This edition has both a tilt towards new material and a tilt towards jazz guitar, with material from the French guitarist Romain Pilon’s new album Open Roads, and from the archive, tracks from Tommy Halferty’s extensive back catalogue.

Track list for The Hot Box #139 – New Material

1. Giant Steps: Oz Noy
2. Blackbird: Tommy Halferty with Mike Nielsen
3. Ralph’s New Blues: Tommy Halferty Trio
4. Long Story Short: Romain Pilon
5. Golden Rod: Michael Buckley
6. At Swing Two Birds: Ronan Guilfoyle
7. Ready for Cooky: Romain Pilon
8. Divergent Journeys: Christian Sands

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:47 — 55.7MB)

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The Hot Box #138 celebrates the music of another recently departed musician, “Roy Ayres.” Originally known as a jazz vibraphone player, he rapidly expanded his status and became, some would say, one of the major creators of jazz funk.

Track list for The Hot Box  #138 – Roy Ayres

1. Compared to What – Roberta Flack
2. The Ringer – Roy Ayers
3. Searching – Roy Ayers
4. Memphis Underground – Herbie Mann
5. Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty – Herbie Mann
6. Virgo Vibes – Roy Ayers

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:27 — 56.3MB)

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A selection of some wonderful music from albums released in recent weeks, from concert performances in the 1990s to brand new compositions and recordings both Irish and American.

Track list for The Hot Box #137 – New Releases

1. There Will Never Be Another You: Oscar Peterson Quartet from the album “City Lights”recorded in 1994
2. Strange Taste: Michael Buckley from the album Ebb And Flow recorded in 2024
3. Fun One: Oz Noy from the album Fun One recorded in 2024
4. Milestones: Oz Noy from the same album
5. Lion Song: Emmet Cohen from the album Vibe Provider recorded in 2024
6. Vibe Provider: Emmet Cohen from the same album
7. Christian Sands: Ain’t That The Same from the album Embracing Dawn recorded in 2024
8. Kelly’s Blues: Oscar Peterson from the album City Lights

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11:56 — 65.9MB)

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He was born in 1926 and lived to be just 98 years old, having played in public well into his 80s. Donaldson was an alto saxophonist who began his career as a disciple of Charlie Parker, with whom he played, but, as part of the group of young players recruited to Blue Note Records in the 1950s he developed a more soulful sound. In the hour-long tribute to his music, we sample that great era of jazz, “Hard Bop” in which Donaldson was so important.

Track list for The Hot Box #136 – In Memory of Lou Donaldson

1. Watusi Jump: Lou Donaldson: “Here ’Tis”
2. Hipty Hop: Lou Donaldson: “A Man with a Horn”
3. Spaceman Twist: Lou Donaldson “The Natural Soul”
4. Wee Dot: Art Blakey: “A Night at Birdland Volume Two”
5. Alligator Boogaloo: Lou Donaldson “The Scorpion”
6. Polka Dots and Moonbeams: Lou Donaldson “Gravy Train”
7. The Sermon: Jimmy Smith: Blue Note “The Sermon”

All tracks are on the Blue Note Records label.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11:16 — 65.2MB)

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The Hot Box 134 is devoted to the memory of the great drummer Roy Haynes. Haynes died, at the age of 99 in November last year, secure in his place as one of the greatest drummers of all time. His career spanned the whole of the era of modern jazz, his first big job being with Charlie Parker in then1940s.

Track list for The Hot Box #134 – Roy Haynes

1. Red Rose: Roy Haynes/Henri Renaud: Vogue Records
2. Moose the Mooch: Roy Haynes: Dreyfus Jazz
3. Ah Leu Cha: Roy Haynes: Dreyfus Jazz
4. Hoe Down: Oliver Nelson: Impulse
5. Light Blue: Thelonius Monk: Riverside
6. Bouncing with Bud: Bud Powell: Blue Note
7. Bud Powell: Blue Note
8. Questions and Answers: Gary Burton: Concord
9. Smoke Stack: Andrew Hill: Blue Note
10. Reaching Fourth: McCoy Tyner
11. Like Minds: Gary Burton

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:51 — 54.8MB)

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Welcome to the first Hot Box of 2025. Regular listeners will know that we had a rush of obituary type shows at the back end of last year but we start 2025 with some new material as well as a quick nod in the obituary section again, I’m sorry to say, to remember the great saxophone player Lou Donaldson.

