Podcast appearances and mentions of adam maness

Adam Maness brings you the freshest releases of May 2026!0:00 Intro0:50 Jeff Parkerhttps://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/happy-today3:45 Greg Hutchinsonhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/kind-of-now-mw0004778588 6:15 Chris Potterhttps://chrispotterjazz.bandcamp.com/album/alive-with-ghosts-today9:09 New Jazz Undergroundhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/hoodies-mw000479189111:04 Virginia MacDonaldhttps://virginiamacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of13:00 Harry Skolerhttps://harryskoler1.bandcamp.com/album/echoes15:05 Laurie Anderson & Sexmobhttps://laurieanderson.bandcamp.com/album/let-x-x-live17:06 Alabaster DePlumehttps://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/dear-children-of-our-children-i-knew-epilogue19:31 Ben Wolfehttps://benjonah.bandcamp.com/album/any-time-after-now 21:30 Joe Lovanohttps://joelovano.com/recordings/paramount-quartet/

Sonny Rollins passed away this week at 95. Jazz pianists Peter and Adam are listening through the recordings that defined his career and made him one of the most influential musicians in jazz history. From his earliest bebop tunes to Saxophone Colossus to A Night at the Village Vanguard, they trace the arc of a player who kept raising the bar on himself even when the rest of the world thought he'd already cleared it. Plus - they talk through the legendary Williamsburg Bridge sabbatical: two years of practicing up to 16 hours a day.------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.00:00 Sonny Rollins (1930-2026)00:37 Celebrating Sonny Rollins: Opening Tribute04:54 Sonny as the Bridge Between Bebop Generations05:57 "Autobahn" 09:47 "Pent-Up House" 12:56 "I'll Remember April" 16:10 "Oleo" 17:32 "Tenor Madness" 19:32 "More Than You Know" 21:19 "The Way You Look Tonight" 22:51 "Bemsha Swing" with Clark Terry24:00 Is Sonny Rollins the Most Influential Tenor Saxophone Player of All Time?28:01 "St. Thomas" from Saxophone Colossus34:40 "I'm an Old Cowhand" from Way Out West36:14 "A Night at the Village Vanguard" (Afternoon Set)39:00 "Wonderful! Wonderful!" 40:50 The Williamsburg Bridge Sabbatical44:04 "Without a Song" 46:29 Later Career: 1970s - 201249:13 "Blue Seven"

Miles Davis's Kind of Blue is one of the greatest albums of all time - possibly THE greatest. But it's not perfect. In this special episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down this classic record, track-by-track, to uncover why it has become so legendary. They dig into what's really going on in the music during this album's best moments: Miles's trumpet solo on "So What", Wynton Kelly's piano solo on "Freddie Freeloader", John Coltrane's entrance on "Blue in Green".Plus - we learn more about what Miles was doing in his early years, his break from bebop, what he thought of Bill Evans's approach, and the production and engineering techniques that give Kind of Blue its unique sound.Miles Davis was born just outside of St. Louis 100 years ago this week. To celebrate his centennial birthday, Adam and Peter filmed this episode in front of a live audience at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, MO.Chapters Legend: 

Herbie Hancock's Thrust (1974) is one of the most influential jazz-funk records ever made. Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down the full album, track-by-track: Mike Clark's displaced backbeats, why Paul Jackson is such an unusual bass player and possibly the greatest Rhodes solo of all time. Plus - Adam shares a story about learning "Spank-A-Lee" at 16, and Peter tells us about meeting Paul Jackson for the first time. And ... is "Actual Proof" ACTUALLY the best track on the album?-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi------------------------------Maiden Voyage: https://youtu.be/ZQ6ICxe2wjEHead Hunters: https://youtu.be/wM-_44deuSY------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------00:00 Thrust - Herbie Hancock00:30 Herbie Before Thrust: Miles & The Headhunters03:01 Drummer Mike Clark Joins the Band03:35

Could Parliament be the most important band of the 1970s? Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Parliament's 1975 masterpiece Mothership Connection track-by-track: Bootsy Collins bass lines that launched a thousand samples, grooves that lock you in and won't let go, and the New Orleans connection that George Clinton says started the whole thing. Plus: isolated bass and drums stems. You'll never hear Parliament the same way again.Chapters Legend:

Join Adam Maness as he delves into the best new music released in April 2026 (ish). This month we're featuring the incredible microtonal Angine de Poitrine and many more!

YHI + McBride = Ray Charles?! Christian McBride - bassist, Grammy winner and one of the greatest musical minds working today - joins Adam and Peter on You'll Hear It to share his desert island album.If you know Christian, you know that his musical hero is James Brown. But Christian isn't bringing a James Brown pick. Instead, he's bringing one from his hero's hero ... Ray Charles.This album was a risky move for Charles - unlike anything else he'd released at that time. At the peak of his power, he set aside the qualities that made him famous: his voice and his piano.This one's a deep cut. But once you listen, you'll never hear Ray Charles the same way again.Chapters Legend:

You've never heard Kid A like THIS. Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Radiohead's 2000 art rock MASTERPIECE track-by-track to uncover what's really happening in the music that makes this album so incredible. Why do we love Radiohead's Kid A so much? Watch to find out.PLUS - Jazz musicians play Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place". One shot, one take, no AI. FULL video: https://youtu.be/c5w9BHKe0rc-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Hidden artifacts from the albums we love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------Chapters Legend:

Cookin', Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin' capture Miles Davis on one of music history's most remarkable upswings. He had recently become clean after a years-long heroin addiction that led to his exclusion from major record labels and clubs. And now, in 1956, he had a deal with Columbia - the Cadillac of record labels - and a band he loved: Red Garland on piano, Philly Joe Jones on drums, Paul Chambers on bass and John Coltrane playing the sax. In this episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness go through each album. They discuss the outsized influence of Ahmad Jamal, Red Garland's Red spread technique, the power of Miles's chatter on Relaxin' and whether this is the greatest rhythm section in the history of recorded music. Whether this is your first introduction to Miles Davis, or you've been listening to these albums for years, you'll walk away from this episode with a new understanding of, and appreciation for, Miles and his first great quintet. ------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi------------------------------Some Day My Prince Will Come: https://youtu.be/a_Ygq74SjvQBirth of the Cool: https://youtu.be/eEl9-z6G2tU My Funny Valentine: https://youtu.be/-9mMbZMtyGs -------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter -------------------------------0:00 Miles Davis - Cookin', Relaxin', Workin' & Steamin'0:47 The Comeback Story5:17 Miles & Monk at Newport '558:54 "My Funny Valentine"11:09 Miles to Red: 'Play Like Ahmad Jamal'13:51 "Blues by Five"17:39 BTS: Trane Comes Into His Own21:06 Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet22:40 "If I Were a Bell"29:59 "You're My Everything"32:54 The POWER of Miles's Intro Chatter36:40 "Oleo"38:15 "It Never Entered My Mind"41:58 "Four"46:44 Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet48:25 "Surrey with the Fringe on Top"53:22 "Salt Peanuts"55:08 "Well You Needn't"55:30 "When I Fall in Love"56:27 "If I Were a Bell" Over the Years58:03 Desert Island Tracks58:36 Apex Moments

