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Jazz Backstory

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Rating
★★★★★
4.9
from
9 reviews
This podcast has
39 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
Monk Rowe
Explicit
No
Date created
2022/09/11
Latest episode
2025/08/26
Average duration
35 min.
Release period
27 days

Description

The podcast series, Jazz Backstory, is based on the holdings of the Fillius Jazz Archive (https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/arts-at-hamilton/jazzarchive) located at Hamilton College (https://www.hamilton.edu/), in Clinton, New York. Established in 1995, and dedicated in 2013 in honor of Milton F. Fillius, Jr. ’44 and Nelma “Nikki” Nenneau Fillius, the Fillius Jazz Archive holds a collection of over 500 videotaped interviews with jazz musicians, arrangers, writers and producers. The wide-ranging collection includes interviews with sidemen, soloists and band leaders who have performed from the 1920s through the present. Jazz Backstory podcast episodes will feature interview excerpts focused on topics inherent to the creative life. Artists, both famous and unsung, relate these tales in their own jazz inflected vocabulary. Original music and commentary from the host help set the tone, both educational and swinging. Monk Rowe (https://www.monkrowe.com/), creator of the podcast series, Jazz Backstory, and the Joe Williams Director of the Fillius Jazz Archive, conducted the majority of the interviews and has presented programs about the resource at conferences for the Jazz Education Network, the Music Library Association, and the International Society of Music Educators. Monk co-authored with Romy Britell the book Jazz Tales From Jazz Legends on Hamilton’s Couper Press and created the edX online course, “Jazz: The Music, The Stories, The Players” in collaboration with members of the Library and Instructional Technology Services at Hamilton College. He is an active performer on saxophone and piano and has composed numerous works for both jazz and classical ensembles.

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Episode 40 “Potpourri” - pt. 2
2025/08/26
We end Season 5 as we began, with a variety of jazz life stories. From piano nightmares to surviving on potatoes and onions, these cats have seen it all. See you on the flip side.
Episode 39: “Tunes, Titles & Intent”
2025/08/19
Your host, Monk Rowe, directs the spotlight on himself and speaks about licks, riffs, bumper music, inspiration and the creative process.
Episode 38: “You’re a Funny Guy”
2025/08/12
Find a gathering of jazz musicians and you’ll hear laughter and humorous stories galore. Lou Marini, Dave Pell, Jake Hanna, Bill Watrous and Joe Wilder make Episode 38 one to smile about.
Episode 37 “It Only Takes One Note”
2025/08/05
The celebrated jazz masters all had a distinctive sound. Ernie Watts, Phil Woods, Holly Hofmann, Sweets Edison and others offer their thoughts on how to develop your own audio trademark.
Episode 36: “The Art of Accompanying”
2025/07/29
The term “backing up a soloist” does not do justice to the distinct skill of making an artist sound their best. Norman Simmons, Mike Longo, Howard Alden, Al Grey, Gregory Caputo and Michael Moore enlighten us on the art of accompanying.
Episode 35: “For the Vocalists”
2025/07/22
What makes a singer a “jazz” vocalist? Joe Williams, Janis Siegel, Giacomo Gates and Dianne Reeves address this question and offer advice for those aspiring to that label.
Episode 34: “Women in Jazz”
2025/07/15
The role of women in jazz has come a long way from the days when big bands featured their “chirper” or “chickadees” on a few brief songs per night. Vi Redd, Sherri Maricle, Ann Rabson, Marian McPartland and others share their experiences in what was traditionally a man’s world.
Episode 32: “Jazz Advice: The Practical and the Profound” - pt. 2
2024/10/01
The jazz life is not an easy one and the life skills learned along the path can be relevant to anyone, in any field of endeavor. Season 4 ends with profound statements from Charles McPherson, Stefon Harris, Karolina Strassmayer, Maria Schneider, Denis DiBlasio, Joe Williams, Harold Ousley and Gregory Caputo.
Episode 31: “Jazz Advice: The Practical and the Profound ” - pt. 1
2024/09/24
Veteran jazz musicians share their wisdom in the form of advice to those who wish to follow in their footsteps. Phil Woods, Jerry Bergonzi, Dan Barrett, Wayne Bergeron, Tom “Bones” Malone, Teri Lynne Carrington and Rick Montalbano offer practical guidance, gained from decades of gigs.
Episode 30: “Military Music ” - pt. 2
2024/09/17
Music played a positive, even lifesaving role for soldiers during the Korean and Vietnam War years. In this episode, we hear from Jake Hanna, Frank Foster, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Junior Mance and Hal Espinosa.
Episode 29: “Military Music ” - pt. 1
2024/09/10
Jazz musicians were not exempt from service in the U.S. military. Jay McShann, John Bunch, Louis Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Clark Terry, Orrin Keepnews, George Wein, Joe Bushkin and Bobby Johnson speak about their experiences during WWII.
Episode 28: “Scrolling Down the Leader Board”
2024/09/03
A band leader sampler. Veteran sidemen Eddie Bert, Peter Erskine, Don Menza and Marshall Allen provide inside stories about Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Sun Ra and Joe Zawinul. Maria Schneider weighs in on the role and responsibility of a leader.
Episode 27: “Benny Goodman”
2024/08/27
Benny Goodman played a marvelous clarinet and his bands sold a ton of records while packing audiences into dance halls and Carnegie style halls. He was also enigmatic and frequently oblivious of his surroundings. Jerry Jerome, Sonny Igoe, Bucky Pizzarelli, Flip Phillips and Skitch Henderson share their memories of working with The King of Swing.
Episode 26: “Count Basie”
2024/08/20
For pure swing, the bands lead by William “Count” Basie will never be equaled. Harry “Sweets” Edison, Ed Shaughnessey, Snooky Young, Gerald Wilson and Joe Williams offer personal anecdotes and insights that help us understand the man who personified big band swing.
Episode 25: “Duke Ellington”
2024/08/13
Our first four episodes look at iconic big band leaders, beginning with Edward “Duke “ Ellington. Former sidemen and associates including Clark Terry, Phoebe Jacobs, Bill Berry, Buster Cooper, Grover Mitchell, Louis Bellson and John Lamb offer inside stories that illuminate the Duke’s unique talent and personality.

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4.9 out of 5
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