The Hot Box 43 aims to set the scene for a major presentation of the pieces from Miles Davis’ extraordinary recording “Kind of Blue” in an orchestral setting at The National Concert Hallat the end of May. This concert will feature the RTE Concert Orchestra, as well as featured soloists all under the direction of Guy Barker one of the leading trumpet players in the world. Whet your appetite over the next hour in the run up to this much anticipated concert.

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The Hot Box 42 is overflowing with amazing music. This time around in the A – Z of Jazz Piano we cover the letter P which is one of those files full of historical importance. You can hear from artists such as Bud Powel, one of the founders of modern jazz as well as Oscar Peterson who was a huge presence in jazz for 50 years or so. Then you can hear from the remarkable Michelle Petruciianni and some exciting contemporary players like Aaron Parks and Tommaso Perazzo.

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The Hot Box 41 is very much so a vocal affair with truly exceptional quality singing over the hour with artists from America, Paris and Ireland. This Hot Box contains all new releases form the last few months. You can hear from artists such as Liv Monaghan, Carmel McCreagh, Cecile Mclorin Salvant, Connie Han, Tony Bennet and Aleka to name a few.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:31 — 87.3MB)

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The Hot Box 40 is full of fun and great quality jazz pianists under the letter O in our journey of the A – Z of Jazz Piano. Some lesser known pianists in this episode with some honky-tonk and big band jazz from artists such as Makoto Ozone, Professor Peter O’Brien, Arturo O’Farrill, Colm O’Brien, Fintan O’Neill and Bill O’Connell.

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This Hot Box is a retrospective of music by the late Roy Hargrove, who died on November 2nd 2018 aged just 49.

Roy Hargrove was a hard bop-oriented musician (and acclaimed “Young Lion”) who became one of America’s premier trumpeters during the late ’80s and beyond. A fine, straight-ahead player who spent his childhood years in Texas, Hargrove met trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis in 1987, when the latter musician visited Hargrove’s high school in Dallas.

Impressed with the student’s sound, Marsalis allowed Hargrove to sit in with his band and helped him secure additional work with major players, including Bobby Watson, Ricky Ford, Carl Allen, and the group Superblue. Hargrove attended Berklee for one year (1988-1989) before decamping to New York City, where his studio career took flight.

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In The Hot Box Episode 38 we delve into the file of pianists whose name begins with the letter N. After the deluge of candidates filed under M, N has a relative dearth: we only find 5 piano players in this edition of The Hot Box. We also have another Hot Spot, the fine new recording by reed playing master Eddie Daniels.

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In The Hot Box #037 we check out two of the new albums that have come our way in recent months, wrapping the whole thing in a legendary Guitar Night which features Andreas Varady, John Scofield, Louis Stewart, Tommy Halferty and Frank Vignola among others.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:21 — 158.6MB)

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In The Hot Box Episode 36 we continue to trawl the files piano players who have graced the jazz stage over the past century or so, and the letter M proved especially fruitful. Last time (Hot Box#34) we had Monk and Moran, now we come to Mehldau and McPartland.

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In The Hot Box Episode 35 we find new recordings from several Irish jazz musicians and quite a few from the wide world as well. There are also two exceptional “archive” recordings never before released from Grant Green and Errol Garner.

Representing Ireland you can hear tracks from Cormac Kenevey, Gemma Sugrue & Julian Colarossi Quartet as well as a re-release from Michael Buckley and a track from Tommy Halferty with HLT Organ Trio. Just over an hour of the Best in New Releases.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:55 — 90.4MB)

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The letter M is the most popular opener for surnames, and pianist aren’t excepted, so the M file is to spread over two shows, PLUS we complete the L file with popular Irish-based pianist and composer, Greg Lloyd. And – another double L, Lou Levy, one of the most revered vocal accompanists of all time.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16:31 — 104.9MB)

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