Hot Box 148 is going to be both sad and joyful since we now remember the extraordinary drummer Jack DeJohnette who died at the end of October aged 83. He was a native of Chicago and certainly could lay a claim to being the greatest of all jazz drummers. Immensely influential in the overall direction of drumming in jazz and, by any standards, extraordinarily versatile.

You only have to rattle off the names of the musicians he worked with to emphasise that point, take Miles Davis for example, then Bill Evans, John Surman, Keith Jarrett and Pat Matheney, really ticking most of the boxes in the post-bop era. So, let’s listen to some of that music while we pay tribute to an extraordinary musician.

Track list for The Hot Box #148 – Jack DeJohnette

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An eclectic selection of music that may reflect the desire of the “music business” to generate some income for musicians over the festive period! Or it may represent a genuine love for all things Christmas – or both! An hour of jazz selected to sit back and enjoy.

Track list for The Hot Box #147 – Christmas Box

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The Hot Box 146 is packed with brand new releases, and as ever there is more to play than time to play it. Donald Helme opens the show with music from pianist John Donegan and his new album Interfuse, featuring Richie Buckley.

The programme then moves through a wide range of contemporary jazz, including trumpet-led material from Alex Sipiagin, the spacious and lyrical trio work of Fred Hersch, and the driving ensemble sound of Visions Jazz Ensemble. Larger-scale writing also features orchestral pieces from the Jihye Lee Orchestra and their album Infinite Connections.

Track list for The Hot Box #146 – New Releases

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The new edition of the Hot Box consists of all new material from Ireland and the USA. An hour of the very best in jazz. The international talent is represented by tracks from a youthful band the Visions Jazz Ensemble, with music based on US college “fight songs”.  Also music from Joe Lovano with the Martin Wasilewski Trio.

Closer to home is the stunning new album from Carole Nelson and her trio “Through the Storm” and a remastered re-release of the Louis Stewart/Brian Dunning album “Alone Together”, both on the Livia Records label. Plus a glimpse of the new single from Emilie Conway!

All that and more in the Hot Box!

Track list for The Hot Box #145 – New Material from Ireland and USA

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This episode of The Hot Box has a distinctly retro feel, as we celebrate the lives and talents of two remarkable female jazz singers who recently passed away.

We’re remembering the incomparable British singer Dame Cleo Laine, and the lesser-known but deeply respected American vocalist Sheila Jordan. While Sheila was widely admired among jazz musicians and insiders, she remained under the radar for many casual listeners — though she did, in fact, perform in Ireland once.

Track list for The Hot Box #144 – Celebrating Two Jazz Greats

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Donald Helme takes the lid off the Hot Box once again, and this time he’s digging deep into a special file marked “Jazz in Ireland”. Reaching back across the decades, Donald unearths vintage recordings that showcase both the big names who have defined the Irish jazz landscape and the lesser-known voices who, for one reason or another, seemed to fade into history.

Track list for The Hot Box #143 – Jazz in Ireland

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Welcome to the 142nd edition of The Hot Box with Donald Helme. This episode is a real treat, dedicated entirely to the music of the legendary Gil Evans. We’re marking the release of what may be the final volume of unearthed Evans material, lovingly brought to light by arranger and bandleader Ryan Truesdell.

Truesdell has spent years digging into the Evans archive, bringing this extraordinary music to life through his acclaimed ensemble, The Gil Evans Project. Alongside selections from the latest release, we’ll also revisit highlights from the earlier albums. And we’ll hear about the live sessions that once brought this music to the stage at New York’s much-missed Jazz Standard, where it was performed annually in all its glory.

The first track of the show is introduced with a snippet from the liner notes written by Ryan Truesdell.

Track list for The Hot Box #142 – Ryan Truesdell and Gil Evans

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In this slightly different edition of The Hot Box, Donald Helme takes a detour through the timeless melodies of one of jazz’s most enduring composers: George Gershwin. Inspired by the brand new release The Man I Love from British pianist Gabriel Latchin,

Track list for The Hot Box #141 – A Gershwin Celebration

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This edition of The Hot Box features a major re-issue, a remixed and remastered release of Louis Stewart’s quartet album with John Taylor, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins from Livia Records.

Originally recorded in 1977, and released in 1980 with some edits and overdubs, this impeccable version restores the original London recording and adds two extra tracks.

The results are possibly the best Louis Stewart studio recording, with top level accompaniment from the brilliant supporting trio.

Track list for The Hot Box #140 – I Thought About You

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This edition has both a tilt towards new material and a tilt towards jazz guitar, with material from the French guitarist Romain Pilon’s new album Open Roads, and from the archive, tracks from Tommy Halferty’s extensive back catalogue.

Track list for The Hot Box #139 – New Material

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