The Hot Box
Since the demise of RTE Lyric’s Jazz Alley, which broadcast every week from the first weekend of the station’s existence until it was axed at the end of 2015, there has been no regular national programme devoted to jazz. The Hot Box aims to fill that gap with former Jazz Alley presenter Donald Helme.
The Hot Box sets the best of Irish recorded jazz in the wider context of the universal language that is jazz worldwide. It tries to emphasise accessability and sheer enjoyment, and is building an audience well beyond the shores of its home country.
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #151 - Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
The upcoming visit of Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra to these shores prompts an hour of listening to their diverse music in the Hot Box.
Founded in 1988 and under Marsalis’ direction since 1991, it has become an important icon for quality and stability in the world of jazz music. It has played in Ireland before, but since Marsalis announced his upcoming retirement, their concerts in Ireland develop even more significance.
Read more: The Hot Box #151 - Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #150 - Ken Peplowski
All the music in Hot Box 150 is from the flautist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski, who died on 2nd February this year aboard a jazz cruise liner. He was one of the finest musicians of his generation, spanning traditional and modern jazz styles.
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #149 - New Stuff
Welcome to Hot Box 149. We begin with a sparkling new release on Blue Note from the young American pianist Paul Cornish. Hailing from Texas, Cornish was a finalist in the prestigious Herbie Hancock International Piano Competition three years ago, and has already shared the stage with many of the leading figures in jazz today.
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #148 - Jack DeJohnette
Hot Box 148 is going to be both sad and joyful since we now remember the extraordinary drummer Jack DeJohnette who died at the end of October aged 83. He was a native of Chicago and certainly could lay a claim to being the greatest of all jazz drummers. Immensely influential in the overall direction of drumming in jazz and, by any standards, extraordinarily versatile.
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #147 – Christmas Box
An eclectic selection of music that may reflect the desire of the “music business” to generate some income for musicians over the festive period! Or it may represent a genuine love for all things Christmas - or both! An hour of jazz selected to sit back and enjoy.
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- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #146 – New Releases
The Hot Box 146 is packed with brand new releases, and as ever there is more to play than time to play it. Donald Helme opens the show with music from pianist John Donegan and his new album Interfuse, featuring Richie Buckley.
The programme then moves through a wide range of contemporary jazz, including trumpet-led material from Alex Sipiagin, the spacious and lyrical trio work of Fred Hersch, and the driving ensemble sound of Visions Jazz Ensemble. Larger-scale writing also features orchestral pieces from the Jihye Lee Orchestra and their album Infinite Connections.
- Details
- Written by: Red Keane
- Parent Category: Jazz Ireland Blog
- Category: The Hot Box
Read more: The Hot Box #145 - New Material from Ireland and USA
The new edition of the Hot Box consists of all new material from Ireland and the USA. An hour of the very best in jazz. The international talent is represented by tracks from a youthful band the Visions Jazz Ensemble, with music based on US college “fight songs”. Also music from Joe Lovano with the Martin Wasilewski Trio.
Read more: The Hot Box #145 - New Material from Ireland and USA
