Donald Helme takes the lid off the Hot Box once again, and this time he’s digging deep into a special file marked “Jazz in Ireland”. Reaching back across the decades, Donald unearths vintage recordings that showcase both the big names who have defined the Irish jazz landscape and the lesser-known voices who, for one reason or another, seemed to fade into history.

Track list for The Hot Box #143 – Jazz in Ireland

1. Feels So Good – Chuck Mangione
2. Taylor Made – Linley Hamilton
3. Coded Remorse – Justin Caroll
4. Sea Legs – Michael Buckley
5. Little Niles – The Kevin Brady Trio
6. Uzac – Greg Lloyd
7. Don’t Stop The Train – Eddie Palmieri

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• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
• Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland.

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Welcome to the 142nd edition of The Hot Box with Donald Helme. This episode is a real treat, dedicated entirely to the music of the legendary Gil Evans. We’re marking the release of what may be the final volume of unearthed Evans material, lovingly brought to light by arranger and bandleader Ryan Truesdell.

Truesdell has spent years digging into the Evans archive, bringing this extraordinary music to life through his acclaimed ensemble, The Gil Evans Project. Alongside selections from the latest release, we’ll also revisit highlights from the earlier albums. And we’ll hear about the live sessions that once brought this music to the stage at New York’s much-missed Jazz Standard, where it was performed annually in all its glory.

The first track of the show is introduced with a snippet from the liner notes written by Ryan Truesdell.

Track list for The Hot Box #142 – Ryan Truesdell and Gil Evans

1. Spoonful: The Gil Evans Project from the album Shades of Sound
2. How About You: the Gil Evans Project from the album Centennial
3. Dancing on a Great Big Rainbow from the album Centennial
4. Ballad of the Sad Young Men from the album Shades of Sound
5. Concorde from the album Lines of Colour
6. Gypsy Jump from the album Lines of Colour
7. Laughing at Life from the album Shades of Colour
8. Nettie’s Blues from the album Shades of Colour
9. Orgone from the album Live at Umbria Jazz Vol 1

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• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
• Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:52 — 62.1MB)

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In this slightly different edition of The Hot Box, Donald Helme takes a detour through the timeless melodies of one of jazz’s most enduring composers: George Gershwin. Inspired by the brand new release The Man I Love from British pianist Gabriel Latchin,

Track list for The Hot Box #141 – A Gershwin Celebration

1. They All Laughed. Gabriel Latchin Trio from the new album “The Man I Love”
2. Oh Lady Be Good. Fabrizio Bosso and Renato Solani.
3. Embraceable You. Cleo Laine
4. Oh Lady Be Good. Benny Goodman & Lionel Hampton
5. How Long Has This Been going On? Coleman Hawkins
6. S’Wonderful. Gabriel Latchin Trio
7. Love Walked In. Gabriel Latchin Trio
8. I Was Doing Alright. Louis Armstrong & Oscar Peterson
9. The Can’t Take That Away From Me. Susannah McCorkle
10. Jazzbo Brown Blues: Sir Andrew Davis
11. Someone To Watch Over Me: Roland Kirk
12. Summertime: Charlie Parker
13. Strike Up The Band: Errol Garner

Tune In:

• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
• Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:39 — 56.4MB)

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This edition of The Hot Box features a major re-issue, a remixed and remastered release of Louis Stewart’s quartet album with John Taylor, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins from Livia Records.

Originally recorded in 1977, and released in 1980 with some edits and overdubs, this impeccable version restores the original London recording and adds two extra tracks.

The results are possibly the best Louis Stewart studio recording, with top level accompaniment from the brilliant supporting trio.

Track list for The Hot Box #140 – I Thought About You

1. Litha – Louis Stewart
2. The Sidewinder – Lee Morgan
3. Spontaneous Combustion – Cannonball Adderley
4. Straight No Chaser – Louis Stewart
5. Wagon Wheels – Grant Green
6. All Blues – Louis Stewart

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• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
• Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:19 — 52.5MB)

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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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• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
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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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• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
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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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• Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live
• Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland.

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

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