Marvin Gaye's I Want You could be one of his greatest albums, and he didn't even write it. Producer Leon Ware wrote most of the songs for himself. Marvin Gaye was only supposed to record the title track. But he heard Leon playing a demo of the album one night and stayed up listening until morning. The next day, he asked Ware if he could have the whole thing.In this episode, Peter and Adam break down why the title track, "I Want You", might be one of his best songs, and whether the rest of the album can possibly live up to it.This episode was recorded before the passing of James Gadson (June 17, 1939 – April 2, 2026), the drummer on I Want You. Gadson was one of the defining session drummers of 1970s soul. He was the drummer behind "Lean On Me," "I Will Survive," "Express Yourself", and the groove that powers this very album. Rest in peace, James.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi------------------------------Adam and Peter break down Marvin Gaye's What's Going On: https://youtu.be/PHowrEiaInQ-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------00:00 I Want You - Marvin Gaye00:39 Welcome: You'll Hear It from Open Studio01:53 Who is Leon Ware? The Man Behind the Music07:23 "I Want You"14:39 The Keys Are Back! Breaking Down "I Want You"16:52 Isolated Stems on "I Want You"20:53 Can the Rest of the Album Live Up to Track 1?21:52 Kendrick Lamar's Interpolation25:27 "Come Live With Me Angel"28:20 "After the Dance"31:11 "Feel All My Love Inside"35:03 "I Wanna Be Where You Are"38:18 "All the Way Around": The Best Moment On the Album?40:07 "Since I Had You"42:07 "Soon I'll Be Loving You Again"43:40 "After the Dance"45:16 "After the Dance (Vocal)"46:41 Desert Island Tracks / Apex Moments / Bespoke Playlist Title55:00 Snob-o-Meter / Better Than? / Accoutrements58:00 Leon Ware Released HIS Version the Same Year59:44 GALA + Thank You1:01:23 Coda: "I Want You" feat. Brian Owens + James Gadson Tribute

Buena Vista Social Club: The album so good it's life-affirming. And it almost didn't happen.In 1996, an American musician landed in Cuba to record a music project with Malian musicians. But when they didn't show up, Ry Cooder and his producer, Juan de Marcos González, went looking for replacements. That's when they found Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and Rubén González, who had seen their musical prime decades earlier in the 40s and 50s. Compay was nearing his 90s, and some believed he had died, until he showed up on Buena Vista Social Club. Rubén hadn't played in years, and didn't even own a piano. But together with a cast of all-star Cuban musicians, they created what would become the best-selling world music album of all time. How did Buena Vista Social Club become a global phenomenon? In this episode of You'll Hear It, Peter Martin and Adam Maness listen to the record track-by-track to understand what makes this album so magnetic, and how it holds up 30 years later. Plus - a FIRST in You'll Hear It history.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------00:00 - Buena Vista Social Club 00:55 - Why This Episode is NEXT LEVEL06:59 - "Chan Chan"10:24 - The Story of Buena Vista Social Club14:34 - "De Camino a la Vereda"16:27 - "El Cuarto de Tula"20:09 - "Pueblo Nuevo (Danzón)"24:26 - "Dos Gardenias"26:12 - "Y Tú Qué Has Hecho?"28:15 - "Veinte Años"29:49 - Omara's On Stage Shout Out to Peter31:09 - "El Carretero"32:33 - "Candela"34:38 - "Amor de Loca Juventud"35:55 - "Orgullecida"37:03 - "Murmullo"39:48 - "Buena Vista Social Club (Title Track)"44:38 - "La Bayamesa"46:12 - Peter's BIG Reveal47:40 - The BEST Moments on BVSC49:33 - Categories: Bespoke Playlists, Quibble Bits and Snobometer51:52 - What to Listen to Next 54:19 - Open Studio Plays "Chan Chan" 

What happens when you put three of jazz's biggest personalities in a studio for a day? You get Money Jungle: Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Can it work? Miles Davis hated it. Others revere it. And the story behind this album is WILD.It's perhaps the most tense album we've ever listened to. And this episode of You'll Hear It is possibly the most we have ever disagreed about an album! Listen for the music, the hot takes, or just to see what all the fuss is about. No matter your reason for listening to this episode, you'll never hear Money Jungle the same way again.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------Related You'll Hear It episodes:Mingus Ah Um: https://youtu.be/XYeRZ0Awui4Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington: https://youtu.be/Z5YJr2iLG74-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter -------------------------------00:00 - Money Jungle: Ellington, Mingus, Roach01:00 - Can This Record Work?05:06 - "Money Jungle": Mingus is Menacing!09:15 - What Was Really Happening That Day12:17 - Musical Context Leading Up to Money Jungle14:15 - "Fleurette Africaine": Stunning Bass Work17:00 - Must Great Artists Make Great Art? Not Always20:18 - Why Money Jungle Keeps Showing Up on "Greatest" Lists23:45 - "Very Special": Can This Song Win Over Peter?27:07 - One Week Later: Duke Ellington & John Coltrane29:32 - Adam's Hot Take: Duke's Magnificent Final Act36:43 - "A Warm Valley": That Piano Sound!39:35 - "Wig Wise": Sounding Like Monk. Can You Hear It?42:59 - We Don't Talk About This Enough In Jazz45:27 - "Caravan": Best Moment on Money Jungle48:18 - Or Is THIS the Best Moment on Money Jungle?52:25 - Want to Learn to Play Like Duke? Join Open Studio!55:55 - "Solitude": A Musical F-You to End the Album1:02:42 - Is This a "Emperor Has No Clothes" Situation?1:03:40 - Desert Island Tracks + Bespoke Playlists01:05:40 - Quibble Bits ... Do We Even Need to Ask?01:08:48 - How Snobby Is This Album?01:10:35 - What to Listen to Next01:11:18 - Have We Ever Disagreed This Much? Wrap-Up

We're looking at the best jazz releases of March 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks.Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi

Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington: The musicians on this album were already legends when it came out in 1955. Each of them completely reinvented how people play their instruments. Drummer Kenny Clarke: the originator of so much of modern drumming language. Bass player Oscar Pettiford: possibly the greatest bass soloist in the history of the instrument. And then there's Monk, one of the singular greatest pianists of all time. And here they are playing the music of Duke Ellington: an untouchable legend. The result is an album that brought Monk's genius to the masses. And it may just be one of his best. In this LIVE episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down this remarkable moment in music history, playing Monk's interpretations next to Duke's originals. If you've never really got Monk, this album is your gateway into his music. And if you're already a fan, you'll never hear this album the same way again.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter -------------------------------0:00 - "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"2:07 - You'll Hear It Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center6:02 - The Story of Thelonious Monk8:24 - First Official Recording: Coleman Hawkins Quartet (1944)10:21 - Keepnews Big Idea to Bring Monk to the Masses14:46 - "It Don't Mean a Thing": Duke's original vs. Monk's version20:40 - Bassist Oscar Pettiford's Sophisticated Musical Language24:10 - Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald's Version27:38 - "Sophisticated Lady"31:44 - "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" 35:08 - Bet You Can't Guess This Singer39:10 - "Black and Tan Fantasy": Duke (1927) vs. Monk42:30 - Oscar Pettiford Plays "Basso Profundo" with Duke Ellington45:00 - "Tricotism" - Oscar Pettiford 45:55 - Kenny Clarke deep dive47:48 - "Mood Indigo" 49:50 - "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart": Duke's original vs. Monk's version52:30 - "Solitude"55:00 - "Caravan": Duke's original vs. Monk's version 58:35 - Categories: Desert Island, Apex Moments, Bespoke Playlists, Quibble Bits59:50 - Drummer Kenny Clarke's Brush Master Class1:04:00 - Is This Better than Kind of Blue?1:04:55 - What to Listen to Next

