The Hot Box

Donald Helme

The Hot Box covers the best in Irish recorded jazz, set it in the wider context of the international language that is jazz.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    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. Track list for The Hot Box #150 – Ken Peplowski Jim Dawgs — from the album Illuminations Vignette — from the album Happy Together The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise — from the album Happy Together I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face — from the album Easy to Remember People Will Say We’re in Love — from the album Lost in the Stars My Ship — from the album Lost in the Stars Good Morning Heartache — from the album Lost in the Stars Tune In: Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1hr 4min

  2. 25 MAR

    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. From there, we move into the distinctive voice of Cécile McLorin Salvant, with two selections from her Oh Snap album, before turning to the richly textured harp work of Brandee Younger on Gadabout Season. We close out the programme with two beautifully crafted pieces from Irish guitarist Louis Stewart, drawn from his album Joyce Notes. A programme of fresh, expressive music — Hot Box 149 is all about new sounds and standout voices in contemporary jazz. Track list for The Hot Box #149 – New Stuff Quinxiety – Paul Cornish Anything But No – Cecile McLorin Salvant Tackle This Stone – Cecile McLorin Salvant End Means – Brandee Younger Gadabout Season – Brandee Younger Gerty McDowell – Louis Stewart Molly – Louis Stewart Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    59 min

  3. 19 JAN

    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. You only have to rattle off the names of the musicians he worked with to emphasise that point, take Miles Davis for example, then Bill Evans, John Surman, Keith Jarrett and Pat Matheney, really ticking most of the boxes in the post-bop era. So, let’s listen to some of that music while we pay tribute to an extraordinary musician. Track list for The Hot Box #148 – Jack DeJohnette Sleeping Bee – Bill Evans Trio Forest Flower: Sunrise / Sunset – Charles Lloyd Quartet at Monterey Jazz Festival The Wrong Blues – Keith Jarrett Trio Hilltop Dancer – John Surman Entranced Androids – Jack DeJohnette Spanish Key – Miles Davis Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1hr 3min

  4. 23/12/2025

    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. Track list for The Hot Box #147 – Christmas Box Barbara Dennerlein: Let It Snow The Capital Bones Big Band: Big Bad Drummin’ Dude Eddie Higgins: Sleigh Ride Nigel Mooney: Good Morning Blues Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass Band: White Christmas/Let it Snow/Winter Wonderland Rob McConnell’s Christmas Waltz NYJO Twelve Bars of Christmas NYJO While Shepherds Waved Nigel Mooney 21st Century Santa Claus Blues Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1hr 2min

  5. 15/12/2025

    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. Track list for The Hot Box #146 – New Releases Five to One. John DoneganTrio + Richie Buckley: from the album Interfuse: JayDee Records Sufa Tham. Alex Sipiagin from the album Reverberations Fred Hersch Trio from the album The Surrounding Green The Surrounding Green: Fred Hersch Trio Rocky Top: Visions Jazz Ensemble. Fight Songs album Surrender: Jihye Lee Orchestra album “Infinite Connections”: Motema Born in 1935. Jihye Lee Orchestra Interfuse: John Donegan Trio plus Richie Buckley. Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1hr 3min

  6. 20/11/2025

    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. Closer to home is the stunning new album from Carole Nelson and her trio “Through the Storm” and a remastered re-release of the Louis Stewart/Brian Dunning album “Alone Together”, both on the Livia Records label. Plus a glimpse of the new single from Emilie Conway! All that and more in the Hot Box! Track list for The Hot Box #145 – New Material from Ireland and USA Anchors Aweigh – Visions Jazz Ensemble Busy Work – Organ Freeman We Begin Here – Carole Nelson Trio Lift Off – Carole Nelson Trio West Coast Blues – Louis Stewart, Brian Dunning Glory Glory – Visions Jazz Ensemble Homage – Homage (Joe Lovano) In Walked Piet – Emilie Conway If I had You – Charlie Moon Sings & Plays Hot Time in The Old Town Tonight – Visions Jazz Ensemble Victory March – Visions Jazz Ensemble Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1hr 4min

  7. 14/10/2025

    The Hot Box #144 – Celebrating Two Jazz Greats

    This episode of The Hot Box has a distinctly retro feel, as we celebrate the lives and talents of two remarkable female jazz singers who recently passed away. We’re remembering the incomparable British singer Dame Cleo Laine, and the lesser-known but deeply respected American vocalist Sheila Jordan. While Sheila was widely admired among jazz musicians and insiders, she remained under the radar for many casual listeners — though she did, in fact, perform in Ireland once. Track list for The Hot Box #144 – Celebrating Two Jazz Greats Hum Drum Blues – Sheila Jordan Let’s Face the Music and Dance – Sheila Jordan Baltimore Oriole – Sheila Jordan I Got it Bad – Dame Cleo Laine Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone – Dame Cleo Laine St. Louis Blues – Dame Cleo Laine Fascinatin’ Rhythm – Dame Cleo Laine If You Could See Me Now – Sheila Jordan Dat Dere – Sheila Jordan Where or When – Sonny Rollins Moritat (Mack the Knife) – Sonny Rollins Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1 hr

  8. 21/08/2025

    The Hot Box #143 – Jazz in Ireland

    Donald Helme takes the lid off the Hot Box once again, and this time he’s digging deep into a special file marked “Jazz in Ireland”. Reaching back across the decades, Donald unearths vintage recordings that showcase both the big names who have defined the Irish jazz landscape and the lesser-known voices who, for one reason or another, seemed to fade into history. Track list for The Hot Box #143 – Jazz in Ireland Feels So Good – Chuck Mangione Taylor Made – Linley Hamilton Coded Remorse – Justin Caroll Sea Legs – Michael Buckley Little Niles – The Kevin Brady Trio Uzac – Greg Lloyd Don’t Stop The Train – Eddie Palmieri Tune In: Live Broadcast: Every two weeks on Jazz Radio Eire. Listen Live Listen Back: Catch past episodes on The Hot Box Jazz and Jazz Ireland. Subscribe to The Hot Box: Via Android: Subscribe on Android By Email: Subscribe by Email Spread the Word: Help us grow our jazz community by sharing The Hot Box with your friends and on social media. Your support keeps us going!

    1hr 3min
See All (178)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The Hot Box covers the best in Irish recorded jazz, set it in the wider context of the international language that is jazz.

Information

  • Creator
    Donald Helme
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Hot Box
  • Show Website
    The Hot Box

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