Liner Notes

Arranger, composer and pianist Malcolm “Mal” Waldron played in a number of big bands and fronted his own before a drug overdose left him unable to play or remember music. As he regained his technique through listening to his own records, Waldron began a second leg of his career with a decidedly different sound than the first. In this edition of Liner Notes, jazz historian and Rabbi Neil Blumofe recalls Mal Waldron, his struggle with addiction, and how he interpolated his former style.

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Through his innovative post-bop, fusion and soul jazz, guitarist Pat Martino overcame a memory crisis and focused on the present to rediscover his technique. In this edition of Liner Notes, jazz historian and Rabbi Neil Blumofe recollects Pat Martino, his struggle with amnesia, and how he re-learned his iconic technique.

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Rhythm and blue architect and Birdland opening night band member Oran Thaddeus “Hot Lips” Page was never well known, but undeniably an influential journeyman. On the most recent edition of KUTX’s Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe guides us through the career of trumpeter and vocalist “Hot Lips” Page.

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This past week commemorated the 77th anniversary of Bobby Hutcherson‘s birthday, the “world’s best vibist” who passed away in 2016.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz Historian Neil Blumofe guides us through the life, contributions and influence of Bobby Hutcherson.

Music: “Little Angel”, “Montara”, “Catta” – Bobby Hutcherson

“Groovin Blue” – Curtis Amy, “Blue Rondo” – Jackie Maclean,  “Naima” – San Francisco Jazz Collective

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Wynton Kelly was a piano prodigy who accompanied legendary performers across hundreds of songs but failed to make it big as a bandleader.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz Historian Neil Blumofe walks us through Kelly’s upbringing, aspirations, and why he was often viewed simply as a “first rate sideman”.

Music: “Freddie Freeloader” – Miles Davis [1959]
“Cornbread” – Hal Singer [1948]
“Come Rain or Come Shine”, “Surrey With the Fringe On Top”, “Quiet Village” – Wynton Kelly

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Melba Liston was a master arranger and a trombonist with an incredible but often overlooked talent.

On this episode of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe discusses life and legacy.

Music: Melba Liston – “Insomnia” [1959]
Dizzy Gillespie – “Annie’s Dance” [1957]
Randy Weston – “Caban Bamboo Highlife” [1963]
Melba Liston – “Very Syrian Bamboo” [1959]
Melba Liston – “You Don’t Say” [1959]

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Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe walks us through the origins of Blue Note Records and how genres like bebop helped to understand the turbulence of the times.

Music: Horace Silver – “Silver’s Serenade”Sidney Bechet – “Early In The Morning”Thelonious Monk – “Thelonious”.

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Reflecting on 2018 and welcoming 2019, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe connects jazz and reinvention, then recites “New Year’s Recipe” by Carlos Drummond de Andrade.

Music: Art Tatum – “Prisoner of Love”

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“Jazz is the ultimate common denominator of the American musical style.”
–Leonard Bernstein

In the 1950s Leonard Bernstein made a series of educational recordings on jazz with the goal of bringing jazz to a generation of listeners who were entering the world of rock n’ roll.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of recognizing jazz and a music that belongs to everyone, and that can inform us about not only what it means to be American but what it means to be human as well.

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Henry Butler was a jazz pianist and singer who embodied the New Orleans musical tradition in his style. Butler passed July 2, 2018, and in this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe pays tribute to this musical master.

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“Summertime” is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what unique lessons we can learn listening to “Summertime” today.

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In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of jazz in the “Live Music Capital of The World.”

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In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about love and its discontents.

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T-Bone Walker was an American Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who’s sound and technique influenced generations of blues artists and helped create the foundation for what would become rock and roll.

In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe talks about how the life and legacy of T-Bone Walker can teach us to value being grounded and dedicated to fully knowing ourselves instead of trying to catch up with the latest trends.

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Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He was one of the first important soloists in jazz and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, discusses the transitional music stylings of Sidney Bechet, using his legacy as a model for how we can open ourselves up to unhinged expression and set a legacy of our own.

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Larry Coryell was an American jazz guitarist known as the “Godfather of Fusion”.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the complex fusion of Larry Coryell’s music to reflect on our own sense of contradicting feeling and give us the courage to face and exist in these many worlds simultaneously.

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Jason Marsalis is an American jazz drummer and member of the Marsalis family of musicians. He worked as a sideman in mainstream jazz, funk, and jazz fusion groups, as well as with esteemed pianist, Marcus Roberts.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses Jason Marsalis’ freedom in self-expression to encourage us not to compromise the many facets of our identity.

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James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player, playing predominantly in the bebop and hard bop styles.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, talks about how the versatility of James Moody can teach us to embrace the complexity of human nature.

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Herbie Mann was an American jazz player, most noted for being among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute as an important early practitioner of world music.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the life and music of Herbie Mann to emphasize the need for sharing and creating together in a world that is yearning for transformation.

