The Jazz Podcast

With her upcoming Verve Records debut, Linger Awhile, 22-year-old Samara Joy makes her case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella, and Billie as the next mononymous jazz singing sensation recorded by the venerable label. Her voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King, appearances on the TODAY Show and millions of likes on TikTok — cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star. On Linger Awhile, Samara will introduce that massive audience to a slew of classic standards several times older than she is through her timeless, irresistible sound.

Samara is still relatively new to jazz. Growing up in the Bronx, it was music of the past — the music of her parent’s childhoods, as she put it — that she listened to most. She treasures her musical lineage, which stretches back to her grandparents Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, both of whom performed with Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and runs through her father, who is a singer, songwriter and producer who toured with gospel artist Andraé Crouch. “Sometimes I catch myself when I’m singing — I’m like, ‘Whoa, that was a dad moment’,” Samara quips. Eventually, she did follow in the family tradition, singing in church and then with the jazz band at Fordham High School for the Arts, with whom she won Best Vocalist at JALC’s Essentially Ellington competition. That led to her enrolling in SUNY Purchase’s jazz studies program, where she fell deeply in love with the music.

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Born and based in Derby, Dr Corey Mwamba's commitment to jazz and improvised music in Britain and Ireland drives all aspects of his work, whether through making, presenting, promoting, or researching music.

Corey predominantly plays vibraphone; and also plays dulcimer and uses audio processing software. Corey Mwamba is recognised as a highly creative improviser and composer working across a wide range of jazz and contemporary music. Mwamba's distinctive approach and tone is instantly recognisable in any context: a potent blend of pure sound, highly melodic phrases and ethereal textures; barely whispered chords and ear-piercing robotic screams. Corey won a PRSF/Jerwood Foundation Take Five artist development award in 2007; was short-listed for the Innovation category in the BBC Jazz Awards in 2008; and received nominations for "Rising Star on Vibraphone" the last nine DownBeat annual International Critics' Polls.

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Born in Hertfordshire, UK, Elaine was raised in a strong musical environment, her father being the renowned trumpeter Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson, a leading influence in the jazz and dance band movement in Britain from the 1930s onwards.

 After initially studying classical piano, Elaine found a natural progression in singing and became a vocalist in her father's own band at sixteen. It was soon apparent that her vocal talent and natural affinity with the stage would lead her to triumph in many areas of the entertainment world. 

Today Elaine chats to Tara Minton about her remarkable career.

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LOS ANGELES, CA - Multi-platinum selling producer, songwriter, arranger Jason "Spicy G"
Goldman, in collaboration with jazz vocalist Lia Booth are set to release their new LP, "There's Only One", on September 16, 2022.

The album features provocative takes on the great American songbook, as well as a trio of
originals reminiscent of the classics. Expanding on Goldman's previous album, "Hypnotised", "There's Only One" is filled with the vibrant sounds of a full big band and orchestra uniquely blended with today's modern production sounds.

All songs were produced, arranged, and orchestrated by Jason Goldman. Says Jason about the
project, "Lia and I are so excited for people to hear There's Only One. We infused many different styles of music into this album, from classic jazz swing to Latin grooves to modern pop sounds all while honouring the tradition of the classic American songbook genre.
There's Only One pulls listeners through a range of emotions through poetic lyrics and the lush sounds of a full jazz orchestra. The album features powerful swingers, lush sultry ballads, and dramatic layered vocal choirs. Several of the songs are inspired by Latin music as well as the classic "It Had Better Be Tonight" which features compelling vocals in both Italian and English. Each individual track is unique, yet there is an undeniably satisfying sense of cohesion throughout the entire album.

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In the Jazz tradition, Walter Smith III has developed under the wings of many of the music’s greats. Walter is/has been a member of several legendary groups (recording and/or touring) including the Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Eric Harland’s “Voyager”, Jason Moran’s In My Mind:Monk at Town Hall, Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet, the Christian McBride “Situation”, Christian Scott group and the Sean Jones Quintet to name a few. Smith has performed all over the world participating in virtually every international festival as well as famed venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, and the Kennedy Center. In addition, he has shared the stage and/or appeared on recordings with many Jazz notables including Mulgrew Miller, Eric Reed, Billy Childs and Joe Lovano. Today he joins us on the show to share his thoughts on music.

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Braxton Cook (born March 27, 1991 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an Emmy Award Winning Artist and one of this generation’s most exciting emerging voices in the Jazz world. Not only does he exhibit world-class virtuosity on the alto saxophone but he is also a uniquely talented vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer whose sound blends Jazz, Soul, and Alternative R&B into a fresh new sound all his own. 

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Wooten is the recipient of five Grammy Awards.[8] He won the Bass Player of the Year award from Bass Player magazine three times[2]and is the first person to win the award more than once.[8] In 2011, he was ranked No. 10 in the Top 10 Bassists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.[9] Today he comes on the Jazz Podcast to talk about his music, life and philosophies. 

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Nikki Glaspie is among the premier drummers in music today. As a founding member of The Nth Power she's blazing a path of light, and rolling waves of love in her wake. Nikki Glaspie has been trotting the globe behind the likes of Beyonce, Maceo Parker, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, GRiZ, and more. Today she joins the show to preview her upcoming gig at UTOPIAfest. The festival returns to Reveille Peak Ranch, and to October on October 14-15, 2022. Along with expanded mountain biking and disc golf offerings, the nearby Highland Lakes will be accessible for cooling off before the stages kick off each day. 
The Thirteenth Annual UTOPiAfest will feature two, non-overlapping stages, BYOB, Hill Country, Beer, Wine, & Spirits, workshops and activities, and more.

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Chien Chien Lu is a vibraphonist, contemporary percussionist, and composer whose Taiwanese upbringing, classical music education, and passion for R&B grooves crystallize into a fresh and distinctive approach to contemporary jazz.

Lu’s fierce authenticity and jazz mastery shine bright on her September 2020 debut solo project, The Path, which spent 20 weeks on the Jazz Week Charts Top 20, earned Best Jazz Songs in Golden Indie Music Awards and three Golden Melody Awards nominations, four Golden Indie Music Awards nominations and led to Lu’s being named the “vibraphone rising star” in Downbeat Magazine’s 69th Annual Critics Poll. Lu’s band has also played many prestigious festivals including the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, and toured extensively in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

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Writers Collin and Nick join the show to chat about their new jazz film, In A Silent Way. These two friends wanted to make a film about a misguided man trying to become a jazz legend, and the results are hilarious. Rob Cope finds out more. 

The film can be found here on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B1DKBNLG/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

And on Apple TV:

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/in-a-silent-way/umc.cmc.1k8uya2603ckgxyu68bxljns4

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