The Jazz Real Book

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David O'Rourke Interview Sep 17, 2025

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Irish-born guitarist, arranger, and educator David O’Rourke has built a distinguished career bridging performance, composition, and mentorship. Mentored by jazz great Louis Stewart and later aided by Bucky Pizzarelli, he arrived in the U.S. in 1982, inspired by Pat Martino, with whom he would later collaborate. O’Rourke has performed with legends including Tommy Flanagan, Cedar Walton, and Jackie McLean, and his arranging credits span Lewis Nash, Terumasa Hino, and Steve Wilson. As founder of the O’Rourkestra Big Band and longtime director of youth programs at Jazz Standard/Jazz Generation, he continues to shape jazz’s future while honoring its deep traditions.

Dizzy Atmosphere and Arturo Sandoval Sep 14, 2025

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(90) “Dizzy Atmosphere” and Arturo Sandoval

Standards Rating 7, Difficulty Rating 6

“Dizzy Atmosphere” (1945) is a bebop standard composed by Dizzy Gillespie and first recorded with Charlie Parker. Built on George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” changes, the tune exemplifies bebop’s innovation through angular melodies, rhythmic variety, and harmonic daring. The A section’s compact four-note triplet motif creates instant character, while the bridge departs from Gershwin’s model with a sequence of descending dominant sevenths, heightening tension before returning home. A signature recording from 1945 featuring Gillespie, Parker, Slam Stewart, and others captures bebop’s energy at its birth.

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval (b. 1949) has carried this bebop legacy into the modern era. A virtuoso rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions, Sandoval blends dazzling technique with expressive power. His 1996 recording Swingin’ reimagines Gillespie’s bebop spirit, pairing high-energy improvisation with nods to classics like “Groovin’ High.” By fusing bebop brilliance with Latin fire, Sandoval illustrates the continuing vitality of Gillespie’s innovations.

Dizzy Gillespie

Arturo Sandoval

Jazz Real Book Playlist

Braxton Cook Interview Sep 11, 2025

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Braxton Cook is an American alto saxophonist, singer-songwriter, and one of the leading voices of his generation in jazz and beyond. Raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, he studied at Juilliard under Ron Blake and Steve Wilson before joining Christian Scott’s touring band. Cook has since performed with Christian McBride, Jon Batiste, Rihanna, and Mac Miller, and was hailed by Fader as a “jazz prodigy.” His solo career began with the EP Sketch (2014) and has expanded across acclaimed projects including Somewhere in Between (2017), Fire Sign (2020), and Who Are You When No One Is Watching (2023). In 2025, he released his sixth album, Not Everyone Can Go, further showcasing his fusion of jazz, soul, and R&B. Beyond recording, Cook has earned recognition for his NPR Tiny Desk appearances and collaborations spanning from Pixar’s Soul soundtrack to Taylor Swift’s Midnights.

Dexterity and Barry Harris Sep 07, 2025

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(89) “Dexterity” and Barry Harris

Standards Rating 7 and Difficulty Rating 7

Charlie Parker’s 1947 composition “Dexterity” epitomizes bebop. Built on the chord changes of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm,” its angular melody and flowing ii–V progressions reveal Parker’s genius for reshaping familiar structures into fresh, logical lines. The tune became a touchstone for generations, including pianist Barry Harris, one of bebop’s most devoted interpreters. Harris (1929–2021) absorbed Parker’s language deeply, blending it with the influence of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. His trio performance of “Dexterity” on “Magnificent!” demonstrates this lineage: Harris states the melody with clarity, launches into solos steeped in bebop vocabulary, and leads the rhythm section through crisp exchanges before returning to the head. Beyond performance, Harris ensured that Parker’s innovations lived on through his legendary workshops, where he taught bebop as both a musical system and a philosophy of community. In playing and teaching, Harris embodied Parker’s belief that bebop was the foundation of modern jazz.

Charlie Parker

Barry Harris

Jazz Real Book Podcast

Abena Koomson Davis and Steve Davis Interview Sep 04, 2025

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Love, Life, and Jazz: Abena Koomson Davis and Steve Davis

The jazz world has long celebrated couples who share both life and the stage. Vocalist Abena Koomson Davis and trombonist Steve Davis now join that tradition with their first jazz album together: Where Is Love? (WJ3 Records), Abena’s debut as a leader. With roots in theater, funk, and soul—including a starring role in Broadway’s Fela!—Abena embraces her long-held love of jazz on this recording, supported by Willie Jones III, Rick Germanson, Nat Reeves, Tony Davis, Mike DiRubbo, and Josh Bruneau.

Steve Davis, widely regarded as one of today’s finest jazz trombonists, has performed with legends from Art Blakey to Chick Corea. His latest release, We See (Smoke Sessions, 2024), captures his all-star sextet—Ralph Moore, Eddie Henderson, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet, Lewis Nash, and Steve—in electrifying live performances at Smoke Jazz Club.

