The Jazz Break at Noon is KRTU’s weekly, mid-day program. Hosted by Music Director Kory Cook, the program is an educational listening session highlighting major artists, styles, and themes from jazz music’s rich history. From rare recordings of the 1930s to today’s most progressive sounds, the Jazz Break at Noon takes you on an educational sonic journey through jazz history.
May 3-7
The Prolific and Monolithic Impact of Bassist Ron Carter:
In 2015, Guinness World Records certified Ron Carter as the most recorded jazz bassist with 2,221 individual recording credits, Since, the list has grown, while Carter continues to present a method of writing individual bass lines while utilizing his own "chartography" when reinventing transcriptions. Carter was the bassist for several outstanding recordings with the second Miles Davis quintet in the 1960's, but his own albums as a leader throughout his storied career stand on their own. We'll revisiit Carter-led dates and more from the bass icon this week on the Jazz Break at Noon.
May 10-14
Compositions and Collaborations of Pianist and Bandleader Carla Bley:
Carla Bley worked at the legendary Birdland jazz club in the 1950's where she met future husband Paul Bley, who encouraged her to start composing music. Her arrangements can be heard on albums from George Russell, Charlie Haden, Paul Bley, and on many of her own recordings with both large and small ensembles. This week, we'll hear Bley's ruminative mediations and extended works performed with the many artists that she developed close relationships with in music and life.
May 17-21
Black Saint / Soul Note Records of Italy:
The two affiliated independent record labels, Black Saint & Soul Note, were founded in Italy by journalist and record producer Giacomo Pellicciotti in 1975. Devoted to the more avant-garde leaning artists of the time, the labels were established to present the work of American and European musicians lacking recording opportunities elsewhere. Members of Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and the St Louis-based Black Artists Group and Human Arts Ensemble are well represented on the label, and we'll hear those recordings from artists like Oliver Lake, Don Pullen, Lester Bowie, Frank Lowe, Hamiet Bluiett, and a host of others.
May 24-28
Saxophone Maverick Archie Shepp:
Archie Shepp lives today as an American original and essential part of jazz's avant-garde. Recordings with, and dedicated to, John Coltrane connected him to more listeners of 1960's Impulse Records, with a steady stream of hard-edged recordings to follow on various labels through the decades. Shepp's most recent release, 2021's "Let My People Go," is an expressive and spiritual duo set with pianist Jason Moran. To celebrate Shepp's birthday on May 24, the many sides of the visionary will be heard all this week.
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