The Jazz Real Book

Jay Sweet
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Music Commentary

In this podcast, Jazz History professor, biographer, musician, and popular podcaster Jay Sweet will help guide you through the tunes included in the Jazz Real Book. For decades, this book (often called "The Jazz Bible") has been a resource for jazz musicians looking to learn jazz standards and repertoire. This podcast will discuss essential recordings and details associated with the songs in the Jazz Real Book, the musicians who created the material, and the recordings that inspire jazz musicians and fans worldwide.

  1. Gracinha Leporace (The Sergio Mendes Band) 

    2d ago

    Gracinha Leporace (The Sergio Mendes Band) 

    Gracinha Leporace (The Sergio Mendes Band)  For more than five decades, Gracinha Leporace  was far more than a vocalist in Sergio Mendes’ bands—she was his musical partner, collaborator, and eventually his wife. Born in Brazil, Leporace joined Mendes’ musical world after being discovered as a young singer at age 18 and officially became part of his group by 1970. Her warm voice became an essential part of the Sergio Mendes sound, helping carry forward the blend of Brazilian rhythms, jazz sophistication, and pop accessibility that made the band internationally famous. She and Mendes married in 1974 and remained together for fifty years, building both a family and a remarkable musical legacy. Today, Leporace continues that legacy with the Sergio Mendes Band, featuring many musicians who performed with Mendes during the final decade of his career. New Jersey audiences will have the opportunity to celebrate the music of Brasil ’66 and beyond when the group performs at Mayo Performing Arts Center on June 11 and at Bergen Performing Arts Center on June 14. These performances honor the 60th anniversary of Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, one of the most influential crossover albums of the 1960s. https://www.sergiomendesmusic.com/

    38 min
  2. Freddie Freeloader and Wynton Kelly (126)

    4d ago

    Freddie Freeloader and Wynton Kelly (126)

    “Freddie Freeloader” and Wynton Kelly (126) “Freddie Freeloader” is one of the most celebrated tracks from Miles Davis’ 1959 masterpiece Kind of Blue. A relaxed 12-bar blues in B-flat, the tune demonstrates how simplicity, swing, and space can create timeless jazz. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb all contribute memorable performances, but the track is especially famous for featuring pianist Wynton Kelly rather than Bill Evans who is featured on the rest of the record. The performance is a masterclass in restraint, groove, and melodic improvisation. Wynton Kelly (1931–1971) was one of the great hard-bop pianists, known for his jazz blues feeling, rhythmic drive, and effortless swing. Born in Brooklyn to Jamaican parents, he worked with many jazz legends before joining Miles Davis’ sextet in 1959. His solo on “Freddie Freeloader” is widely considered one of the finest blues piano solos ever recorded, blending sophistication with soulful simplicity. Though he appears on only one track from Kind of Blue, Kelly’s contribution remains unforgettable. Miles Davis  Bill Evans  The Jazz Real Book Podcast Vol. 22

    19 min
  3. Toby Gad and Dave Eggar Interview (The Eureka Concerts)

    May 27

    Toby Gad and Dave Eggar Interview (The Eureka Concerts)

    Legendary German-born songwriter and producer Toby Gad and acclaimed crossover cellist/composer Dave Eggar have each spent decades redefining the boundaries between virtuosity, emotion, and modern popular music. Raised in a jazz-centered musical family in Munich, Gad combined classical piano training with jazz harmony and improvisation before becoming one of the most successful hitmakers of the modern pop era, writing and producing global hits including Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy,” Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and John Legend’s “All of Me.” Eggar, a classically trained prodigy and adventurous improviser, built a remarkable career blending classical performance with jazz, rock, folk, film music, and contemporary crossover projects, collaborating with artists ranging from Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Amy Winehouse, Tony Bennett, Paul Simon and his mentor Michael Brecker. Together, their project Eureka Concerts captures the spontaneity and creative freedom that define both artists — a fully improvised musical dialogue where jazz intuition, classical sophistication, cinematic textures, and emotional storytelling collide in real time. The collaboration stands as a rare meeting of two fearless musical minds whose legendary careers continue to evolve through exploration and improvisation. For more info check out  Toby Gad at https://www.tobygad.com/  Dave Eggar https://www.domomusicgroup.com/daveeggar/ Eureka Concerts https://open.spotify.com/album/0AqBO1SukqFI6SZ8IMbmni?si=eKdoOacNQMK32wplvahkSQ

    1h 7m
  4. Four on Six and Pat Martino

    May 24

    Four on Six and Pat Martino

    “Four on Six” and Pat Martino (125)  “Four on Six,” first recorded by Wes Montgomery on The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery in 1960, is one of the defining compositions in jazz guitar history. Built loosely on the harmonic framework of “Summertime,” the tune combines blues phrasing, bebop harmony, and memorable rhythmic hits within a compact 16-bar form. Its descending ii–V progressions and sophisticated substitutions helped make it a favorite among modern jazz musicians, while Montgomery’s use of octaves, block chords, and thumb-picked articulation gave the piece its unmistakable sound. Guitar legend Pat Martino later reinterpreted the tune on his 2006 Blue Note release Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery. Rather than imitate Montgomery directly, Martino transformed the piece through his own advanced bebop language, emphasizing rapid single-note lines, harmonic complexity, and remarkable precision. Having studied Montgomery obsessively as a teenager, Martino approached the tune with both reverence and individuality, creating a performance that honored the original while showcasing his own modern jazz guitar voice. Wes Montgomery  Pat Martino  The Jazz Real Book Podcast Vol. 2

