Jazz Backstory

Jazz Backstory

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The podcast series, Jazz Backstory, is based on the holdings of the Fillius Jazz Archive (https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/arts-at-hamilton/jazzarchive) located at Hamilton College (https://www.hamilton.edu/), in Clinton, New York. Established in 1995, and dedicated in 2013 in honor of Milton F. Fillius, Jr. ’44 and Nelma “Nikki” Nenneau Fillius, the Fillius Jazz Archive holds a collection of over 440 videotaped interviews with jazz musicians, arrangers, writers and producers. The wide-ranging collection includes interviews with sidemen, soloists and band leaders who have performed from the 1920s through the present. Jazz Backstory podcast episodes will feature interview excerpts focused on topics inherent to the creative life. Artists, both famous and unsung, relate these tales in their own jazz inflected vocabulary. Original music and commentary from the host help set the tone, both educational and swinging. Monk Rowe (https://www.monkrowe.com/), creator of the podcast series, Jazz Backstory, and the Joe Williams Director of the Fillius Jazz Archive, conducted the majority of the interviews and has presented programs about the resource at conferences for the Jazz Education Network, the Music Library Association, and the International Society of Music Educators. Monk co-authored with Romy Britell the book Jazz Tales From Jazz Legends on Hamilton’s Couper Press and created the edX online course, “Jazz: The Music, The Stories, The Players” in collaboration with members of the Library and Instructional Technology Services at Hamilton College. He is an active performer on saxophone and piano and has composed numerous works for both jazz and classical ensembles.

Monk Rowe


    • Oct 1, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Jazz Backstory

    Episode 32: “Jazz Advice: The Practical and the Profound” - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 38:33


    The jazz life is not an easy one and the life skills learned along the path can be relevant to anyone, in any field of endeavor. Season 4 ends with profound statements from Charles McPherson, Stefon Harris, Karolina Strassmayer, Maria Schneider, Denis DiBlasio, Joe Williams, Harold Ousley and Gregory Caputo.

    Episode 31: “Jazz Advice: The Practical and the Profound ” - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 26:27


    Veteran jazz musicians share their wisdom in the form of advice to those who wish to follow in their footsteps. Phil Woods, Jerry Bergonzi, Dan Barrett, Wayne Bergeron, Tom “Bones” Malone, Teri Lynne Carrington and Rick Montalbano offer practical guidance, gained from decades of gigs.

    Episode 30: “Military Music ” - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 39:04


    Music played a positive, even lifesaving role for soldiers during the Korean and Vietnam War years. In this episode, we hear from Jake Hanna, Frank Foster, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Junior Mance and Hal Espinosa.

    Episode 29: “Military Music ” - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 31:34


    Jazz musicians were not exempt from service in the U.S. military. Jay McShann, John Bunch, Louis Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Clark Terry, Orrin Keepnews, George Wein, Joe Bushkin and Bobby Johnson speak about their experiences during WWII.

    music world war ii jazz military clark terry bobby johnson george wein louis bellson jay mcshann john bunch orrin keepnews
    Episode 28: “Scrolling Down the Leader Board”

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 40:34


    A band leader sampler. Veteran sidemen Eddie Bert, Peter Erskine, Don Menza and Marshall Allen provide inside stories about Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Sun Ra and Joe Zawinul. Maria Schneider weighs in on the role and responsibility of a leader.

    Episode 27: “Benny Goodman”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 27:56


    Benny Goodman played a marvelous clarinet and his bands sold a ton of records while packing audiences into dance halls and Carnegie style halls. He was also enigmatic and frequently oblivious of his surroundings. Jerry Jerome, Sonny Igoe, Bucky Pizzarelli, Flip Phillips and Skitch Henderson share their memories of working with The King of Swing.

    Episode 26: “Count Basie”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 29:46


    For pure swing, the bands lead by William “Count” Basie will never be equaled. Harry “Sweets” Edison, Ed Shaughnessey, Snooky Young, Gerald Wilson and Joe Williams offer personal anecdotes and insights that help us understand the man who personified big band swing.

    Episode 25: “Duke Ellington”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 30:00


    Our first four episodes look at iconic big band leaders, beginning with Edward “Duke “ Ellington. Former sidemen and associates including Clark Terry, Phoebe Jacobs, Bill Berry, Buster Cooper, Grover Mitchell, Louis Bellson and John Lamb offer inside stories that illuminate the Duke's unique talent and personality.

    "Jazz International" - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 30:23


    Season 3 wraps up with powerful stories of aspiring jazz players who were willing to follow their passion even if it meant leaving their homeland. Joe Temperley, James Moody, Pierre Boussaguett, Ada Rovatti , Arturo Sandoval and Rossano Sportiello help us understand the jazz calling.

    "Jazz International" - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 35:06


    Jazz was the first American music to be embraced and copied around the world. Its infectious swing and message of democracy between musicians rang a bell from Scotand to Japan. Steve Allen, Dave Brubeck, Alan Raph, Ignacio Berroa, Eiji Kitamura and Toshiko Akiyoshi speak to the magnetic attraction of American jazz.

