The Jazz Session celebrates its 500th episode with NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan. In this interview, Jordan talks about how a nickel changed her life; her early years on 52nd Street with Charlie Parker; her work with Steve Swallow and the poetry of Robert Creeley; her approach to ballads and teaching; and more.

A Special Note:

Five hundred episodes. Twelve years. The Jazz Session is, if I do say so myself, a one-of-a-kind archive of the past decade and more of this music. Hundreds of hours of stories by the people who create the music we love. I started this show in 2007 with no idea what I was doing, other than knowing I loved interviewing jazz musicians and thought other people might like it, too, if this whole podcasting thing ever caught on. When I started this show my older son was 4 and my younger son was not yet 1. Now both are over 6’ tall and one is about to start college. And through all these years, all the moves, all the life changes, The Jazz Session has kept going. Now the question becomes, how much further can it go? And the only person who can answer that question is you. I’m only able to make this show because people like you make the switch from listeners to members. I’d like to be able to do so much more with The Jazz Session: more in-person interviews, more festival coverage, more travel. That’s possible only if you decide that you value this show enough to support it. If you do, go to thejazzsession.com/join and become a member for $5 or $10 a month. You’ll get bonus episodes, early access to every show, and more. Thank you for being here all these years. Now, become a part of the next 500 episodes by becoming a member.