The Music Show

In celebration of John Coltrane's centenary this week, we trace the style and influence of one of jazz's greatest musicians, composers, and collaborators. 

We’ll hear a wide range of voices from the Music Show archive: jazz legends like McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, and Gary Bartz, who played with him; artists like Branford Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Dave Liebman, Phil Slater, Andy Sugg and Lakecia Benjamin who were inspired by him; and John Scheinfeld, director of the documentary Chasing Trane.

Music heard in the show:

Title: A Love Supreme: AcknowledgementArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: A Love SupremeLabel: Impulse!

Title: My Favourite ThingsArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Hammerstein, Oscar; Rodgers, RichardAlbum: My Favourite ThingsLabel: Atlantic

Title: Mr. KnightArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: Coltrane Plays the BluesLabel: Atlantic

Title: AlabamaArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: Live at BirdlandLabel: Impulse!

Title: A Love Supreme: PsalmArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: A Love SupremeLabel: Impulse!

Title: Bye Bye BlackbirdArtist: Miles Davis Composer: Dixon, Mort; Henderson, RayAlbum: ‘Round About MidnightLabel: Columbia

Title: Greensleeves (Alternate take)Artist: John ColtraneComposer: trad.Album: Africa/Brass Sessions Vol. 2Label: Impulse!

Title: My One and Only LoveArtist: John Coltrane, Johnny HartmanComposer: Wood, Guy; Mellin, RobertAlbum: John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanLabel: Impulse!

Title: NaimaArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: Live at the Village Vanguard Again!Label: Impulse!

Title: SerenityArtist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: MeditationsLabel: Impulse

Title: Ogunde Artist: John ColtraneComposer: Coltrane, JohnAlbum: The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live RecordingLabel: Impulse!

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

Some might think that jazz and electronic music don't have much in common, but Japanese DJ and trumpeter Takuya Nakamura has proven all that wrong. Growing up in 1980s Tokyo, he moved to the United States in 1990 to study under the legendary jazz composer George Russell, and went on to bring this expertise to the New York jungle electronic scene. He now performs live DJ sets of jungle, trip hop, dub, and all sorts of experimental electronic music with trumpet in hand.

Larry Sitsky may be one of Australia's most important living composers, and he's certainly the most commissioned. One of his most important creative relationships over his long career was with poet Gwen Harwood, who wrote many of the libretti for his operas. A new book filled with the substantial thirty-year correspondence between the two has just been released. Ann-Marie Priest is a longtime scholar of Gwen Harwood's work, and is the editor of the book, Fiery Tales: The Correspondence of Gwen Harwood and Larry Sitsky

Takuya Nakamura is performing as part of Move My Way festival, on October 3 in Eora Sydney, and October 4 in Naarm Melbourne. His forthcoming album -- Shape The Future is out November 12.

Fiery Tales: The Correspondence of Gwen Harwood and Larry Sitsky is out now via Monash University Publishing.

Music heard in this program:

Title: Jungle JungleArtist: Takuya NakamuraComposer: Takuya NakamuraAlbum: Mysteries of the Cosmos

Title: The Banks of the Moldau, Act1 Sc3Artist: Raymond Myers (Rabbi Judah Loew), The Australian Opera Chorus, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Christopher Lyndon Gee (cond.), Barrie Kosky (dir.)Composer: Larry Sitsky, Gwen Harwood (libretto)Album: The GolemLabel: ABC Classics

Title: EpilogueArtist: Gerald English (tenor) as Lenz, Isabel Veale (soprano), Lyall Beven (baritone), James Christiansen (baritone), Marilyn Richardson (soprano), The Corinthian Singers, Adelaide Symphony OrchestraComposer: Larry Sitsky, Gwen Harwood (libretto)Album: LenzLabel: ABC Classics

Title: Broken Jazz feat. Tim ReaperArtist: Takuya NakamuraComposer: Takuya NakamuraAlbum: Shape the Future

Title: Giant StepsArtist: John Coltrane (tenor sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Wynton Kelly (piano), Art Taylor (drums), Paul CHambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)Composer: John ColtraneAlbum: Giant StepsLabel: Atlantic 1311

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country 

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

For hundreds of years, the Copper family have sung for their own pleasure, and for the pleasure of the people of Rottingdean, the East Sussex village where the family have been living since at least the 1500s. Singing together in pubs and houses, the BBC first recorded them in 1951, and they've gone on to become stars, particularly in the United States, where they toured extensively. 