D'Angelo's Brown Sugar sounded like nothing else in 1995. R&B was slick, polished, and built for clubs. D'Angelo later said the "deeper consciousness" had gone out of contemporary music. Questlove later wrote that contemporary R&B had become "trite" and "soulless" ... and then there was Brown Sugar, D'Angelo's debut album. It sounded more like the '70s than the '90s. More like church than the club. On this episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin go track by track through D'Angelo's debut, pulling apart the vocal stems, naming the jazz chords underneath the soul, and tracing every influence back to its root. They also bring in the archival recordings you might have missed: a live set from the Jazz Café London that gives the album a whole second life, and a J Dilla remix.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------Related You'll Hear It episodes:Voodoo: https://youtu.be/AYqmFNF2s0U-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter -------------------------------00:00 - D'Angelo's Brown Sugar01:11 - Let's Go Back to 1995 05:35 - "Brown Sugar"08:30 - Engineer Bob Power's Influence 09:13 - "Brown Sugar" Felt Different From Anything Else in 199516:57 - D'Angelo on Why He Picked Bob Power19:30 - "Alright" 28:57 - Isolated Vocal Stems on "Alright"31:27 - "Jones in My Bones" 33:20 - The Little-Known D'Angelo Album36:25 - "Me & Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine"40:30 - The J Dilla Remix (1997)44:18 - "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" 46:30 - Live at the Jazz Cafe - "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker"48:10 - "Smooth" 50:20 - D'Angelo Could Have Been a Jazz Pianist53:04 - D'Angelo and Peter's Ellis Marsalis Connection56:21 - "Cruisin'" 59:25 - Ad Break: Learn To Play Like D'Angelo1:00:37 - "When We Get By"1:04:44 - "We Were Just Mocking Dilla": Raphael Saadiq on How "Lady" Was Made1:06:20 - "Lady"1:11:02 - "Higher"1:15:28 - "Brown Sugar" Hits Different 30 Years Later1:17:00 - Our Favorite Moments1:23:45 - Quibble Bits, Snob-O-Meter & Accoutrements1:27:26 - Up Next + Listener Reviews1:29:45 - Open Studio Plays "Lady"

Ornette Coleman's The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) may be the most controversial album in jazz history, and one of the most important.In 1959, a broke musician from Fort Worth, Texas arrived in New York City with a plastic saxophone and a band that didn't play by the rules. And EVERYONE had an opinion about it.Jazz legends hated it. Miles Davis said Ornette was "all screwed up inside." Max Roach punched him in the mouth. Dizzy Gillespie said Ornette's music wasn't even jazz. Meanwhile, Leonard Berstein and John Coltrane celebrated him.So what exactly is The Shape of Jazz to Come, and why was it so radical? Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down every track, from "Lonely Woman" to "Chronology". They dig into harmolodics, free jazz, and how Ornette shaped everyone from Miles Davis (who eventually came around) to the '80s burnout crew, including Wynton Marsalis, who personally recommended this record to Peter.Dig into The Shape of Jazz to Come with us, and learn why this soft spoken saxophonist inspired both criticism and awe.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------Related You'll Hear It episodes:Mingus Ah Um: https://youtu.be/XYeRZ0Awui4Giant Steps: https://youtu.be/8umC2yZlPHcKind of Blue: https://youtu.be/ShzSnjP8bSgTime Out: https://youtu.be/-_qPhFSJeQUNina Simone at Town Hall: https://youtu.be/2PDjN5_2y5Q-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------0:00:00 - Ornette Coleman's The Shape of Jazz to Come0:01:42 - 1959: A Pivotal Year0:03:06 - Ornette Coleman: The Backstory0:04:44 - Ornette's Earlier Sound0:06:18 - Lore of the Five Spot0:07:00 - "Lonely Woman"0:12:27 - Harmolodics Explained (Charlie Haden + Don Cherry)0:13:27 - "Eventually"0:14:42 - The '80s Jazz Connection (Wynton, Branford, Kirkland)0:17:21 - "Peace"0:23:50 - Ad: Open Studio0:24:57 - Mingus Said THIS About Coleman0:27:47 - "Focus on Sanity"0:29:40 - When Peter Played with Charlie Haden0:32:43 - Don Cherry's Kids: Neneh Cherry + Eagle-Eye Cherry0:34:22 - "Congeniality"0:36:28 - "Chronology"0:37:23 - Technical Technique vs. Artistic Vision0:42:13 - Categories: Desert Island Tracks, Apex Moments0:48:55 - You'll Read It Newsletter + Ambies

What happens when you let a musical genius make the album of his dreams? You get Stevie Wonder's Music of My Mind (1972), the start of the greatest run in music history. Music of My Mind would be the first of a five-album run that formed Stevie Wonder's Classic Period, including Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Key of Life (1976).In this episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin dive into every track on Music of My Mind, listening to isolated stems and breaking down the theory behind the songs. Plus - we talk about TONTO, the one-ton synthesizer Stevie used to create this record. And we dig into the innovative ways Stevie and collaborators Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff mixed the album.-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi-------------------------------Related You'll Hear It episodes:Talking Book: https://youtu.be/ymcy3ot116w  Innervisions: https://youtu.be/mUYwIijL7s0Songs in the Key of Life: https://youtu.be/uk5x4-uTzj8 -------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, You'll Hear It, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Like the jam at the end of the show? Head to youtube.com/@OpenStudioMusic for more.00:00 - Stevie Wonder's Music of My Mind03:40 - Breaking Free: The Motown Contract Story05:35 - Finding TONTO: Malcolm Cecil & Robert Margouleff08:45 - What Was TONTO? The Technology Explained09:20 - How Stevie Wonder Met Cecil & Margouleff12:00 - "If You Really Love Me" - Stevie's Motown Sound16:40 - What Albums Belong in the Run?19:10 - "Love Having You Around"22:20 - Isolated Breakdown: Vocals, Talk Box, Rhythm Section27:35 - Stevie Made Albums Different32:10 - "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"36:25 - The Greatest Transition EVER41:45 - Innovation Behind the Mix44:10 - Ad Break: Learn to play like Stevie Wonder45:18 - "I Love Every Little Thing About You"52:55 - "Sweet Little Girl"56:14 - "Happier Than the Morning Sun"1:00:53 - Find more performances from Adam and Peter at Open Studio Music1:01:58 - "Girl Blue"1:09:28 - "Seems So Long"1:11:49 - "Keep on Running"1:15:52 - "Evil" - The biggest moment on the album1:21:10 - This One is for the Math Nerds About Music 1:23:05 - Categories1:29:05 - Better Than Innervisions? / Up Next1:32:05 - More from You'll Hear It: You'll Read It1:32:40 - Open Studio plays "Superwoman"

