NPR Series: Take Five: A Weekly Jazz Sampler

NPR Series: Take Five: A Weekly Jazz Sampler http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90379427&ft=1&f=90379427 Every Monday, hear a weekly mix of five jazz songs picked by jazz radio personalities and jazz musicians around the world. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:34:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Take Five: A Weekly Jazz Sampler http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90379427&ft=1&f=90379427 Travel Tunes For Thanksgiving Journeys The journey home for Thanksgiving can be challenging and frustrating, fraught with bus loads of college kids, crowded planes and slow-moving traffic. Fortunately, music eases frustration, so here are five jazz songs to lift your travel-weary spirits. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:34:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120629180&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120629180&ft=1&f=90379427 The journey home for Thanksgiving can be challenging and frustrating, fraught with bus loads of college kids, crowded planes and slow-moving traffic. Fortunately, music eases frustration, so here are five jazz songs to lift your travel-weary spirits.

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]]> Gary Giddins: 101 Ways To Get Into 'Jazz' Attempting to make your way into jazz is never easy, but the jazz writer and cultural critic Gary Giddins has rendered it a bit more approachable. His new book, <em>Jazz</em>, is a new guide for novice listeners and longtime fans alike. Giddins picks five songs from his list of 101 entry-way jazz recordings. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:51:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120458536&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120458536&ft=1&f=90379427 Attempting to make your way into jazz is never easy, but the jazz writer and cultural critic Gary Giddins has rendered it a bit more approachable. His new book, Jazz, is a new guide for novice listeners and longtime fans alike. Giddins picks five songs from his list of 101 entry-way jazz recordings.

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]]> Singers In The Rain: Jazz Amid The Deluge It's early November, and for many in America, that means that when we go outside, we're likely to get wet. Whether we're dodging sprinkles, showers or downpours, November is part of a rainy season. Hear five songs from vocalists inspired by rain, including Gene Kelly, Patricia Barber and Mahalia Jackson. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120013653&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120013653&ft=1&f=90379427 It's early November, and for many in America, that means that when we go outside, we're likely to get wet. Whether we're dodging sprinkles, showers or downpours, November is part of a rainy season. Hear five songs from vocalists inspired by rain, including Gene Kelly, Patricia Barber and Mahalia Jackson.

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]]> Blast Beat Improv: Metallic Free Jazz Throughout the '80s and early '90s, John Zorn and Bill Laswell were at the epicenter of extreme music. Bands like Painkiller and Last Exit took the ferocity of '60s free-jazz improvisation and matched the intensity — and blast beats — of death metal. The result is like being bludgeoned by a swarm of killer bees. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114182621&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114182621&ft=1&f=90379427 Throughout the '80s and early '90s, John Zorn and Bill Laswell were at the epicenter of extreme music. Bands like Painkiller and Last Exit took the ferocity of '60s free-jazz improvisation and matched the intensity — and blast beats — of death metal. The result is like being bludgeoned by a swarm of killer bees.

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]]> Big Apple Jazz: Five Picks From The Orchard There are thousands of apple varieties — even a new breed called "Jazz." Much like the music that lends its name to this autumn delight, Jazz is a hybrid. The time is ripe for planning that apple-picking day trip, so get the caramel ready for five crisp, fleshy jazz tunes related to a certain favorite fall fruit. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113832919&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113832919&ft=1&f=90379427 There are thousands of apple varieties — even a new breed called "Jazz." Much like the music that lends its name to this autumn delight, Jazz is a hybrid. The time is ripe for planning that apple-picking day trip, so get the caramel ready for five crisp, fleshy jazz tunes related to a certain favorite fall fruit.

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]]> Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger, Jazz Mentor Ninety years ago, one of the greatest bandleaders and drummers in jazz was born in Pittsburgh, Penn. That man was Art Blakey. For more than 30 years, he led The Jazz Messengers, a band which became a sort of graduate school and springboard for some of the greatest jazz players of all time. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113661199&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113661199&ft=1&f=90379427 Ninety years ago, one of the greatest bandleaders and drummers in jazz was born in Pittsburgh, Penn. That man was Art Blakey. For more than 30 years, he led The Jazz Messengers, a band which became a sort of graduate school and springboard for some of the greatest jazz players of all time.

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]]> Good Morning Heartache: Wake Up To Jazz Does music you hear in the morning set the tone for your day? Would you rather have music create a mood for you, or just match the mood you're already in? Hear five jazz songs to get you into a morning groove, even if that groove reflects a relationship hangover. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113444469&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113444469&ft=1&f=90379427 Does music you hear in the morning set the tone for your day? Would you rather have music create a mood for you, or just match the mood you're already in? Hear five jazz songs to get you into a morning groove, even if that groove reflects a relationship hangover.