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Booker Little, Jr., was an American Jazz trumpeter and composer, performing with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy until his early death at the age of 23.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the music and legacy of Booker Little to remind us of the fragility of life and the importance of having courage to face each day as a new and open door, an opportunity of immeasurable value.

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Ornette Coleman was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer, and was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, a term he invented with the name of his 1961 album.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the improvisatory style of Ornette Coleman to teach how surrendering to chaos can bring a profound sense of presence, satisfaction, and freedom in life.

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Allen Toussaint was an American musician, songwriter and record producer who’s legacy largely defined our imagined connection to the story of New Orleans.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe talks about what the music of Toussaint can teach us today about the value of human connection and the power of music to bring us together.

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Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz vocalist, composer and songwriter who remains one of the most prominent American voices on the jazz scene.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what we can learn from Wilson’s life and work.

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Roy Hargrove is an American jazz trumpeter who made a name for himself in the early 90s with his first solo record Diamond in The Rough and went on to record with jazz greats like Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine and others.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the life and work of Hargrove can teach us about appreciating and learning from the past, to adapt to a quickly changing present, for a brighter future.

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Sigmund Freud wrote: “every normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. One’s ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.” How are we complicit in dehumanizing others, and how are we in turn, dehumanized? How do we cope with the unsettling of our fears and the scars of our traumas — in our amusements, and in the casual conversations that we have?

How does music help us navigate both our civilizing presence and our raw emotions that run much deeper, beneath? How do the experiences of 20th century jazz musicians help to instruct us in the powerful lessons of difference, Othering, and perseverance?

This episode of Liner Notes was recorded live at our Views & Brews event. It’s a marriage of robust conversation and spectacular music, featuring David Young, trumpet; Andre Hayward, trombone; Michael Malone, saxophone; Sean Giddings, piano; Richard Michael, bass; Scott Laningham, drums; and Rabbi Neil Blumofe, in conversation with KUT’s Rebecca McInroy.

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Sigmund Freud wrote: “every normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. One’s ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.” How are we complicit in dehumanizing others, and how are we in turn, dehumanized? How do we cope with the unsettling of our fears and the scars of our traumas — in our amusements, and in the casual conversations that we have?

How does music help us navigate both our civilizing presence and our raw emotions that run much deeper, beneath? How do the experiences of 20th century jazz musicians help to instruct us in the powerful lessons of difference, Othering, and perseverance?

This episode of Liner Notes was recorded live at our Views & Brews event. It’s a marriage of robust conversation and spectacular music, featuring David Young, trumpet; Andre Hayward, trombone; Michael Malone, saxophone; Sean Giddings, piano; Richard Michael, bass; Scott Laningham, drums; and Rabbi Neil Blumofe, in conversation with KUT’s Rebecca McInroy.

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Samuel Carthorne Rivers was an America jazz musician and composer who’s approach to jazz in the 50s and 60s added to the depth of voices coming out of the free jazz movement. Specifically River’s was known for his “inside-outside” style that moved away from and then toward predicted patterns and melody’s.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the life and legacy of Rivers can teach us about the value of tradition, the importance of breaking away, and the significance of finding our way back.

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Sigmund Freud wrote: “every normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. One’s ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.” How are we complicit in dehumanizing others, and how are we in turn, dehumanized? How do we cope with the unsettling of our fears and the scars of our traumas — in our amusements, and in the casual conversations that we have?

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe helps us take a deeper look at how we interact with the world and ourselves.

How does music help us navigate both our civilizing presence and our raw emotions that run much deeper, beneath? How do the experiences of 20th century jazz musicians help to instruct us in the powerful lessons of difference, Othering, and perseverance?

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Branford Marsalis is an American jazz instrumentalist and composer whose work expands spaces and understandings of the role of jazz in almost every musical genre.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the life and work of Branford Marsalis can teach us today.

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Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz tenor saxophone player who was known for his ability to play multiple instruments at once. He was an outspoken activist and was known also for his sense of humor on stage.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the lessons we can learn from Roland Kirk’s approach to music and to life.

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Hank Jones was a American jazz piano player who’s long career spanned over half a century. He played with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Marilyn Monroe and gained a reputation as an adaptive and supportive musician.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of Hank Jones.

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Jon Faddis is an American jazz trumpeter who is known, in part, for his collaborations with Charles Mingus, early in his career, and later with Dizzy Gillespie. Faddis, not only continues to re-imagine their works, but also to educate musicians on the importance of using jazz as a tool to communicate in our time.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the life and work of Jon Faddis can teach us about working within tradition to evolve, to discover, and to develop as we move through the world each day.

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Geri Allen is an American jazz pianist, composer and educator who continues to bridge the divides of time and space between the jazz of mid century America and today.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of the life and work of Geri Allen.