We're looking at the best jazz releases of February 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks.Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi

Charlie Parker was punk rock before there was punk rock. His bebop was underground music: subversive, intellectual, and a major departure from popular music of the day (think: Nat King Cole, The Andrews Sisters, Perry Como). He was an intellectual heavyweight, nearly untouchable in his technical ability and pushing music to places no one else was daring to go. So where did Charlie Parker with Strings, his most accessible album, come from?It's not Bird going commercial, like some have claimed. Charlie Parker with Strings is an album he fought to make. He loved Bach and Stravinsky (even quoting the opening of Stravinsky's 'Firebird Suite' mid-solo in one legendary performance), and had longed to make a record where his jazz saxophone was accompanied by strings.The resulting record is music's greatest improviser at his best. Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness listen to select tracks (like "Just Friends" and "Summertime"), breaking down the theory behind the music to understand what makes this album great. Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo. In this popular music series, You'll Hear It, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.Like the jam at the end of the show? Head to @openstudiomusic on YouTube for more.Visit openstudiojazz.com for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs.00:00 - Intro: Charlie Parker with Strings01:10 - "Just Friends"04:40 - Want to Be a Great Musician? Study This Track10:20 - Early Recording: "Swingmatism" (1941)12:45 - The Secret to Charlie Parker's Genius: Practice15:20 - The Savoy Sessions: "Now's the Time" & Young Miles Davis18:20 - The Contrafact Built in Real Time21:45 - "Koko": Miles Davis Couldn't Play It?!24:30 - Musicians NEED to Listen to This27:15 - Think Parker Sold Out? Think AGAIN28:55 - "April in Paris": Parker's Chosen Tune33:55 - About Mitch Miller's Oboe ... 38:25 - "Summertime"44:10 - "Out of Nowhere"46:35 - We Have An Album! 47:20 - "East of the Sun"53:00 - "I'll Remember April"55:50 - Categories: Desert Island Tracks56:35 - The BEST Moments on Strings1:11:10 - Open Studio Plays "Just Friends"

Is Steely Dan's Gaucho more perfect than Aja? Maybe even ... too perfect? Two years in the studio. The greatest session musicians alive asked to play take after take after take until it was exactly right. And sometimes that STILL wasn't enough for Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.On today's episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness are breaking down the 1980 album track by track: the jazz harmony hiding inside those smooth grooves, the abstract poetry of the lyrics, and the insane stories behind how this thing got made. Including the $150,000 drum machine invented specifically for this record, the interview quote that cost them a third of a song, and the drum track that took 85 takes and 35 tape edits to piece together.And after all that, we didn't get another Steely Dan record for 20 years.Was it worth it?Read about the simple mistake that would haunt Steely Dan for 44 years in this week's edition of the You'll Read It newsletter: https://youllhearit.com/newsletterWatch our FULL breakdown of Steely Dan's Aja: https://youtu.be/G10mYohR6T400:00 - Steely Dan's Gaucho: A Monument to Perfect01:15 - "Babylon Sisters"11:00 - What Makes Steely Dan Genius13:35 - The Precision of Purdie's Drums on Babylon Sisters16:10 - Abstract Lyrics19:35 - "Hey Nineteen"22:25 - Pristine Rhodes25:25 - Isolated Vocal Stems on "Hey Nineteen"33:00 - "Glamour Profession"38:55 - The Mingus Influence40:10 - "Gaucho"43:20 - The Keith Jarrett Lawsuit48:50 - Gaucho Chorus Deep Dive54:10 - "Time Out Of Mind"57:50 - Monument to Perfectionism (Lead Boots)1:01:35 - Perfectionism and Jazz1:05:05 - Is Gaucho More Perfect Than Aja?1:06:25 - "My Rival"1:10:40 - Bowie / Steely Dan Side-By-Side1:14:00 - Too Fussy?1:19:05 - Open Studio Plays "Glamour Profession"

The Impossible follow-up: Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. Five years after Thriller changed everything, Michael returned with a record that would become one of the best-selling of all time, win two Grammys, feature some of the greatest musicians in the world (hey, Stevie Wonder!) ... and somehow still gets called a letdown. We've covered two of Michael's albums produced by Quincy Jones: Off the Wall and Thriller. What about Bad? Could it actually be better than its predecessor? Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness deliver their final verdict on this 80s pop sensation.Along the way, you'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the album. Plus - we break down the tracks (with keyboards) to highlight the music theory behind this album's most compelling moments. “Annie, are you OK?” Sometimes the best hooks come from the strangest places - find out where in the YHI newsletter: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter00:00 - Intro: "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson01:30 - Michael Jackson's Bad (1987)6:40 - Quincy's Smaller Role on Bad7:50 - The Quincey Jones Brain Trust11:00 - "Bad" - Tough Guy Michael15:00 - Too Much Programming?18:40 - That Organ Solo? Jimmy Smith!22:40 - The Tragedy Behind Bad23:45 - "The Way You Make Me Feel" - Sweet Michael29:15 - How WE Really Feel (About Bad vs Thriller)30:30 - "Speed Demon" - A Nostalgic Track31:55 - Can We Be Honest?32:50 - "Liberian Girl" - The Mid-Album Dip35:30 - "Just Good Friends" - Stevie Can't Save It41:00 - "Another Part of Me" - Pure Joy45:00 - How "Man in the Mirror" Got Its Name45:55 - "Man in the Mirror" - The Apex53:00 - Why We Don't See Songs Like This Today57:30 - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - Rejected By Babs1:01:00 - "Dirty Diana" - Phil Collins Vibes1:02:50 - "Smooth Criminal" - That's MJ's Heartbeat!1:06:25 - "Leave Me Alone" - The Shuffle1:09:15 - Apex Moments: Phillinganes and That "Woo!" 1:10:55 - Final Verdict: Bad vs Thriller1:14:05 - Open Studio Plays "Smooth Criminal" 