Andy went to East Sussex to sit down with Bob Copper, the paterfamilias of the family, in 2003 when Copper was 88 years old. In 32 years of presenting The Music Show, this might be his favourite ever conversation. Enjoy listening to this wide-ranging and philosophical conversation about an unbroken line of family singers and the music of the English chalk coast.

Music heard in the program:

Title: The Claudy Banks; Come Write me down, Ye Powers of love Artist: The Copper Family (Bob & Jim)Composer: Trad.Album: Come Write Me Down: The Copper Family of RottingdeanLabel: Topic 

In the interview, Bob sings parts of The Birds in the Spring, and The Threshing Song, both trads.

Title: My Favourite ThingsArtist: John ColtraneComposers: Rodgers, Richard; Hammerstein, OscarAlbum: CMy Favourite ThingsLabel: Atlantic

This program was originally produced by Penny Lomax and Maureen Cooney. Ce Benedict did a tiny bit of work on this version.

Technical production by Harvey O’Sullivan

Drawing references to Kerouac, Munch, and Hildegard of Bingen, Bryce Dessner's music builds on a rich tradition of art that extends far beyond music. The classical composer (and guitarist for The National) is presenting the Australian premiere of his cello concerto, Trembling Earth, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and talks to Andy about his influences, NY's music scene, and his new opera.

In a new sound installation called The Enormous Radio, Bob Scott and Roslyn Oades are tuning a huge room of old radios in to the sounds of the natural world. Frogs, dingoes, flies, and goats take on a ghostly tone, as field recordings are reshaped into something almost unrecognisable.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance of Trembling Earth is on the 19th and 20th of September. And Bryce Dessner: A Portrait in Music is heading to Sydney and Melbourne.

The Enormous Radio is on as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival from Sept 30.

Music heard in this program:

Title: Pond LifeArtist: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesComposer: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesAlbum: Sound installation

Title: St. Carolyn By The SeaArtist: Bryce Dessner, Aaron Dessner, Copenhagen Philharmonic OrchestraComposer: Bryce DessnerAlbum: St. Carolyn By The SeaLabel: Deutsche Grammophon

Title: Song for Ainola Artist: Anastasia KobekinaComposer: Bryce DessnerAlbum: Bryce Dessner - SolosLabel: Sony

Title: Garcia CounterpointArtist: Bryce DessnerComposer: Bryce DessnerAlbum: Day Of The DeadLabel: 4AD

Title: DingoesArtist: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesComposer: Bob Scott & Roslyn OadesAlbum: Sound installation

Title: Jane SheldonArtist: flowermuscleComposer: Jane Sheldon & Bob ScottAlbum: flowermuscleLabel: Independent release

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Harvey O'Sullivan

To mark Andy’s departure from the show at the end of this year, we’re bringing you some of his favourite conversations from 32 years on air. This week, we’ll hear the American pianist, composer and teacher Seymour Bernstein in a conversation from 2015. Bernstein died earlier this year, just before his 100th birthday, and in that long life he passed on a huge amount of wisdom about music, from how to play Beethoven to helping Ethan Hawke overcome stage fright. 

Benjamin Clementine, who is an amazing musician, says he’s not an amazing musician. He’s a British Ghanaian singer, pianist, songwriter, and creative sponge: one of those artists who soaks up so many influences it leads to a totally unique sound which defies categorisation. He’s about to tour Australia and he tells Andy how his songs start as poems, his influences, and his sanguine attitude towards categorisation. 

Benjamin Clementine tour dates:

Adelaide 15 OctoberMelbourne International Jazz Festival 20 OctoberSydney 21 OctoberPerth 24 October

Music heard in the show:

Title: NemesisArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: At Least For NowLabel: Virgin EMI

Title: Gottes zeit is Die Allerbeste Zeit, BMV 106: Prelude [Actus Tragicus]Artist: Seymour BernsteinComposer: Bach, Johann SebastianAlbum: Seymour: An Introduction (Soundtrack)Label: Varese Sarabande 

Title: Intermezzo in A major, Op.118 No.2: excerptArtist: Seymour BernsteinComposer: Brahms, JohannesAlbum: Seymour: An Introduction (Soundtrack)Label: Varese Sarabande 

