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. 6 days ago

    The Hot Box #154 – Miles Davis 100

    Join Donald Helme on this edition of The Hot Box as he celebrates the life and music of one of jazz’s most influential figures, Miles Davis, marking what would have been the legendary trumpeter’s 100th birthday. From his groundbreaking innovations in bebop, cool jazz, modal jazz and jazz fusion, Miles Davis reshaped the course of modern music and continues to inspire generations of musicians and listeners alike. Donald reflects on the enduring legacy of Davis and introduces a carefully curated selection of recordings spanning his extraordinary career, offering both long-time fans and newcomers an opportunity to rediscover the music of one of jazz’s true visionaries. The programme also opens with a look at an outstanding new release from the Jed Levy / Phil Robson Quartet, *The Unpredictability of the Sea*, released by Livia Records, before embarking on a musical journey through the remarkable catalogue of Miles Davis. Track list for The Hot Box #154 – Miles Davis 100 3 Chord Trick – Phil Robson / Jed levy Quartet Jeru – Gerry Mulligan Footprints – Wayne Shorter So What – Miles Davis Straight, No Chaser – Thelonious Monk Summertime – George Gershwin My Ship – Gil Evans & Miles Davis Boplicity – Gil Evans & Miles Davis Springsville – Miles Davis Canute – Phil Robson / Jed levy Quartet 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 13min

  2. 4 Jun

    The Hot Box #152 – Back to Bebop!

    Whilst enjoying the multitude of styles that compose the repertoire of jazz today, many fans have long decried the disappearance of Bebop in favour of crossover music and other listener-to-listener styles. There is some evidence though that things may be changing, and one piece of that evidence is the emergence of some bands playing music closer to bop or hard bop style. One such is the British quintet Five Way Split, and Hot Box 152 samples tracks from their new album, Modus Operandi, alongside such classic hard boppers as Horace Silver and Art Blakey. Track list for The Hot Box #152 – Back to Bebop! Dr Stol / Five Way Split Modus Operandi / Five Way Split Along Came Betty / Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers These Foolish Things / Charlie Parker Something to Remember You By / Charlie Parker Juicy Lucy / Horace Silver Sister Sadie / Horace Silver Two Little Alphas / Five Way Split Sack of Woe / Cannonball Adderley 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 2min

  3. 17 May

    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. Enjoy an hour taken from their huge catalogue of recordings in Hot Box 151. Track list for The Hot Box #151 – Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Havan Special Arturo O’Farrill Black & Tan fantasy Duke Ellington 2/3 Adventure Carllos Henriquez Baa Baa Black Sheep Sherman Irby Dizzy Moods Charles Mingus Mood indigo – Bli Blip – Harlem Air Shaft – Portrait of Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington Blood Cry/ La Lamada de la Sangue Wynton Marsalis All tracks The Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra 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 2min

  4. 22 Apr

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    181
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Hot Box
  • Show Website
    The Hot Box