Carole King's Tapestry is so cozy, you'll want to hug it; sit with it. It sounds simple, warm, and totally unassuming. But it's way more impressive than it seems at first.Adam and Peter break down what's actually going on beneath the surface of Tapestry ... and what most people miss. Carole King was already an elite songwriter long before this album. You know Aretha Franklin's “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”? Carole wrote that. “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles? She wrote that, too. When she was just 17! Listen closely and you hear it everywhere: in the chord choices, in the way the she actually PLAYS the piano instead of just accompanying her vocals, and in the way her melodies and lyrics lock together so naturally you barely notice how intentional it all is. Add in that soulful, sweet voice, and you start to understand how this unassuming record became a chart-topping, Grammy-dominating classic when it came out in 1971.Tapestry sounds easy, but it's not. Check out this episode, and you'll never hear this album the same way again. Get our newsletter for bonus stories that didn't make the pod:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter00:00 - Opening Tune: It's Too Late01:25 - Introducing Carole King's Tapestry05:00 - That Time Young Paul Simon and Carole Played Together07:10 - Carole's Early Doo-wop Sound10:20 - "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - Aretha Franklin13:30 - When Songwriter Became Performer16:30 - B.B. and Carole 18:00 - "I Feel the Earth Move"22:00 - "So Far Away"30:45 - "It's Too Late"40:50 - "Home Again"44:00 - "Beautiful"45:35 - "Way Over Yonder" 50:00 - "You've Got a Friend"58:20 - "Where You Lead"1:02:30 - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"1:04:40 - "Tapestry"1:08:45 - "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"1:13:10 - Apex Moments of Tapestry1:21:20 - Coming Up On on You'll Hear It1:22:00 - Outro: "It's Too Late"

Music - Peter Martin & Adam Maness

We're looking at the best jazz releases of January 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks.Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi   00:00 - Intro00:50 - Why Don't You - Sam Fribush, Corey Fonville, Charlie Hunter03:09 - Talking Drum - Julian Lage04:58 - Flim - Winderman, Colman, Kimock06:53 - Nacho Supreme - Motion II08:51 - Wisdom Is Eternal (For Barry Harris)10:49 - Unpersuadable Extern - N∆BOU12:11 - Free Walk - Vladko14:17 - Fireball - John Ellis & Double Wide15:52 - Giant Steps - Billy Hart18:50 - Parks Lope - Aaron Parks

Following up on a promise made early last year, Sarah's turning to the end of her Lutheran Service Book to sing — and get a lot better acquainted with — all eight “Close of Service” hymns in this all-new Hymn Sing episode.   Hymns featured include “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” (LSB 922), Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (LSB 924), “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise” (LSB 917), “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” (LSB 918), and “Abide, O Dearest Jesus” (LSB 919).    Get to know the stories behind the hymns you love as you sing along with resident #hymnnerd Sarah. And, stay tuned to the very end for a very special treat from Lutheran Lady Erin Bode and the Themba Girls. As always, to learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns, available from CPH.     Links mentioned in this episode:  Conversation with Benjamin Kolodziej on Friedrich Lochner — The Coffee Hour, kfuo.org.   Battle for the Augsburg Confession in American Lutheran History, Episode 1. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie — The Coffee Hour, kfuo.org   The Themba Girls with the Erin Bode Group, Album Recordings —YouTube  Close of Service Hymn Poll in the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook Group  Copyright Information: Lutheran Service Book 922, “Go My Children, with My Blessing”  Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1919-2008. (c) 1983 Concordia Publishing House, used with permission. Tune: Welsh, 18th century. Public Domain. Recording from The Themba Girls and the Erin Bode Group, used with permission.  Erin Bode, lead vocals  Senzy Khumalo, lead vocals  Adam Maness, guitar  Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

We're looking back at the best jazz releases of 2025. Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks.This is a new segment from the team behind You'll Hear It, and we're looking to continue this music discovery pod as a weekly series in 2026. Help us shape this series and leave us a comment with your feedback.00:00 - The Best New Jazz of 202500:55 - "Spiral Dance" - Branford Marsalis Quartet02:30 - "Minor Blues Redux" - Kenny Barron4:54 - "Icarus" - Joshua Redman6:55 - "Thou Swell" - Gillian Margot, Geoffrey Keezer9:30 - "Southern Nights" - Sullivan Fortner12:30 - "Anything but now" - Cécile McLorin Salvant16:30 - "Everything Means Nothing to Me" - Brad Mehldau22:00 - "Over (feat. Yebba)" - Robert Glasper24:40 - "Carved From" - Mary Halvorson26:45 - "Old Folks" - Christian McBride29:00 - "Windows" - Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Brian Blade33:00 - "Mood Indigo" - Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bill Charlap Play better in 2026 and beyond at Open Studio. Join today with our last BIG savings of the year at openstudiojazz.com/yhi

What does it really mean to live a musical life?As we look ahead to 2026, Adam and Peter talk about music as a way of being. Not a checklist, or a finish line, or something reserved for “professionals.” They share why they believe everyone is a musician, and why taste and curiosity matter more than optimization.Whether you're a musician, or a lover of music, anyone can lead a musical life.00:00 - How to Live a Musical Life in 202607:00 - There is No Finish Line08:45 - All Humans Are Musicians19:10 - Find Your Own Taste28:00 - How We Choose Topics for You'll Hear It Play better in 2026 and beyond at Open Studio. Join today with our last BIG savings of the year at openstudiojazz.com/yhi

Prince's Sign O' the Times is one of our most requested albums at You'll Hear It. But, there is a certain window of millennial that doesn't really "get" Prince. If that's you, this episode is your on ramp into his music. We start with Prince's earliest albums, tracing his incredible run from 1978 through to 1986. By the time we hit 1987 (around the time our dear mid-millennials were born), you can hear exactly why Sign O' the Times has become so beloved by critics and music-lovers alike.If you're already a Prince fan (like us!), get comfy. Put on your purple rain coat. We talk through the influences we hear all over this music: James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Parliament, Earth, Wind & Fire. We share our apex moments from Sign O' the Times. And yes… we've got a few quibble bits too.We'll be taking a short break in January, and returning with more great episodes in February 2026. We'll be dropping a few special episodes in the meantime, so keep an eye on the feed. 00:00 - Intro Jam: "U Got the Look"02:10 - Welcome + New at Open Studio03:50 - Coming Up Next Season05:10 - How We Make Decisions for the Show08:35 - Why "Sign O' the Times"?11:35 - "Soft and Wet" from For You (1978)14:50 - "I Wanna Be Your Lover" from Prince (1979)17:50 - "Head" from Dirty Mind (1980)19:15 - "Controversy" from Controversy (1981)22:35 - "1999" from 1999 (1982)25:15 - "Purple Rain" from Purple Rain (1984)28:40 - "Raspberry Beret" from Around the World in a Day (1985)29:45 - "Kiss" from Parade (1986)40:20 - "Sign O' the Times"45:40 - "Housequake" 47:20 - "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"51:50 - "Starfish and Coffee"53:05 - "Slow Love"55:20 - "Hot Thing"57:10 - "U Got the Look"59:25 - Miles on Prince1:02:25 - "If I Was Your Girlfriend"1:04:00 - "Strange Relationship"1:05:20 - "The Cross"1:08:00 - "Adore" 1:09:50 - Apex Moments1:14:55 - Categories1:19:35 - Snobometer1:23:55 - Coming Up on YHI1:24:20 - Outro Jam: "U Got the Look" Play better in 2026 and beyond at Open Studio. Join today with our last BIG savings of the year at openstudiojazz.com/yhi

