jazz

Jazz and The Art of Place Part II

How did jazz develop in America? What is signified by region, and how does the local dialect of music both inform and stereotype meaning? We will trace the tribalization of America as we explore West and East coast jazz — and discover musical roots from New Orleans to Kansas City, Chicago, and beyond. We will feature the music of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Stan Getz, Charles Mingus, and others.

In this plurality of styles, we will discover common community, and see how jazz can help us draw closer together — especially in trying times.

Listen back to Views and Brews recorded live at the historic Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas as we present an evening of music and conversation. Sponsored by KUT radio, Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe in conversation with Rebecca McInroy. Featuring: David Young, trumpet, Michael Malone, saxophone, Andre Hayward, trombone; Red Young, piano; Roscoe Beck, bass; and Scott Laningham, drums.

Jazz and The Art of Place Part I

In this plurality of styles, we will discover common community, and see how jazz can help us draw closer together — especially in trying times.

Jazz and The Art of Austin

What do we mean when we say, “Keep Austin Weird?” Is Austin really the Live Music Capital of the World? What does the mythology of Austin sound like? How can the story of jazz teach us to appreciate the various layers of meaning and significance of where we live, every day? In knowing our cultural legacy, we can continue to build a city in the Lone Star State that is dynamic, compelling, and continues to nurture creativity and imagination.

Listen back with Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe in conversation with Rebecca McInroy.

Featuring: Michael Malone, saxophone; David Young, trumpet; Sean Giddings, piano; Roscoe Beck, bass; Scott Laningham, drums.

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.

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.

Texas Standard: April 25, 2018

The governor calls for an emergency election in a Harvey hit district that’s also lost its Congressman. Does the maneuver pass muster? By November 6th, voters in Texas 27th district will have one, two, three chances to cast a ballot for their representative to the US.. House. Confusing? We’ll walk you through it. Also a new ruling on DACA and a blow to President Trump. We’ll hear what the decision means for young undocumented immigrants and the program designed to protect them from deportation. And the man president Trump wants to pardon, they called him the Galveston giant. We’ll have the view from Jack Johnson’s hometown and so much more on todays Texas Standard:

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.”

Jazz and The Art of Love

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about love and its discontents.

V&B: Sonny Rollins and The Art of Power (Part I)

Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe in conversation with Rebecca McInroy. Musical guests include Alex Coke, saxophone; Derrick Becker, trumpet; Sean Giddings, piano; Roscoe Beck, bass; Brannen Temple, drums.

How do we respond to uncertainty and a time of anxiety? By steeping ourselves in Rollins’ confidence and steadfastness, we bear witness to the commanding power of presence. Rollins remains a persuasive poet – as a saxophonist, improviser, and as an innovating voice, he possesses a sense of adventure in exploration and intention. He tells a compelling story of the jazz ancestors, inviting us to join with him, and we step resolutely forward together as we determine the next chapters to be written.

V&B: Sonny Rollins and The Art of Power (Part II)

Will Downing (Ep. 50, 2017)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with recording artist Will Downing, “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul,” about his three-facade recording career, and his recovery from a debilitating illness that threatened his career.

V&B – Jazz & The Art of Responding

Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe joins a live jazz sextet and KUT’s Rebecca McInroy for a night of great conversation and live music. Through the music of Miles Davis, Abbey Lincoln, Charles Mingus, and others we’ll explore what the tradition of call and response in jazz can teach us about presence, resistance, and the human condition. Featuring Brannen Temple (drums), Nick Clark (Bass), Chris McQueen (guitar), Michael Malone (saxophone), Andre Hayward (trombone) and David Young (trumpet).

V&B – Jazz & The Art of Family

Join KUT’s Rebecca McInroy along with Rabbi Neil Blumofe and a live jazz quintet, for a night of great conversation and live music as we explore the legacy and influence of the Brothers Jones. Hank, Thad, and Elvin Jones were each supreme musicians – they were also brothers and represent an important legacy in the history of jazz. In our everyday lives, who constitutes our family? How much parental influence do we admit? Beyond blood relationships, who are the people who have our back, who are unconditionally present? How do we collaborate and when do we need our own space to achieve identity? Resisting the atomization of our character, how do we derive meaning and with whom do we gain status as we act?

Featured Musicians: Tom Brechtlein (Drums), Roscoe Beck (Bass), Professor Ben Iram (Piano), Michael Malone (Saxophone), David Young (Trumpet)

T-Bone Walker (5.28.17)

T-Bone Walker was an American Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who’s sound and technique influenced generations of blues artists and helped create the foundation for what would become rock and roll.

In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe talks about how the life and legacy of T-Bone Walker can teach us to value being grounded and dedicated to fully knowing ourselves instead of trying to catch up with the latest trends.

Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer, and was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, a term he invented with the name of his 1961 album.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the improvisatory style of Ornette Coleman to teach how surrendering to chaos can bring a profound sense of presence, satisfaction, and freedom in life.

V&B: Ornette Coleman & The Art of Entrepreneurship

Saxophonist and innovator Ornette Coleman was a musical trailblazer. Always curious and creative, he inspired a movement of new expression, questioning established practices as he sharpened even the most cutting edge of emotive performance. What do we do with inherited forms? How do we distinguish ourselves and coalesce our vision in the scrutiny and judgment of public taste? What value is there in earning the respect of our colleagues? How far are we willing to go to live our truth? What is genius and what is jive?

Sponsored by KUT radio, Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe in conversation with Rebecca McInroy. Featuring: Michael Malone, saxophone; David Young, trumpet; Red Young, piano; Roscoe Beck, bass; Brannen Temple, drums. Guest featuring Alex Coke, saxophone.

V&B – Louis Armstrong & The Art of the Absurd

Listen back to an evening of music and conversation exploring the complex influence of the great jazz musician Louis Armstrong in shaping the cultural tastes of America. How do we represent? What are the dangers of our self-expression as we navigate taking a stand?

As we look ahead to these new days in America, how do we see misunderstandings, assumptions, and chicanery take root as we seek meaning, value, and security, based upon our country’s framing ideas of liberty and freedom?
Sponsored by KUT radio, Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe in conversation with Rebecca McInroy. Featuring: David Young, trumpet; Michael Malone, saxophone, Andre Hayward, trombone; Sean Giddings, piano; Roscoe Beck, bass; Scott Laningham, drums.

Songs include “Cabaret”, “The Beautiful American”, “Black & Blue”, “Mack the Knife”, “It Don’t Mean A Thing”, and “All of Me”

Allen Toussaint (1.15.17)

Allen Toussaint was an American musician, songwriter and record producer who’s legacy largely defined our imagined connection to the story of New Orleans.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe talks about what the music of Toussaint can teach us today about the value of human connection and the power of music to bring us together.

Cassandra Wilson (12.4.16)

Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz vocalist, composer and songwriter who remains one of the most prominent American voices on the jazz scene.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what we can learn from Wilson’s life and work.

V&B – Jazz & The Art of Popularity

It’s after the election. How do we decide who represents us? Who is in, and who is out? Must something be sacrificed to be popular? As we examine the concepts of popularity, fandom, polling, and analytics, we will speak about the creation of culture and the allure of personality in our lives, through the lens of the Downbeat Magazine jazz polls throughout the years. Why is Miles Davis so good? Which Miles Davis do we mean? As we cull our playlists, how much patience do we really have to become connoisseurs, or to discover something new? In this episode of Views & Brews, KUT’s Rebecca McInroy joins Rabbi and Jazz Historian Neil Blumofe in an examination on jazz and the art of popularity.