The Hot Box #138 celebrates the music of another recently departed musician, “Roy Ayres.” Originally known as a jazz vibraphone player, he rapidly expanded his status and became, some would say, one of the major creators of jazz funk.

Track list for The Hot Box  #138 – Roy Ayres

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A selection of some wonderful music from albums released in recent weeks, from concert performances in the 1990s to brand new compositions and recordings both Irish and American.

Track list for The Hot Box #137 – New Releases

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He was born in 1926 and lived to be just 98 years old, having played in public well into his 80s. Donaldson was an alto saxophonist who began his career as a disciple of Charlie Parker, with whom he played, but, as part of the group of young players recruited to Blue Note Records in the 1950s he developed a more soulful sound. In the hour-long tribute to his music, we sample that great era of jazz, “Hard Bop” in which Donaldson was so important.

Track list for The Hot Box #136 – In Memory of Lou Donaldson

All tracks are on the Blue Note Records label.

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The Hot Box 134 is devoted to the memory of the great drummer Roy Haynes. Haynes died, at the age of 99 in November last year, secure in his place as one of the greatest drummers of all time. His career spanned the whole of the era of modern jazz, his first big job being with Charlie Parker in then1940s.

Track list for The Hot Box #134 – Roy Haynes

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Welcome to the first Hot Box of 2025. Regular listeners will know that we had a rush of obituary type shows at the back end of last year but we start 2025 with some new material as well as a quick nod in the obituary section again, I’m sorry to say, to remember the great saxophone player Lou Donaldson.

Track list for The Hot Box #135 – Some New Stuff

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(The Ghost of Christmas Past)

Celebrating Christmas and also celebrating the 90th anniversary of the campaign to ban jazz in Ireland, which seems to have failed.

Track list for The Christmas Box 2024

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The celebrated composer, orchestrator and arranger, and sometime trumpet player, Quincy Jones, died November 3rd aged 91. The Hot Box looks at the jazz contribution he made in the latter part of the 20th century, with tracks from Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole and the man himself.

Track list for The Hot Box #133 – Remembering Quincy Jones

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The Hot Box #132, an hour-long exploration of fresh and exciting sounds in jazz. This episode dives into new material from remarkable artists, blending the vibrancy of contemporary jazz with the timeless artistry of legends. Featuring tracks from John Donegan’s Irish Sextet, Shuteen Erdenebaatar, and the Jihye Lee Orchestra, the episode showcases dynamic compositions and inventive storytelling.

Listeners will also revisit the brilliance of guitar virtuosos Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor, alongside a stirring collaboration from Geri Allen and Kurt Rosenwinkel. It’s a rich, varied playlist that promises to engage jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Tune in and discover something new!

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This special episode pays tribute to the remarkable life and music of the late Benny Golson — a saxophonist, composer, and arranger whose profound influence on jazz endures through both his compositions and recordings. Golson’s legacy is woven into jazz history, known for iconic pieces that have become standards in the jazz repertoire.

In today’s episode, we’ll hear selections from Golson’s esteemed career, including his own performances and interpretations of his work by legends like Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Quincy Jones. We’ll journey through classics like “Along Came Betty,” “Whisper Not,” and “I Remember Clifford,” showcasing the depth of Golson’s contributions to jazz. So, sit back and join us as we celebrate the music and memory of Benny Golson.

The Hot Box #131 Track Listing

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In this episode of The Hot Box, we revisit a theme from episode #128 where we took a deep dive into the piano files, looking for the slightly less obviously famous musicians but still among the very best in the world.

The Hot Box #129 Track Listing

1. Blues in Baxters Pad: Gene Harris Quartet (from the album “At Ste.Chapelle Winery”)

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