KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts
KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond
This past week commemorated the 77th anniversary of Bobby Hutcherson‘s birthday, the “world’s best vibist” who passed away in 2016.
In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz Historian Neil Blumofe guides us through the life, contributions and influence of Bobby Hutcherson.
Music: “Little Angel”, “Montara”, “Catta” – Bobby Hutcherson
“Groovin Blue” – Curtis Amy, “Blue Rondo” – Jackie Maclean, “Naima” – San Francisco Jazz Collective
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 Freeloader” – Miles Davis [1959]
“Cornbread” – Hal Singer [1948]
“Come Rain or Come Shine”, “Surrey With the Fringe On Top”, “Quiet Village” – Wynton Kelly
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 Syrian Bamboo” [1959]
Melba Liston – “You Don’t Say” [1959]
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”.
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”
“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 historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of recognizing jazz and a music that belongs to everyone, and that can inform us about not only what it means to be American but what it means to be human as well.
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.
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.
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 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” 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.
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:
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.”
In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about love and its discontents.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 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.