Pianist Tardo Hammer discusses his work with Annie Ross, Jon Hendricks and others and his new CD, “Simple Pleasures."
Hilary Kole
Vocalist Hilary Kole discusses her new CD, "The Judy Garland Project” and the continuing influence her father, Broadway singer, Robert Kole, has on her work.
David Finck
Bassist/composer David Finck discusses his collaborations with everyone from Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin to Rosemary Clooney and Dizzy Gillespie. He sings occasionally too, which is shown to advantage on his newest CD “Low Standards."
Ken Peplowski Two
Clarinetist/saxophonist, Ken Peplowski had his first professional gig when still in elementary school and went on to play with everyone from Marianne Faithfull and Leon Redbone to Peggy Lee and Charlie Byrd.
Ken was only sixty-six when he passed away February 1, 2026 after a five-year battle with multiple myeloma. Ken was a joyful, generous spirit and one of the first musicians I played with when I came to New York when we were paired in a jazz festival in front of thousands. I was nervous and he was cool, and his lovely attitude carried me along musically and otherwise, so no one knew I was shaking in my boots except me.
This is the second of my two-part conversation with Ken, recorded in 2016 in Manhattan.
Simon Mulligan
From child prodigy as a classical pianist to his own Dixieland band as an eight year old to the musician Yehudi Menuhin calls “one of the finest pianists I have ever had the pleasure of performing with."
Stephanie Mair
The French/Scottish vocalist spent her young life in Paris, training four hours a day as an ice skater, with breaks for the occasional gig as a child actor. Somehow, she knew she would be a singer someday, even though that was never the focus of her life. She now lives and works in England, singing and playing accordion, performing a repertoire influenced by everyone from Edith Piaf to Billie Holiday.
Gary Williams
Britain’s go-to guy for swinging interpretations of the standards, which he’s performed in London’s West End and venues around the world and a royal appearance at Buckingham Palace!
Simon Lasky
British composer/pianist discusses his new CD Story Inside and the deep influence pianist Bill Evans has had on his work.
Sam Dunn
British guitarist Sam Dunn spent his early years in the business traveling the world on a 200-passenger, luxury cruise ship where he played solo guitar sets and where I was lucky enough to corral him into playing with me when I was flown in for a concert. A friendship and musical partnership were born and since then Sam and I have toured widely around the world from Europe to Australia.
John Jorgenson
I performed with and interviewed this multi-Grammy winning guitarist (and my old pal from my Disneyland days) onstage at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville, TN. We discussed John’s career highlights from touring with Elton John to playing with Bonnie Raitt to our duo gigs, early in our careers.
Bill Cunliffe
First of Judy’s conversations with pianist/composer Bill Cunliffe, recorded onstage during the Jazz Inspired from Kiawah Island Festival in February 2016. Judy and Bill perform together along with Harry Allen and Pat O’Leary.
Alfred Green
Guitarist Freddie Green played rhythm guitar with the Basie band for 50 years. His unique sound became an integral part of the Basie sound and added a swinging, solid time feel to everyone he played with, myself included. Alfred Green, Freddie’s son, talks to Judy about his extensive biography of his father onstage at “Jazz Inspired from Kiawah” with musical contributions by Judy (who recorded with Freddie) guitarist James Chirillo, bassist Pat O'Leary and saxophonist Harry Allen.
Carol Welsman
Canadian singer/pianist talks about her new CD “Alone Together” and the difference in the jazz scene in her present home, Los Angeles and NYC.
Tara O'Grady
Irish American singer combines her Irish roots with New Orleans music of the 20’s and 30’s. She discusses this mashup, as well as her sartorial choices, for which she is equally well known.
Dave Damiani
Los Angeles based vocalist, Dave Damiani, is a proud throwback to the Rat Pack days of Frank Sinatra and the music of the Great American Songbook. Dave discusses the challenges and joys of keeping a big band employed, as well as the different attitude he’s experienced from younger musicians, who Dave feels are more positive about the performance experience.
Betty Comden
Betty Comden was one-half of the musical-comedy duo Comden and Green, who provided lyrics, libretti, and screenplays to some of the most beloved and successful Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century, from "Singin’ In the Rain" to "On The Town," which was recently revived on Broadway. Judy interviewed the late Betty Comden in 2000 but the show was never broadcast. We’re happy to bring it to you now!
Michael Feinstein
Multi-Emmy and Grammy nominee, vocalist/pianist Michael Feinstein how jazz influences every part of his music and his efforts in expanding the audience for classic American standards.
John Eaton
This is one of my favorite conversations with one of MY inspirations as a musician and person, jazz pianist John Eaton who passed away May 24, 2026, just shy of his 92nd birthday.
John was one of the last of a generation of pianists influenced deeply by the early jazz greats—Fats Waller and Art Tatum—as well as later pianists like Bill Evans. He was an educator and raconteur, making the following conversation one of my most enjoyable.
John Eaton was an old friend from my early days in New York City. This chat gave me a wonderful opportunity to revisit that time and some of the events that shaped John’s music and mine.
Alisdair Hogarth
Celebrated British classical pianist Alisdair Hogarth discusses his solo playing, accompanying vocalists and how jazz has changed the way he listen and practices. Alisdair and I recorded this conversation in London.
Ben Stock
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!