Jazz Currents

In 1954, trumpeter Clifford Brown and drummer Max Roach recorded a landmark album that helped to define the sound of the Hard Bop era of the 1950’s. The Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet was one of the most influential jazz groups of all time, releasing five albums until the untimely death of Brown in 1956. In this episode of Jazz Currents, Keith Hall breaks down the elements that combined to create a classic.

In 1992, pianist and vocalist Shirley Horn and her trio, enhanced by the orchestral arrangements of Johnny Mandel, produced Here's To Life, which would become her best-known album. According to Keith Hall, it is a shining example of her careful pacing, her unsurpassed signature style of storytelling and her ability to make listeners feel the full emotion of each lyric. In this episode of Jazz Currents, Keith Hall pulls back the curtain on a modern classic.

On January 16, 1958, the Ahmad Jamal Trio recorded a landmark album at the Pershing Lounge at the Pershing Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Titled At the Pershing-But Not For Me, it featured Chicago bassist Israel Crosby and New Orleans drummer Vernel Fournier. The album was on Billboard’s Hot 100 album chart for more than 2 years, and included the crossover dance hit “Poinciana." Keith Hall is our guide to the many treasures found in this recording, on this episode of Jazz Currents.

In the 2nd and final episode of Jazz Currents, Keith Hall celebrates what would have been the 90th birthday of the jazz giant, John Coltrane.  It begins with his recordings in the early 1960’s, including some memorable recordings from his classic quartet featuring McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. Hall also explores the spiritual side of John Coltrane, and his later recordings as he continued to push the musical boundaries until his passing in 1967.

Saxophonist John Coltrane is one of the most imitated saxophonists of all time. During his relatively short career, he profoundly contributed to music as a composer and bandleader.