The Hot Box

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

  1. 4d ago

    The Hot Box #153 – Oscar Peterson

    A nudge from a listener in Scotland prompts Donald Helme to put right an omission: marking the centenary of the great Oscar Peterson. This episode opens with Norman Granz introducing the Oscar Peterson Trio at Zurich’s Kongresshaus on 8 April 1960. Sharing the bill that evening were the Stan Getz Quartet and the Miles Davis Quintet—an extraordinary gathering of jazz talent. From the swinging “Jordu” and “Cubano Chant” to solo interpretations of “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Bye Bye Blackbird”, Donald’s selection celebrates Peterson’s dazzling technique, lyrical touch and irresistible sense of swing. With blues, ballads and familiar standards along the way, The Hot Box #153 pays a belated tribute to one of jazz’s greatest pianists. Track list for The Hot Box #153 – Oscar Peterson Jordu (Live) – Oscar Peterson Trio Cubano Chant (Live) – Oscar Peterson Trio Tin Tin Deo – Oscar Peterson Trio Backyard Blues (Live) – Oscar Peterson Someone to Watch Over Me – Oscar Peterson (solo piano) Bye Bye Blackbird – Oscar Peterson (solo piano) Reunion Blues – Oscar Peterson Sweet Georgia Brown – Oscar Peterson 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!

  2. Sep 23

    The Hot Box #157 – A Home Game (Mostly)

    It’s something of a home game on this edition of The Hot Box, with Donald Helme spending most of the hour in the company of Irish musicians, drawing on recordings both new and from the archives. Among the newer music is Stella Bass with her latest single Time to Fly, while a look back into Irish jazz history brings us John Wadham’s Drums and Friends, recently remastered and reissued by Livia Records, from which we hear Wayne Shorter’s Footprints. There’s also music from Linley Hamilton, Don Baker, Fintan O’Neill, Lee Meehan and Kevin Brady. There is one important journey away from home, as Donald pauses to remember the wonderful American singer Cassandra Wilson, who died on September 1st at the age of 70. We hear a little of her remarkable recorded legacy along the way, including her distinctive take on *Last Train to Clarksville*. So, mostly Irish, with one very worthwhile digression. Track list for The Hot Box #157 – A Home Game (Mostly) Time to Fly — Stella Bass Split — Linley Hamilton Footprints — Wayne Shorter Me and Louis — Don Baker Mr Bennett — Fintan O’Neill Boppin’ for Pat — Lee Meehan Last Train to Clarksville — Cassandra Wilson Little Niles — Kevin Brady 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!

  3. Aug 25

    The Hot Box #156 – Everybody Digs Bill Evans

    As the new movie Everybody Digs Bill Evans launches in cinemas around Ireland, The Hot Box grabs the opportunity to immerse you in Evans’ music. Whilst an hour can only provide a snapshot of the considerable output from one of jazz’s truly great innovators, it enables us to evaluate his contribution to jazz during his too-short life. Track list for The Hot Box #156 – Everybody Digs Bill Evans Walk with Debbie Someday My Prince Will Come When I Fall in Love Blue in Green (Miles Davis Quintet) The Way You Look Tonight I Loves You Porgy 34 Skidoo My Funny Valentine (with Jim Hall) 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!

  4. Jun 25

    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!

  5. Jun 4

    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!

  6. May 17

    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!

  7. Apr 22

    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!

  8. Mar 25

    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!

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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
    156
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Hot Box
  • Show Website
    The Hot Box

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