    19 min
  5. John Lee and Paquito D’Rivera on Dizzy Gillespie

    May 21

    John Lee and Paquito D’Rivera on Dizzy Gillespie

    John Lee and Paquito D’Rivera On Dizzy Gillespie  WBGO presents the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with John Lee and special guest Paquito D’Rivera as part of the All That Jazz concert series at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in New Jersey on Saturday, June 6, with performances at 5 PM and 8 PM. Guests can also enjoy cocktails and live piano by Leonieke Scheuble in the WBGO Piano Lounge before each show, with the lobby opening at 4 PM and 7 PM respectively. The concert celebrates the music and legacy of Dizzy Gillespie through performances of classics including “A Night in Tunisia,” “Salt Peanuts,” “Con Alma,” “Groovin’ High,” and “Blue ‘N’ Boogie.” Bassist and producer John Lee performed with Gillespie from 1984 through 1993 in the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Big Band, and the GRAMMY-winning United Nation Orchestra. Following Gillespie’s passing, Lee was asked by the Gillespie family to continue presenting the trumpeter’s music through the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars. Beyond his work with Gillespie, Lee has collaborated with major artists including Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Roy Hargrove, and Aretha Franklin while also producing more than 100 recordings as co-founder of Jazz Legacy Productions. Special guest Paquito D’Rivera is internationally recognized as one of the most important figures in Latin jazz and contemporary classical music. Born in Havana, Cuba, D’Rivera has earned 16 GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY Awards while building a career that seamlessly blends jazz, Afro-Cuban music, Brazilian traditions, tango, and classical composition. A recipient of both the NEA Jazz Masters Award and the National Medal of the Arts, he has become known for his virtuosic clarinet and saxophone work as well as his role as a global ambassador for Latin jazz. His appearance with the Gillespie All Stars connects directly to Gillespie’s own pioneering fusion of bebop and Afro-Cuban music traditions. https://ucpac.org/event/dizzy-gillespie-all-stars/

    39 min
  6. Four and Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet 

    May 17

    Four and Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet 

    “Four” and Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet  “Four” became one of the signature performances associated with Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet, one of the most influential small groups in jazz history. Formed in 1955, the ensemble featured John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones. Their version of “Four,” particularly the recording on the album Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, helped establish the tune as a modern jazz standard. The group balanced bebop sophistication with blues feeling, swing, and melodic clarity. Miles Davis approached the tune with restraint and space, allowing his phrases to breathe rather than relying on technical excess. John Coltrane, still developing the “sheets of sound” approach that would later define his style, brought urgency and harmonic depth to the performance. Red Garland’s elegant block chords, Paul Chambers’ flowing bass lines, and Philly Joe Jones’ explosive yet conversational drumming created one of the greatest rhythm sections in jazz history. Together, the quintet transformed “Four” into a model of hard bop interplay, sophistication, and rhythmic drive. Miles Davis (1954)  Miles Davis with the First Great Quintet  The Jazz Real Book Podcast Vol. 2

    17 min
  7. Chick Corea- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs

    May 14

    Chick Corea- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs

    Chick Corea- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (Solid State Records)  Released December 1968  Now He Sings, Now He Sobs captures Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitouš, and Roy Haynes in a rare moment of complete musical connection and creative freedom. Although somewhat ignored upon release,  the album has since become one of the defining piano trio recordings in modern jazz history. Corea’s compositions balance angular post-bop lines, open improvisation, rhythmic experimentation, and abstract textures, while Vitouš brings the fearless intensity of a young bass virtuoso and Haynes supplies his legendary snap-crackle rhythmic imagination. Tracks such as “Steps – What Was,” “Matrix,” and the title tune reveal a trio functioning as a single organism rather than a pianist backed by rhythm section players. The music channels the adventurous spirit of Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet and the Bill Evans Trio while pushing the piano trio format into more exploratory territory. This is not casual background jazz or music aimed at mass appeal. It demands attention, openness, and patience. For listeners willing to engage with its intensity and complexity, the album remains one of the true masterpieces of late-1960s modern jazz. (S5-EP 19)

    53 min
  8. Oteil Burbridge and Lamar Williams Jr. Interview-The Offering Album

    May 12

    Oteil Burbridge and Lamar Williams Jr. Interview-The Offering Album

    Oteil Burbridge and Lamar Williams Jr. represent two generations of Southern-rooted improvisational music coming together through groove, soul, and message-driven songwriting. Burbridge is widely known for his work with the Dead & Company, the Allman Brothers Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit, and Tedeschi Trucks Band, where his fluid bass playing and deep jazz-funk vocabulary made him one of the most respected improvisers in modern jam and fusion music. Williams Jr., son of former Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams, has emerged as a powerful vocalist carrying forward the emotional intensity and Southern soul tradition connected to the Allman legacy. Their 2026 collaborative album, The Offering, blends gospel harmonies, roots music, improvisational rock, and reflective songwriting into a warm and spiritually minded recording. Recorded in Iceland’s Flóki Studios, the album favors feel and atmosphere over flashy virtuosity, though the musicianship throughout is excellent. Songs like “The Way We Rise” and “Love & War” balance uplifting lyrical themes with earthy grooves and melodic depth. The project feels less like a commercial crossover effort and more like two musicians searching for sincerity, community, and healing through music. Oteil Burbridge and Lamar Williams Jr.- The Offering

    52 min
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About

In this podcast, Jazz History professor, biographer, musician, and popular podcaster Jay Sweet will help guide you through the tunes included in the Jazz Real Book. For decades, this book (often called "The Jazz Bible") has been a resource for jazz musicians looking to learn jazz standards and repertoire. This podcast will discuss essential recordings and details associated with the songs in the Jazz Real Book, the musicians who created the material, and the recordings that inspire jazz musicians and fans worldwide.

Information

  • Creator
    Jay Sweet
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    180
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jay Sweet
  • Show Website
    The Jazz Real Book

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