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In addition to his prowess as a musician, Mikes Davis was a master teacher. Inspiring generations of instrumentalists, he is perhaps best known for encouraging a young group that became known as his Second Quintet.

Along with Miles – Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams together contributed to the great furthering of ensemble playing, inspiring and challenging each other towards great expression.

In the second half of the 1960’s, this Second Quintet responded to free jazz and offered an articulation to turbulent times that still resounds in our day.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of Sun Ra.

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Collaborations are special gifts in life connect us, not only to the present moment with another, but also to a shared sense of the past. In the latest installment of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the partnership between Herby Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and what their work together can teach us today.

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Chick Corea is an American jazz composer and pianist, known for his ability to smoothly glide between jazz standards, avant-garde jazz and fusion. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and work of Chick Corea, and what his approach to music can teach us today.

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Terell Stafford is an American jazz trumpeter and current Director of Jazz Studies at the at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what Stafford’s music and perspective brings to discussions about jazz and American identity today.

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Ben Webster was an American jazz saxophonist who helped to shape the musical landscape of the 20th century. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of Ben Webster.

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Terrance Blanchard is an American jazz trumpet player, composer, and bandleader whose music has helped to shape the sound of distress and anguish, but ultimately hope in the 21st century. His sound continues to evolve as he creates more moving and poignant pieces and soundtracks that speak to the discontent in America due to racial and economic inequality.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about how Blanchard can teach us to listen, not only to the music he creates, but to the feelings, sentiments and frustrations of the times in which we live.

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What can we learn from the life and legacy of Sonny Clark? He was instrumental to the development of bebop and American music in the mid 20th century, not only as one who created and recorded his own tunes, but one who supported the dreams and visions of others as well.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the importance of Clark’s music and

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of bassist, cellist, and composer Oscar Pettiford.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of the late jazz pianist Paul Bley.

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In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of Herbie Nichols.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about the life and legacy of American jazz pianist and bandleader Earl “Fatha” Hines.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe discusses how jazz can help us to prevail against notions of an appending apocalypse in our time.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about the life and legacy of jazz legend Billy Strayhorn.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of Hoagy Carmichael.

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In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the relationship between jazz and psychoanalysis.

These early 20th century emerging ways of life have had a profound effect on our individual spiritual development as well as our identity as a larger civilization, as we consider our dreams, desires, loves, and fears. How do these two disciplines inform each other? How do those who have been outcast or in exile within society find a home in these inventive arts? What happens when Freud and Coltrane meet?

What does it mean to listen and what does it mean to reveal? How can disclosing our vulnerabilities make us more resilient? How can making peace with our past establish a more secure present and future? Where is music in all of this? We will listen to standards within the jazz canon, as we reflect upon the open and concealed ways that our spirit and mind conjoins.

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In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talk about the life and work of American jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about the life and work of jazz trumpeter and medical doctor Eddie Henderson.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life, work, and legacy of jazz saxophonist Phil Woods.

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Red Rodney was an American bebop and hard bop trumpet player who made came up with mentors like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In his lifetime he saw much hardship, including the loss of his wife and daughter in a car accident, and the loss of many of his contemporaries in the jazz world.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what it means to be a “survivor”, and how jazz, and specifically bebop, allows us to confront oppression through resistance, revolution, and reckoning.

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Steve Coleman is an American saxophonist, composer, and band leader who’s work bridges the gaps between spirituality, culture, and time. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of Coleman’s work in our lives today. He suggests that through the music of Steve Coleman we can understand the complexities of our lives and identities, both as meaning everything and nothing in the same moment.

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Oliver Lake is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and poet who co-founded The World Saxophone Quartet in 1977. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the way in which Lake’s music offered a portal for us to understand the civil rights movement and social justice through art. When listening to Oliver Lake and The World Saxophone Quartet we’re are able to understand how to create profound statements without words.

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Abbey Lincoln was an American jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress, who is known for adding a poignant voice to the conversation surrounding the civil rights movement during the 1960s in America. She was a controversial and often marginalized figure, especially following her work on, We Insist, which she, and drummer Max Roach produced in response to the exploitation and oppression of black Americans.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, encourages us to find our voice through the music of Abbey Lincoln. To understand that it matters, to speak out, to break the silence around injustice. Acknowledging that ultimately, in order to heal, one must name the affliction and fully know the illness.

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Ma. Rainey, born Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett, April 26, 1886, was one of the first recorded Blues singers of the 20th century. Her deep, soulful voice is as distinctive as her lyrics, that were considered controversial at the time. Although she is known as “The Mother of The Blues”, her sound laid the foundation for much of the early jazz vocal style. She recorded with Louis Armstrong, and was a big influence on the work of Bob Dylan.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about the life and legacy of Ma. Rainey, and highlights what her approach to her art can teach us today.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about the relationship between jazz and the idea of freedom in America.

