Sound Ideas (Jazz & Blues)

Series produced by Clay Ryder

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Sound Ideas explores the artistry of jazz, blues, and the spoken word. Hosted by Clay Ryder, each episode explores a different theme or genre of the jazz idiom through recorded performances pulled from more than eighty years of recorded art. The music is the focus. It is complemented by a few minutes of intelligent commentary to set the context and make the music understandable and personal for both the jazz aficionado and those who listen on the jazz periphery.

Each episode can air as a stand-alone or run in a series.

What is Sound Ideas?
More than just a jazz show, each episode presents some great story telling by jazz and blues musicians and spoken word artists. By exploring the many different genres within the Jazz idiom, the show appeals both to the jazz aficionado and those who listen on the jazz periphery. In both cases, listeners enjoy exposure to a broad cross-section of this creative art without the limitations of stylistic labels. Spoken word features reflect jazz sensitivities or the life of the jazz musician and offer a unique twist on the many colors and hues painted with a brush called jazz.

One aspect of Jazz that distinguishes the art form is its ability to engage the listener on different levels (intellectual, emotional, spiritual, etc.) simultaneously. Jazz is a musical oxymoron. Jazz is a classical music, a high art form that demands much from its performers and at times from its audience; yet jazz is as down home as fried chicken, baked beans, cornbread, and your favorite glass or beer or soda.

Jazz comes from toil in the fields reassured by the gospel on Sunday morning. Jazz oozes out from under the door frame at the late night rent party. Jazz emanates from a student practicing with his or her Jamey Aebersold play-along records. Jazz is created at the university in an advanced composition class. Jazz is created by tales spun by the stand-up comic. Jazz is about learning; it's about life experience.

Listening to jazz on the melodic level reveals one experience, listening on the harmonic, another. Listening to the stories that are embedded in the melodic and harmonic levels takes the listener to another plane of communication.

Jazz is a language, and as with all languages, if one doesn't know the vocabulary and the grammar, there isn't much to gain from the interaction. With practice, however, picking up a language enables communication; and with time, the subtle nuances, the play on words (or notes), and inclusion in the greater discussion can lead to a rich and very satisfying experience. Sound Ideas seeks to engage the listener and broaden his or her musical horizons.

When should Sound Ideas be aired?
While this program would fit well within any jazz formatted day part, its intention is to engage the listener and offer a path for musical exploration and deep understanding. It works equally well as a stand-alone program within a block format or as a lead-in to locally programmed music.

What is the format?
Sound Ideas is just under an hour. It features a cold opening so it can easily transition from top of the hour news segments or from other programming. It is self-contained without local cutaways; however, there is ample space for local promotions or other transitions at the beginning and end of the show.

What’s the show’s vibe? How does it sound?
Sound Ideas is conversational and informative with a laid-back vibe. While the performances are the focus of the program, details about musicians and where to find the music are key components of the programming. Each episode has a playlist plus additional information about its theme available on the jazzstreams.org web site.

What is the cost?
Sound Ideas is free of charge. Customized promotions for stations are available for a nominal fee.

Does the series have to run in order?
No. Each episode can stand alone or run in a series. Since each program is thematic, you may run them in any order at any pace you choose (limited only by the number of available shows). An obvious exception would be holiday-themed shows, which would make sense to run during the holiday season in question.

Does the show have its own web site?
Yes. Additional information about each episode and its theme is available at http://jazzstreams.org/soundideas Hide full description

What is Sound Ideas?More than just a jazz show, each episode presents some great story telling by jazz and blues musicians and spoken word artists. By exploring the many different genres within the Jazz idiom, the show appeals both to the jazz aficionado and those who listen on the jazz periphery. In both cases, listeners enjoy exposure to a broad cross-section of this creative art without the limitations of stylistic labels. Spoken word features reflect jazz sensitivities or the life of the jazz musician and offer a unique twist on the many colors and hues painted with a brush called jazz.One aspect of Jazz that distinguishes the art form is its ability to engage the listener on different levels (intellectual, emotional, spiritual, etc.) simultaneously. Jazz is a musical oxymoron. Jazz... Show full description


508 Pieces

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It is said that life is a journey, but the trajectory and course is often unclear and forever changing. Music can be a spiritual guidance for those...

