Series: Jazz Profiles

Produced by NPR Music

Series image

This series profiles the legends and legacy of jazz. Hosted by Nancy Wilson, each episode brings to life the vibrant history of the genre through music, interviews, and commentary.

Singer Nancy Wilson hosts this Gold Medal award-winning, documentary series chronicling the people, places and events in jazz.

Jazz Profiles features jazz topics that are varied and all-encompassing. The program focuses largely on individuals, in particular artists who are still living and performing. Musicians who have been featured in-depth on Jazz Profiles include Dave Brubeck, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Charlie Parker. The series has covered significant anniversaries of the dearly departed, the instruments of jazz, jazz cities, jazz families and more.

By combining archival recordings, interviews and narration, each program in the series tells an informative and engaging story that celebrates the music and those who make it. The appeal of Jazz Profiles is broad, ranging from the news junkie to the jazz aficionado. The music-to-talk ratio of the program is approximately 50/50.
Hide full description

Singer Nancy Wilson hosts this Gold Medal award-winning, documentary series chronicling the people, places and events in jazz.

Jazz Profiles features jazz topics that are varied and all-encompassing. The program focuses largely on individuals, in particular artists who are still living and performing. Musicians who have been featured in-depth on Jazz Profiles include Dave Brubeck, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Charlie Parker. The series has covered significant anniversaries of the dearly departed, the instruments of jazz, jazz cities, jazz families and more.

By combining archival recordings, interviews and narration, each program in the series tells an informative and engaging story that celebrates the music and those who make it.... Show full description


57 pieces

Order by: Default | Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
Bassist Milt Hinton, known as the "Judge," was considered to be the ultimate timekeeper.

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Nov 17, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 3
Piece image
Bandleader Illinois Jacquet was recognized as the king of the tenor saxophone.

Bought by WCPN, WNCU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and KSFR


  • Added: Nov 10, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 5
Piece image
Hootie" to his friends, bluesman supreme Jay McShann was a living legacy of Kansas City jazz.

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, WNCU, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station


  • Added: Oct 29, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
Trombonist Al Grey was highly regarded as "the last of the big time plungers" thanks to his skill at using a plumber's plunger to manipulate tones ...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, WNCU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Oct 23, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
Celebrated jazz singer Anita O'Day experienced both the "high times and hard times" ? as her autobiography is so aptly titled.

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Oct 23, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 3
Piece image
He was one of the most admired instrumentalists of the twentieth century, matching an immaculate technique to a clarinet sound that was indescribab...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Oct 15, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 3
Piece image
Larkins was a classically trained pianist and teacher, as well as the first black student at the Peabody Conservatory. But he's best remembered as ...

Bought by 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WFIU, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and WNCU


  • Added: Oct 08, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
Doc Cheatham was a part of virtually all of jazz's history from his own early groups in the mid 1920s to the 70s with numerous other bands.

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, WFIU, WNCU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU and more


  • Added: Sep 24, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 6
Piece image
A rich, supple baritone, Hibbler brought many of Duke Ellington's most popular ballads to life during an eight-year stint with the orchestra.

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WFIU, and WNCU


  • Added: Sep 18, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
Known for his big, warm sound, saxophonist Stanley Turrentine found inspiration in the blues and turned it into a hugely successful career in music.

Bought by 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station and WNCU


  • Added: Sep 10, 2008
  • Length: 00:28:57
  • Licenses: 2
Piece image
This tribute explores Smith's early days in Philadelphia and shows how he brought the Hammond organ to the forefront of jazz.

Bought by WCAI / WNAN, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Sep 03, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
The small triangular room with low ceilings and remarkable acoustics has staged plenty of essential jazz recordings. But it's only a small fraction...

Bought by WFIU, WCPN, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Aug 29, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 5
Piece image
He devoted much of his career to the band led by his more famous brother, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. But behind the billing, the younger sibl...

Bought by KSJD, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and WNCU


  • Added: Aug 27, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
An electric performer, Carter was an irrepressible and incomparable practitioner of the jazz vocal tradition. For nearly 50 years, the intense voca...

Bought by 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and WCAI / WNAN


  • Added: Aug 21, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
The trumpeter spent many years writing, managing and playing for his brother's celebrated band.

Bought by WFIU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and WNCU


  • Added: Aug 21, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
In nearly six decades of performing, the alto saxophonist lived a quintessential jazz survivor's life. The bebop veteran emerged from the shadows o...

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, and WNCU


  • Added: Aug 07, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 3
Piece image
Known as a premier accompanist to singers and a masterful soloist, the inimitable trumpeter cultivated a spare yet bluesy approach. His career span...

Bought by 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU, WNPR, and WCAI / WNAN


  • Added: Jul 23, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 4
Piece image
Tommy Flanagan was known for his style and technique; he was one of bebop's most important pianists.

Bought by WNCU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WNCU, WCAI / WNAN and more


  • Added: Jul 14, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 6
Piece image
She was a gifted trombonist, a crack arranger, and against the odds, a woman in jazz.

Bought by WNCU, KSJD, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU, WNPR and more


  • Added: Jul 09, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 7
Piece image
Blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon had a deep, smoky voice and recorded dozens of albums and fronted bands and orchestras.

Bought by WNCU, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KSJD, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WNCU and more


  • Added: Jul 02, 2008
  • Length: 00:53:56
  • Licenses: 7