KUTX Liner Notes

Series produced by KUT

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Liner Notes highlights the significance of the great lives, works and moments in jazz history.

Hosted by Rabbi, historian and jazz musician Neil Blumofe and produced for KUTX and KUT’s Views and Brews by Rebecca McInroy, you can hear Liner Notes every Sunday morning on KUTX 98.9 during Jazz with Jay Trachtenberg.

We would love to know your thoughts on this new project, email us at viewsandbrews@kut.org and put "Liner Notes" in the subject line.


30 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Miles Davis is considered one of the most innovative and influential musicians of the 20th century. He added his voice to the narratives of our cul...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: May 27, 2014
  • Length: 03:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Charlie Rouse
Charlie Rouse was an American hard bop tenor saxophonist and much sought-after sideman. He is known primarily for his collaboration with Thelonious...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Apr 14, 2014
  • Length: 02:57
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Rudy Van Gelder
Rudy Van Gelder is a recording engineer who loved jazz and is most notably associated with the sound of Blue Note Records. He recorded many legenda...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Nov 12, 2013
  • Length: 03:06
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Pannonica de Koenigswarter
Known as "Nica" or "The Baroness" Pannonica de Koenigswarter was a jazz patron who supported artists such as Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, bo...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Nov 12, 2013
  • Length: 02:54
  • Purchases: 1
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In Duke Ellington's Eulogy to Billy Strayhorn he wrote, "His greatest virtue, I think, was his honesty--not only to others, but to himself." As we ...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 28, 2013
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Jelly Role Morton
Born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe in New Orleans right before the turn of the 20th Century, Jelly Role Morton is credited as one of the founding father...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 21, 2013
  • Length: 03:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins was known as "Hawk" or "Bean" among his contemporaries because of his keen intellect and ingenious approach to common tunes. He was...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Oct 08, 2013
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day was known for her counter-culture approach to performance. Breaking the molds of the stereotypical "girl singer" with her dress, her st...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 08, 2013
  • Length: 03:07
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Cannonball Adderley
Cannonball Adderley was embraced by the jazz community as soon as he hit the stage. His solos on Miles Davis' record Kind of Blue were remarkable a...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Sep 14, 2013
  • Length: 03:02
  • Purchases: 1
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Jazz producer and music impresario Norman Granz was born to Jewish immigrants in Los Angeles and came of age in pre-WWII America. During a time of ...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 02, 2013
  • Length: 03:08
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
Rabbi Neil Blumofe examines American jazz musician in this week’s Liner Notes short. The composer, arranger and pianist is most well known for his ...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 02, 2013
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Sarah Vaughan
With her ability to banter with the audience and outspoken sense of humor Sarah Vaughn was best described as “sassy.” Her first big break came afte...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2013
  • Length: 02:53
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Hank Mobley
In this short feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe illuminates the importance of those who will not settle for a glory in mediocrity, but who urge others to ...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Jul 08, 2013
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Lena Horne
In this short feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe talks about the revolutionary life and work of Lena Horne.

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Jul 08, 2013
  • Length: 03:03
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Milt Hinton
In this short feature Rabbi Neil Blumofe discusses the significance of Hinton’s life, his work and his perspective, and offers a view of what his l...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Jul 08, 2013
  • Length: 02:57
  • Purchases: 1
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Horace Silver's powerful and transcendent musical pieces pushed him beyond the label of jazz pianist. His specific composing and instrumentation of...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Jun 06, 2013
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Stan Getz
“My life is music, and in some vague, mysterious and subconscious way, I have always been driven by a taut inner spring which has propelled me to a...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Jun 05, 2013
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Cab Calloway
Singer, dancer, and bandleader, Cab Calloway is often referred to as the “hi- di -hi- di-ho” man. His nonsensical sounds and improvised melodies ma...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: May 27, 2013
  • Length: 03:02
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Art Tatum
Self taught pianist, Art Tatum is acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Listen as Rabbi Neil discusses the life of the inn...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: May 27, 2013
  • Length: 02:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Ella Fitzgerald
Coming from a troubled childhood, Ella Fitzgerald found solace in music and song. Discovered at age 17, after singing in the style of the Boswell s...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: May 27, 2013
  • Length: 02:54
  • Purchases: 1