Rapp on Jazz

Pat Metheny, guitarist and composer, was born in 1954 into a vibrant musical family,  where he began his journey with the trumpet. His innovative style blends progressive and contemporary jazz, Latin jazz, and jazz fusion. 

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Born in 1941, pianist and composer Chick Corea was pivotal in bridging fusion and traditional jazz. As a member of Miles Davis's band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of fusion. 

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Tenor saxophonist Walter Theodore Rollins, better known as Sonny Rollins, was born in New York City on September 7, 1930. After discovering Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, he started playing the alto saxophone. 

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, born in 1941 in Chicago, began his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group and quickly joined the legendary Miles Davis Quintet. He transformed the jazz rhythm section and influenced today's post-bop sound.

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Wayne Shorter was a visionary saxophonist and composer who significantly shaped post-bop and fusion jazz. He joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and quickly became the primary composer. Known for his saxophone mastery, he transitioned from the tenor saxophone in the late 1960s.

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Art Blakey was an incredible drummer and bandleader who transformed the jazz scene. He burst onto the scene in the 1940s and collaborated with legends like Fletcher Henderson, Billy Eckstine, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Horace Silver, born in 1928 and passed away in 2014, was a pianist and composer known for blending hard bop with elements of gospel, blues, and Latin music to create a sound that is uniquely his own. His masterpieces, like “Song for My Father” and “The Preacher,” are cherished for their infectious melodies and irresistible grooves.

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Frank Sinatra, known as the “Chairman of the Board” and "Ol' Blue Eyes," was born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey. He began his musical career in the swing era, drawing inspiration from singer Bing Crosby. 

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Nat King Cole began his remarkable journey as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s when he founded The King Cole Trio. This group became the best-selling act on Capitol Records and made history as the only Black ensemble at the time. Their innovative sound inspired countless jazz ensembles that followed.

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, was a revolutionary jazz vocalist known for her unique and emotional phrasing. 

Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.