You'll Hear It: Full Album Deep Dives with Jazz Musicians

Latest Episodes:

You'll Hear It Is Back! Season 15 Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

You'll Hear It is a weekly listening party for people who love music ... a little too much. Every Monday, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin sit down with one great album and break it down track-by-track. They listen, demonstrate what they are hearing, and put words to the moments you have always felt and haven't been able to explain. You’ll never hear your favorite albums the same way again.

You'll Hear It returns with Season 15: August 2026.

Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Adam and Peter break down Prince and the Revolution's Purple Rain, the 1984 soundtrack that turned him into a global superstar. They go track by track, from "Let's Go Crazy" to the title song. With keyboards in hand, they break down the sophisticated music theory underneath this pop hit to reveal the hidden qualities that make this album great. You'll never hear Purple Rain the same way again.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a bonus track: A jazzy live performance of Purple Rain by Open Studio and St. Louis soul singer Brian Owens. For more tracks from Open Studio's band, check out @openstudiomusic on YouTube.

00:00 Purple Rain - Prince
01:27 Prince, the Revolution & the Biggest Album of 1984
04:25 🎧 "Let's Go Crazy"
07:54 Making the Movie and the Album at Once
12:58 🎧 "Take Me With U"
19:59 Wendy Joins the Revolution
23:38 🎧 "The Beautiful Ones"
30:24 🎧 "Computer Blue"
35:16 🎧 "Darling Nikki"
41:50 🎧 "When Doves Cry"
45:41 🎧 "I Would Die 4 U"
48:58 🎧 "Baby I'm a Star"
52:21 🎧 "Purple Rain"
58:41 Best Moments On Purple Rain
1:01:33 Quibble Bits
1:04:56 Snobometer
1:06:23 Open Studio Performs "Purple Rain"

Our TOP Picks For Your Favorite Listens of July 2026 Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Our Top Picks of new jazz and jazz-adjacent releases from June 2026!

Heavy Weather – Weather Report Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Weather Report's Heavy Weather became one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. But there's so much more to it than "Birdland", Heavy Weather's radio hit. In fact, Peter makes the case that it might just be the weakest moment of the entire record.

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break it down track-by-track: From Jaco Pastorius's fiery fretless bass, to Joe Zawinul's beautiful piano, to the less-than-perfect production. You'll never hear Heavy Weather the same way again.

0:00 Heavy Weather - Weather Report
2:55 The Origins of Weather Report
6:29 Jaco Pastorius Joins the Band
10:40 "Birdland"
14:46 Birdland is the most popular. Is it the best?
20:38 "A Remark You Made"
25:17 "Teen Town"
30:49 "Harlequin"
36:22 "Rumba Mama"
38:38 "Palladium"
41:33 Production issues on Heavy Weather
45:11 "The Juggler"
50:59 "Havona"
58:13 The Best Moments on Heavy Weather
1:01:47 Is This Weather Report's Best Album?
1:02:43 Up Next
1:03:23 Open Studio plays "Teen Town" (with upright bass!)

Court and Spark – Joni Mitchell Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

With her 1974 masterpiece Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell transforms from folk singer into something harder to define.

Her piano playing matures. Her songwriting blossoms into one of the richest harmonic and melodic color palettes we've ever heard up to this point. Not to mention her incredible lyricism and melodies. And she brings a new production sensibility from her backing band: a group of jazz musicians called The LA Express.

In this episode of You'll Hear It, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Joni Mitchell's greatest artistic achievement (and her greatest commercial success) track-by-track. You'll never hear Court and Spark the same way again

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

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Blue: https://youtu.be/ly6ENKGV-S8

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About You'll Hear It:

In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.

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Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

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00:00 Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell
00:32 New From Open Studio
03:37 Joni's Sound Before Court and Spark
10:04 Joni Starts Hanging Out With Jazz Musicians
11:07 🎧 "Court and Spark" - Alluding To An Epic
15:25 Three Songwriters in One, At the Highest Level
15:57 🎧 "Help Me" - Joni DELIVERS
19:09 🎧 "Free Man In Paris"
22:02 🎧 "Midnite Flite" - Tom Scott and The LA Express
23:25 🎧 "People's Parties"
25:55 🎧 "The Same Situation"
28:05 Joni's Lyrical Prowess
31:38 🎧 "Car On A Hill"
34:31 🎧 "Down To You" - A Perfect Song
39:54 Joni's Vocal Instrument
42:17 🎧 "Just Like This Train" - A MASTERCLASS In Lydian Mode
45:32 🎧 "Raised on Robbery" - What Genre Is This?!
48:09 🎧 "Trouble Child"
49:52 🎧 "Twisted" - The Only Cover On the Album
53:55 Desert Island Tracks
55:42 Best Moments On Court and Spark
57:13 How Snobby Is This Album?

The BEST Moments from MJ's Greatest Run, Ranked Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin review their three favorite songs from Michael Jackson's most iconic albums: Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall. And their choices aren't what you might expect.

Plus - Adam, Peter and the Open Studio band play their jazzy interpretation of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

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Off the Wall: https://youtu.be/jR9zxGueeq4

Thriller: https://youtu.be/KZx6W3SI8JA

Bad: https://youtu.be/XgcI9LkZqeo

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About You'll Hear It:

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Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

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00:00 The Top 3 Songs on Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall
00:55 #3
05:02 #2
12:23 #1
16:40 "Smooth Criminal" - Open Studio

Oh, Jeff Parker? He Gets It. Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Adam Maness brings you the freshest releases of May 2026!