He quotes how Duke Ellington describes jazz as,  “a good barometer of freedom.” Ellington said, “In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.”

As we celebrate this nation and the freedom and liberty we enjoy, may we also contemplate the ways in which we still carry around chains, and operate within the prisons of past oppression. Knowing that true emancipation can only be obtained, through the most difficult of all forms of liberation, freeing ourselves from ourselves.

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Andrew Hill was an American jazz pianist and performer, who’s innovative approach to composition, was not only shared on his records and in the clubs, but also in the classroom. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what the life, legacy and perspective of Andrew Hill can teach us about how we, not only approach music, but life also.

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Tonight at Noon is an album by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus, released on the Atlantic label in 1965. The record includes tunes that are melodic and easy, and yet tinged with a dark sentiment that makes you feel as if you are enjoying a beautiful sunset, whilst sitting atop a volcano.

The title Mingus chose for the album almost outlives the music, in subsequent movie titles and book titles about his life. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the album, and it’s title evoke in us.

There is a mystery in the night that Mingus is urging us to see as normal, perhaps in an effort to demystify the jazz conversation, by saying “noon” is not something to be afraid of. “Noon” is happening right here at night and it’s just as acceptable and respectable as anything that happens during the day. In essence, he is taking the darkness out of the night.

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Wes Montgomery was born “John Leslie Montgomery” in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1923. From humble beginnings in the Midwest, he went on to become one of the all time leading jazz guitar players, taking after luminaries like Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about how the unassuming nature of Montgomery allows us to see that revolution and innovation are all around us each day. In the ordinariness of his playing, Montgomery was dangerous. Threatening to the status quo of, not only the everyday, but the avant-garde as well.

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Jackie McLean was and American jazz alto saxophone player, who came up in New York City with greats like Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus. He went on to, not only record with a  wide range of musicians, but he also worked to educate generations of players though presence.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the important lessons McLean’s life and legacy can teach us about our place in the world today, what we give, and how we navigate the sanctity of each moment.

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Rudresh Mahanthappa is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. Much of his music fuses the western improvisational approach to jazz, with sacred music from India, to expand the understanding of what it means to be in a present moment intercontinentally.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what Mahanthappa’s work and style, can teach us about how we understand the process of becoming, as we live in this world.

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“Strange Fruit” is a song, made famous by Billie Holiday, who would often sing it to close her shows when she would perform, discouraging applause from the audience when she sang it. Holiday had a difficult time recording the song, but upon the urging of her friends at Commodore Records, she recorded it for the first time on April 20th, 1939. She was harassed by the FBI and other authorities for singing it, but refused to stop.

Originally written as a poem in 1937 by Abel Meeropol, to protest against American racism and the lynching of African Americans in the south just after the turn of the century, it remains a stark reminder of America’s scars of slavery, bigotry, discrimination, and hatred.

Holiday’s legacy is directly connected to “Strange Fruit”, and Nina Simone said of the song, that it was about the ugliest song she had ever heard, and would later marvel. “Ugly in the sense that it is violent and tears at the guts of what white people have done to my people in this country.”

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what the lamentation of “Strange Fruit” can teach us today, about injustice, humanity,  protest, and peace.

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Herbie Hancock is an American pianist, and composer who’s musical collaborations span the breadth of everyone from Clark Terry and Miles Davis, to Joni Mitchell and Kanye West. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what the life and work of Herbie Hancock can teach us about dedication, inspiration and the power of change.

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Dexter Gordon was an American jazz saxophone player, who helped to cement the bebop style post Charlie Parker and others.  He spent most of his career playing, composing and recording in Europe, as it was a more, “harmonious” place to live and create.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what the life and legacy of Dexter Gordan can teach us about exploration, diversity, and acceptance.

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Charles Lloyd is an American musician who’s primary instrument is the tenor saxophone. He’s recorded with greats like Miles Davis, The Doors, The Beach Boys and most recently Jason Moran. He brings diversity and passion to each performance, and adds his own voice to divergent genres.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the versatility and presence of Lloyd’s work can teach us about how to approach the newness of each day.

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Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist, who continues to build space for evolving styles and techniques in his work on the alto-sax. Inspired by Benny Goodman, Konitz carved out a sound that was, at times, contrary to prevailing ideas of what was “cool” in jazz in the shadow of Charlie Parker.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the importance of Konitz’s life and work, and what his dedication to his craft can teach us about re-inventing our days and selves as we live.

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Blues and the Abstract Truth the triumph of band leader, arranger, and saxophonist Oliver Nelson. It helped to define the sound of an era with the classic “Stolen Moments”, but also assembled an all-star cast of musicians including: Eric Dolphy; Bill Evans; Paul Chambers; and Roy Haynes.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of this seminal record, and what it means to explore truths through abstraction.

