2-5-1

Dudley Moore may well be best known for his comedy with Peter Cook and his success on screen in the films 10 and Arthu,r but he was also a very accomplished musician. He was an organ scholar when at Oxford which is where he met the other members of Beyond the Fringe.

Perhaps less well known is what a great jazz pianist he was. Simon and Nick discuss him in this episode.

Llink to his Genuine Dud album here

Did you know some jazz musicians were also boxers? Find out more in this episode.

To start season two Simon & Nick talk about the Fabulous Baker Boys.
This is a new strand where Nick and Simon talk about jazz related films.

At present there are a few distinct strands:

1. Under-the-radar pianists- e.g. Hod O' Brian
2.Jazz oddities - e.g. Jazz Oboe
3. Technical discussions - e.g. block chords
4 Jazz books - e.g. Jazz Heavyweight
5.Jazz films - e.g. Round Midnight

All episodes are available on our new OnPodium Website,where you can also leave comments and suggestions for subjects to cover.

There is also a blog page where you can find material that supports the podcasts as well as more general jazz subjects. 

In the full episode 2 it was a pleasure to chat with arranger/orchestrator Giles Thornton. He helped me out on some of the transcriptions for the Marty Swings the Singers project [watch this space for news of the gig} One of the charts he took down was "Surrey with a Fringe on Top" and we discuss that plus  " It's Too Darn Hot" a transcription I am currently working on. 

Here is a link to a reduction of Surrey With a Fringe on top  LINK
the piano solo from Ep 1 is also in that folder "Too Darn Hot" reduction will follow"

Here is a link to the 2 songs on AppleMusic
If you use Spotify they are on the link from episode 2.1

Thanks to Giles from me.
His website is linked on episode 2.1

This is the 15 minute introduction to the full episode 2, as episode two is 1 hour 15 minutes I felt it better to publish the intro separately 

Here is a link to the albums as a playlist on Apple music and Spotify


 

This new five part longer form series starts with Nick and Simon examining Marty Paich as pianist.  Paich was a musical polymath and his career spanned jazz, classical & film music.  Simon will present the other four episodes talking to various arrangers about Marty Paich as arranger - looking at his medium-sized ensemble work with particular focus on the octet, his work for big band referencing Art Pepper + 11, his work for the famous Dektette focussing on his work with Mel Torme, and his work in film.

An end of series announcement: In the 50 episodes so far Nick and I have covered 8 under- the-radar pianists, reviewed 7 Jazz books, talked about 10 technical subjects, discussed 5 unusual jazz instruments and even managed 1 April Fool!

Plus many more subjects like famous jazz clubs and  record labels.

We have also made 2  long form series over 5 podcasts about Kenny Drew and Sonny Clark, made  interviews with 4 London based jazz influencers and produced  3 Christmas Specials.

Look out for Simon's upcoming series on arranger Marty Paich

We will return with Series 2 on April 15th 2023

Another episode in our "under-the-radar pianists" series.

George Wallington  wrote a tune that was made well known by Gerry Mulligan's
arrangement on Birth of the Cool, and established himself as one of the best bebop pianists of his generation.

He was prolific as a sideman in the 1950s, but in 1960 dropped out of music 
to pursue something far cooler. Listen to find out more!

In this special episode Nick and Simon discuss George Shearing and Nick's new project playing his music 

Shades of Shearing


The Band Is

Nick Tomalin – piano
Nat Steele – vibraphone
Dave Warren – guitar
Dominic Howles – bass
Matt Fishwick – drums

 

A look at the Oboe in jazz.