Rapp on Jazz

In jazz history, record labels helped shape it. No label did that more profoundly than Blue Note Records.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

When people think of Southern jazz, New Orleans often gets the spotlight—but the music’s story stretches far beyond the Crescent City.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

In 1959, at the height of his career, saxophonist Sonny Rollins disappeared from the jazz scene. But Rollins wasn’t done -- he was searching. He found his practice space high above New York City on the Williamsburg Bridge. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz has always been rich in creativity—but making a living as a jazz artist can be a different story. From the earliest days of big bands to today’s streaming era, musicians have had to balance artistry with economic reality.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz has always been more than notes—it’s a conversation, a release, and a way to center the mind. When musicians improvise, they enter a state of focused presence. The past and the future fall away, and the only thing that matters is the phrase unfolding in the moment. That’s mindfulness. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Many of the innovators who shaped bebop’s explosive new sound had deep roots in the Carolinas. They brought with them the rhythms of the South, the spirituals of the church, and the blues traditions that defined their communities. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

From the early days of jazz, a remarkable musical exchange flowed across the Atlantic—connecting the creativity of Harlem with the cultural embrace of Paris. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Detroit has long been a powerhouse in American industry—and in American jazz. In the mid-20th century, the Motor City’s working-class neighborhoods produced a wave of extraordinary musicians who shaped the sound of modern jazz. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz is constantly evolving—shaped by fresh voices and new waves of creativity. Today, two powerful movements are commanding attention: the return of the alto sax to center stage, and a rising generation of innovative vocalists. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Alice Coltrane’s music is a journey -- one that extends far beyond jazz tradition into the realms of spirit and transcendence. After her husband, John Coltrane, died,  she devoted herself to exploring sound as a path to healing and enlightenment. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Duke Ellington, one of jazz’s greatest composers, believed his music had a higher purpose. In the 1960s and ’70s, he created a bold and visionary series of Sacred Concerts—large-scale works that blended jazz orchestra, choir, soloists, and dance.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

In the late 1950s, jazz legend Mary Lou Williams underwent a profound spiritual transformation that reshaped her music and mission. Out of that calling emerged her groundbreaking sacred works—compositions that blended jazz with liturgical tradition. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz and hip-hop share a deep, creative lineage, even though they emerged decades apart. Hip-hop artists have long drawn inspiration from jazz’s rhythm, improvisation, and harmonic complexity.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

DuBose Heyward’s most significant artistic legacy came from the world he created in his novel Porgy . Written in 1925, the book inspired a Broadway play, adapted by Heyward and his wife, Dorothy, and later became the foundation for Gershwin’s legendary opera Porgy and Bess .  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

DuBose Heyward helped shape one of the most iconic works in American musical history. Born in Charleston in 1885, Heyward came from an old, respected South Carolina family.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Trumpeter Johnny Helms was a pillar of Columbia’s jazz scene for more than fifty years. A gifted musician from an early age, he was performing in local clubs by thirteen and leading his own band by sixteen.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Drummer Stockton Helbing is one of the most dynamic musicians to emerge from South Carolina’s jazz community. Born in 1980 and raised in Florence, he picked up the drums in sixth grade and quickly earned spots in the South Carolina All-State Jazz Band before graduating from West Florence High School.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Saxophonist Lonnie Hamilton III has long been one of Charleston’s cultural leaders—both on stage and in public life. Born in 1927, he grew up immersed in the city’s rich musical traditions and played in the Jenkins Orphanage bands during the 1940s. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Ralph "Iron Fingers" Goodwin was a self-taught pianist whose lightning touch made him a beloved figure in South Carolina’s jazz community.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Kip Anderson was one of South Carolina’s most soulful and resilient musical voices. Born in Starr, SC around 1938, he first sang in church and was discovered early on by gospel great Edna Cooke. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Leonard Feather was among jazz’s most influential voices -- not as a performer, but as a critic, historian, and tireless advocate for the music. Feather contributed to Down Beat, edited Metronome, and authored The Encyclopedia of Jazz, still a vital reference today. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz impresario George Wein was one of the most visionary figures in American music. As founder of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, Wein changed how jazz was presented, moving it from clubs to large outdoor venues, creating a true festival experience that brought together legends, emerging artists, and passionate audiences to celebrate the music. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for...

Jazz impresario Norman Granz had a strong passion for justice that influenced both the music and the culture surrounding it. In 1944, he started Jazz at the Philharmonic, which brought jazz out of smoky clubs and into major concert halls. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Behind every legendary performance, groundbreaking recording, and thriving jazz scene, there’s often an unsung hero: the jazz impresario. These visionaries champion artists, build audiences, and create the spaces where jazz flourishes.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Before bebop and the cool jazz era, swing dancing was the heartbeat of American nightlife. In the 1930s and ’40s, big bands filled ballrooms with lively rhythms that practically lifted dancers off the floor.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.