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King Curtis was an American saxophonist, who played not only jazz, but R&B, rock n’ roll, and funk as well. His style was powerful and poignant, allowing moments to fully expand and develop. Unfortunately Curtis died young, murdered at the age of 37. In this installment of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the life and legacy of King Curtis can teach us today.

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Joe Sample was an American composer, pianist and keyboard player, and one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders. A native Texan, Sample who began his career in the style of Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, and went on to collaborate with, not only Miles Davis, but also Steely Dan, and Eric Clapton.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi  and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what it means to find truth in spirit and soul rather than in genre, and how Sample’s legacy can teach us to allow for unfamiliar narratives to inform our sense of  exploration within tradition.

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Benny Golson is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger who made his name with greats like John Coltrane, Art Blakey, and Lionel Hampton. Yet, perhaps his best known and recognized composition was for his friend, jazz trumpeter and legend Clifford Brown, who was taken at the age of 25 in a car accident. Golson wrote, “I Remember Clifford”, in the wake of his passing, and you can hear much of Brown’s rich and smooth texture throughout Golson’s piece.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about the life and work of Benny Golson. He explores what it means to memorialize loved ones who have passed before us, as their lives and souls remain vivid within us, even though their bodies are no longer here.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and legacy of Austin-based composer and artist Tina Marsh.

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In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe discusses Jazz and The Art of Celebration.

December is a month of festivities, parties, and traditions, yet for many of us it is a time when the spotlight it pointed at how isolated we may feel without our loved ones, our homes, or our families around us.  In these moments of solitude it is important to remember and celebrate what we do have. The precious lives we are given to live, however sad or difficult they seem in these moments.

The universal sound and momentum of jazz, gives us a soundtrack by which we can follow the rhythms of our heart and our soul. Allowing us to celebrate our lives anew with each note and honor the wonderment of this universe.

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Clark Terry is an American born bebop trumpeter and pioneer of the flugelhorn. Born in the Midwest in 1920 he began his career under  the guidance of legends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and went on to educate generations of musicians including Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis and even Austin’s own Ephraim Owens.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about how precious the life and work of Clark Terry is, as he plays the role, not only of a great musician, but as a hinge that links us to the past, present and future of jazz and America.

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Dave Brubeck was an American jazz  pianist and composer who helped to bring jazz to a mainstream audience, during very turbulent days in America’s history. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe discusses how listening to Brubeck’s music provides us with an opportunity to make change and fight injustices by finding our own voice.

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Willie “The Lion” Smith defined what it meant to be a stride, jazz piano player in 20th century America. As an and African-American Jew, Smith approached the magnitude of WWI, and the early 1900s with a kaleidoscope of perspectives. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, explores what the life, music, and legacy of Smith can teach us today.

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Jon Hendricks is an American jazz singer who is considered to be the poet laureate of jazz. He inspired, and continues to speak to, greats like Bobby McFerrin and even Thelonious Monk. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Bulmofe, explores the way in which, as a singer, Hendricks’ discipline and skill is a remarkable example of the importance of self-care. When we see our body and soul as the “instrument” through which we can make the music of our life, we hold it dear, as Hendrick’s continues to do.

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Don Byron is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist, rooted in jazz. However, his stylistic influences range from heavy metal to klezmer and more. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe explores what it means to go beyond the idea of “avant-garde” and remain inspired and open to all elements of musical expression in this post-post modern era.

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In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the life and music of the great Alice Coltrane.

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Pharoah Sanders is an American jazz saxophonist who came up along side John Coltrane to experiment with “sheets of sound”, and went on to become one of the most inventive composers and musicians in the Avant-garde movement. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe, talks about what we can learn about presence and living in the moment, from the life and work of Pharoah Sanders.

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Chico Hamilton was a jazz drummer and band leader who began his career in California, playing with Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordan and others. He helped to develop an avant-garde sound in jazz in the late 50s and 60s that was, at the same time, accessible and elusive. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the music and legacy of Chico Hamilton can teach us today.

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Kenny Dorham was an American jazz trumpeter who worked with Art Blakey, Charlie Parker and Max Roach among others to help craft the bebop style in mid century America. In addition to his work as a sideman he also formed his own group, The Jazz Prophets featuring Bobby Timmons on piano, bassist Sam Jones, and tenorman J.R. Monterose, with guest Kenny Burrell on guitar.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe considers to significance of Kenny Dorham the musician and prophet, and allows us to examine the power in the present moment through his work.

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Tony Bennett is an American singer and artist who began his career in the wake of WWII and became well known interpreting jazz standards and show tunes. As his career unfolds, and in partnership with his son Danny Bennett, he continues reinvent, not only himself, but also the history of his generation through his daring collaborations.

In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what Bennett’s life and work can teach us about continuing to challenge our notions of who we are, and in each moment recognize a new becoming.

