Vocalist/arranger/pianist talks about his Lambert, Hendricks and Ross style vocal group and his many adventures working with Dame Edna.
Michael Bacon
Composer and performer Michael Bacon discusses what makes a great film composer and how his own work draws on his interest in many styles of music, including his work with brother Kevin, and their band "The Bacon Brothers."
Jean Bach
Academy-Award winning documentary filmmaker (A Great Day In Harlem) and step-daughter of famed dancer Irene Castle, Jean Bach talks about 8 decades of jazz friendships and the influence they've had on her life.
John Allred
Trombone virtuoso talks about the influence his trombone-playing father, Bill Allred had on him growing up and what it takes to be a great player in every setting. (And a tidbit: John and I worked together at Disneyland, he in a group called “The Jazz Miners” referring to their age, and I playing ragtime at “Coke Corner” in the 1980s!
Karen Allen
Actress Karen Allen is best known for her portrayal of Marion Ravenwood in the Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Arc, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and the recently released The Dial of Destiny. Although Karen loves acting, she originally planned on a career in fabric design, and has had her own knitting business for years, concurrent with her acting pursuits.
Karen Allen and I met aboard the Silver Spirit cruise ship in South America, where she was giving a talk on her various acting adventures and I had been flown in to do a concert. When I found out she is a jazz fan, as well as a passionate advocate for encouraging creativity, I asked if we could sit for a chat on the subject. Our conversation was recorded off the coast of Argentina in 2010.
Harry Allen
Saxophonist Harry Allen discusses growing up playing accordion and how that much-ridiculed instrument helped him learn jazz.
Howard Alden
Guitarist Howard Alden has been hailed as one of the greatest of his generation. Howard and I worked together in the early years of our careers and this conversation, our first in a series recorded on stage at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland, gave us a chance to play together again, and talk about Howard's experience teaching Sean Penn to play the guitar for Woody Allen's film Sweet and Lowdown.
Mina Agossi
French singer Mina Agossi draws on opera, hip hop and jazz to create her unique approach to the Great American Songbook.
Andrew Hart Adler
Painter discusses his father lyricist Richard Adler ("Pajama Game" and "Damn Yankees") and his own choice to take his rich musical background as inspiration for a life as a painter rather than a musician.
Peter Straub
Suspense/Horror novelist (Ghost Story) Peter Straub shares how jazz inspires him and compares collaborating on the best seller The Talisman with Stephen King to playing jazz solos with another musician.
David Berger
Conductor/arranger David Berger, talks about his latest project, a CD, tribute to the music of Harry Warren.
Ben Heppner
Operatic tenor, Ben Heppner, talks about his love for jazz and tries to get Judy to sing an Ella and Louie style duet! Judy recorded this on Ben’s vocal rest day while he was in NY playing Otello at the Metropolitan Opera, a very generous move on Ben’s part.
Emma Franz
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.