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]]> Jazz Now: Your First Five Modern Jazz Albums How would you introduce someone to the jazz of today? We asked young jazz fans — none older than 24 — who run promising jazz Web sites to write about <em>their</em> five-album introductions to modern jazz. Here are highlights from our guest contributors. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113276760&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113276760&ft=1&f=90379427 How would you introduce someone to the jazz of today? We asked young jazz fans — none older than 24 — who run promising jazz Web sites to write about their five-album introductions to modern jazz. Here are highlights from our guest contributors.

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]]> Shoot The Piano Player: New Jazz Trios The new economy of jazz has forced many musicians to adopt a "go lean" approach; more than ever, three is a magic number. Trio recordings in jazz are not uncommon, but the trinity's proliferation this year makes the case that less is more. Sample five upcoming trio discs. Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113079810&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113079810&ft=1&f=90379427 The new economy of jazz has forced many musicians to adopt a "go lean" approach; more than ever, three is a magic number. Trio recordings in jazz are not uncommon, but the trinity's proliferation this year makes the case that less is more. Sample five upcoming trio discs.

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]]> Blue Note Classics In Black And White Blue Note Records is a record label for which the visuals carry almost as much artistic cachet as the music. The label's covers tend to employ generous amounts of white space, splashes of color, prominent shading and themes evoking introspection and celebration. All of that frequently translates to the music inside. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112748081&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112748081&ft=1&f=90379427 Blue Note Records is a record label for which the visuals carry almost as much artistic cachet as the music. The label's covers tend to employ generous amounts of white space, splashes of color, prominent shading and themes evoking introspection and celebration. All of that frequently translates to the music inside.

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]]> All Their Loving: Jazz Covers The Beatles As the British Invasion changed the landscape of the music industry, jazz musicians had to adapt to popular music written by the bands themselves instead of hired songwriters. But as we hear in these five Beatles covers, jazz musicians were finding their own voices in the Fab Four's tunes. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112656949&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112656949&ft=1&f=90379427 As the British Invasion changed the landscape of the music industry, jazz musicians had to adapt to popular music written by the bands themselves instead of hired songwriters. But as we hear in these five Beatles covers, jazz musicians were finding their own voices in the Fab Four's tunes.

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]]> Labor Day Blues And Grooves Americans have been observing Labor Day since 1894, through cycles of economic good times and bad times. Here are five songs by great blues and soul artists on the subject of work — and, whenever possible, the avoidance thereof. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112532537&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112532537&ft=1&f=90379427 Americans have been observing Labor Day since 1894, through cycles of economic good times and bad times. Here are five songs by great blues and soul artists on the subject of work — and, whenever possible, the avoidance thereof.

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]]> 30 Years Of Jazz In The Motor City This coming weekend, more than 100 jazz acts will descend upon the Detroit International Jazz Festival. The event will celebrate three brothers from a special Detroit-rooted jazz family: pianist Hank Jones and his two late brothers, drummer Elvin and trumpeter Thad. Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112340943&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112340943&ft=1&f=90379427 This coming weekend, more than 100 jazz acts will descend upon the Detroit International Jazz Festival. The event will celebrate three brothers from a special Detroit-rooted jazz family: pianist Hank Jones and his two late brothers, drummer Elvin and trumpeter Thad.

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]]> Oh, Canada! Jazz From The True North This week's Take Five skips from the provinces of Quebec and Ottawa over to British Columbia, featuring a jazz legend, a world-famous vocalist/pianist and a few Canadian musicians who are gaining wider recognition outside their home country. Listen to five songs below. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111962878&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111962878&ft=1&f=90379427 This week's Take Five skips from the provinces of Quebec and Ottawa over to British Columbia, featuring a jazz legend, a world-famous vocalist/pianist and a few Canadian musicians who are gaining wider recognition outside their home country. Listen to five songs below.

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]]> Highlights From The 2009 Newport Jazz Festival Last weekend's festival packed in a dizzying array of talent, all performing in the span of 32 hours. We listened closely to as much of it as we could and picked five of the best songs — though certainly only a tiny sampling of the greatest moments — from our recordings. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111788135&ft=1&f=90379427 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111788135&ft=1&f=90379427 Last weekend's festival packed in a dizzying array of talent, all performing in the span of 32 hours. We listened closely to as much of it as we could and picked five of the best songs — though certainly only a tiny sampling of the greatest moments — from our recordings.

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