Caili O'Doherty

Born: February 2, 1992

New York-based pianist, composer, arranger and educator, Caili O’Doherty (pronounced “KAY-lee” “oh-DOE-er-tee”), is known for integrating structures of language in both her compositions and her approach to improvisation. Her recent music focuses on the celebration, preservation, and expansion upon the achievements of jazz's unsung women heroes. O’Doherty has received national awards for piano performance and composition from the ASCAP Foundation and Downbeat Magazine.

Praised by All About Jazz for its “exquisitely forged, dramatic and darkly hued pieces”, O’Doherty’s debut release Padme (2015) uses lyrics to give the melodies a natural rhythm of language. Padme was selected as a Downbeat Magazine Editor’s pick and received a 4-star review in All About Jazz. She was invited to write a Woodshed Article for the Keyboard School section of Downbeat Magazine’s September 2015 issue on the topic “Using Language as a Tool for Composing and Improvising”.

Behn Gillece, Charles Chen, Greg Murphy, Masha Campagne and more

by Benjamin Boddie
June 6, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Behn Gillece, Charles Chen, Greg Murphy, Masha Campagne, Brad Turner, Saul Dautch, Greg Hopkins, Sandra-Mae Lux, Mike Prigodich, Mark Masters, Tyler Henderson, Dale Fielder, Robert Turner, Jeffrey Gimble, Sean Nelson, Diego Rivera, Bill Stewart, Deborah Silver, Carlos Mena, Brandon Woody, James Moody, Cyrus Chestnut, Kandace Springs, John Clayton, Sharel Cassity, ...

Caili O'Doherty: Bluer Than Blue

by Pierre Giroux
May 12, 2025

Pianist and arranger Caili O'Doherty has carved out a niche as both an incisive interpreter of the jazz tradition and an innovator unafraid to reshape it. With Bluer Than Blue, she turns her keen musical intellect toward the underappreciated Lil Hardin Armstrong, a trailblazing composer, pianist, and bandleader whose influence has long lingered in the shadows ...

Jed Levy, Bill O'Connell, Gina Saputo, Sean Nelson and more

by Benjamin Boddie
May 1, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Charles Rouse, Jed Levy, Bill O'Connell, Gina Saputo, Sean Nelson, Doug Wyatt, Joe Lovano, Igmar Thomas, Reginald Cyntje, Franck Amsallem, Russ Spiegel, Dave Robbins, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Lyn Stanley, Reid Hoyson, Nels Cline, Thomas Marriott, Aron!, Nancy Kelly, Triology, Altin Sencalar, Sharel Cassity, Hiromi, John Ellis, Jeff Libman, Nnenna Freelon, ...

Trilogy, Jose Luiz Martins, Jeff Libman, Medler Sextet, Nancy Kelly Plus Celebrations For Carline Ray, Bessie Smith & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
April 28, 2025

This broadcast continues the celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month with new releases from Trilogy, Jose Luiz Martins, Jeff Libman, Medler Sextet and Nancy Kelly, with birthday shoutouts to Carline Ray (100!), Bessie Smith, Madeleine Peyroux, Judy Wexler, Roxy Coss and Tia Fuller, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see them live, buy ...

Kazemde George, Charles Mingus, and Caroline Davis

by Jerome Wilson
April 16, 2025

This show features music from a variety of players, such as Kazemde George, Cassandra Wilson, Caroline Davis, and Steve Kuhn, as well as newly collected live performances by Charles Mingus. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) ...

Jonah David, Leon Anderson, Russ Spiegel, Shuffle Demons and more

by Benjamin Boddie
April 4, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Jonah David, Leon Anderson, Russ Spiegel, Nnenna Freelon, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Shuffle Demons, Kevin Fort, Renegade Queens, Posi-Tone Swingtet, Jeremy Pelt, The Empress, MTB, Artemis. Christopher Boscole, Steve johns, Yellowjackets, Max Leake, Fred Hersch, WDR Big Band, Rachel Therrien, Rodney Jordan, John Ellis, Chacho Ramirez, Diane Marino, Nels Cline, and ...

Nnenna Freelon, Roy Ayers, Roberta Flack, Saje and More

by Jua Howard
March 31, 2025

Greetings Music Family! It's finally time for another episode of the “First Instrument Jazz Show"! I've got new music from Nnenna Freelon, Kate McGarry, {m: Nicole Zuraitis and Kristin Korb; and more timeless music from Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers, Säje, Ben Williams and many more. Come get lost in the music with me!Playlist Intro ...

New Music from Azmeh, Imboden, Lehman & More

by Bob Osborne
March 27, 2025

This edition of the show features twelve brand new album releases with a broad variety of jazz, varied line-ups and disparate subject matter. Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Kinan Azmeh And City Band “Dance" from Live In Berlin (Dreyer Gaido) 00:28 Sean Imboden Large Ensemble “Someone To Watch Over Us" from Communal Heart (Self Released) ...

The Empress, John Ellis, Nnenna Freelon, Chicago Jazz Orchestra and more

by Benjamin Boddie
March 27, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by The Empress, Jon Bentley, John Ellis, Nnenna Freelon, Kevin Fort, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Dave Robbins, Rodney Whitaker, Laura Dreyer, Carloss Mena, Ben Patterson, David Caffey, Jackson Potter, Fred Hersch, Jeremy Pelt, Nels Cline, Bob James & Dave Koz, Caili O'Doherty, Lisa Hilton, Billy Hart, Yuval Cohen, Dave Hanson, Artemis, Nanami ...