Jazz Profiles presented by Tim Owens & 32 Bar Blues

Erroll Garner was one of the most well-known and influential pianists in the world during his lifetime. Growing up in a musical family, he was by all accounts self-taught – playing at the age of three and performing professionally by the age of seven. Throughout his career, he developed a distinctive and original piano style often compared with Art Tatum, Fats Waller, as well as Claude Debussy.

As part of the Peabody Award-winning d...

Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz saxophone players. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. Best known as a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, he composed the group’s biggest hit, “Take Five.” The song remains the best-selling jazz song of all time. 
 
 As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary...

Pianist Horace Silver was the heart of the hard bop era, helping to form the influential Jazz Messengers and composing many blues and gospel-flavored songs that have become part of the jazz canon – including “Lonely Woman,” “Song For My Father,” “Señor Blues,” and “The Preacher.” His piano playing, like his compositions, was not that easily characterized. Deftly improvising ingenious figures with his right hand while punching out r...

Art Tatum was born in Toledo, Ohio, and despite being blind in one eye and only partially sighted in the other he became arguably the greatest jazz piano player who ever lived. In his improvisations, he was prone to spontaneously inserting entirely new chord progressions (sometimes with a new chord on each beat) into the small space of one or two measures. His reharmonization of pop tunes became a standard practice among modern jaz...

Bessie Smith (ca. 1895–1937) was a blues and jazz singer from the Harlem Renaissance who is remembered as the “Empress of the Blues.” Famous for the majesty and power with which she belted out tunes, Bessie had an unforgettable voice and stage presence – and she captivated black and white audiences alike. 

As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Bessie Smith was produced ...

There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. With an illustrious career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography, “Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t heard anybody yet who has come after him.”

He is known for his spontaneity, wit, incomparable style, and commanding presence. He doesn’t tip-toe around rhythms and he doesn’t waste beats. “I like to get a musical sound out of the drums,” he once said, “I want to make them sing.” Given the nickname “Snap Crackle” for his distinctive style and musical vocabulary, Roy Haynes’ career spanned eight decades; he was a pioneer of jazz drumming and one the most recorded musicians in...

There aren’t many jazz listeners who haven’t heard the name “Marsalis.” Well, without this Marsalis, there wouldn’t be any others. Highly acclaimed jazz artist, renowned educator, and New Orleans’ beloved musical patriarch who founded the University of New Orleans jazz studies program, Ellis Marsalis was a wizard on piano, one of the most inventive and influential musicians in jazz.

As part of the Peabody Award-winning doc...

Through nearly 70 years of music-making, Wayne Shorter gave his spirit, intelligence, and singular vision to the music called jazz. Always exploring and always pushing the boundaries, Wayne expanded and enriched the musical landscape – in his own band, and in some of the most important ensembles in jazz: Weather Report, The Miles Davis Quintet, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.

As part of the Peabody Award-winning document...

For much of his career, Mel Tormé performed at the peak of his profession, a jazz singer without peer who was revered by music lovers around the world. But Mel Tormé was so much more than just a great singer. He was a true Renaissance man, a talented musician and celebrated composer who became a fine arranger and orchestrator. He wrote books, acted in movies, hosted his own television shows. And to it all, Mel brought both a child-...

She was called both “Sassy” and “The Divine One.” Sassy because she was mischievous and playful. And The Divine One because her voice seemed to have come from the Gods. She was the opera star of jazz, transforming songs into arias. For nearly 50 years, Sarah Vaughan was one of the dominant voices of American popular music.

As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Sarah Va...

With their cool, bop-inflected improvisations and classical chamber aesthetics, the Modern Jazz Quartet rose to prominence in the 1950s – expanding the jazz paradigm and bridging the gap between smoky jazz clubs and prestigious concert halls. Together for more than 44 years, they trotted the globe and played in nearly all 50 states, bringing their sense of swinging elegance to millions.

As part of the Peabody Award-winnin...

You recognize her instantly. And it isn’t just her remarkable voice. You recognize her character, the youthfulness, the exuberance, the freedom, the joy. More than anybody else’s, her sound is the sound of America. We’re talking about Ella Fitzgerald. Audiences, musicians and critics have honored her as the greatest singer of the 20th Century.

As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this e...

Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine was one of the most soulful and versatile musicians in jazz. And for much of his long career, he played music on his own terms – crossing musical boundaries often in the face of criticism. Whether playing a tune that cries out for lost love or celebrates the joy of living, Stanley’s expressions were always straight from the heart. 

As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series...

Tony Bennett embraced the Great American Songbook like few others, making every song his own – as you’re about to hear. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this show about Tony’s life and music was produced in 1998 by Greg Fitzgerald and narrated by the series host Nancy Wilson. 

The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the Univ...

Through more than 70 years in the entertainment industry, you’d be hard-pressed to name another person with the musical depth and breadth of producer, composer, arranger and bandleader Quincy Jones. His story – as you’re about to hear – will astound you. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this show about Quincy’s life and music was produced in 2002 by Paul Conley and narrated by the series host...

Bill Evans was a genius – a composer and pianist with a light, lyrical touch that was once described as what you might hear at the gates of Heaven. As you’re about to hear, he is also one of most influential pianists in modern jazz. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this show about Bill’s life and music was produced in 1997 by Beth Schenker and narrated by the series host Nancy Wilson. 

The “Ja...

Gerry Mulligan is one of the most important figures in jazz – as an instrumentalist, composer, arranger, bandleader and a principal architect of “cool” jazz. His story is what you are about to hear. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this show about Gerry’s life and music was produced in 1996 by Tim Owens and Ken Poston – and narrated by the series host Nancy Wilson. 

The “Jazz Profiles” shows –...

The Village Vanguard is the oldest jazz club in New York City and one of the oldest nightclubs anywhere on this planet. What has made this Club so enduring and legendary? You are about to find out. As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about The Village Vanguard was produced in 2001 by Molly Murphy and narrated by the show host Nancy Wilson. 

The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of t...