Bought by WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WOUB, KHNS and more


  • Added: Aug 02, 2020
  • Length: 57:48
  • Purchases: 6
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As this is the semiquincentennial program in the series, that's right, number two hundred and fifty, we will explore a simple theme: diggin' the so...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WLPR , WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB and more


  • Added: Aug 09, 2020
  • Length: 57:40
  • Purchases: 6
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In this hour as part of the semiquincentennial program celebration, that's right, number two hundred and fifty-one, we will continue diggin' the so...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WMOT, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), KHNS and more


  • Added: Aug 16, 2020
  • Length: 57:28
  • Purchases: 7
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In this hour as part of the semiquincentennial program celebration, that's right, number two hundred and fifty-two, we dig more sounds that have he...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WOUB and more


  • Added: Aug 23, 2020
  • Length: 57:46
  • Purchases: 7
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If there has ever been a year chalk full of reasons to have the blues, it's been 2020. Viruses, natural disasters, and economic turmoil means it's ...

Bought by WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, KHNS, and KRPS


  • Added: Aug 30, 2020
  • Length: 57:50
  • Purchases: 5
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Christopher Parker Jr., AKA Bird. Welcome to an hour celebrating the Centurion Parker.

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WMOT, WOUB and more


  • Added: Sep 06, 2020
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour of swingin' music that captures a feeling that you might have at a given point in time.

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, KJZX-Austin, WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB and more


  • Added: Sep 13, 2020
  • Length: 57:27
  • Purchases: 8
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This hour features a few longer running tracks where the artists have plenty of time of explore the musical nooks and crannies while telling an unr...

Bought by WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin, KHNS, WOUB and more


  • Added: Sep 19, 2020
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 7
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The trio is a common, if not economical jazz grouping that delivers the creative interaction and excitement evidenced when improvisation is at play...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, WMOT, WLPR , KJZX-Austin, WOUB and more


  • Added: Sep 26, 2020
  • Length: 57:51
  • Purchases: 6
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Jazz has always held a certain mystique, an aura of the player and listener "in the know", holding knowledge that set him or her apart from the com...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , KJZX-Austin, WMOT, WOUB and more


  • Added: Oct 03, 2020
  • Length: 57:44
  • Purchases: 7
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Duke Ellington probably summed it up best with his refrain that there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. In this hour we will explore the g...

Bought by WMOT, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin, KHNS and more


  • Added: Oct 11, 2020
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 7
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Smooth Jazz for many represented their entry point into the larger jazz continuum. Granted, many such recordings were flat-out commercial in orient...

Bought by WNMU-FM, RadioStPete Florida, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin and more


  • Added: Oct 19, 2020
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Once a year on a special evening a transformation of the normal everyday mundane into a sight worthy of taking notice even for the most jaunted obs...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin, KHNS, WOUB, and KRPS


  • Added: Oct 24, 2020
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 5
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Beginning in 2019 as part of its 80th anniversary recognition, Blue Note has reissued a select number of these classic dates in its Tone Poet serie...

Bought by KRPS, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin, WOUB and more


  • Added: Nov 01, 2020
  • Length: 57:23
  • Purchases: 6
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Blue Note has reissued a select number of these classic dates in its Tone Poet series on vinyl featuring the highest quality production standards, ...

Bought by KRPS, KHNS, WLPR , WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: Nov 07, 2020
  • Length: 57:13
  • Purchases: 7
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The guitar has been a staple in the jazz continuum since the 1930s, although its role is at times up for debate. Is it a lead instrument or an acco...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin, WMOT, KHNS, WOUB and more


  • Added: Nov 14, 2020
  • Length: 57:12
  • Purchases: 6
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At times, being grateful and giving thanks can be harder to do than it would seem it should be. 2020 has proven to be a difficult year for most eve...

Bought by WLPR , RadioStPete Florida, KJZX-Austin, WMOT, KHNS and more


  • Added: Nov 22, 2020
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour that steps beyond traditional boundaries of melody and harmony. This collage of sound is driven by the artistic quest to find wh...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WOUB, KHNS, WLPR , and KRPS


  • Added: Nov 29, 2020
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 5
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As the end of the calendar year approaches, it's time for another sampling of Christmas meets jazz improvisation.

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, WJSU, KJZX-Austin, WLPR , WICR and more


  • Added: Dec 05, 2020
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 8
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Christmas is a special time of year. Whether it is the religious celebration of the birth of Christ or the secular end-of-year break, the memories ...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, KRPS, KJZX-Austin, WJSU and more


  • Added: Dec 11, 2020
  • Length: 57:37
  • Purchases: 7