Desert Air and ECM Records Aug 31, 2025

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(88)” Desert Air” and ECM

Standards Rating 2 and Difficulty Rating 7

Founded in Munich in 1969 by bassist-producer Manfred Eicher, ECM Records quickly established itself as one of the most distinctive and influential modern music labels. With its crystalline sound, minimalist visual design, and commitment to artistic freedom, ECM became a home not only for exploratory jazz but also for contemporary classical and world music. Among its many landmark releases is Crystal Silence (1973), a duo recording by Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton. One of its most striking tracks, “Desert Air,” captures the spacious, atmospheric qualities that came to define ECM’s sound. Written in ¾ time and structured as AAB, the 88-measure piece features unusual harmonic movement, slash-chords, and fluid melodic lines with no rests. Its difficulty and unconventional form make it rarely performed, yet Corea’s conception is brilliant. The original recording is conversational and immersive, embodying ECM’s ideal of music as both experience and atmosphere.

Chick Corea and Gary Burton

Connie Han

Jazz Real Book Podcast

Emilio Castillo (Tower of Power) Interview Aug 27, 2025

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Emilio Castillo is the soulful saxophone maestro who co-founded the legendary funk-soul powerhouse Tower of Power in 1968. Raised in Fremont, California, Castillo was drawn from a young age to the rich rhythms of R&B, guided by early musical mentors and inspired by Bay Area soul bands. As the band’s co-leader, second tenor saxophonist, and prolific songwriter alongside Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Castillo helped shape iconic tracks like "You’re Still a Young Man, " "What Is Hip?", and "So Very Hard to Go." Over the past five decades, Tower of Power has earned worldwide acclaim for its tight, horn-driven grooves, blending funk, jazz, soul, and R&B into an irresistible sound. Their enduring popularity has led to collaborations with Santana, Elton John, Aerosmith, and countless others, while their signature “Oakland soul” continues to inspire new generations of musicians.

Desafinado and Herbie Mann Aug 24, 2025

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(87) “Desafinado” and Herbie Mann

Standards Ratings 7 Difficult Rating 7

Herbie Mann (1930–2003) was a pioneering jazz flutist whose openness to global sounds helped shape the spread of bossa nova in the United States. At a time when the flute was not widely recognized as a primary jazz voice, Mann’s technical agility and adventurous spirit set him apart. In the early 1960s, he traveled to Brazil and became captivated by the emerging bossa nova style, collaborating with Brazilian musicians and recording albums such as Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann (1962). His interpretation of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Desafinado highlighted the instrument’s lyrical possibilities while introducing American listeners to the syncopated phrasing and harmonic subtleties of Brazilian music. Mann’s 1962 album Right Now! featured a notable version of the tune with vibraphone, guitar, and Latin percussion, emphasizing both rhythmic drive and melodic elegance. By championing Desafinado and other bossa nova standards, Mann played a crucial role in popularizing the style internationally.

Herbie Mann

Getz/Gilbeto

Jazz Real Book Podcast

Anthony Wilson Interview Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Guitarist and composer Anthony Wilson has long been celebrated for his versatility and creative reach, both as a solo artist and through his longtime role in Diana Krall’s quartet, where his warm tone and subtle swing have made him an essential collaborator on stage and in the studio. His latest project, House of the Singing Blossoms, released in August 2025 on Sam First Records, finds him returning to the sweeping textures of his acclaimed Nonet. Recorded live at Los Angeles’ Sam First, the album captures the immediacy and excitement of performance. The Nonet blends the intimacy of a small group with the power of a larger ensemble, with lush arrangements and Wilson’s lyrical guitar, the album reaffirms his status as one of jazz’s most original voices.

Deluge and Reggie Workman Aug 17, 2025

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(E 86) “Deluge” and Reggie Workman

Reggie Workman, born in Philadelphia in 1937, is one of jazz’s most versatile and influential bassists. Best known for his work with John Coltrane he helped shape some of the most important recordings of the 1960s, balancing hard bop drive with avant-garde exploration. His collaborations with innovators like Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, and Archie Shepp reveal a fearless curiosity, while his leadership of ensembles such as Trio Three and his acclaimed albums Summit Conference and Cerebral Caverns highlight his compositional imagination. Beyond performance, Workman has been a crucial educator, mentoring generations of musicians at The New School. His artistry was recognized in 2020 when he was named an NEA Jazz Master. Wayne Shorter’s composition Deluge, recorded on Juju (1964), reflects the Coltrane-inspired synergy of Workman, McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones. Built on recurring rhythmic hits and modal harmonies, it blends structure and freedom, making it a modern jazz classic.

Wayne Shorter

Ari Hoenig Trio

Jazz Real Book Playlist

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