0:00 Intro
0:50 Jeff Parker
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/happy-today
3:45 Greg Hutchinson
https://www.allmusic.com/album/kind-of-now-mw0004778588
6:15 Chris Potter
https://chrispotterjazz.bandcamp.com/album/alive-with-ghosts-today
9:09 New Jazz Underground
https://www.allmusic.com/album/hoodies-mw0004791891
11:04 Virginia MacDonald
https://virginiamacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of
13:00 Harry Skoler
https://harryskoler1.bandcamp.com/album/echoes
15:05 Laurie Anderson & Sexmob
https://laurieanderson.bandcamp.com/album/let-x-x-live
17:06 Alabaster DePlume
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/dear-children-of-our-children-i-knew-epilogue
19:31 Ben Wolfe
https://benjonah.bandcamp.com/album/any-time-after-now
21:30 Joe Lovano
https://joelovano.com/recordings/paramount-quartet/

Sonny Rollins (1930-2026) May 29, 2026

Show notes

Sonny Rollins passed away this week at 95. Jazz pianists Peter and Adam are listening through the recordings that defined his career and made him one of the most influential musicians in jazz history.

From his earliest bebop tunes to Saxophone Colossus to A Night at the Village Vanguard, they trace the arc of a player who kept raising the bar on himself even when the rest of the world thought he'd already cleared it. Plus - they talk through the legendary Williamsburg Bridge sabbatical: two years of practicing up to 16 hours a day.

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About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.

00:00 Sonny Rollins (1930-2026)
00:37 Celebrating Sonny Rollins: Opening Tribute
04:54 Sonny as the Bridge Between Bebop Generations
05:57 "Autobahn"
09:47 "Pent-Up House"
12:56 "I'll Remember April"
16:10 "Oleo"
17:32 "Tenor Madness"
19:32 "More Than You Know"
21:19 "The Way You Look Tonight"
22:51 "Bemsha Swing" with Clark Terry
24:00 Is Sonny Rollins the Most Influential Tenor Saxophone Player of All Time?
28:01 "St. Thomas" from Saxophone Colossus
34:40 "I'm an Old Cowhand" from Way Out West
36:14 "A Night at the Village Vanguard" (Afternoon Set)
39:00 "Wonderful! Wonderful!"
40:50 The Williamsburg Bridge Sabbatical
44:04 "Without a Song"
46:29 Later Career: 1970s - 2012
49:13 "Blue Seven"

Kind of Blue – Miles Davis May 25, 2026

Show notes

Miles Davis's Kind of Blue is one of the greatest albums of all time - possibly THE greatest. But it's not perfect.

In this special episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down this classic record, track-by-track, to uncover why it has become so legendary. They dig into what's really going on in the music during this album's best moments: Miles's trumpet solo on "So What", Wynton Kelly's piano solo on "Freddie Freeloader", John Coltrane's entrance on "Blue in Green".

Plus - we learn more about what Miles was doing in his early years, his break from bebop, what he thought of Bill Evans's approach, and the production and engineering techniques that give Kind of Blue its unique sound.

Miles Davis was born just outside of St. Louis 100 years ago this week. To celebrate his centennial birthday, Adam and Peter filmed this episode in front of a live audience at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, MO.
Chapters Legend:
🎧 Listening to a track 🎹 Music theory breakdown 🎵 Live studio jam

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com

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Related YHI Videos

Steamin', Relaxin', Workin', Cookin': https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cookin-relaxin-workin-and-steamin-miles-davis-quintet/id1342674932?i=1000762361399
Someday My Prince Will Come: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someday-my-prince-will-come-miles-davis/id1342674932?i=1000724354435
Birth Of the Cool: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miles-first-masterpiece-birth-of-the-cool/id1342674932?i=1000710841989
My Funny Valentine: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miles-greatest-album-youre-welcome/id1342674932?i=1000700565428

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About You'll Hear It:

-------------------------------

Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

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00:00 Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
5:45 🎧 Bebop and Miles Davis's Early Years
10:56 Bill Evans and Miles Davis
11:48 🎧 "So What"
20:49 KOB Is NOT A Perfect Album?
26:59 Miles On Bill Evans's Approach
32:13 🎧 "Freddie Freeloader"
41:31 🎧 "Blue In Green"
44:38 How They Made That KoB Sound
50:02 🎧 "All Blues"
58:20 🎧 "Flamenco Sketches"
1:02:44 Is It Perfect?
1:04:56 🎧 Outakes
1:06:38 Categories: Desert Island Tracks & Apex Moments
1:11:20 How Snobby Is This Album?
1:16:21 What To Listen To Next
1:19:13 🎵 "So What" - Open Studio

Thrust – Herbie Hancock May 18, 2026

Show notes

Herbie Hancock's Thrust (1974) is one of the most influential jazz-funk records ever made. Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down the full album, track-by-track: Mike Clark's displaced backbeats, why Paul Jackson is such an unusual bass player and possibly the greatest Rhodes solo of all time. Plus - Adam shares a story about learning "Spank-A-Lee" at 16, and Peter tells us about meeting Paul Jackson for the first time. And ... is "Actual Proof" ACTUALLY the best track on the album?

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/yhi

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Maiden Voyage: https://youtu.be/ZQ6ICxe2wjE

Head Hunters: https://youtu.be/wM-_44deuSY

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About You'll Hear It:

-------------------------------

Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

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00:00 Thrust - Herbie Hancock
00:30 Herbie Before Thrust: Miles & The Headhunters
03:01 Drummer Mike Clark Joins the Band
03:35 🎧 "Palm Grease"
11:10 Why Paul Jackson Was So Unusual
13:07 🎧 "Actual Proof"
24:23 Our Relationship to Thrust
29:57 🎧 "Butterfly"
38:34 Peter's Paul Jackson Story
43:02 🎧 "Spank-A-Lee"
52:47 Categories: Desert Island Tracks, Apex Moments, Snobometer
57:09 The MOST Controversial Moment in YHI History

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