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Another episode in our " Under the Radar Pianists" series.George Wallington  wrote a tune that was made well known by Gerry Mulligan'sarrangement on Birth of the Cool and established himself as one of the best bebop pianists of his generation.He was prolific as a sideman in the 1950s but in 1960 dropped out of music to pursue something far cooler. Listen to find out more!

ECM records have a place in Jazz only rivalled by the classic American Labels like Blue Note, Prestige.  There are clear comparisons with Blue Note,A Unique looka Particular sounda roster of important musicians You can see a Pinterest collection of ECM covers here In this episode we discuss these and other pointsThis is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

A picture that is well known to those in jazz and beyond was taken August 12th  1958 for esquire Magazine by Art Kane. we discuss it in this episode. The documentary is available hereThis is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

The fame of Andy Warhol has lasted a lot longer than fifteen minutes but perhaps his jazz album cover artwork is less well known than his soup tins, Marilyn Monroes or his Velvet underground Banana Cover. We discuss these in this episode  many are collected  in this blog by The Music Aficionado here with some thoughtful insights,  more can be found on the discos site hereThis is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Pat Moran was active as a Jazz pianist in the 1950s-1960s  and played with many good artists particularly on the west coast.  Her trio album with Scott La Faro 1957 is a real gem in our opinion. Her Classical training has furnished her with a great facility at the piano and her fast runs are crisp and well phrased.  The complete trio album released by  Fresh Sounds combines the Scott la Faro with The Pat Moran Quartet (1956), with Moran on piano John Doling on bass, John Whited on drums and Beverly Kelly fronting on vocals.  Scott la Faro actually said  "I don't even like any of my recordings except maybe the first one I did with Pat Moran on Audio Fidelity." There is also an interesting live album from Birdland with Horns added. in this album the whole band sing 4 part harmony here is a link to an Apple Music playlisthere is the link to a short documentary This is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Nick and Simon talk about the artist Romare Bearden Who was connected to the jazz scene in more than one way. His most well know works are collage and often depict jazz subjects. He went to School with Billy Eckstein and wrote Seabreeze with him which featured on the Branford Marsalis album Romare Bearden Revealed a cultural figure whose foundation  supports his  legacy and the artistic community This is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Simon and Nick talk about the long running radio show hosted by Marion McPartland.episodes are still available to stream from NPR  like this one with Gene HarrisThis is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