Title: GethukArtist: The Jawa Pitu BandComposer: The Jawa Pitu BandAlbum: KapindhoLabel: Independent

Title: Pizza MindArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: SingleLabel: Preserve Artists

Title: CornerstoneArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: At Least For NowLabel: Virgin EMI

Title: Pizza MindArtist: Benjamin ClementineComposer: Clementine, BenjaminAlbum: SingleLabel: Preserve Artists

Title: You’re the VoiceArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Thompson, Chris; Ryder, Maggie; Qunta, Andy; Reid, KeithAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley

The Music Show is produced on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Technical production by Antonia Gauci

You’re The Voice remains a favourite for generations of Australians and the album it's on, Whispering Jack, has sold more than 1.5 million copies. But John Farnham was 37 by the time he recorded that album and the music industry wasn’t all that interested in a new direction from a 60s pop star - until word of mouth began spreading that this was something special.

In some ways it’s that background that makes the result so remarkable. Andrew Ford charts the story behind Farnham's biggest hit and explores why Farnham's voice has earned him such admiration.

Featuring interviews with David Hirschfelder, Gaynor Wheatley, Michael Paynter, and Poppy Stockell. 

The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend, The Celebration Concert is on September 20.

The Sydney Theatre Company’s musical, Whispering Jack, begins on November 15.

Music heard in this program:

Title: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My HeadArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Burt Bacharach & Hal DavidAlbum: Looking Through A TearLabel: Columbia

Title: Sadie The Cleaning LadyArtist: John FarnhamComposer: David White, John Madara, Ray GilmoreAlbum: SadieLabel: Columbia

Title: Playing To WinArtist: Little River BandComposer: John Farnham, Graham GobleAlbum: Playing To WinLabel: Capitol Records

Title: The TempleArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim RiceAlbum: Jesus Christ Superstar - 1992 Australian Cast Label: Polydor

Title: Age of ReasonArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Johanna Pigott, Todd HunterAlbum: Age of ReasonLabel: Wheatley Records 

Title: That's FreedomArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Jean Anne Chapman, Tom KimmelAlbum: Chain ReactionLabel: Wheatley Records 

Title: You're The VoiceArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Andy Qunta, Chris Thompson, Keith Reid, Maggie RyderAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley Records 

Title: Blind EyesArtist: Little River BandComposer: John Farnham, David Hirschfelder, Ray ChapmanAlbum: Playing To WinLabel: Capitol Records

Title: It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)Artist: John FarnhamComposer: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon ScottAlbum: Age of ReasonLabel: Wheatley Records 

Title: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)Artist: John FarnhamComposer: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim RiceAlbum: Jesus Christ Superstar - 1992 Australian Cast Label: Polydor

Title: Pressure DownArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Harry BogdanovsAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley Records 

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Antonia Gauci

Recorded (largely) as-live in Sweden, with a group of that country's indie luminaries, Robert Forster's latest album Strawberries shows the singer-songwriter in a playful mood and embracing the role of storyteller. Speaking to Andy for the first time in quite some time, Forster explains why he made the trip and why he refused to tour the album until he could bring the band over to play it with him.

With up to thirteen singers and ten drummers, all clustered around a giant communal drum, the Red Spirit Singers produce a huge sound. The group, composed of members of the Ute Nation in Utah, have been performing their music for almost 40 years, with multiple generations involved over that time. Founder AJ Kanip talks about that history and about the importance of the songs, old and new.

Music heard in this program:

Title: Bear DanceArtist: Red Spirit SingersComposer: Red Spirit SingersAlbum: Land of the SunLabel: Independent release

Title: StrawberriesArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records

Title: DiamondsArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records

Title: All Of The TimeArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records

Title: Veteran's SongArtist: Red Spirit SingersComposer: Red Spirit SingersAlbum: Land of the SunLabel: Independent release

Title: Meet Me At The Ute PetroleumArtist: Red Spirit SingersComposer: Red Spirit SingersAlbum: Land of the SunLabel: Independent release

Title: You're The VoiceArtist: John FarnhamComposer: Andy Qunta, Chris Thompson, Keith Reid, Maggie RyderAlbum: Whispering JackLabel: Wheatley Records

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich, or 'Kelso', of the great all-woman Australian rock band Camp Cope, is also a phenomenal writer. Her new book It's Not For You is part memoir, part feminist journalist project, in which she traces her own musical beginnings alongside conversations with a cross section of women and gender diverse musicians. She joins Andy to talk about the book. 

