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.
Episode 45 - I’m thrilled to bring you the ninth installment in our series celebrating the improvisatory and interpretive brilliance of jazz. In today’s show, we’ll explore the magic that happens when jazz artists reimagine iconic original pieces, pairing each track with a transformative interpretation that showcases the limitless creativity of this genre. The set list will include Just Like a Woman by Bob Dylan/Ben Monder, Life on Mars? by David Bowie/Brad Mehldau, A Case off You by Joni Mitchell/Prince, Here, There and Everywhere by The Beatles/Brad Mehldau, Maria by Leonard Bernstein/Ted Nash, Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison, Let It Be by The Beatles/Geri Allen, Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney/Sex Mob, Old Man by Neil Young/John Scofield and The Tourist by Radiohead/Noam Weisenberg. Enjoy the sounds!
Apple Music playlist
Qobuz Playlist
Apple Music playlist
Qobuz Playlist
Episode 44 - Today I share music that embodies the living spirit that underlies this challenging moment. These selections—all released in 2024—are drawn from jazz critics' year-end best-of lists, along with a few personal favorites I return to time and again. Together, they reflect the struggles of our world while offering, through their beauty, a space for reflection and a sense of hope. Music by Vijay Iyer, Charles Lloyd, John Hollenbeck, Sullivan Fortner, Matthew Shipp, Nubya Garcia, Kris Davis, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Samara Joy, Immanuel Wilkins, and Mike Holober and the Gotham Orchestra.
Apple music playlist
Apple music playlist
Episode 43 - (Made To Shine) Thanksgiving’s here, and after the letdown of the November 5th election, it feels like a good time to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. Today’s show is all about music that brings you back to center—tracks that help you find some calm, a little gratitude, and maybe even a spark of hope. Because even when things feel off, there’s always something shining if you look for it. I’ve got music lined up from Bill Frisell, McCoy Tyner, Kurt Elling, Matthew Whitaker, Charlie Haden, Archie Shepp, Vijay Iyer, John Coltrane, Julian Lage, Immanuel Wilkins, Robert Glasper, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Happy Thanksgiving!
Apple music playlist
Apple music playlist
Episode 42 - (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding. Today’s show features a great selection of genre spanning music that captures the profound dislocation and uncertainty of our times, while also offering the antidote- songs filled with aspiration, hope and appreciation for our world as a way to cope. I am excited to share compositions and performances by Elvis Costello, Mose Allison, Cannonball Adderley, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Otis Redding, Emmett Cohen, The Youngbloods, The Chambers Brothers, Louis Armstrong, Keith Jarrett, Elis Regina & Jobim, John Coltrane, and Bill Frisell.
Apple music playlist
Apple music playlist
Episode 41 - The Four Elements: Before the advent of modern physics, many traditions explained phenomena in the world and the nature of the self as being composed of four elements: Earth, representing solidity; Water, fluidity; Fire, temperature; and Wind, motion. Today, I would like to present music evocative of these four elements—either explicitly through lyrics or, more often, suggestively through expression. Enjoy music by Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Haden, John Zorn, Gretchen Parlato, McCoy Tyner, Matt Wilson, Helen Sung, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis.
Apple music playlist
Apple music playlist
Episode 40 - Meet the Beatles. Today’s show presents a diverse array of jazz interpretations of Beatles music by an impressive lineup of jazz artists, including McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Yoko Miwa, Chris Potter, Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau, Count Basie, Lenny Marcus, Atlys Quartet, Larry Coryell, Mary Halvorson, Sullivan Fortner, Makaya McCraven and Bill Frisell.
Apple Music Playlist
Apple Music Playlist
Episode 39 - Today I would like to present my highly subjective desert island playlist, Episode # 39. With climate change undeniably upon us, including predictions of the most extreme hurricane season ever approaching, I thought it would be good to contemplate what my emergency kit of music might be if I were stranded on an island of the only remaining dry land in the area. So this is a selection of tunes I never tire of cueing up, where I discover something new upon each listening. This music is uplifting and makes me happy, sad and at best, both at once,
featuring John Coltrane, Kurt Elling, Tin Hat Trio, Chick Corea, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Geri Allen, Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett.
featuring John Coltrane, Kurt Elling, Tin Hat Trio, Chick Corea, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Geri Allen, Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett.
Episode 38 - Today's show presents a vibrant and diverse array of jazz, showcasing an eclectic mix ranging from solo guitar and piano trio performances to big band ensembles, all released in 2024. I am thrilled to share the compositions and performances of an impressive lineup of artists, including Chris Potter, Pat Metheny, Remy Le Boeuf, Mata Sanchez, Julian Lage, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Jihye Lee, Nicole Glover, Matt Wilson, John Escreet, and Cassie Kinoshi.
Episode 37 - Women in Jazz - Despite all the wonderful female jazz vocalists who’s names we know throughout the history of jazz such as Billy Holiday, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, the genre has been male dominated to say the least. Today’s show will feature recent releases by great living women instrumentalists, singers, composers and arrangers including, Allison Miller, Melissa Aldana, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Marion Hayden, Lynne Arriale, Jazzmeia Horn, Cassie Kinoshi, Cornelia Nilsson, Jasmine Myra, Junko Onishi and Maria Schneider.
Episode 36 - Today’s show brings us up to date with an eclectic mix of music all of which has been released in the past year. I am excited to share compositions and performances by Joshua Redman, Julian Lage, Manuel Valera, Ethan Iverson, Vijay Iyer, John Scofield, Anthony Hervie, Alfa Mist, John Horn, Fergus McCreadie, and Ambrose Akinimusire with Bill Frisell.
