Show Notes
Whistling guitarist and harmonica master Toots Thielemans played in everything from Charlie Parker’s band to commercials for Old Spice, on the theme from “Midnight Cowboy” and the theme from “Sesame Street.” Most important, he made the harmonica a jazz instrument. A perennial winner of DownBeat readers and critics polls in the category “miscellaneous instruments,” Thielemans was called “one of the greatest musicians of our time” by Quincy Jones in 1995. The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 ...
More from Jazz Profiles presented by Tim Owens & 32 Bar Blues
His name is synonymous with jazz – although his music is beyond category. Duke Ellington was a composer who enriched western music; a bandleader who used the instruments in his band to color his music – like an artist using a palette to paint. And, he was a fine pianist, using that instrument to compose and swing his orchestra. Here’s part 1 of a special 2-part presentation on an absolute legend. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this special 2-se...
He may be the greatest jazz composer of all time. Certainly, the most prolific. He is also recognized as a “father” of Big Band jazz. As keyboardist – rooted in stride piano – he could propel his orchestra to new heights. And, wow, could they swing. On part 1, we focused on Ellington’s formative years up until the mid-1930s. Here on part 2, we look at the evolution of Ellington’s music from the mid-30s until his death in May of 1974 at the age of 75. As part of the Peabody Award-winnin...
Irrepressible raconteur, indelible stylist, and giant of the Harlem stride piano, Willie “The Lion” Smith was an iconic American jazz pioneer. Known as a “musician’s musician,” his versatile career spanned ragtime, vaudeville, Broadway, and Tin Pan Alley – influencing legends like Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this presentation about Willie Smith was produced in 1997 by Sally Pl...
His was the first jazz album to sell over a million copies. But his music – noted for its odd time signatures – was somehow accessible and hummable. And with his signature quartet, he became a pioneer of the “cool” jazz movement. Stick around. Because you’re about to meet pianist, composer and jazz innovator Dave Brubeck. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this presentation about Dave Brubeck was produced in 1996 by Dan Gediman – and narrated by th...
He simply is one of the most popular musicians in jazz. With his various quartets of piano, bass, drums and a horn – and his tours of college campuses the world over, he introduced thousands of young people to jazz. Once again, meet Dave Brubeck in Part 2 of our story on his life and music. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this presentation about Dave Brubeck was produced in 1996 by Dan Gediman – and narrated by the show host Nancy Wilson. ...