The Jazz Podcast

Montreal-based saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen has been described as, “an original voice on the international jazz scene… [and] one of Canada’s most compelling composers,” by Mark Miller of the Globe and Mail. According to Greg Buium of Downbeat Magazine, “Jensen writes in three dimensions, with a quiet kind of authority that makes the many elements cohere. Wayne Shorter, Maria Schneider and Kenny Wheeler come to mind.” After a performance at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival, Scott Yanow wrote, “She’s rapidly developing into a major force … as a player and as a writer.”

Jensen is equally at home performing in small and large ensemble settings. Her latest opus, Treelines - The Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra on Justin-Time Records, won her the 2011 Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, along with Quebec’s Opus Award for jazz recording of the year. Downbeat magazine described it as“…a stunning orchestral debut… ****1/2 stars”. She recently performed at various jazz festivals across Canada as well as at Dizzy’s Jazz Club-Lincoln Center in New York with this ensemble. “Jensen’s formidable orchestra is the glistening sunlight, the tranquility and force of the ocean, and the majestic trees that her music imagines.”-Jazz Times

Support the show

Inspired by Dave Koz and tutored by renowned music teacher Artem Mendelenko, saxophonist Andrey Chmut was born in the small town of Medzhybizh in Western Ukraine.  His young life was filled with music (his mother plays the balalaika, his father plays the accordion, one of his sisters is a violinist while another is a singer) and since the age of five his mission to become a globally recognized sax-player has continued unabated.

By the age of nine he had commenced music school in Medzhybizh and was playing sax in his local church, something that he still very much loves to do.  Three years later he moved to Kiev where he studied classical saxophone, first at the Glinka School Of Music and then later at the historic Glière Music College.

Support the show

Mayo released his third album, Meu Brasil in January 2023. Meu Brasil is his first Brazilian project and features maestro Sergio Mendes, guitarists/composers Dori Caymmi and Guinga and the voice of Gracinha Leporace, among others. 

“This album is an homage to a music and a country that has so deeply shaped my musical life. It’s called Meu Brasil because I wanted to share how the music has touched me and, from my Black American perspective, how I feel the music.” 

Additionally, Mayo performed on screen and on the soundtrack for the 2022 film Babylon, recorded on the critically-acclaimed television series Better Call Saul, on Beyonce’s smash, new album Renaissance, John Legend’s new album Legend, and on Oscar-nominated composerTerence Blanchard’s score of Father Of The Bride remake. Spring 2022 saw Mayo performing as part of the 94th Academy Awards orchestra and the 64th annual Grammy Awards with legendary rapper, Nas. In autumn 2021, Mayo recorded on “You Deserve It All” by megastar John Legend. Summer 2021 had Scott playing all the woodwinds on the Netflix Children’s animation Ada Twist, Scientist founded by President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama. 

Support the show

Hannah Horton is a melodic maverick, visionary jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader and journalist. Star of UK jazz, her music is rooted in jazz, folk and funk. Her established individual and sophisticated sound is edging through boundaries and creating waves worldwide.

An official Henri Selmer Artist, alumni of the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban, and member of award winning Women In Jazz Media, Hannah works the jazz world in her own authentic way. Her most recent album ‘Inside Out’ has received critical acclaim worldwide and she continues to wow audiences with her creative, compelling, emotive and alluring playing, alongside her warm and charming personality on stage.

Today Hannah provides inspiration of her own by running ‘J Steps’ – a new band initiative designed to nurture the talent of musicians who identify as female or non-binary with it’s main aim being to balance a historic lack of representation of women in jazz.

Support the show

Immy, daughter of Pete Churchill and Nikki Iles is forging her own way in the world. Today we chat to her about all things music. Such an inspiring young musician, catch this one now! 

Support the show

Fergus McCreadie is one of the most exciting young jazz pianists on the world stage. With his unique blend of Jazz and Scottish folk music inspired by his country’s  sublime landscapes, Fergus captures the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide. He is undoubtedly a future star in the making. 

Released on Edition Records to instant critical acclaim, Forest Floor topped the UK Jazz & Blues charts, prompting sold-out performances at Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh and Love Supreme this summer. Fergus is the only non-classical musician to be selected as a 2022 BBC New Generation Artist.  In 2022, Fergus was awarded the JazzFM Award for Instrumentalist of the Year, on top of winning the Scottish Album of the Year Award on the same day. 

This year Fergus is headed to the North Sea Jazz Festival, we catch up with him about the upcoming gig. 

Support the show

Corrie Dick is the name of a UK-based musician specialising in euphoric, sonically-conscious groove drumming. He is lauded for his touch, uniquely fresh approach to style and melodicism. He is an essential component of any project lead by Laura Jurd including Mercury Prize Shortlisted Dinosaur; provides the intricate and fluent stick work in the Elliot Galvin Trio; brings intense, free colours to Danish powerhouse bassist Jasper Høiby’s exciting Fellow Creatures; writes deep and spiritual music for Blue-Eyed Hawk; and provides the full spectrum of rhythmic elements for guitar wunderkind Rob Luft’s ensemble. He also leads his own joy-inducing supergroup, releasing his debut album with the ensemble in November 2015, selling out concerts across the UK ever since. The album displays Corrie’s striking abilities as composer/lyricist by skilfully fusing Celtic folk and contemporary jazz with new takes on African rhythms.

Support the show

Caitlin LM is an electronic producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Manchester. Her ethereal vocals and live instruments meld with pulsating synths and undulating beats to create a powerful yet intimate soundworld.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Bonobo, Jon Hopkins and Thom Yorke, with jazz and cinematic influences, her music flows from vulnerability to defiance.

Her latest single Evergreen was featured on BBC Radio 6, BBC Introducing Manchester, BBC Radio Scotland and Amazing Radio.

Support the show

Art Themen was involved in the traditional jazz scene in Manchester in the late 1950s. A member of the award winning Cambridge University jazz band from 1958 to 1961, he became involved in the early London blues scene, playing alongside Alexis Korner, Jack Bruce, Mick Jagger and Chuck Berry. He fronted the Stan Tracey quartet for 20 years from 1976. Key influences are Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon. Themen has toured world wide and played and recorded with many US and British luminaries. A busy and sought after musician who nowadays is most often seen on stage with many of the best of Britain's top jazz players such as Alan Barnes, John Donaldson, John Critchinson, Dave Newton, Georgie Fame, Don Weller, Mornington Lockett, among many others. Themen is a player who is known for his originality and individual style.

Support the show

Olivia Murphy is a multi-award winning composer, conductor and improviser based in South-East London, originally from Peterborough. After studying jazz saxophone at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Olivia has found composition her main focus and an important emotional outlet. She thinks of herself as a story-teller, enjoying weaving melodic lines with varied textures and ensemble improvisations to bring her ideas and memories to life, and over the last few years has been busy crafting musical stories for various jazz and new music ensembles.

 Most recently, Olivia stepped in as guest conductor for the Calum Gourlay big band, MD’ing the band through her compositions at the Vortex Jazz Club during the EFG London Jazz Festival. She was also recently commissioned by The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to reimagine a Mike Gibbs composition in celebration of the legendary composer’s 85th birthday. The performance in December featured a fourteen piece large ensemble and Julian Argüelles as featured soloist.

Support the show