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In this episode we discuss Spike Lee's Mo Better Blues.  Wikipedia says: Mo' Better Blues is a 1990 American musical comedy-drama film starring Denzel Washington , Wesley Snipes , and Spike Lee , who also wrote, produced, and directed. [1] It follows a period in the life of fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (played by Washington) as a series of bad decisions result in his jeopardizing bo...

Any student of jazz will be well aware of the Aebersold series - over 100 play along records with accompanying books. There are even supplements with transcriptions of the voicings the pianist played if that's your sort of thing!.  Nick and Simon discuss the origin and impact of the series. His website is here It 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 Effortless Mastery  Tony Scott Music For Zen Meditation Jerry Begonzi Developing a jazz language...

This episode is about the "under-the-radar" pianist Jimmy Jones.  An arranger/pianist for some of the great singers, here is an Apple Music link to the album Nick mentions in the episode : Sarah Vaughan - The Divine One. "The Divine One"   

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

Two pianists walk into a bar looking confused. It was an 11/8 bar. What role does humour play in jazz.

Playing the piano and singing at the same time, what's involved? Nick and Simon talk about it in this episode.

Another in our new series of jazz film reviews. The Bertrand Tavernier jazz movie that refreshed Dexter Gordon's career late in his life. 

Dudley Moore may well be best known for his comedy with Peter Cook and his success on screen in the films 10 and Arthu,r but he was also a very accomplished musician. He was an organ scholar when at Oxford which is where he met the other members of Beyond the Fringe. Perhaps less well known is what a great jazz pianist he was. Simon and Nick discuss him in this episode. Llink to his Genuine Dud al...

Did you know some jazz musicians were also boxers? Find out more in this episode.

To start season two Simon & Nick talk about the Fabulous Baker Boys. This is a new strand where Nick and Simon talk about jazz related films. At present there are a few distinct strands: 1. Under-the-radar pianists- e.g. Hod O' Brian 2.Jazz oddities - e.g. Jazz Oboe 3. Technical discussions - e.g. block chords 4 Jazz books - e.g. Jazz Heavyweight 5.Jazz films - e.g. Round Midnight All episodes...

In the full episode 2 it was a pleasure to chat with arranger/orchestrator Giles Thornton. He helped me out on some of the transcriptions for the Marty Swings the Singers project [watch this space for news of the gig} One of the charts he took down was "Surrey with a Fringe on Top" and we discuss that plus  " It's Too Darn Hot" a transcription I am currently working on.  Here is a link t...

This is the 15 minute introduction to the full episode 2, as episode two is 1 hour 15 minutes I felt it better to publish the intro separately  Here is a link to the albums as a playlist on A pple music and Spotify  

This new five part longer form series starts with Nick and Simon examining Marty Paich as pianist.  Paich was a musical polymath and his career spanned jazz, classical & film music.  Simon will present the other four episodes talking to various arrangers about Marty Paich as arranger - looking at his medium-sized ensemble work with particular focus on the octet, his work for big band referenci...

An end of series announcement: In the 50 episodes so far Nick and I have covered 8 under- the-radar pianists, reviewed 7 Jazz books, talked about 10 technical subjects, discussed 5 unusual jazz instruments and even managed 1 April Fool! Plus many more subjects like famous jazz clubs and  record labels. We have also made 2  long form series over 5 podcasts about Kenny Drew and Sonny Clark...

Another episode in our "under-the-radar pianists" series. George Wallington  wrote a tune that was made well known by Gerry Mulligan's arrangement 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!

In this special episode Nick and Simon discuss George Shearing and Nick's new project playing his music   Shades of Shearing The Band Is Nick Tomalin – piano Nat Steele – vibraphone Dave Warren – guitar Dominic Howles – bass Matt Fishwick – drums  

A look at the Oboe in jazz.

Nick and Simon discuss four newish (one Jewish) holiday offerings.  1. Snowbound- Emma Smith 2. Louis Wishes you a Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong 3. On Christmas Day- Paul Edis and Friends 4. Big Band Holidays- JLCO with Wynton Marsalis Frabjous Nicktide from us!   

Nick and Simon discuss a record label that started in the USA and continues now in the UK. A label which represented many jazz greats as well as new and emerging talent.

We discuss 'enclosures' one of the cornerstone concepts in making jazz sound like jazz - particularly post-bebop jazz.  We talk about the idea of 'enclosure' with regard to the melodic line and play some examples. Get the pdf here

Send us a text In many ways the life of The Bass Clef jazz club is a story that echoes in ripples from the centre to the outskirts of London.  Jazz is a tough music to make a profit from and as such clubs spring up in low rent areas, they thrive, bring character to a district and then that district gentrifies.  Hoxton is now a far cry from the run down weekend ghost town it once was. Buisness is b...

Send us a text We discuss the book Arranging the Score by the Canadian jazz critic and musician Gene Lees. in the book Lees paints portraits of some of the great jazz arrangers including Gerry Mulligan, Gil Evans Kenny Wheeler and Billy May

Nick and Simon talk about Jazz Cello, like you do... 

Chris Hodgkins has been an integral part of the UK jazz scene since the early seventies. As a trumpet player he performed with the Icon Jazzmen and toured Europe and the US with various bands. In 1974 he co-founded the Welsh Jazz Festival which later became the Brecon Jazz Festival and in 1985 became director of Jazz Services for which he is perhaps best known. In this wide-ranging conversation Ch...