Composer/Trumpeter Randy Sandke talks about playing jazz from Louie Armstrong and Bix Beiderbeck to his own "Metatonal Music."
Spider Saloff
Jazz vocalist Saloff has an unusually broad range of music she performs and discusses the challenges that presents, but the advantages as well.
Catherine Russell and Catherine Russell 2
Catherine has enjoyed a long career as a back up singer with everyone from David Bowie to Jackson Browne but is now focusing on the music of her father, Luis Russell, who was music director for Louis Armstrong and led his own bands in the 20's and 30's. Catherine discusses her love of New Orleans music and early jazz and what it means to come to this music at this stage of her career. The following was recorded in 2009, early in Catherine’s pursuit of a career under her own name.
Catherine Russell 2
Catherine returns to discuss newly discovered recordings of her father, Luis Russell.
Luis Russell At The Swing Cats Ball is a collection of recordings from 1938 to1940 of Catherine’s father playing stride piano solos, leading his band and Louis Armstrong’s, alongside some of the greatest musicians of the era.
Catherine and I talked about these recordings and the lasting effect her father has had on her life and music in 2023.
Hannah Rothschild
British film maker, Hannah Rothschild, explores the extraordinary life of her great-aunt Pannonica de Koenigswarter who supported bebop long before it was appreciated by the public, and was a close friend of Thelonius Monk and other greats who played the music.
Ted Rosenthal
Jazz and classical pianist and educator Ted Rosenthal discusses his love of the great jazz pianists, his joy in introducing his two sons to the music and how he brings inspiration into their lives every day.
Barbara Rosene
Jazz singer Barbara Rosene focuses on jazz standards but unlike most of her contemporaries, focuses on the early years of 20's and 30's.
George Rodrigue
New Orleans painter talks about how growing up in the south and experiencing jazz has influenced his painting - from his "Blue Dog" portraits to his posters for "Jazz Fest".
Todd Robbins
1st Interview
Judy's conversation with magician, actor and side-show specialist Todd Robbins, one of the most unusual entertainers in the business. Todd discusses his musical work with Woody Allen, his passion for early jazz, and how he utilizes these interests in his magic shows.
2nd Interview
Actor/magician/pianist Todd Robbins has spent decades specializing in arcane forms of popular entertainment. His inspirations range from his work at Coney Island and the Big Apple Circus to his stint as Woody Allen’s pianist. Todd discusses his current gig with Judy on the Investigation Discovery channel's new series True Nightmares. The series features Todd as the host telling bizarre true tales of murder and mayhem that all have a lovely ironic twist to them.
Tim Ries
Tim Ries discusses his latest CD "Stones World" recorded around the world during his tour with the Rolling Stones.
Greg Reeves
Composer/Producer/Bassist Greg Reeves discusses his latest CD and the influence his physical surroundings had on his music.
Robert Redford
Robert Redford talks about designing his life and work at Sundance around a jazz model and how improvisation is a key to his creative process. We recorded this conversation in 2005 when Redford brought me to Sundance to perform with my trio as part of the Sundance Film Festival.
Paul Prudhomme
Chef Paul discusses his childhood as one of 13 siblings (and how one cooks for such a brood) and talks about the similarities between being a great chef and being a great jazz musician.
John Pizzarelli
Singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli talks about working with his famous dad Bucky and the influence singer/songwriters of his youth have had on his music. Hint: John REALLY wanted to be...
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Bucky Pizzarelli
Jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli died April 1, 2020 from Covid 19 at the age of 94. Bucky continued to perform into his 90s, even after a stroke and pneumonia led to several hospitalizations in 2015 and 2016. In spite of all that, by the end of 2016, Bucky was back in action.
I was the Artistic Director for a festival in Brazil for years and in 2009 brought Bucky as one of my featured acts. This was a festival in six different cities, so I had a lot of tricky logistics to deal with and many cranky musicians. Bucky, then 83, was the sharpest dresser, never complained, was always cheerful and the first to be ready for his soundcheck. He was a wonderful role model for everyone, an example of a life well-lived. This is my 2010 conversation with Bucky about playing with everyone from Benny Goodman to Stephane Grappelli and why it’s so hard to find musicians today who play great rhythm guitar.
Michelle Pirret
Young vocalist Michelle Pirret talks about the difficulties of finding your own sound in the pop world today.
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David Parsons
Dancer/choreographer David Parsons talks about capitalizing on improvisation and the input of his dancers when creating a piece, and his passion for creating with jazz musicians, most notably, his work with the late Billy Taylor.
Ken Page
Broadway star Ken Page (Ain't Misbehavin', Cats) and movie actor (Dreamgirls) talks about the way jazz used to influence stage performers and how he misses that influence in many performers today.
Charles Osgood
My 2003 conversation with the late radio personality and host of CBS Sunday Morning Charles Osgood who passed away in January 2024. Osgood compares jazz playing and his own writing for radio and TV and talks about having a recording studio early in his career and recording the celebrating Jazz Samba album with Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz.
Ed Ornowski
Jazz drummer discusses his work with the great tap dancers and working with everyone from Renee Fleming to Bob Dorough.
Robert O'Meally
Author and head of jazz studies at Columbia University, Robert O'Meally talks about his book on the jazz writings of Ralph Ellison.