Jazz Break at Noon - February 2025

February 3 - 7

Snapshot 1990s: Four Portraits in Jazz
This week on The Jazz Break at Noon, we're taking a snapshot of the dynamic 1990s jazz scene through the lens of four influential artists: saxophonists Joshua Redman and Steve Coleman, and pianists Geri Allen and Brad Mehldau. Building on the challenges of the 1980s, this era saw the emergence of creative voices expanding modern jazz, setting the stage for the 21st century. Drawing inspiration from Nate Chinen's insightful book Playing Changes Jazz for the New Century, we'll explore the diverse landscape of 1990s jazz, from the neo-traditionalist revival to avant-garde explorations. We'll hear how these artists navigated the "uptown/downtown" divide in New York City, pushing boundaries while honoring the rich legacy of bebop and swing. Our listening sessions will celebrate four voices representing the creative spirit that defined jazz in the 1990s. Join us!

February 10 - 14 

Soul Sides: Nicholas Payton's Funky Explorations
This week on the Jazz Break at Noon, we explore the music of New Orleans trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton. The multi-Grammy-winning bandleader, composer, and writer has been a leading voice in jazz for over three decades, with an expansive discography representing a wide spectrum of traditional styles and forward-thinking concepts. This week, we’re spotlighting his funkier, more soul-oriented recordings, including selections from Sonic Trance, the urban-inspired concept album Afro-Caribbean Mixtape, and his subsequent electronic albums Numbers, Letters, and 2023’s Drip. These selections find Payton and his various ensembles performing jazz inspired by funk, soul, and hip-hop, drawing inspiration from the legacies of past masters like Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard while showcasing Payton's originality throughout. Payton’s 21st-century sound is deeply rooted in Black American Music (#BAM), creating a sonic landscape that is soulful, provocative, political, and enchanting. It’s a special program we’re calling Soul Sides: Nicholas Payton’s Funky Explorations. Join us!

February 17-21

The High Priestess of Soul: The Amazing Nina Simone
This week on The Jazz Break at Noon, we celebrate the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone, with a birthday broadcast. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21st, 1933, Simone's legacy is synonymous with soul, jazz, and the Civil Rights movement. Her powerful compositions, like "Mississippi Goddam," "Four Women," and "To Be Young, Gifted and Black," showcased her uncompromising talent as a composer, pianist, and vocalist, and her fearless voice for social justice. As she declared at the closing of her 1964 Carnegie Hall performance, 'This tune is Mississippi Goddamn, and I mean every word of it.'"

A child prodigy, Simone masterfully blended jazz, classical, folk, soul, and blues, painting a vivid portrait of life in America with her conscious lyricism. This week, we'll explore her expansive discography, highlighting both original compositions and interpretations that solidified her role as a true icon of Black excellence. Join us!

February 24-28

2025 New Music Spotlight: New Jazz for a New Year 
The Jazz Break at Noon kicks off 2025 with a spotlight on the latest sounds in modern jazz. This week, we'll explore a diverse range of new releases from rising stars and established masters including releases by MTB, Jeremy Pelt, George Cables, Renee Rosnes & Artemis, Carl Allen, James Brandon Lewis, Takuya Kuroda, and The Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet. From fresh takes on bebop to innovative fusions, we'll showcase the latest and upcoming releases on the jazz scene today. Plus, we'll dig into previously unreleased recordings from Roy Hargrove and Michel Petrucciani! It's a week of musical discovery on The Jazz Break at Noon.