Jazz Break at Noon - January 2026

January 5 – 9

The Definitive Sounds of Hard Bop
This week on The Jazz Break at Noon, we dive into the gritty, soulful, and relentlessly swinging world of Hard Bop. Emerging in the mid-1950s as a response to the cooler sounds of the West Coast, Hard Bop re-injected jazz with the primal elements of the blues, gospel, and R&B. It was a music of intense energy and profound emotion, defined by driving rhythms, soaring solos, and memorable melodies.

We’ll survey the definitive recordings and the artists who shaped this golden era. From the preaching piano of Horace Silver and the thunderous drums of Art Blakey to the soaring trumpet of Lee Morgan and the soulful saxophone of Cannonball Adderley, we'll explore the essential albums on Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside Records that created the modern jazz standard. Join us for a week of pure, unadulterated soulful swing. It’s the Definitive Sounds of Hardbop, this week on the Jazz Break at Noon. Hosted by JJ Lopez.