This episode is based around the book " Blue Rhythm Fantasy" which is concerned , primarily,  with the Work of arranger Chappie Willet. A freelancer who set up an office in the Times Square district calling it The Broadway Music clinic. He was a successful African American entrepreneur and worked for some of the top acts of his day including Louis Armstrong. This is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Nick And Simon Discuss the short lived but influential London Jazz club "Club Eleven", named after the number of founder members, began life just before Christmas in 1948. It was a co-operative arrangement designed to bring bebop to the attention of the jazz public at large. The musicians involved were Ronnie Scott, Hank Shaw, Leon Calvert, Johnny Rogers, Bernie Fenton, Tommy Pollard, Lennie Bush, Joe Muddel, Tony Crombie and Laurie Morgan plus manager Harry Morris. Johnny Dankworth and Denis Rose were regulars from the start. Some gave up steady work, Scott left Ted Heath, Fenton severed relations with Oscar Rabin, and Rose, Crombie, Muddel and Dankworth came from the now defunct Tito Burns orchestra.This venue with these musicians were the first truly organised bebop sessions in Britain. With the star-studded assembly of musicians, Club Eleven became the focal point for the new jazz and the inspiration to many other young musicians throughout the country.The music was played by the Johnny Dankworth Quartet comprising Dankworth, Bernie Fenton (pno), Joe Muddel (bs), and Laurie Morgan (d) and a band led by Ronnie Scott with Hank Shaw (tpt), Johnny Rogers (alto), Tommy Pollard (pno), Lennie Bush (bs), and Tony Crombie (d). The Dankworth quartet became a quintet when trumpeter Leon Calvert was added. Mac's Rehearsal Rooms, 44, Windmill Street, (where the Moffat Club had been), became the first venue operating on Thursday and Saturday nights. Entry was by descending a wooden staircase to a cramped low ceilinged room with a bandstand at one end. It was dimly lit with with bare light bulbs with a few battered sofas. Only bebop was played - fierce and urgent music! The early months of the Eleven saw the highest peak of enthusiasm in the history of British modern jazz. The jazzmen continued to listen and study as many records of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis that they could get hold of. Broadcasts, recordings, and concerts came in quick succession and public acclaim was such as to force a move within a few months to much larger premises at 50, Carnaby Street, satisfying the legions of fans coming from all over the country to the by now famous Club 11. It was now operating six days a week in the evening and was open in the afternoon as a meeting point for musicians. At this point Johnny Dankworth left to form his Seven taking Joe Muddel with him, and Harry Morris also quit.This is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Nick And Simon talk about the Jazz Novel Blow up a storm published in 1959 [ a seminal year in Jazz history]This is a first novel by the director, producer and dramatist, Garson Kanin, whose short stories have appeared in Esquire, Vogue and the Atlantic Monthly. Written in the first person and told in flashback this is a dramatist's recollections of his early days in jazz -- during the depression and the close of prohibition. While in Chicago, on tour with his actress wife, the narrator receives a phone call from a forgotten Lee Woodruff which brings back a flood of impressions and memories of their small combo shaped and led by Woody. Through a haze of half remembered incidents he recalls the growth of their trio into a sextet, the men who gave the group impetus and the women who were tenuously involved with the band. Woodruff, now an emotional wreck, unable to play, in and out of hospitals, insists upon unburdening himself to the narrator and attempts to explain the eventual failure of their group.Kanin's best-remembered for his screenplays, however, which were written in collaboration with his wife, actress Ruth Gordon, whom he married in 1942. Together, they wrote many screenplays, including six that were directed by George Cukor. These included the Spencer Tracy - Katharine Hepburn film comedies Adam's Rib (1949) and Pat and Mike (1952), as well as A Double Life (1947), starring Ronald Colman.This is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Simon & Nick discuss the Score to Mr Benn by Don Warren an Alias for Duncan Lamontwho for several decades Lamont worked as a freelance musician (on flute and clarinet as well as saxophone), based around Archer Street in Soho and playing in the surrounding jazz clubs. He often performed with British bands accompanying American vocalists, including Fred Astaire, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Marlene Dietrich, Peggy Lee and (for 19 seasons) with Frank Sinatra. He also played with touring bandleaders such as Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Henry Mancini. Lamont led his own band for 11 years. He worked on recording and performing projects with Kenny Wheeler for many decades.For those who missed the original Mr Benn books and TV show (the former, published first In 1967, the latter aired between 1971 and 1972 before making several returns via reruns on the BBC), then the plot is also straight forward. Black suit and bowler hat-clad London professional Mr Benn leaves his house each episode, walks to a local fancy-dress shop, and chooses an outfit. An adventure then ensues, set in a world that reflects his outfit. Harking back to a glorious time in children's television - one that has latterly been remembered for its psychedelic edges and surrealist tendencies - Duncan Lamont's score was a perfect accompaniment to those mini odysseys. It's woozy, blissful and dreamy at times, then jaunty and upbeat the next moment, taking the form of brief but beautiful accidentals to set those senes.This is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

NicK and Simon Talk about the filmBorn to Be Blue  a 2015  drama film directed, produced and written by Robert Budreau. The film stars Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo. ] The film is about American jazz musician Chet Baker, portrayed by Hawke.Directed by | Robert BudreauWritten by | Robert BudreauProduced by | Jennifer JonasRobert BudreauLeonard FarlingerJake Seal[1]Starring | Ethan HawkeCarmen EjogoCinematography | Steve CosensEdited by | David FreemanMusic by | David Braid Todor Kobakov Steve LondonThis is our website This is our InstagramThis is our Facebook group

Jam sessions have been and continue to be at the heart of the jazz scene.  In this episode Simon and Nick briefly  discuss the history, culture and function of jam sessions in jazz.You can get more information about our podcasts hereThanks for listening

In this episode Nick leads the discussion on the subject of jazz and it's connection to the Civil Rights movement in the US

Any student of jazz will be well aware of the Aebersold play-along series: over 100  records with accompanying books. There are even supplements with transcriptions of the voicings the pianist played if you are into that?  Nick and Simon discuss the origin and impact of the series.His website is hereIt has an interesting page for further reading

In this episode Simon & Nick discuss Jazz and Meditation. There are elements of meditation that improvisers may well relate to : flow state, acceptance , being in the moment, completely absorbed in the process yet fully aware of what is happening around you. we mention Kenny Werners Effortsless Mastery Tony Scott Music For Zen MeditationJerry Begonzi Developing a jazz languagethere are various Apps to help you get going with meditationthe Calm app  is very popularmany others are available Headspace and Balance are also popular.

This episode is about an " under the radar " pianist Jimmy Jones.  An arranger pianist for some of the greats singers here is an Apple Music link to the album Nick mentioned Sarah Vaughan"The Divine One"  

In this episode, Nick and Simon discuss what it means to practice jazz piano.

2  pianists look confused walking into a bar.It was an 11/8 bar!What role does humour play in Jazz?

Playing the piano and singing, what's involved? Nick and simon talk about it in this episode.