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Johnny Hodges was an American jazz alto saxophonist best known for his work with Duke Ellington’s big band and Billy Strayhorn. His sound was so smooth and melodic that Duke Ellington said, just his tone could bring a tear to your eye.

In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what it means to add your voice to an ensemble, and to know that no matter how big of an impression you make it is but a blink of an eye in the cosmic landscape.

What does it mean to be everything and nothing at all? How do we negotiate our place in this universe, holding at the same time the grandeur and insignificance of each moment? Listening to Johnny Hodges we can understand how important it is to give all we have to making of each piece, and know that it is not the same without us and that we are nothing without it.

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Lee Morgan was an American jazz trumpeter who continued in the wake of Clifford Brown to develop the hard-bop style. He was a prolific recording artist as well, and in his short 33 years of life, recorded over 20 albums. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what it means to live fast  and yet in each moment give of oneself all we have.

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Johnny Hartman was an American jazz singer who is perhaps most well known for his collaborations with John Coltrane, yet he also recorded many solo albums in his relatively short career. His voice was smooth and melodic to spite the fact that he smoked heavily all his life. In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what listening to and understanding the life and legacy of Johnny Hartman can teach us today.

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Eric Dolphy was an American born jazz saxophonist, composer and bass clarinetist who worked with many jazz greats including Charles Mingus to shape a new direction forward for jazz in the 1960s. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what Dolphy’s approach to his music and his life can teach us about courage and determination.

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George Gershwin was an American musician,  composer and visionary whose work at the beginning of the 20th century helped to shaped a collective understanding of the American experience. In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe explores the life and legacy George Gershwin.

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Jaki Byard was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer who collaborated with many artists, significantly Charles Mingus. He incorporated a range of styles in his approach, from ragtime to bebop, and swing to stride. He spanned years of musical tradition, bringing history into one moment–an eternal now. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi Neil Blumofe explores what the music and legacy of Jaki Byard can teach us today.

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Yusef Lateef was an American jazz mufti-instrumentalist, composer and educator who extended the possibilities of what it meant to understand and expand in the jazz genera with a universal sensibility. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe illustrates what the music and legacy of Lateef and his music can teach us about moving past our own ideas of fulfillment, beyond any limitations, to understand the possibilities and richness in the present moment.

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Alfred Lion was a German-Jewish born record executive who made his way to the U.S. via South America in the 1930s. He founded Blue Note Records soon after arriving in America and went on to record many legendary jazz artists; helping to shape the sound, image and meaning of jazz in America. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe explores the significance of Lion’s vision and Blue Note Records.

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Miles Davis is considered one of the most innovative and influential musicians of the 20th century. He added his voice to the narratives of our culture at significant points, and offered a perspective which considered the sanctity of silence in each moment. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi Neil Blumofe acknowledges what Miles Davis can teach us through this approach, not only in music but in our daily lives.

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Archie Shepp is a  jazz saxophonist whose compositions and rhythms added a political and powerful voice to conversations about race, inequality, power and justice in America, especially in the 1970s. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the what it means to be a unique voice in a dialogue of timelessness–rooted in tradition and continuing to unfold.

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Mary Lou Williams was a a giant in the jazz world in the beginning of the 20th century. As an arranger, composer and pianist she worked with Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman and went on to mentor jazz legends like Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.

In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi, jazz historian and musician Neil Blumofe explores how the idea of a “Mother” can be extended beyond our biological lines to include those who love and nurture us, and help to bring us up in this world so we can in turn help and love others.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Professor Longhair, born Henry Roeland Byrd in Louisianan in 1918 was a piano player who shaped the sound of New Orleans’ jazz in the early 20th Century. Much of how we imagine New Orleans, and especially Marti Gras, is flavored and textured by the rhythm created by Professor Longhair. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi Neil Blumofe explores what it means explore the New Orleans of today through the ghosts of it’s past.

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Lionel Hampton was was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. In 1936 he was discovered by Benny Goodman and with Goodman’s band he created a space for the vibraphone in popular swing music. He was also a outspoken advocate for Israel in the 50s as well as a civil rights leader.

In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe explores how Hampton’s hard work and dedication to not only his music, but to an ethos of revolution and freedom, allows us to recognize the importance of the private day-to-day work that goes into building a life of worth and meaning.

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Charlie Rouse was an American hard bop tenor saxophonist and much sought-after sideman. He is known primarily for his collaboration with Thelonious Monk. In this edition of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about the significance of the role of the “sidemen” and “associates” in our lives, and why it is important to appreciate all the parts that make up a greater whole.

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Bill Frisell is not only an innovator on jazz guitar, but has worked in many genres to develop a sound-rich landscape. He fuses many cultures and sensibilities together, which can help us navigate our way through the modern American experience, both tangibly and metaphysically. Rabbi Neil Blumofe describes his sound as post-post-modern.