    "The Color of Jazz" - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 28:06


    For many black musicians, jazz was more than a gig and a way to make bread. Cecil McBee, Jon Hendricks, Rashied Ali, Doug Carn and Vincent Pelote speak about the importance of this music in their lives and its role in bridging the distance between races, on and off the bandstand.

    color jazz jon hendricks doug carn rashied ali
    "The Color of Jazz" - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 26:39


    Jazz is one of America's most original art forms. Its origins are well documented but controversy regarding ownership and race vs. skill persist. The opinions that matter most are offered by the practitioners. Jon Hendricks, Frank Foster, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry and Louis Bellson weigh in on the topic of jazz and race.

    "Jotting Down Notes/The Arrangers" - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 35:29


    Current arrangers including Oliver Nelson Jr., Steve Turre, Maria Schneider, Dave Rivello, and Lisa Parrott share their philosophies about music software, deadlines and enabling other musicians to sound good.

    "Jotting Down Notes/The Arrangers" - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 33:53


    In the early days of jazz, musicians engaged in group improvisations, creating arrangements on the fly. As bands became larger, the writing down of parts for individual players became a requirement. Present and past jazz arrangers including Stefon Harris, Mike Abene, Ray Conniff, Bill Holman and Frank Foster speak about their craft.

    "In the Studios-West Coast " - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 38:30


    Los Angeles eventually rivaled New York as a center for recording with an emphasis on pop music and film scores. Jazz players were the go to hires once again. Paul Smith, Ernie Watts, Bobby Shew, Wayne Bergeron and Tom Scott take us inside the L.A. recording studios.

    "In the Studios-East Coast" - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 29:55


    After the big band era played itself out, the most versatile jazz musicians found plentiful work in the studios, recording every genre of music imaginable. Episode 19 focuses on the East Coast recording scene, specifically New York City. Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Alan Raph and Manny Albam share their studio stories.

    “The Producers”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 29:50


    Helen Dance, George Avakian, Orrin Keepnews and Joel Dorn do their best to describe the role of a jazz producer, the person “behind the glass.”

    producers joel dorn orrin keepnews
    “Records and Record Dates” - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 29:53


    A second spin on the recording business with stories from James Moody, Alicia Olatuja, Bela Fleck and Steve Allen.

    “Records and Record Dates” – pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 30:07


    One nighters, life on a bus and minimal salaries may seem worth it when jazz musicians finally find themselves in a recording studio. Doc Cheatham, Toshiko Akiyoshi, John Best and others speak about memorable records and recording sessions.

    “Jazz Life On the Road” - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2023 30:02


    Sonny Igoe, Al Grey, Ruth Brown and Joe Wilder offer more road tales both poignant and humorous. Racial discrimination plays a role in these road travails.

    “Jazz Life On the Road”- pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 31:39


    Musicians need gigs and they need to go anywhere they can find them. The “romance” of the road becomes realistic with tales from Bucky Pizzarelli, Kenny Davern, Carmen Leggio and Jimmy Lewis.

    “Swing”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 30:06


    Swing is inseparable from jazz, yet remains an elusive quality. Episode 11 takes a deep dive in what makes music swing and calls on Ed Shaughnessey, Steve Allen, Bernard Purdie and Gerald Wilson for expert input.

    “Why Jazz?” – pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 30:40


    The “rich jazz musician” oxymoron is the focus of Part 2. Billy Bauer, Ellis Marsalis, Marshall Allen and others address the issue of money, or lack thereof, that is an ever present concern in the jazz life.

    “Why Jazz?” – pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 30:11


    What possesses young musicians to start down the jazz path and keep following it, simply liking the music isn't nearly enough. Artists including Sheila Jordan, Don Alias, Ron Carter and Flip Phillips attempt to describe the devotion to the music.

    “A Slice of the Jazz Life” - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 33:36


    We wrap up Season 1 with a second slice. Stories from Benny Powell, Bill Watrous, Charles Davis, Ronnie Zito and Glenn Zottola make it clear that the jazz life itself is an improvisation.

    “A Slice of the Jazz Life” - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 31:25


    The life of a jazz musician is never boring. George Shearing, Marian McPartland, Terry Gibbs and Milt Hinton regale us with behind-the-scenes scenarios, both poignant and absurd.

    “Jazz Improvisation” - pt.2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 27:25


    The task of defining the undefinable falls to a second group of improvisors. Bill Watrous, Jane Ira Bloom, Dr. Denny Zeitlin and Michael Weiss add their personal perspectives.

    michael weiss jazz improvisation jane ira bloom bill watrous denny zeitlin
    “Jazz Improvisation” - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 21:39


    Improvisation is at the core of a jazz performance and we called on Joe Wilder, Dianne Reeves, Bill Charlap and Charles McPherson to describe what it is and how it is done.

    “Learning the Art of Jazz” - pt.2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 23:30


    Dr. Billy Taylor, Phil Woods, Holly Hofmann and Jerry Jerome continue the tales of entering the jazz life before the music was accepted by academia.

    ”Learning the Art of Jazz” - pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 21:10


    Inspiration set the path to jazz, the subsequent learning process required mentors, trial and error and “dues paying." Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Eddie Locke and John Pizzarelli share their memories.

    “Beginnings" - pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 31:59


    A second set of engaging “a-ha” anecdotes from Kenny Davern, Nat Adderley, Annie Ross and Junior Mance.

    “Beginnings" - pt.1 

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 25:16


    It all starts somewhere, and often early on. Jazz Backstory begins with tales of childhood inspiration, moments that in retrospect, launched careers. Interviewees include Jon Hendricks. Sherrie Maricle, Dave Valentin and Ed Shaughnessey.

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