Noongar composer, violist, conductor and programmer Aaron Wyatt returns to the show to talk about Decolonising the Bells, a collaborative project with Speak Percussion that looks at the Federation Hand Bells and their complex history. 

Plus new music from The Buoys from their upcoming album Concrete Cowboy.

Decolonising The Bells is at Monash University's Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts on Saturday 5 September.

Music heard in the show:

Title: The OpenerArtist: Camp CopeComposer: Maq, GeorgiaAlbum: How To Socialise and Make FriendsLabel: Poison City Records

Title: Perfect NowArtist: Sarah BlaskoComposer: Blasko, Sarah; Cranny, Roger FAlbum: The Overture and the UnderscoreLabel: Dew Process

Title: SoonArtist: Angie McMahonComposer: McMahon, AngieAlbum: SaltLabel: Dualtone Records

Title: Alone in VegasArtist: The BuoysComposer: Catterall, Zoe; Geddes, Hilary; Cunningham, Courtney; Wilkin, Tessa; Matthews, FletcherAlbum: Concrete CowboyLabel: Sony Music

Title: Decolonising the BellsArtist: Aaron Wyatt, Speak PercussionComposer: Aaron Wyatt, Eugene UghettiCourtesy of the composers and Speak Percussion

Title: Under the CanopyArtist: Melbourne Chamber OrchestraComposer: Aaron WyattCourtesy of ABC Classic

Title: Tell It Back To MeArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Forster, RobertAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

Belinda Webster, the producer, engineer and singular force behind Australia's art music label Tall Poppies died this month at the age of 74. Across 278 releases, Webster recorded and released music by many of Australia's best classical and jazz musicians, often playing Australian music.

In 2006, Andy visited Belinda at her home in Kangaroo Valley for a wide-ranging conversation about her passion and approach to music. 

Music heard in this program:

Title: Come, My LoveArtist:  Ian Munro & Jane EdwardsComposer: Katherine ParkerAlbum: CD Sampler Label: Tall Poppies Records

Title: The TrystArtist: David StanhopeComposer: Jean Sibelius (arranged by David Stanhope)Album: David Stanhope – A Virtuoso RecitalLabel: Tall Poppies 

Title: Heritage Overture Artist: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David PiperComposer: Sandra FranceAlbum: Sandra France – Fluctuating States Of CalmLabel: Tall Poppies 

With a recent concerto for amplified accordion and orchestra and another for more than 60 recorders Holly Harrison clearly loves a challenge. She shares why she enjoys writing for new instruments, and how she composed a work that will be performed by everyone from virtuosos to second-grade students.

Hamed Sadeghi has released two albums this year, each of which fuses his instrument, the Persian tar, with different Western traditions. The latest, Comfortable, features some of Sydney's best jazz musicians, and Hamed talks to Andy about collaboration, improvisation, and poetry.

InsideOut, composed by Holly Harrison, will be featured in upcoming concerts by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, all featuring James Crabb. The world premiere of Harrison's Frog Hollow will be performed at the Sydney Opera House on September 23, as part of the Festival of Instrumental Music.

Hamed Sadeghi will be performing Comfortable at the City Recital Hall in Sydney on September 5.

Music heard in this program:

Title: Slack RopeArtist: Hamed SadeghiComposer: Hamed SadeghiAlbum: ComfortableLabel: Independent release

Title: bend/boogie/breakArtist: Offspring Ensemble Composer: Holly HarrisonAlbum: Offspring Bites 3: En MasseLabel: Independent release

Title: Balderdash for String QuartetArtist: Goldmund QuartetComposer: Holly HarrisonAlbum: Live Recording

Title: Los Ojos Del CondorArtist: Hermanos GutiérrezComposer: Hermanos GutiérrezAlbum: Los Ojos Del CondorLabel: Easy Eye Sound

Title: InheritanceArtist: Hamed SadeghiComposer: Hamed SadeghiAlbum: ComfortableLabel: Independent release

Title: Before the StormArtist: Hamed SadeghiComposer: Hamed SadeghiAlbum: ComfortableLabel: Independent release

Title: StrawberriesArtist: Robert ForsterComposer: Robert ForsterAlbum: StrawberriesLabel: Tapete Records 

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country

Technical production by Antonia Gauci