Cliff Notes
Have you ever wondered where jazz comes from—or even what it really is? Cliff Notes will explore its wonderfully inventive mixture of such elements as African drumming, call and response, the blues, European classical music, Brazilian music, pop, and Broadway show tunes. We will listen to recordings by the greatest improvisers, jazz composers and arrangers of all time. George Beckwith will share his insight, inspiration and passion for the music, but most importantly, he will play some great tunes for your listening pleasure.
After a long career as an architect with major projects in and around New York City, George Beckwith left the cacophony of the East Village for the quietude and beauty of Rhinecliff. He, however, has never left behind his musical roots. Playing music in one form or another since he was 8 years old, he studied jazz at Berklee College in the late 70’s and performed around Boston and New York on guitar and saxophone. He continues to jam with fellow musicians but since Covid, has been concentrating on solo finger style guitar.
Click HERE to send George a note.
After a long career as an architect with major projects in and around New York City, George Beckwith left the cacophony of the East Village for the quietude and beauty of Rhinecliff. He, however, has never left behind his musical roots. Playing music in one form or another since he was 8 years old, he studied jazz at Berklee College in the late 70’s and performed around Boston and New York on guitar and saxophone. He continues to jam with fellow musicians but since Covid, has been concentrating on solo finger style guitar.
Click HERE to send George a note.
Today’s show comes from a sense of nostalgia for the city I lived in for many years and love. Some of the music we’ll hear was recorded in New York, while other pieces are inspired by it, past and present—all capturing the city’s frenetic energy as well as its quieter moments.
Enjoy music by Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Louis Armstrong, Ruben Blades, Charles Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Darcy James Argue, Makaya McCraven, and Caelan Cardello.
Apple Music playlist:
Enjoy music by Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Louis Armstrong, Ruben Blades, Charles Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Darcy James Argue, Makaya McCraven, and Caelan Cardello.
Apple Music playlist:
Today’s show is devoted to instrumentalists whose playing feels as natural as a human voice. These are musicians so connected to their instruments and who sound so utterly themselves that every phrase breathes, speaks, and sings—without a single word, where technique disappears and pure expression takes over- tone language. Hear music by Ahmad Jamal, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Julian Lage, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ornette Coleman, Bill Evans with Warne Marsh, Clifford Brown and Max Roach, Louis Armstrong, Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, Charles Mingus, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyers, and Gene Ammons.
Apple Music playlist:
Apple Music playlist:
To kick off the new year we feature music from some of jazz writers’s best album picks of 2025. I am excited to share compositions and performances by Caelan Cardello, Billy Hart with Mark Turner, Sullivan Fortner, Aaron Parks, Fred Hersch, David Murray, Dabin Ryu, Chad Taylor, Chris Cheek, Jasper Blom, Mary Halvorson, Cassa Overall, Paul Cornish with Jeff Parker, Julian Shore and John Coltrane’s Alabama in honor of MLK Day.
Apple Music Playlist
Apple Music Playlist
Not Your Department Store Holiday Show, 2025
Jazzy holiday music can sometimes make you feel as if you’ve been trapped at Macy’s, surrounded by a haze of perfume in a frenzy of holiday consumerism. So again this year, I set out to find a mix of fresh selections along with a few favorites from previous seasons that capture the holiday spirit while elevating the music to fine art. We’ll hear Betty Carter and Roy Hargrove’s Let it Snow, Christian McBride’s Silent Night, Kate Davis and George Garzone’s Deck the Halls, Thad Jones’ A Child is Born, Christmas Cheer by Abbey Lincoln & Roy Hargrove, Winter Wonderland by Matt Wilson, What Child is This? by Cecil McLoren Salvant with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Christmas Time is Here by Stanley Clarke and Patrice Rushen and then a version by Bela Fleck, Geri Allen’s Amazing Grace, Michael Wolff’s White Christmas, Miles Davis’ Blue Xmas, Cyrus Chestnut and Michael Brecker’s Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joey Calderazzo’s God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Carmen McRae and Clifford Jordon’s The Christmas Song, Chris Potter’s O Come All Ye Faithful, Thelonius Monk’s A Merrier Christmas by Frank Kimbrough, Ella Fitzgerald’s What Are You Doing New Years Eve? and Isaiah J. Thompson’s Auld Lang Syne. I hope you have Happy Holidays and may all of your aspirations for the new year be accomplished!
Apple Music Playlist:
Jazzy holiday music can sometimes make you feel as if you’ve been trapped at Macy’s, surrounded by a haze of perfume in a frenzy of holiday consumerism. So again this year, I set out to find a mix of fresh selections along with a few favorites from previous seasons that capture the holiday spirit while elevating the music to fine art. We’ll hear Betty Carter and Roy Hargrove’s Let it Snow, Christian McBride’s Silent Night, Kate Davis and George Garzone’s Deck the Halls, Thad Jones’ A Child is Born, Christmas Cheer by Abbey Lincoln & Roy Hargrove, Winter Wonderland by Matt Wilson, What Child is This? by Cecil McLoren Salvant with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Christmas Time is Here by Stanley Clarke and Patrice Rushen and then a version by Bela Fleck, Geri Allen’s Amazing Grace, Michael Wolff’s White Christmas, Miles Davis’ Blue Xmas, Cyrus Chestnut and Michael Brecker’s Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joey Calderazzo’s God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Carmen McRae and Clifford Jordon’s The Christmas Song, Chris Potter’s O Come All Ye Faithful, Thelonius Monk’s A Merrier Christmas by Frank Kimbrough, Ella Fitzgerald’s What Are You Doing New Years Eve? and Isaiah J. Thompson’s Auld Lang Syne. I hope you have Happy Holidays and may all of your aspirations for the new year be accomplished!
Apple Music Playlist: