Jazz Break at Noon - December 2024

December 2 - 6

Jimmy Smith: Jazz Organ Personified - A Birthday Celebration
Born on December 8th, 1928, Jimmy Smith reigned supreme as the "King of the Hammond Organ" from 1951 to 2005. While the history of the organ in jazz can be traced to other jazz luminaries including Fats Waller and Wild Bill Davis, Smith’s role was that of innovator expanding the potential of the organ in the ensemble, performance, composition, and improvisation. This week on the Jazz Break At Noon, we’ll celebrate the great pioneer of the Hammond organ and spotlight significant recordings for the Blue Note & Verve record labels and feature classic recordings including The Sermon (1958) and Back at the Chicken Shack (1960) - two notable releases that solidified Smith’s role in the world of jazz. 

December 9 - 13

In Memoriam: Donaldson, Haynes, Golson, and Malone
In the world of jazz, a genre now over 100 years old, each year brings with it the inevitable passing of influential artists. With each turning of the page, we have the opportunity to reflect and appreciate the lasting legacies of these jazz masters. This week on The Jazz Break at Noon, we honor four jazz luminaries who have passed on to that great gig in the sky: saxophonist Lou Donaldson, drummer Roy Haynes, saxophonist Benny Golson, and guitarist Russell Malone. We'll celebrate their extraordinary contributions, revisiting their iconic recordings and sharing stories of their lives and music. Join us for a week of remembrance and appreciation.

December 16 - 20

'More Than Just Peanuts - The Recorded Works of Vince Guaraldi'
Hosted and produced by Michael Thomas
This week on the Jazz Break --- Following the influences of Latin Jazz, the blues, waltzes, spirituals, and a boy named Charlie Brown, Vince Anthony Guaraldi born July 17, 1928 in San Francisco, California became world famous for his soundtrack scores to the first fifteen Peanuts TV specials, airing from 1965 to 1976.  Making up a little less than half of his recording career, we will most definitely take a deep dive into the released recordings for the Peanuts specials.  We will also shine a light on his artistry away from the specials, featuring some performances as a sideman and as a leader of his own trios and ensembles. "More Than Just Peanuts: The Recorded Works of Vince Guaraldi" this week on KRTU's Jazz Break at Noon.