8:30 A Jazz Podcast.

In this continuing episode the 8:30 crew is celebrating more from the Blue Note Records catalog of sought-after classics matered by Kevin Gray and produced by Joe Harley from the original analog mater tapes. Each record features classic artwork and stunning Francis Wolff photography on deluxe gatefold jackets. Along with the legendary engineering from Rudy Van Gelder's studios.

Songs Include:

McCoy Tyner "I Didn't Know What Time It W...

The Blue Note Tone Poet Jazz Series is a prestigious collection of jazz albums, celebrating the genre's rich legacy with meticulously remastered vinyl releases. Curated by the renowned Blue Note Records, this series showcases iconic recordings from legendary artists such as John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, offering a fresh listening experience for both longtime fans and newcomers. With its focus on preserving t...

John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazzsaxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia after graduating from high school, where he studied music. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the us...

The Jazz Crusaders were a pioneering American jazz group formed in the early 1960s, known for blending hard bop with soul, R&B, and later, funk influences. Featuring key members like Wayne Henderson on trombone, Joe Sample on piano, Wilton Felder on saxaphone and Larry Carlton on guitar. The the group created a signature sound with their unique front-line of trombone and tenor saxophone. Eventually shortening their name to The ...

The Jazz Crusaders were a pioneering American jazz group formed in the early 1960s, known for blending hard bop with soul, R&B, and later, funk influences. Featuring key members like Wayne Henderson on trombone and Joe Sample on piano, the group created a signature sound with their unique front-line of trombone and tenor saxophone. Eventually shortening their name to The Crusaders in the 1970s, they evolved into a more commerci...

Marcus Miller is a renowned American bassist, saxophonist, composer, and producer known for his distinctive slap bass technique and genre-blending style. He has worked with legends like Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, and Herbie Hancock, contributing to some of the most iconic jazz, R&B, and fusion recordings and soundtracks of the past few decades. Beyond performance, Miller is also a prolific solo artist and advocate for music ...

Snarky Puppy is a genre-blending instrumental ensemble known for fusing elements of jazz, funk, R&B, and world music. Founded by bassist Michael League in 2004, the band has earned critical acclaim and multiple Grammy Awards for its innovative compositions and dynamic live performances. With a rotating lineup of top-tier musicians, Snarky Puppy has become a staple in modern fusion music, captivating audiences around the globe.S...

In this episode Hollywood and The Jazz Man take a look at the Saxophone Colossus himself, the one and only Sonny Rollins, an American Jazz Tenor Saxophonist born September 7th 1930.He is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians, as The Jazz Man states “The Last Of The Beboppers”.  A number of his compositions, including “St. Thomas”, “Oleo”, “Doxy” and “Airegin” have become Jazz standards. Rolli...

In this episode of 8:30, your 8:30 crew take a deep dive into the artistry of the one and only Horace Silver. Born September 2nd 1928, Horace became a one of a kind soulful and unique pianist and adventurous composer with classic jazz standards like Song For My Father and Sister Sadie. Herman Hollywood Dawkins and Ray The Jazz Man invite you to come along for the treat for your ears and explore the fantastic sounds of Horace Silver...

Rudy Van Gelder was a renowned American recording engineer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz music. Born on November 2, 1924, in Jersey City, New Jersey, he developed a passion for sound engineering at a young age, eventually leading him to set up his own recording studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1952. Van Gelder's innovative techniques in recording and mixing, often utilizing his h...

On this special jazz episode we look at the legendary music career of Mr. George Benson! an american guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for blending jazz with pop, R&B and soul. He gained widespread recognition with his album Breezin' in 1976, which featured the Grammy-winning hit "This Masquerade". With a smooth voice and virtuosic guitar style. Benson remains a celebrated figure in contemporary jazz and cro...

Clare Fischer (1928–2012) was a versatile American composer, arranger, and pianist whose career spanned jazz, classical, and pop music. He began his professional journey as a pianist and conductor for The Hi-Lo's, a vocal group, and gained early acclaim for his arrangements for Dizzy Gillespie's A Portrait of Duke Ellington. Over the decades, Fischer became a sought-after arranger for artists such as Prince, Michael Jackson...

Carlos Santana is a legendary Mexican-American guitarist known for blending rock, Latin music, blues, and jazz into a unique and influential sound. He founded the Santana band in the late 1960s, gaining fame with their electrifying performance at Woodstock and hits like “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va.” The band has seen various lineups over the decades, but Santana’s signature guitar style remains at its heart, earning numero...

Jimmy Smith was a pioneering American jazz organist, widely regarded for his mastery of the Hammond B-3 organ. He played a crucial role in popularizing the instrument in jazz, blending elements of blues, bebop, and gospel into a unique and soulful sound. With an innovative approach to rhythm and improvisation, Smith's influential recordings from the late 1950s and 1960s, such as Back at the Chicken Shack, left a lasting legacy on b...

In this episode your 8:30 Crew Herman Hollywood Dawkins and Ray The Jazzman explore the R&B side of Jazz with songs that are typically known as associated with R&B groups or acts. You will be able to hear how the music genres of Gospel, the Blues, and Rhythm and Blues all share something in common.

Songs include :

1. The Sound Table - Cameo
2. Valdez In The Country - Donny Hathaway
3. Fight Me, Chase Me - Ohio Players
4. Everybody Loves...

On the next jazz podcast, the 8:30 crew will dive into the music of smooth jazz artists who created the sounds that are played on radio stations throughout the country. Smooth jazz is a mellow, melodic genre that blends elements of jazz, R&B, and pop music. Known for its soothing rhythms and polished instrumentation, it often features saxophones, keyboards, and guitars. Musicians like David Sanborn, Bob James and Earl Klugh wil...

Legendary Jean-Luc Ponty is a French jazz violinist and composer, renowned for his pioneering work in blending jazz improvisation with electronic music. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with a wide range of influential artists, including Frank Zappa, and has released numerous albums as a bandleader, pushing the boundaries of the violin in jazz and fusion. Ponty’s unique fusion of genres, innovative use of the electric vio...

The Yellowjackets and Spyro Gyra are both iconic jazz fusion bands that emerged in the late 1970s, but they represent distinct approaches to the genre. The Yellowjackets tend to blend complex harmonies and intricate rhythms with a more contemporary, experimental sound, often incorporating elements of funk and R&B into their music. In contrast, Spyro Gyra is known for its smoother, more accessible style, mixing jazz with element...

In this Amazing 8:30 Episode, The 8:30 crew are literally going right off the cuff, picking songs to play and listen to as we are recording the episode.This would have been 8:30 episode # 5, but we never released it, so weare calling this one…"THE LOST EPISODE”.It features Dexter Gordon, John Serry, Quincy Jones, Jacob Collier,  Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, AND George Duke.Check out this incredible episode and enjoy ...