Track list for The Hot Box #135 – Some New Stuff

1. Musicians: Yonathon Avishai: Shapes & Sounds; Jazz & People JPCD824005
2. The Signalman: Sue Rynhart: Say Pluto; mrsuesue records
3. Here ’Tis: Lou Donaldson: Blue Note 5099 5 14371 2 1
4. Blue in Green; Pat Leary (Live at Midnight Tea
5. When You’re Smiling: Yonathon Avishai (as above)
6. Long Years Ago: Sue Rynhart (as above)
7. The One Who Smiles: Yonathon Avishai (as above)

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:58 — 52.2MB)

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(The Ghost of Christmas Past)

Celebrating Christmas and also celebrating the 90th anniversary of the campaign to ban jazz in Ireland, which seems to have failed.

Track list for The Christmas Box 2024

1. Gin for Christmas: Lionel Hampton
2. Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells: Fats Waller
3. Jingle Bells: Benny Carter
4. When Winter Comes: Artie Shaw
5. Christmas Night in Harlem: Paul Whiteman
6. Santa’s Secret: Johnny Guarneri & Slam Stewart
7. Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairy: John Kirby
8. Wild Party 1934: Fletcher Henderson
9. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm:Billie Holliday
10. Santa Claus is coming to Town: Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
11. Freeze and Melt: Eddie Lang
12. The Christmas Song: Dinah Shore
13. It Happened in Sun Valley: Glenn Miller
14. Santa Claus Blues: Red Onion Jazz Band
15. Freeze Out: Clarence Williams
16. At The Christmas Ball: Bessie Smith
17. Snowfall: Claude Thornhill
18. Sleighride: Eddie Higgins

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:56 — 56.7MB)

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The celebrated composer, orchestrator and arranger, and sometime trumpet player, Quincy Jones, died November 3rd aged 91. The Hot Box looks at the jazz contribution he made in the latter part of the 20th century, with tracks from Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole and the man himself.

Track list for The Hot Box #133 – Remembering Quincy Jones

1. Rat Race: Count Basie Orchestra
2. Muttnik: Count Basie Orchestra
3. Hicky Burr: Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones
4. Eubie Walkin’: Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones
5. No More Blues: Quincy Jones Big Band
6. Birth of the Band: Quincy Jones Big Band
7. Let the Good Times Roll: Ray Charles
8. The Midnight Sun Never Sets; Sarah Vaughan
9. Joe Turner’s Blues: Nat King Cole
10. Have You Met Benny Bailey? Count Basie Orchestra
11. Rat Race: Count Basie Orchestra
12. Listen Up: Quincy Jones

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:01 — 56.8MB)

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The Hot Box #132, an hour-long exploration of fresh and exciting sounds in jazz. This episode dives into new material from remarkable artists, blending the vibrancy of contemporary jazz with the timeless artistry of legends. Featuring tracks from John Donegan’s Irish Sextet, Shuteen Erdenebaatar, and the Jihye Lee Orchestra, the episode showcases dynamic compositions and inventive storytelling.

Listeners will also revisit the brilliance of guitar virtuosos Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor, alongside a stirring collaboration from Geri Allen and Kurt Rosenwinkel. It’s a rich, varied playlist that promises to engage jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Tune in and discover something new!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:37 — 61.0MB)

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This special episode pays tribute to the remarkable life and music of the late Benny Golson — a saxophonist, composer, and arranger whose profound influence on jazz endures through both his compositions and recordings. Golson’s legacy is woven into jazz history, known for iconic pieces that have become standards in the jazz repertoire.

In today’s episode, we’ll hear selections from Golson’s esteemed career, including his own performances and interpretations of his work by legends like Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Quincy Jones. We’ll journey through classics like “Along Came Betty,” “Whisper Not,” and “I Remember Clifford,” showcasing the depth of Golson’s contributions to jazz. So, sit back and join us as we celebrate the music and memory of Benny Golson.

The Hot Box #131 Track Listing

1. Along Came Betty: Quincy Jones “Birth of the Blues” Essential Jazz EJC55448
2. Moanin’: Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers: Not Now NOT2CD344
3. Whisper Not: Benny Golson “New Tunes, New’tet” Concord 0888072311213
4. Domingo: Benny Golson “Domingo” Dreyfus Jazz FDM36557-2
5. Dear Kathy: Benny Golson “Turning Point” Gambit 69250
6. Killer Joe: Benny Golson “Terminal 1” Concord CCD 2259-2
7. I Remember Clifford: Quincy Jones “Birth of a Band” Essential Jazz EJC55448
8. Blues March: Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers Not Now NOT2CD344
9. Uptown Afternoon: Benny Golson “New Tunes, New’tet” Concord 0888072311213

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:12 — 56.9MB)

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