Bassist Pat O’Leary has helped some of the best musicians in jazz swing like mad: Diana Krall, Bob Dorough, Lionel Hampton, Mel Lewis and others. O’Leary is also a composer and passionate teacher and talked to Judy about a fascinating project in Serbia where he combined his talents, working with students and professionals to present his arrangements of Serbian folk songs as reborn jazz orchestrations.
Blossom Dearie
As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we re-visit my conversation with the late Blossom Dearie who delighted audiences with her tasty piano playing, hip vocal interpretations and sly humor. Blossom talks about her inspirations and favorite younger musicians.
Conal Fowkes
Pianist Conal Fowkes discusses his long participation in Woody Allen’s jazz band and his recent part doing the vocals and piano work of the Cole Porter character in Woody’s film Midnight in Paris.
Ava Astaire McKenzie
Ava Astaire McKenzie grew up surrounded by creativity. She draws on this experience lecturing around the world about her father Fred, and has expressed her own creativity in her book At Home In Ireland Cooking and Entertaining with Ava Astaire McKenzie. Ava talked with me about her life-long love of jazz and the influence jazz had on her father.
Larry Coryell
Jazz-rock pioneer, guitarist Larry Coryell has drawn on musical styles beyond these two forms, throughout his career. He continues to be inspired by a wide array of influences, everything from Tolstoy to Buddism and discusses this, and the challenge of writing his first opera.
Tony Bennett
My 2012 conversation with Tony Bennett recorded shortly after his Grammy-win for Duets II, his CD collaboration with Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé, Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, k.d. lang, Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, Andrea Bocelli, Faith Hill, Alejandro Sanz, Carrie Underwood and Mariah Carey.
Tony talked singing with this all-star cast, his long career, his early inspirations and his iconic sessions with Bill Evans.
Monty Alexander
Jazz pianist Monte Alexander talks about how growing up in Jamaica influenced his music as well as his love of American Westerns and country music.
Billy Joel
We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary on NPR by revisiting some of my favorite conversations and my time with Billy was certainly a favorite. Billy was one of the first people on Jazz Inspired. He agreed to appear on the condition that we record over lunch. We had lots of laughs and a very tasty meal in a little restaurant in Amagansett, NY. Billy has been a lifelong jazz fan and even studied with jazz great Lennie Tristano. We talk about it all and how his love for jazz has influenced his own music.
Béla Fleck
Banjoist, Béla Fleck discusses his work with Chick Corea and those eleven Grammy wins and twenty-seven nominations!
Geoffrey Leigh Tozer
Singer/pianist/writer Geoffrey Leigh Tozer talks about his kooky, fun-loving radio show “The Sly Crooner of Swanktown” and shares his thoughts on getting more swank in the world. Just what we need!!
Skitch Henderson
We revisit Judy’s conversation with the late Skitch Henderson about his Hollywood years with Bing Crosby and Sinatra and his long career with the NBC Orchestra and the Tonight Show.
Billy Charlap
Pianist Bill Charlap discusses the influence his musician parents have had on his jazz and his continuing love for the Great American Standards.
Judith Schlesinger
In her new book “The Insanity Hoax” Schlesinger lays siege to the popular notion that to be truly creative, a person must be mentally unbalanced. A PhD psychologist and a jazz critic, Schlesinger discusses myths about Charlie Parker, Chet Baker and other jazz musicians presumed to have been insane to some degree. Judy and Judith discuss the psychology of genius and Judith’s fascinating and multi-faceted career.
Rachael Macfarlane
Voice actor/singer Rachael MacFarlane discusses her role as “Haley” on “American Dad” and other characters on “Family Guy”, working with her brother Seth, and her debut jazz CD “Haley Sings”, celebrating her character’s (and her own) love for jazz.
Dave Green
British bassist Dave Green discusses his long career playing with everyone from Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins, to his band with Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.
JP Lipa
Filmmaker talks about his upcoming PBS Christmas special “Heirloom Meals” and his use of jazz throughout (including Judy Carmichael’s appearance singing a swinging “Winter Wonderland”) and his backstage filming of Michael Jackson during preparation for Michael’s last tour.
John Musker
As a child, Oscar winning, Animation Director John Musker became fascinated with animation and the music that surrounds it, and still gets almost giddy talking about it. His work with partner Ron Clements on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Princess and the Frog and their many other films, reflects his enthusiasm for classic musicals and early animation. To Ron, music is always an integral part of the action. John and other animators I know have convinced me that animators are definitely having more fun than the rest of us. You’ll see what I mean listening to this conversation!
Ron Jones
Ron was the longtime composer for Family Guy and American Dad, as well as Star Trek and many other film and TV shows. Here, Ron discusses the unusual artistic freedom he had with Family Guy and American Dad and his great working relationship with Seth MacFarlane. Ron and I recorded this conversation after I got to sit in on a scoring session for Family Guy with Ron conducting the orchestra.
Sandy Stewart
Singer Sandy Stewart discusses her most recent CD with her son, pianist Bill Charlap, and the special musical connection they share.
Curtis Stigers
Judy's conversation with vocalist/saxophonist Curtis Stigers, where they discuss his former life as a pop musician (appearing on the soundtrack of "The Bodyguard") and contrast that to his present life as a jazz musician.