Could this be peak Frank? Sinatra at the Sands captures the energy, the cool, and the incredible voice that made this crooner so iconic. Backed by the Count Basie Orchestra with arrangements by a young Quincy Jones, this live album still swings 60 years later!Sinatra at the Sands was recorded at a moment when Sinatra was emerging from a slump. Rock and roll dominated the airwaves, the Beatles were redefining popular music and crooning just wasn't cool anymore. But this album, recorded live in Vegas, shows a 50-year-old Frank sounding loose, confident, and completely at home in front of a band that swings like nothing else. Listen with us as we break down and react to the best of this swingin' album.Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi   00:00 - Intro Jam: Fly Me To the Moon01:35 - The Sinatra-Basie Episode!03:45 - Is This Peak Frank?05:45 - The Mid-60s Culture Shift07:45 - "Come Fly With Me" 12:00 - The Quincy Influence14:45 - "I've Got You Under My Skin"17:30 - What To Listen For22:30 - "The Shadow of Your Smile"26:20 - Freddie Green's "Chunking" Technique28:15 - Sinatra's Vocal Gift33:30 - "Street of Dreams"35:50 - "One For My Baby (And One More for the Road)"38:40 - "Fly Me To the Moon"45:00 - "One O'Clock Jump"49:50 - Desert Island Tracks54:05 - Apex Moments59:05 - Categories1:03:20 - Coming Up Next Week

How much do you know about Peter Martin? In this conversation with Kirk Hamilton of the Strong Songs podcast, Peter shares his musical influences and trajectory as a young jazz pianist. He brings us right back to the '70s, '80s, and '90s with stories of meeting Wynton Marsalis, and playing with jazz legends like Betty Carter, Roy Hargrove and Joshua Redman.Plus, he shares his take on jazz education, the marathon runner's mindset and why anyone and everyone can play music.Check out the Strong Songs podcast: https://strongsongspodcast.com/Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi 00:00 - Introducing Today's Episode02:50 - Peter's Strong Songs Interview06:00 - Peter's Musical Background08:00 - The Suzuki Method14:30 - Nurturing Talent 16:30 - How Peter Discovered Jazz20:30 - Meeting Wynton Marsalis27:00 - The Midwestern Jazz Scene33:20 - Juilliard, Roy Hargrove and the Young Lions35:40 - Moving to New Orleans38:30 - The Economics of Jazz in the 90s40:00 - Playing with the Legendary Betty Carter44:30 - Jazz Musicianship Then and Now47:15 - Roy Hargrove and the Summer of '9452:15 - Joining Joshua Redman57:45 - Rethinking Jazz Education1:02:15 - The Marathon Runner's Mindset1:07:20 - Kenny Kirkland: Awe & Inspiration1:15:00 - Roy Hargrove, The RH Factor and Hard Groove1:20:00 - My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis1:25:00 - How to Find the Recommendations in this Episode

It's Cyber Monday at Open Studio! Grab our biggest savings of the year and take your playing to the next level: https://www.openstudiojazz.com/yhi/The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was one of the BIGGEST records of the 90s. When you sell 20 million records, like Lauryn Hill did, you're into mass market territory; you're selling records all over the world and reaching across genres. With Miseducation, Lauryn Hill struck a nerve with humanity.  How did she do it?As you'll hear in this episode, the album sounded unlike other chart-topping hits at the time. It features tons of acoustic instruments, beautiful chord progressions, Stevie Wonder vibes, palatable melodies, a D'Angelo cameo and deeply personal storytelling. And Lauryn Hill herself has the presence of an actor with the soul of an underground musician.Listen with us as we parse through Lauryn Hill's only album track-by-track to answer the question: What makes this album great? It's Cyber Monday at Open Studio! Grab our biggest savings of the year and take your playing to the next level: https://www.openstudiojazz.com/yhi/00:00 - Intro Jam: "Doo Wop (That Thing)"02:05 - A Concept Album About Love04:55 – The Fugees, Sister Act II & Stardom07:40 - "Intro" + "Lost Ones"10:50 - “Ex-Factor”13:15 - "To Zion (Feat. Carlos Santana)"20:05 - "Doo Wop (That Thing)"21:45 - "Superstar"23:30 - “When It Hurts So Bad”25:50 - "I Used to Love Him (feat. Mary J. Blige)"33:00 - Hitting a Nerve with Humanity37:20 - "Every Ghetto, Every City"40:20 - "Nothing Even Matters"42:50 - "Everything Is Everything"45:10 - "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"47:30 - "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - (I Love You Baby)"52:35 - Desert Island Tracks + Apex Moments1:01:50 - Up Next

Kirk sits down with jazz piano legend Peter Martin to talk about Peter's musical background, his momentous early encounters with Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, the jazz scene of the 1990s, how the Suzuki method works, and why jazz students today should be less shy about talking to their heroes. Check out Peter's online jazz education program Open Studio, as well as You'll Hear It, the music podcast he co-hosts with Adam Maness. DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:“Variations Sur ‘Le Carnaval de Venise” feat. Wynton Marsalis and the Eastman Wind Ensemble from Carnival, 1987“Path Adjacent” Peter Martin w/ Gregory Hutchinson, Sarah Hanahan & Reuben Rogers from Generation S, 2023“Bag's Groove” by Milt Jackson from Miles Davis, Bag's Groove, 1967“Tea For Two” by Youmans/Ceasar, played by Art Tatum from Piano Starts Here, 1968“Broad Way Blues” by Ornette Coleman from New York Is Now, 1968“Swingin' at the Haven” by Branford Marsalis from Royal Garden Blues, 1986“Now's The Time/Billie's Bounce” by Charlie Parker from Jamey Aebersold Vol. 6: All Bird“Naima's Love Song” by Betty Carter from I_t's Not About The Melody_, 1992“Mental Phrasing” by Roy Hargrove live w/ Joshua Redman, Ron Blake, Peter Martin, Rodney Whitaker, Greg Hutchinson“Turnaround” by Joshua Redman w/ Pat Metheny from Wish, 1993“Jig-A-Jug” by Joshua Redman and “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins” from Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, 1995“Cat Battles” and “One Shining Soul” by Joshua Redman from Freedom in the Groove, 1996“The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner” intro and “Mind and Body” from Solo, Live in New York, 2015“Why Approach Chords Matter” - Adam Maness for Open Studio on YouTube, 2025“2 Down & 2 Across,” “Sing a Song of Song,” “Before It's Time to Say Goodbye” by Kenny Garrett feat. Kenny Kirkland from Songbook, 1997“Phyrzzinian Man” by Wynton Marsalis from Black Codes from the Underground, 1985“Necessary Evil” by Elvin Jones and “Whatever Possessed Me” by Chet Baker feat. Pat LaBarbera (Tenor) and Kenny Kirkland from Brother John, 1982“Stella by Starlight” by Hoagy Carmichael, performed by the Miles Davis Quintet on My Funny Valentine: In Concert, 1965----LINKS-----

It's Cyber Monday at Open Studio! Grab our biggest savings of the year and take your playing to the next level: https://www.openstudiojazz.com/yhi/Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert" is the best selling solo piano album of all time. But why this album? Possibly because it sounded like nothing else in popular music at the time of its release in 1975. It is cinematic, genre-fluid and masterful – in many ways ahead of its time.Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin listen to one of the most popular albums in the history of jazz, pulling apart all the elements that make it great: the melodies, the vamps, even the "soul" of Jarrett's notoriously flawed piano. If you know "The Köln Concert" well, watch for the analysis and hot takes. If you haven't heard this album before, it may just become the soundtrack to your life!00:00 - Is it Köln or Cologne?06:30 - Part I09:20 - How Jarrett Made Music for the Moment17:00 - Jumping Back Into Part I23:00 - Joyful and Fearless 29:00 - All the Genres33:20 - Legit Amazing AND Popular36:05 - The Harp42:00 - Part II a48:25 - 80s Cinema Vibes54:20 - Part II b1:00:55 - Part II c1:04:00 - Apex Moments & Categories1:11:45 - GALA + Black Friday at Open Studio!

