Joe Pass

Born: January 13, 1929

Joe Pass almost didn't make it as a musician due to his early battle with drug addiction. But following a successful rehab at Synanon and a recording session with fellow recovered musicians entitled Sounds of Synanon, the guitarist was signed by Dick Bock to the Pacific Jazz label. Pass made several albums as a leader and sideman for Bock, though work started drying up in the late 1960s as rock dominated the music marketplace.

But it was when Joe Pass met impressario Norman Granz that the guitarist's career took off. Granz signed him to his new Pablo label in the early 1970s and recorded him extensively, as a soloist (especially the oustanding Virtuoso series), in duos, trios and as a part of many studio and concert jam sessions

Various Artists: A New Awakening: Adventures in British Jazz 1966-1971

by Peter Jones
May 9, 2025

Throughout the 1950s (and beyond), modernist British jazz musicians were in thrall to the American bebop stars they had been trying to emulate since the late 1940s. It was the pinnacle to which they aspired, and gradually their efforts lifted the overall standard of UK jazz. But by the early 1960s, the international success ...

Luiz Bonfa

Born: October 17, 1922

Luiz Bonfa was a Brazilian guitarist and composer who became famous for the soundtracks he wrote to such movies as "Black Orpheus" and "The Gentle Rain." Bonfa was born on October 17, 1922 in Rio de Janeiro. He studied in Rio with Uruguayan classical guitarist Isaias Savio from the age of twelve. Bonfa first gained widespread exposure in Brazil in 1947 when he was featured on Rio's Radio Nacional, then an important showcase for up-and-coming talent. He was a member of the vocal group Quitandinha Serenaders in the late 1940s. Some of his compositions were recorded by Dick Farney in the 1950s

Paul David Carl Mansell

Born: April 13, 1973

Paul Mansell is one of the leading ukulele performers in the world.  He is signed to two publishers - Kevin Mayhew Publsihers and Mel Bay Ltd.  He has released 6 books on ukulele and 2 albums - his latest one being Jazz Ukulele.  As a composer he has been commsioned by the Royal School of Music to compose 12 pieces for them. He has performed at many of the top ukulele festivals and in 2024 performed to 900 people at the prestigious 'Ukulele Festival of Great Britain' with players such as James Hill and Jeff Peterson.   In 2020 I was chosen by Hal Leonard Publishers to present a Ukulele workshop at Olympia in London to a packed out audience. I have also given lectures at Surrey University on playing the Ukulele.

Prescribing Jazz: A Top Ten

by Artur Moral
March 30, 2025

National Doctors' Day is celebrated unevenly across our mistreated planet. It is absent in most countries, while it is observed as a holiday in a few. Coinciding (in the United States and Australia) with this day of recognition for a vital profession, this article is especially directed to the entire jazz-loving medical community, focusing on six ...

Joe Pass: Virtuoso (1973)

March 19, 2025

One of the best-selling jazz guitar albums up to 1973 was Joe Pass's Virtuoso. The jet black LP with Pass on the cover in shadow came out ahead of the December holidays and gave Norman Granz's Pablo label massive visibility. It also motivated a generation of listeners to take up the jazz guitar. Now Craft Recordings ...

Nanami Haruta, Monika Ryan, Rachel Eckroth & John Hadfield, Ariane Racicot, Celebrating Ida Cox, Nancy Wilson & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
March 3, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Nanami Haruta, Monika Ryan, Rachel Eckroth & John Hadfield and Ariane Racicot, with birthday shoutouts to foremother Ida Cox (Wild Women Don't Get The Blues), plus Nancy Wilson, Sara Caswell and Tracy Yang. Happy listening--please support the artists you hear. See them live, purchase their music so they can continue ...

Patrick Naylor: Organza

by Anastasia Bogomolets
February 24, 2025

Organza from Patrick Naylor, David Beebee and Eric Ford reimagines the classic guitar-organ trio. With Beebee on Hammond organ, Ford on drums and Naylor on guitar, the album includes six original compositions by Naylor and two by Beebee. These tracks showcase the strong musical chemistry between the two, who have been creating music together since their ...

Take Five with Guitarist Jamie Pye

by AAJ Staff
December 4, 2024

Meet Jamie Pye Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. He performs in various line ups and contexts; from intimate duo residencies to headline performances as a bandleader showcasing his original music. He is often part of house bands for jam sessions around town, or as ...

Jazz on Soul, Pop, Rock, Folk, and other intangible territories - Part 2

by Artur Moral
November 7, 2024

Part 1 | Part 2 James Carter soloing on a song by Sting? A prolific French guitarist and producer, approaching his thousandth album, deconstructing one of Billy Joel's most candid love songs? A Spanish trumpeter translating the Bee Gees into the jazz language? Yes, all this will happen in this second installment of a ...