Apple Music playlist
Apple Music playlist
Episode 35 - In this installment of Cliff Notes, we will continue the theme of the improvisatory and interpretive nature of jazz by pairing up an original version of a tune with a jazz artist’s interpretation of the same piece. Music will include A Little Help From My Friends by the Beatles/Kevin Hays, Yesterday by the Beatles/Chris Potter, Don’t You Worry About a Thing by Stevie Wonder/Sullivan Fortner, Uncle John’s Band by The Grateful Dead/John Scofield, I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash/The Bad Plus, Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen/Joshua Redman, Alfie by Burt Bacharach/Brad Mehldau, She’s Not There by the Zombies/Kurt Elling and Pavane by Gabriel Fauré/Regina Carter.
Apple playlist link
Apple playlist link
Episode 34 - Today’s show features jazz from this past year that is hot off the press. Most of the tunes are culled from critic’s best of 2023 lists. I am excited to share compositions and performances by Jeb Patton, Maciej Obara, Meshell Ndegeocello, Artemis, John Zorn, Micah Thomas, Ethan Iverson, Allison Miller, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Sullivan Fortner, Johnathan Blake, Jaimie Branch, and John Scofield.
Apple playlist link
Apple playlist link
Episode 33- Not Your Department Store Holiday Show 2023 Jazzy holiday music can make you feel like you have been trapped at Macy’s amidst a haze of perfume fragrances, caught in the holiday frenzy of consumerism. So, again this year, I set out to find great jazz versions of holiday favorites that not only embody the holiday spirit but elevate them to fine art and make you actually want to listen. We’ll hear Robert Glasper’s Joy to the World, Cecile McLaren Salvant’s What Child is This, Duke Ellington’s Jingle Bells, Booker Ervin’s White Christmas, Kurt Elling’s Star of Wonder, Joey Calderazzo’s God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Geri Allen’s Amazing Grace, John Zorn’s Haamiah, Roy Hargrove’s Frosty the Snowman, Frank Sinatra’s Let It Snow, Kate Davis and George Garzone’s Deck the Halls, Aaron Diehl’s Sleigh Ride, Carmen McRae and Clifford Jordon’s The Christmas Song, Diana Reeves’ Carol Of The Bells, Matt Wilson’s Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 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 playlist link
Apple playlist link
Episode 31 - Today’s show brings us up to date with an eclectic mix of music, all of which has been released in the past year. I am excited to share compositions and performances by Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Anthony Hervie, Julian Lage, Cautious Clay, Darcey James Argue, Miho Hazama, Lennie Moore, High Pulp with Jeff Parker and Artemis.
Episode 30 - Today we’ll continue exploring the theme of the improvisatory and interpretive nature of jazz by pairing up an original song with a jazz artist’s interpretation. Music will include Oh, What a Beautiful Morning by Rogers and Hammerstein/Ray Charles with the Count Basie Orchestra, Chim-Chim-Cher-ee by Dick Van Dyke/John Coltrane, It Ain’t Necessarily So by George and Ira Gershwin/Miles Davis with Gil Evans, Julia by the Beatles/ John Scofield with Medeski, Martin and Wood, Norwegian Wood by the Beatles/Kurt Elling, Day is Done by Nick Drake/Brad Mehldau, and Creepin’ by Stevie Wonder/Don Byron.
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/30-rfr-before-after-7/pl.u-ZmblD5rTbjdLW
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/30-rfr-before-after-7/pl.u-ZmblD5rTbjdLW
Episode 29 - Standards and Deviations. Today’s show has some venerable standards, tunes that have endured in the jazz repertoire, played by many of the greatest jazz artists over the years. But contrasted with classic renderings of the tunes, we will hear contemporary versions, deconstructed, rearranged and reassembled in new and exciting ways. With music by Fats Waller/Jason Moran, Bille Holiday/Fabian Almazan, Art Tatum/Ornette Coleman/Geri Allen, Kenny Burrell/Makaya McCraven, John Coltrane/Tigran Hamasyan, and Herbie Hancock/Robert Glasper.
Apple Music playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/29-rfr-standards-and-deviations/pl.u-Ldbqzk4uMpgrD
Apple Music playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/29-rfr-standards-and-deviations/pl.u-Ldbqzk4uMpgrD
Episode 27 - You might think of the violin mostly in the context of classical repertoire, but in today’s Cliff Notes you will hear how the violin is also a force in jazz. Music by Stephane Grappelli, Jenny Scheinman, Sara Caswell, Zach Brock, Dave Soldier, Stuff Smith, Billy Bang with William Parker, Alex Hargreaves with Grant Gordy, Regina Carter and Didier Lockwood.
Apple Music Playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/27-rfr-violin/pl.u-BNA6vP6I8gx0J
Apple Music Playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/27-rfr-violin/pl.u-BNA6vP6I8gx0J
Episode 26 - Today’s show features new jazz, all from 2023 that encompasses a great diversity of sounds. I am very excited to share compositions and performances by John Hollenbeck & george, Walter Smith lll, Brad Mehldau, Naissam Jalal, Marcus Strickland Twi-Life, Dave Stryker, Julian Lage, The Bad Plus, Dave Binney, Brandee Younger, The Heavy Hitters, and Christian McBride & New Jawn.
Apple Music Playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/25-rfr-2023/pl.u-BNA6v0VT8gx0J
Apple Music Playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/25-rfr-2023/pl.u-BNA6v0VT8gx0J