It's Black Friday at Open Studio! Grab our biggest savings of the year and take your playing to the next level: https://www.openstudiojazz.com/yhi/Songs in the Key of Life stands apart, even next to the other four albums in Stevie Wonder's classic period. It resulted in the most hit singles: "I Wish", "Sir Duke", "As" and "Another Star". Chris Molanphy of the Hit Parade podcast leads us through this album's incredible charts story. Not only did it produce FOUR singles, but it inspired two other chart-topping hits: Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and Will Smith's "Wild Wild West".Plus — Peter and Adam nerd out on the keys, dissecting every track to highlight the musical complexity that makes Songs in the Key of Life a favorite among jazz musicians. You may have heard Songs in the Key of Life ... possibly many times. But you've never heard it quite like this!00:00 - Intro Jam: "As"02:13 - The Chart Story Behind SITKOL05:40 - The Long Wait for Songs in the Key of Life12:45 - "Love's In Need of Love Today"19:40 - Comparing Stevie to Prince20:30 - "I Wish"24:00 - The Ultimate Crossover Hitmaker27:25 - "Sir Duke"32:30 - Making Jazz Fun37:25 - "Passtime Paradise"40:00 - Stevie the Synth Innovator43:50 - How Stevie Commanded the Charts46:40 - How Was This Track Not a Hit Single?52:00 - This Hit Was NOT On an Album56:00 - The SITKOL Jazz Standard1:00:30 - "Another Star"1:04:05 - "As"1:15:00 - How SITKOL Singles Broke Ground1:22:20 - Our Favorite SITKOL Tracks1:25:35 - The Best Moments on SITKOL1:29:50 - Bespoke Spotify Playlists1:32:45 - What to Listen to Next1:35:20 - Quibble Bits1:37:50 - How "Snobby" is This Record?1:40:50 - Is it Better than Kind of Blue?1:42:40 - Packaging Gets a 10/101:45:00 - Outro: "As"

1959 gave us Kind of Blue, Time Out ... and Mingus Ah Um. Adam and Peter dig into Charles Mingus's most adventurous, soulful record: gospel, bebop, and pure Mingus genius. You've never heard it quite like this.Charles Mingus was one of jazz's greatest bass players AND composers. Listen with us as we break down the genius in every track of his best-selling record, and share stories of the brilliant, chaotic, occasionally volatile man behind Mingus Ah Um. Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi    00:00 — Opening Jam: "Better Git It In Your Soul"01:40 — What's happening at Open Studio3:15 — 1959: What a Great Year!5:40 — Early Mingus10:40 — "All the Things You Can C#" from Mingus at the Bohemia11:40 — "A Foggy Day" from Pithecanthropus Erectus16:15 — "Better Get Hit In Your Soul"23:35 — This One is For the Nerds27:50 — "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" 34:36 — "Boogie Stop Shuffle"38:30 — "Self-Portrait in Three Colors"40:30 — The Duke Ellington Influence45:10 — "Open Letter to Duke" 48:05 — "Bird Calls"49:00 — "Fables of Faubus"56:40 - "Pussy Cat Dues"58:15 — "Jelly Roll"1:00:15 — Categories1:10:50 — GALA

At Town Hall captures a pivotal moment in Nina Simone's story, when she left behind her dream of being a concert pianist and embraced her identity as an indefinable and remarkable talent.At Town Hall shows off Nina's classical chops, infused with the jazz influences from working in nightclubs and mixed with the folk and gospel sounds of her youth. Adam and Peter pull apart the tracks to highlight each element of her unique musical blend. This may not be one of her most recognizable albums, but it is one of her most interesting. It's made even more fascinating by the fact that Nina met bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Ben Riley only as they walked on stage! Listen to hear her arranging and composing on the spot.Subscribe to the You'll Read It newsletter for stories that didn't make the pod: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi   

In 1981, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones set out on one of the most ambitious projects in pop music history: an album where every song was a hit. The result was Thriller. The record-breaking, chart-topping masterpiece produced six top-ten hits, became the best-selling album of all time, and propelled Black American music into global pop dominance.Watch as jazz musicians Peter Martin and Adam Maness react to this iconic '80s pop album. They break it down track-by-track: MJ's timeless ad-libbed melodies, Ndugu Chancler's drum intros (the greatest in pop history?!), Greg Phillinganes's synths, and Rod Temperton's songwriting.Thriller is so much more than "Thriller". Listen with us, and you'll never hear this record the same way again.Michael Jackson unveils the moonwalk at NBC's Motown 25 special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB7TqzPVt_M&t=538sGreg Phillinganes breaks down the bass line on "Thriller": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UqxOg3M-OM Adam and Peter analyze Off the Wall: https://youtu.be/jR9zxGueeq4 Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi  

In light of D'Angelo's passing, we're replaying our episode on Voodoo from June 2025. This Grammy-winning, genre-defying album changed the sound of R&B, soul, and hip-hop forever. And it has seriously influenced the playing of so many musicians, including our own Adam Maness. From Questlove's behind-the-beat drumming to Roy Hargrove's horn arrangements, Voodoo is packed with the kind of deep musicality that jazz musicians truly connect with.Twenty-five years later, Voodoo still hits harder than many albums of its generation. We've heard from so many of you in the comments on Spotify and YouTube about what this album, and D'Angelo's music, means to you. Tell us how D'Angelo has influenced you in the comments on Spotify or YouTube: https://youtu.be/AYqmFNF2s0U   Watch Open Studio perform D'Angelo's "Spanish Joint": https://youtu.be/CG5yqmkj0G4

Hip hop wouldn't sound the same without jazz. From A Tribe Called Quest to PinkPantheress, jazz provides the groove behind of some of the most iconic tracks of the genre.Diallo Riddle and Luxxury of One Song join Adam and Peter to geek out on deep cuts and the genius behind hip hop's greatest jazz samples. We explore how sampling has shaped both genres, why the art of “borrowing” has always been part of the jazz tradition, and why some jazz musicians don't get paid for their contributions to hip hop.If you loved our episode with Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding from Switched On Pop, you'll love this one. We cover a lot of ground, so dive into our full playlist of every track we discuss. Find that here. YHI x Switched On Pop episode on jazz influences in hip hop. One Song episode on Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me".One Song episode on A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation".Get our newsletter for bonus stories that didn't make the pod:https://youllhearit.com/newsletterStart your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi 

The RH Factor's Hard Groove might sound uncontroversial to modern ears, but in the early 2000s it was revolutionary. With this record, Roy Hargrove broke away from the straight-ahead jazz revival of the Young Lions era and created something entirely new. Hard Groove blended Roy's trumpet with the voices of R&B and soul heavyweights like D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Common, artists whose platinum-selling albums (Voodoo, Mama's Gun, Like Water for Chocolate) already featured Roy's melodic horn playing and orchestral arrangements.With Hard Groove, Roy flipped the script: instead of lending his sound to the hip hop and neo-soul world, he invited those artists into a jazz record. The result was a landmark project that blurred genres and redefined what jazz could be in the 21st century.You'll Hear It has been nominated for a Listener's Choice award for Best Music Podcast at the Signal Awards. Vote for us here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/shows/genre/musicWant more neo-soul? Check out our Voodoo episode: https://youtu.be/AYqmFNF2s0U Watch the documentary "Hargrove": https://youtu.be/liK1u6DQQ4M?si=SZ83SNHazZX2JMImStart your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi 

Joni Mitchell's Blue, a folk masterpiece, has inspired jazz musicians since its release in 1971. Is it because she sings like a horn player? Her improvisational melodies? Her unconventional chord structures? Her confessional songwriting?We dive into every song on Blue, breaking down her favorite chords and her vocal phrasing to understand what makes this album great. You'll never hear this record the same way again.Watch to the end to see the Open Studio band's extended interpretation of our favorite song off this record: “River.”You'll Hear It has been nominated for a Listener's Choice award for Best Music Podcast at the Signal Awards. Vote for us here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/shows/genre/musicGet our newsletter for bonus stories that didn't make the pod:https://youllhearit.com/newsletterStart your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi 

John Coltrane's A Love Supreme: Some call it the greatest album of the 20th century. Others say it isn't even Coltrane's best album ... of 1965. No matter where you think it sits in the jazz music canon, Coltrane's love letter to God is a masterpiece. We break it down track-by-track, chord-by-chord to uncover what makes this album such a rewarding listen from front to back.This week marks 99 years since Coltrane's birth. In his honor, we look back at this episode from 2024, where we listen deeply to what just may be Coltrane's magnum opus.Looking for more Coltrane? Here are 6 Songs To Turn Coltrane Curious Into Coltrane Converted: https://youtu.be/aSdNNTmL7YkStart your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi 

We're talking jazz influences in hip hop today with Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding from Switched On Pop. We dig into tracks from Kendrick Lamar (there's that TPAB acronym!), Common, Cautious Clay and David Bowie to surface the musical qualities that explain why jazz musicians love these artists. Plus - we explore the striking similarities between jazz and hip hop, especially in the recording booth, and why we don't hear more jazz in the popular music canon.Check out our Robert Glasper episode: https://youtu.be/hsJpuqtNH9oGet our newsletter for bonus stories that didn't make the pod: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi

We're diving back into Stevie Wonder with Innervisions, right in the heart of his classic period from 1972 to 1976. There's something magical about this stretch of music history, and Innervisions stands as one of the greatest albums to emerge from it.Stevie wrote every song on this album, and played every instrument on many tracks. From "Too High" to "Living For The City" to "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", we pull apart these incredible songs to spend time with the many sides of Stevie Wonder: bass player, drummer, lyricist, and vocalist. Plus -- we're bringing back the keys for this one so Peter and Adam can pull apart all the musical nuances that make jazz musicians love Stevie Wonder so much.Adam breaks down why jazz musicians love Stevie in our You'll Read It newsletter. Sign up for personal reflections and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of You'll Hear It. Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs.This episode references our episode on Talking Book, "Is This Stevie's Greatest Album?" Check it out here.

There is no more important relationship in this era of music than that of Miles Davis and John Coltrane; two masters ever-present in the musical and cultural landscape. Someday My Prince Will Come marks the last time Coltrane and Davis played together, and it couldn't be more perfect.We dive into how their partnership played out on stage and in the recording studio over the years, and how their dynamic on Someday My Prince Will Come marks a handoff from '50s jazz to the rock and roll sound of the '60s, with Coltrane leading the way.And Miles Davis, even more so than a masterful trumpet player or composer, was a tastemaker. From the musicians he picked, to the chord changes, to his choice of album art, we explore how this record brings it all together in one phenomenal package.

When does Afro Blue and Smells Like Teen Spirit belong on the same record? When it's a Robert Glasper album! In 2012, Glasper's Black Radio brought together artists like Erykah Badu to bring a jazz standard, Afro Blue, back into the popular music canon. Black Radio hit #1 on the jazz charts, while simultaneously reaching #4 on the hip-hop R&B charts and #15 on the Top 200. The Blue Note pianist has been bending genres since the 90s, bringing together the best of traditional jazz and weaving it seamlessly with R&B, hip-hop, soul and rock & roll. And it all fits, because Glasper is equally at home in all of these categories. He grew up listening to all kinds of music, like Nirvana, Billy Joel, Busta Rhymes -- everything. Black Radio, he says, was a way to put his "life on wax". Rob Harvilla from 60 Songs to Explain the 90s: The 2000s joins Adam and Peter to dive into what makes this album great, and how it refutes from any attempt to categorize it. From the J. Dilla Influence, to Casey Benjamin's album-defining flute, to the Erykah Badu of it all, you'll never hear this album the same way again.And this album inspired what is possibly our best YHI outro yet. Let us know if you agree!

Back in May, Kirk joined pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin of the You'll Hear It podcast  to talk about what makes Tower of Power great. It was a very fun conversation, so he asked if he could run their episode in the Strong Songs feed. And here we are!Listen to You'll Hear It anywhere you find podcasts, and find both Adam and Peter (and many others) teaching jazz lessons at OpenStudio.com.ORIGINAL SHOW NOTESMay 19, 2025We hand the mic to Kirk Hamilton from the Strong Songs podcast to help us break down the groovy 1973 self-titled release: Tower of Power. We unpack what makes this Oakland funk outfit a generational institution – from David Garibaldi's precision drum fills and Rocco Prestia's machine-gun bass lines to what may be the tightest horn section of all time. We dig into standout tracks like “What Is Hip?” and “Soul Vaccination,” spotlight Lenny Pickett's wild ascent from TOP to SNL, and detail some funny production quirks (like why the drums are panned hard left). It's a full-course tour through funk, soul, and brass brilliance – with a healthy side of stank face.----LINKS-----

I had such a wonderful time joining the jazz podcast You'll Hear It! We talked about the meeting of jazz and classical music, a topic I've explored before, but never in this much depth and never with so much input from jazz musicians and experts like Peter Martin and Adam Maness. We talk about great jazz and classical composers, but we also talk about the strange divide between jazz musicians and classical musicians, trying to break down the barriers that exist between purveyors of these wonderful genres of music. I hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did!