Australian documentary filmmaker and jazz singer discusses her film Intangible Asset Number 82, a film about one musician's journey to find the Korean musician who has inspired him, a drummer designated by Korea as "Intangible Asset Number 82.”
Joey Singer
Pianist/conductor talks about his long tenure as music director for Debbie Reynolds and getting back to his jazz roots with his own recording.
Shannon Powell & Herlin Riley
Recorded live at the Ascona Jazz Festival, New Orleans drummers Herlin Riley and Shannon Powell regale me with anecdotes of their adventures together and independently demonstrate authentic NOLA style drumming.
Steve Allen
Comedian Steve Allen’s professional life was always steeped in jazz. On film he played Benny Goodman, on piano he improvised behind Jack Kerouac’s poetry and as the creator and first host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, he turned the studio orchestra into a jazz band. Judy talked with Steve right before his death in 2000, and Steve revealed how jazz inspired every aspect of his creativity.
Leroy Jones
Celebrated trumpeter/vocalist Leroy Jones talks about blending his New Orleans musical roots and love for Clifford Brown, his work with Harry Connick and his own band with his trombonist wife Katja Jones.
Susie Arioli
Canadian singer takes a straightforward, swinging approach to the Standards. Judy talks with Susie and her guitarist, Jordan Officer, on stage at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
Marian McPartland
Judy turns the tables on Marian (Marian interviewed Judy years ago) and talks with Marian about her adventures during WWII playing for the troops and meeting Jimmy McPartland during this period and how it all influenced her music and career.
China Moses
Recorded live at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland. China Moses, singer/host of MTV in France, talks about the influence her mom, Dee Dee Bridgewater has had on her work and how growing up in Paris has shaped her creativity.
Blythe Danner
Tony Award winning actress Blythe Danner joins Judy on stage at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival and connects with her early jazz roots. Blythe was a jazz singer in college and discusses how jazz has continued to influence her acting career.
Seth MacFarlane
Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane and I met in Hollywood (well, not really, but I don’t want to tell you where his house is, which is where we did meet) to talk about his first CD, which went on to win a Grammy, and his favorite jazz recordings. Stewie and Peter dropped by to add their thoughts as well. Brian brought the martinis.
Pat O'Leary
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!!