Podcasts

Our connections matter. JAZZ.FM91 and the Alzheimer Society of Toronto have connected to bring awareness to the importance that music may have on those suffering with dementia. Every Monday afternoon, Raina Hersh asks someone to describe an unforgettable music memory. Find out more.

JAZZ.FM91 reached out to the world’s musical artists of African heritage to get their impressions, sentiments and feelings about Black History Month — its significance, importance and resonance.

February is Black History Month.

Though the shortest month on the calendar, small is big — and in its way, it brings things sharply into focus. The month intensifies recognition and celebration of a culture and people whose richness has enhanced and contributed to a broader North American life.

Born as a digital blog, Lifted with Javon Anderson examines the long-standing relationship between jazz and hip hop. In each episode, Javon Anderson shares a tune and lends insight to the mashup of these two worlds.

Every Monday, pianist and keyboardist Jeff Babko gives us a glimpse of the music being made in Los Angeles. He takes us inside the recording studios where he’s worked with artists like Larry Carlton, Nathan East and James Taylor; the film studios where he’s worked on soundtracks including Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2; and gigs like serving as the musical director for Martin Short and playing nightly on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Plus, he’s got the view from the street with the latest jazz clubs to visit in the hottest L.A. neighbourhoods.

Session Notes goes behind the scenes and inside the studio with some of Canada’s leading jazz musicians. With seasoned players like Reg Schwager, Russ Little, Colleen Allen, Alison Young, Ted Quinlan and many more, you’ll get to hear the stories and experiences of those who have spent years writing the ongoing history of Canadian jazz.

Every Tuesday morning on Vocal Vibe, award-winning broadcaster and Juno-nominated vocalist Heather Bambrick shares and discusses a vocal track that she holds dear. It may even be from her own private collection.

Oscar’s Blues focuses on how one of this world’s greatest pianists and composers inspired Danny Marks’s listening while showcasing the Oscar Peterson tracks that are deep in the blues. Prepare for some personal stories as we continue to honour the great Oscar Peterson — just as JAZZ.FM91’s specialty stream The Oscar Peterson Channel does every day.

During In the Land of the Misty Giant, we ask musicians to pick five Oscar Peterson recordings that are mainstays in their collection and tell us why. They’ll share their memories and explain how those songs and Peterson’s artistry changed them as a musician and brought jot to their lives. This recurring feature appears first on The Oscar Peterson Channel, a JAZZ.FM91 specialty stream.

Parents or family record collections are often more impactful than we think. On Songs My Parents Shared With Me, we ask some of our favourite vocalists to choose five songs that have influenced them since they were young, and to share the memories and stories that explain why. This recurring feature first appears on RESPECT: The Best in Vocal Jazz, a JAZZ.FM91 specialty stream.

“Respect your elders.” This phrase is often heard, but seldom put into practice. The JAZZ.FM91 community is a rich resource of stories and wisdom. The Torch with Ralph Benmergui dips into this life experience with some of our very best artists.

A new Canadian, musician Nicky Schrire is on a journey, seeking out new jazz musicians from coast to coast. In This Bright North, she shares her discoveries with JAZZ.FM91 listeners, hopefully piquing an interest in familiar and unfamiliar names in the Canadian jazz scene.

Session Notes goes behind the scenes and inside the studio with some of Canada’s leading jazz musicians. With seasoned players like Reg Schwager, Russ Little, Colleen Allen, Alison Young, Ted Quinlan and many more, you’ll get to hear the stories and experiences of those who have spent years writing the ongoing history of Canadian jazz.

Listen to new episodes Sundays at 9 a.m. ET on JAZZ.FM91, or catch up on previous episodes by streaming them below.

Brad Barker and Heather Bambrick keep things light and fun, bringing you their usual banter in unusual times.

Alana Bridgewater hosts The Journey to Jazz and Human Rights, a documentary look at how the music, and the men and women who made the music, laid claim to human rights around the world.

Funding for this series was provided by Maytree, which is committed to advancing systemic solutions to poverty and strengthening civic communities by taking a human rights approach.