West End and UK theater actor, pianist, and vocalist Ben Stock talks about his many inspirations from Noel Coward and Tom Lehrer to John Coltrane and Artie Shaw!
Kurt Elling
My two part conversation with the vocal virtuoso, Kurt Elling about his inspirations and his philosophy on living a creative life. I planned on one hour with Kurt but the conversation was so interesting and hilarious we continued for two! Among other things, we find out why everyone is better looking after listening to jazz and solve the truth behind Yoda’s weird word order: he’s GERMAN!
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Hilary Gardner
Vocalist Hilary Gardner discusses her debut CD celebrating New York, A Great City and her vocal trio Duchess.
Clark Gayton
Trombonist, Clark Gayton discusses his work with everyone from Basie and Ray Charles to Rihanna and Sting.
Mark Naison
Education activist and Professor of History and African American Studies at Fordham University, Mark Naison, discusses the history and cultural significance of jazz.
Eric Schneider
Saxophonist Eric Schneider talks about working with Count Basie and Earl Hines and performs with Judy onstage for “Jazz Inspired from Kiawah Island."
Connie Evingson
Minneapolis based singer talks with Judy about her influences from Lambert Hendricks and Ross to the Beatles and to Django Reinhardt, whose music inspired her latest CD, All The Cats.
Grant Stewart
Canadian saxophonist Grant Stewart discusses his new CD “Trio” and his using the unusual instrumentation of sax, bass and drums.
Dick Hyman Live - "Jazz Inspired from Kiawah Island"
Pianist Dick Hyman has enjoyed a long career playing concerts and composing for movies and television. In March 2017 he celebrated his 90th birthday.
Judy and Dick have done a number of concerts together so he was her first choice for a series of interviews recorded onstage from Kiawah Island, SC. This conversation took place March 3rd, 2015.
John Wilson
British conductor/arranger discusses his project to restore the scores of the classic Hollywood musicals from the 30's and 40's, most of which were lost or destroyed, and his work with Kevin Spacey on "Beyond the Sea", Spacey's biopic on Bobby Darin.
John O'Conor
Irish classical pianist John O’Conor is know for the passion and poetry of his music. This focus on emotional expression is also what fuels his love for jazz. Judy met with John at Steinway Hall in NYC where John played some of his favorite jazz inspired classical pieces and talked to Judy about how jazz has influenced his work.
Huey
Film maker “Huey” discusses his documentary about the late pianist Marian McPartland, which is part of his series of films about fascinating older artists.
Ehud Asherie
Pianist Ehud Asherie was born in Isreal, spent his early years in Italy and now lives in the States. He brings an international perspective as well as wide musical knowledge to his jazz playing. Judy and Ehud discuss his broad range of influences including Orson Welles whom he considers a major source of inspiration!
Frank Gehry & F. Murray Abraham
Architect Frank Gehry, who died December 5, 2025, explores how architecture, like jazz, is a dynamic art that absorbs the times and culture it inhabits, constantly reinventing itself while retaining its historic connection.
In the second half of the show, Oscar-winning actor (Best Actor, Amadeus) F. Murray Abraham discusses improvisation, spontaneity and jazz as great theater.
Frank and Murray were two of my first guests on Jazz Inspired saying yes as a show of support and friendship. Both loved the thought of a conversation about inspiration with a fellow creative artist, something unusual in media in 1999 when these conversations were recorded.
Axel Zwingenberger and Lila Ammons
German boogie-woogie pianist Axel Zwingenberger and American vocalist Lila Ammons (opera singer and granddaughter of pianist Albert and niece of saxophonist Gene) talk about working together, in spite of their very different cultural and musical backgrounds.
Kristi Zea
Kristi Zea is a multifaceted filmmaker who has worked as costume designer, production designer and/or director for Silverado, Birdy, Philadelphia, As Good As It Gets, Broadcast News and many other films. I talked with Kristi while we were cruising around the Southern tip of South America aboard the Silver Spirit cruise ship, where we were both lecturing and I was performing.
Deanna Witkowski
Composer/pianist/vocalist, Deanna Witkowski, started as a classical pianist and now specializes in jazz, Brazilian, afro-cuban and sacred music.
Todd White
From "Tiny Toons" and "Sponge Bob Square Pants" to his own eccentric paintings, Todd White focuses on his pictures telling a story. He discusses seeing that same aspect in his favorite jazz.
Aaron Weinstein
Twenty year old jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein talks about why there aren't more jazz musicians playing violin and how he was drawn to the music himself.
George Wein
My 2006 conversation with jazz impresario George Wein, who died in September 2021. George talks about creating the festival phenomenon, his own piano playing and his continuing love affair with jazz.