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What does it mean to be a patron of the arts? Perhaps you have the means to support art innovation in your community, or maybe you are a producer of music or art and you work behind the scenes. Maybe your way of supporting art is just showing up. All of these are means of developing an artistic community and building a creative environment for future generations.

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Singer Nat King Cole is well known for his smooth baritone voice, but he started his career as a jazz pianist. His popularity grew through radio and eventually television as he sang a broad range of tunes, including pop music.

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This is the body.

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This is the body.

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This is the body.

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This is the body.

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As we turn to the new year, what will be different? Look to jazz for the innovation and inspiration, for discovery and improvisation. It’s the core of what jazz represents. It can also be applied to the lives that we live and the dreams that we have in order to make things matter.

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Tradition compresses time and brings us into the moment of timelessness when things are safe. In jazz, the art of tradition is to recreate sounds and lives, to bring the listener back home, especially during the holidays. The tradition of jazz is the expectation of improvisation and requiring the artist to be on top of their game.

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American jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker crafted the sound that was eventually called bebop. This deeply soulful music gave him and other musicians a way to express themselves in original ways. Parker’s addiction to heroine unfortunately cut his life short at just 34 years old. He died in the hotel room of his friend Nica.

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Drummer Chico Hamilton is considered a voice of West Coast Jazz. He found success in movie soundtracks and eventually formed his own ensemble. In the late ’50s and into the 1960s he performed with many jazz greats like Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Charles Mingus and others.

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Composer, conductor and pianist Leonard Bernstein had a lengthy storied career. His music speaks of the “can-do-ism” of Americans. It crossed through jazz, classical, musicals, television and movies. Bernstein is an iconic figure in our musical heritage.

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Kathleen Annie Pannonica Rothschild, nicknamed Nica, was referred to as the jazz baroness. She was more than just a patron of jazz. She provided support and encouragement to many of the great artists during the ’40s and ’50s. In the early sixties she compiled a book called “The jazz musicians and their three wishes” which was published in 2006.

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Recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder helped shape the sound of jazz for Blue Note Records. It became known as the Van Gelder sound, but like it or not, it left an enduring impression on jazz for years.

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The collaboration of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn led to a collection of music that has spanned generations. Their music and compositions are seemingly effortlessly entwined.

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Jelly Roll Morton, born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, claimed to be a founder of what became known jazz as both a musician and composer.

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Coleman Hawkins was at the head of the line in forging a path for the saxophone as an instrument and for the countless saxophonists that would follow him. Hawkins began his successful career in the early 1920s.

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O’Day transcended what was socially acceptable as a girl singer in the late 1930s to become an accomplished jazz singer throughout the following decades. Anita O’Day Sings Jazz, her first album, was recorded in 1952. O’Day performed with Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, and many others during her career.

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Sinatra was responsible for the popularity of the male singer in big band movement. He was able to merge his arts of music and acting. Sinatra has one of the most enduring voices in music, jazz or otherwise.

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Hard bop was popularized by Cannonball Adderely in the 1950s and 1960s. Adderely reinvigorated jazz in the 1970s after a successful career playing with many of the jazz greats.

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Sonny Rollins pioneered a bass drum rhythm section with no piano so his saxophone playing would stand out as well as be a rhythm instrument itself. Rollins joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1955.

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Alto saxophone player Art Pepper redefined himself repeatedly, and each time gained greater respect and popularity.

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A pioneer of the drums, Max Roach revolutionized the concept of musical time. Max’s playing and interpretation of time inspired generations of jazz musicians and drummers.

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Herb Ellis gave us a different way of looking at the different ways of coping with the events of the 1950s and 1960s. He incorporated the blues and twang into a bee bop sound with his jazz guitar playing. He’s most well-known for joining the Oscar Peterson Trio in the 1950s.

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Jazz producer and music impresario Norman Granz was born to Jewish immigrants in Los Angeles and came of age in pre-WWII America. During a time of segregation, fear and war Granz wanted to unite, desegregate and entertain. He arranged desegregated jam sessions in LA that later turned into Jazz at The Philharmonic. He started various record labels including Verve and Clef, and produced albums with many jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. In this feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe highlights the important role Granz played in moving jazz forward and elevating its status as a seminal American art form.

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Rabbi Neil Blumofe examines American jazz musician in this week’s Liner Notes short. The composer, arranger and pianist is most well known for his involvement in the bebop era, but also in the swing and hard bop genres. The Cleveland native collaborated with other Liner Notes artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Golson. He is described as the “romanticist” of he bepop era, as said by saxophonist Dexter Gordon and elaborated upon by Blumofe.

