues”), Leon Russell (“I’m Smashed”), and Bonnie Raitt (“Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy”) – and other admirers include Tom Waits, John Mayall, the Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison. He’s one of t...

Milt Hinton was one of the world’s legendary bass players. In a career that spanned eight decades, he played with just about everyone—from Cab Calloway to Duke Ellington to John Coltrane. He’s often credited with bridging the gap from the swing era to modern jazz. Those who played with Milt affectionately referred to him as “the Judge,” because he was considered the ultimate timekeeper. As trumpeter Clark Terry once put it, “When you work with the Judge, you know you’re gonna get some time.” ...