Liner Notes

January 22, 2019

Wynton Kelly

Wynton Kelly was a piano prodigy who accompanied legendary performers across hundreds of songs but failed to make it big as a bandleader. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz Historian Neil Blumofe walks us through Kelly’s upbringing, aspirations, and why he was often viewed simply as a “first rate sideman”. Music: “Freddie […]

Listen

January 22, 2019

Melba Liston

Melba Liston was a master arranger and a trombonist with an incredible but often overlooked talent. On this episode of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe discusses life and legacy. Music: Melba Liston – “Insomnia” [1959] Dizzy Gillespie – “Annie’s Dance” [1957] Randy Weston – “Caban Bamboo Highlife” [1963] Melba Liston – “Very […]

Listen

January 7, 2019

The History Of Blue Note

Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe walks us through the origins of Blue Note Records and how genres like bebop helped to understand the turbulence of the times. Music: Horace Silver – “Silver’s Serenade”Sidney Bechet – “Early In The Morning”Thelonious Monk – “Thelonious”.

Listen

January 3, 2019

The New Year & Responsibility

Reflecting on 2018 and welcoming 2019, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe connects jazz and reinvention, then recites “New Year’s Recipe” by Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Music: Art Tatum – “Prisoner of Love”

Listen

July 14, 2018

Leonard Bernstein and What Is Jazz?

“Jazz is the ultimate common denominator of the American musical style.” –Leonard Bernstein In the 1950s Leonard Bernstein made a series of educational recordings on jazz with the goal of bringing jazz to a generation of listeners who were entering the world of rock n’ roll. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz […]

Listen

July 6, 2018

Henry Butler (7.8.18)

Henry Butler was a jazz pianist and singer who embodied the New Orleans musical tradition in his style. Butler passed July 2, 2018, and in this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe pays tribute to this musical master.

Listen

June 24, 2018

Summertime (6.23.18)

“Summertime” is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what unique lessons we can learn listening to “Summertime” today.

Listen

February 27, 2018

Austin (2.25.18)

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of jazz in the “Live Music Capital of The World.”

Listen