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With her ability to banter with the audience and outspoken sense of humor Sarah Vaughn was best described as “sassy.” Her first big break came after she won an amateur night at the famous Apollo Theatre.  She would go on to work with such great jazz musicians as Louie Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Count Basie, and create such hits as “Broken Hearted Melody” and “Lover Man.” Though she mostly sang the songs given to her by commercial labels, she showed off her impressive three octave range and brought a flare to the stage filled with laughter, poise, and her own personal kind of charm. Join Rabbi Neil as he discusses the music and life of jazz icon, Sarah Vaughan.

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Hank Mobley was a self-taught hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophone player whose sound was situated between that of John Coltrane and Stan Getz. As a bandleader he worked to encourage musicians to develop their concepts and skills past what they may have thought possible, as he created a space for performers to work out their own vision within his compositions. In this short feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe illuminates the importance of those who will not settle for a glory in mediocrity, but who urge others to reach further and extend their concept of what is possible.

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This is the body.

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This is the body.

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This is the body.

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This is the body.

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Coming from a troubled childhood, Ella Fitzgerald found solace in music and song. Discovered at age 17, after singing in the style of the Boswell sisters in a talent competition, she would become the top female jazz singer for 50 years. Her distinctive vocals and her ability to personally hear and feel the emotion in her songs, would lead her to be an inspiration for female vocalists such as Aretha Franklin, Vannesa Williams, and Janis Ian. Though critics complained that her voice lacked the depth and blues of other singers, it was that voice and her style that set her apart from other female vocalists of her time. Join us for this segment of Liner Notes where we’ll be discussing the impact of Ella Fitzgerald’s life and music.

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With his conception of harmonics and driving tempos, Dizzy Gillespie was an architect of the modern sound (bebop), daring others to reach for the stars, alongside him. His virtuosity and creativity helped to define a whole new approach to improvisation and self-expression, as his career spanned more than 50 years. An entertainer as well as an accomplished artist, Dizzy brought intelligence and wit to his playing – an example of confidently showcasing what is possible. In this short feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe explores what Gillespie’s legacy can teach us about the revolutionary aspect of humor, and how we can live in accordance with an authentic self, while understanding what masks we wear and what they may represent.

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Jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown is known for his precise and captivatingly smooth technique, and as a musician who died before his time in a tragic car crash at the age of 25. He recorded most notably with drummer Max Roach and saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and his compositions Joy Spring and Daahoudare jazz standards to this day. His lasting impact on the jazz cannon is profound. In this short feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe discusses what Brown’s legacy teaches us about the strength and importance of following ones own path in spite of contradictory expectations.

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Billie Holiday once said, “No two people on earth are alike, and it’s got to be that way in music or it isn’t music.” As we look back on her life and legacy we gain a deep appreciation for her unique voice, and the authenticity and openness of her approach to music. Even as she struggled with drugs, alcohol, abusive relationships and racism she maintained a raw understanding of her perspective. When she is judged by everything but the genius of her body of work, we recognize and fear that it might happen to us as well. However, as we listen and connect with her through her music we gain a deeper understanding of both the vulnerability and strength in our passions.

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As we recognize Bud Powell as one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, we must also acknowledge how much of his greatness and potential was muted beneath the cruelty and inhumane treatment that marked so much of mid 20th century America. Yet, even through the pain he suffered, when he sat down to perform at the piano he would continue to amaze audiences and musicians alike with his remarkable dexterity, speed and timing.His legacy reminds us of the tightrope we walk each day as we try to remain close to those things we need to sustain our souls in a time when exterior elements beyond our control are battling for our attentions, our bodies, our minds and our spirits. When listening to the genius of Bud Powell we can hear and feel the sheer force of human will, and the power one exudes when fully present amidst the chaos both inside and out.

The post Bud Powell (Sunday 3.31.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

In the 1930’s, the clarinetist and bandleader, Benny Goodman, brought jazz stylings to mainstream America. With this short feature jazz historian and Rabbi Neil Blumofe muses on how Goodman offered a space for freedom and expression which combated early 20th century ideologies based on fear and tyranny. In an age of segregation, creeping fear, and xenophobia, Goodman boldly set forth a new agenda for American music, integrating his band and exasperating the assumptions of culture, sophistication, and assumed ways of life. His legacy reminds us to reconsider regimented ideas of identity and forge our own paths against repression.

The post Benny Goodman (Sunday 3.24.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The post Louis Armstrong (3.10.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

This is the body.

The post Charles Mingus (Sunday 3.3.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

This is the body.

The post Thelonious Monk (Sunday 2.24.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

This is the body.

The post Miles Davis and Kind of Blue (Sunday 2.17.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jazz legend John Coltrane offered a spiritual dimension to the jazz conversation and continues to inspire innovation amongst musicians today. In this short segment rabbi Neil Blumofe highlights some of Coltrane’s most transformational works and adds a spiritual perspective to the importance of his music in our lives today.

The post John Coltrane (Sunday 2.10.13) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.