2-5-1

2-5-1

Nick Tomalin snd Simon Whiteside host a variety of podcasts about jazz .From the short vignettes of two pianist, five minutes, one podcast through to the Two pianist, Five Podcasts, One subject and in depth look at the life work and piano stylings of single pianists. So far Sonny Clark and Kenny Drew have been covered.

Episodes

December 1, 2023 5 mins

Simon & Nick discuss the Score to Mr Benn by Don Warren an Alias for Duncan Lamont
who for several decades Lamont worked as a freelance musician (on flute and clarinet as well as saxophone), based around Archer Street in Soho and playing in the surrounding jazz clubs. He often performed with British bands accompanying American vocalists, including Fred Astaire, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Marlene Dietrich, P...

Mark as Played

NicK and Simon Talk about the film
Born to Be Blue
  a 2015  drama film directed, produced and written by Robert Budreau. The film stars Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo. ] The film is about American jazz musician Chet Baker, portrayed by Hawke.

Directed by | Robert Budreau
Written by | Robert Budreau
Produced by | Jennifer JonasRobert BudreauLeonard FarlingerJake Seal[1]
Starring | Ethan HawkeCarmen Ejogo
C...

Mark as Played

Inspired by a post on Instagram, and the  standard stereotypical responses to the question " Dear 'people who don't like jazz' what don't you like about it?" posed by  Kira C Garcia  (follow her here)   Nick and Simon pondered the question. Look out for a blog on this from Simon.

This is our website
This is our Instagram
This is our Facebook group

Mark as Played
October 15, 2023 5 mins

Jam sessions have been and continue to be at the heart of the jazz scene.  In this episode Simon and Nick briefly  discuss the history, culture and function of jam sessions in jazz.

You can get more information about our podcasts here

Thanks for listening

Mark as Played
October 1, 2023 5 mins

In this episode Nick leads the discussion on the subject of jazz and it's connection to the Civil Rights movement in the US

Mark as Played
September 15, 2023 5 mins

In this Episode we discuss Spike Lee's Mo Better Blues.

Wikipedia says

Mo' Better Blues is a 1990 American musical comedy-drama film starring Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Spike Lee, who also wrote, produced, and directed.[1] It follows a period in the life of fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (played by Washington) as a series of bad decisions result in his jeopardizing both his relationsh...

Mark as Played
September 1, 2023 5 mins

Any student of jazz will be well aware of the Aebersold play-along series: over 100  records with accompanying books. There are even supplements with transcriptions of the voicings the pianist played if you are into that?  Nick and Simon discuss the origin and impact of the series.

His website is here

It has an interesting page for further reading

Mark as Played
August 15, 2023 5 mins

In this episode Simon & Nick discuss Jazz and Meditation. There are elements of meditation that improvisers may well relate to : flow state, acceptance , being in the moment, completely absorbed in the process yet fully aware of what is happening around you.

we mention
Kenny Werners Effortsless Mastery 
Tony Scott Music For Zen Meditation
Jerry Begonzi Developing a jazz language

there are various...

Mark as Played
August 1, 2023 5 mins

This episode is about an " under the radar " pianist Jimmy Jones.  An arranger pianist for some of the greats singers here is an Apple Music link to the album Nick mentioned Sarah Vaughan

"The Divine One"  

Mark as Played
July 15, 2023 5 mins

In this episode, Nick and Simon discuss what it means to practice jazz piano.

Mark as Played
July 1, 2023 5 mins

2  pianists look confused walking into a bar.

It was an 11/8 bar!


What role does humour play in Jazz?

Mark as Played
June 15, 2023 5 mins

Playing the piano and singing, what's involved? Nick and simon talk about it in this episode.

Mark as Played

Another in our new series of jazz film reviews. The Bertrand Tavernier jazz movie that refreshed Dexter Gordon's career late in his life. 

Mark as Played
May 15, 2023 5 mins

Dudley Moore may well be best known for his comedy partnership with Peter Cook and his success on screen in the films 10 and Arthur, but he was also a very accomplished musician. He was an Organ Scholar  at Oxford which is where he met the other folk who comprised Beyond the Fringe.

Perhaps less well known is what a great jazz pianist he was. Simon and Nick discuss him in this episode. Link to his Genuine Dud album here

Mark as Played
May 1, 2023 5 mins

Did you know some jazz musicians were also boxers? Find out more in this episode.

Mark as Played
April 15, 2023 5 mins

To start season two Simon & Nick talk about the Fabulous Baker Boys.
This is a new strand where Nick and Simon talk about jazz related films.

At present there are a few distinct strands:

1. Under the Radar Pianists- like Hod O' Brian
2.Jazz Oddities- e.g. Jazz Oboe
3. Technical discussions - like Block Chords
4 Jazz Books- e.g. Jazz Heavyweight
5.Jazz Films-like Round Midnight

Mark as Played

In the full episode 2 it was a pleasure to chat with Arranger Orchestrator Giles Thornton. He helped me out on some of the transcriptions for the Marty Swings the singers project [watch this space for news of the gig} One of the charts he took down was "Surrey with a fringe on top" and we discuss that plus  " it's Too Darn Hot" a transcription I am currently working on.

Here is a link to a reducti...

Mark as Played

This is the 15 minute introduction to the full episode 2 as episode 2 is 1 hour 15 minutes I felt it better to publish the intro separately

here Is a link to the albums as a playlist on apple music and Spotify


Mark as Played
February 15, 2023 55 mins

This new five part longer form series starts with Nick and Simon examining Marty Paich as pianist.  Paich was a musical polymath and his career spanned jazz, classical & film music.  Simon will present the other four episodes talking to various arrangers about Marty Paich as arranger - looking at his medium-sized ensemble work with particular focus on the octet, his work for big band referencing Art Pepper + 11, his work for th...

Mark as Played
February 1, 2023 32 secs

An end of series announcement. in the 50 episodes Nick and I have covered, 8 under the radar pianists, reviewed 7 Jazz books, talked about 10 technical subjects discussed 5 unusual Jazz instruments and even managed 1 April fool.

Plus many more subjects like famous jazz clubs and  record labels.

We have also made 2  long form series over 5 podcasts about Kenny Drew and Sonny Clark also  interviews  with 4 London ba...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

    Crime Junkie

    If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

    The Dan Bongino Show

    He’s a former Secret Service Agent, former NYPD officer, and New York Times best-selling author. Join Dan Bongino each weekday as he tackles the hottest political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2023 iHeartMedia, Inc.