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

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Welcome to an hour of jazz in uncommon time. Thanks for taking the time to join in an uncommon experience.

Bought by KHNS, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: Aug 26, 2017
  • Length: 56:06
  • Purchases: 6
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Welcome to an hour of straight talking jazz. Thanks for checking us out.

Bought by Delmarva Public Media, GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , KSRQ, WOUB and more


  • Added: Aug 20, 2017
  • Length: 56:50
  • Purchases: 6
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In this hour, we will explore jazz that is in a variety of uncommon, i.e. not 4/4, time signatures. Stat tuned for the sounds of 3/4, 7/4, 10/4, 11...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, WLPR , Delmarva Public Media, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 03, 2017
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 5
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Music comes in all sizes from the soloist to the symphony. Jazz is no different. In this hour we explore tracks by larger ensembles, those that are...

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


  • Added: Jul 23, 2017
  • Length: 57:48
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour of jazz for the listening. Thanks for checking us out.

Bought by WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), KHNS, WOUB, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: Aug 06, 2017
  • Length: 56:00
  • Purchases: 6
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Welcome to an hour of big band jazz. Thanks for stopping by and digging the swinging sounds

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , KSRQ, KHNS and more


  • Added: Jul 29, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour of musical joy. Thanks for listening in.

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


  • Added: Jul 15, 2017
  • Length: 55:54
  • Purchases: 5
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The cool school began in earnest in the late 1940s in part as a response to the rise of bebop but also a reflection of the different feel that vari...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WOUB, Delmarva Public Media, KSRQ and more


  • Added: Jul 08, 2017
  • Length: 56:00
  • Purchases: 6
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As the season shifts towards the summer, the sights, sounds, and expectations change. In particular the color pallet in many geographies features m...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), KSRQ, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR , and KHNS


  • Added: Jul 01, 2017
  • Length: 56:22
  • Purchases: 5
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Welcome to an hour of swinging, hot, and mellow grooves. We'll experience an audio journey that travels far and wide, meandering at turns, but ulti...

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


  • Added: Jun 28, 2017
  • Length: 56:00
  • Purchases: 6
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This hour is meant to be a good listen, stretching the edges a bit here and there, and some tracks that are just plain fun.

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, KSRQ, WLPR , and Delmarva Public Media


  • Added: Jun 18, 2017
  • Length: 56:02
  • Purchases: 5
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Colors are often used to describe emotions, such as feeling blue and lowdown or being green with envy. Yet, there are many shades of any primary co...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, KSRQ, WLPR , and Delmarva Public Media


  • Added: Jun 11, 2017
  • Length: 57:10
  • Purchases: 5
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This hour is simply creativity at its best; sound ideas for the mind and the soul all painted from the jazz and blues palettes.

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, WLPR , Delmarva Public Media, KHNS and more


  • Added: Jun 03, 2017
  • Length: 56:13
  • Purchases: 6
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Welcome to an hour of creative expression of words, music, improvisation, and audio texture. In other words, time for jazz.

Bought by KSRQ, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, and WLPR


  • Added: May 28, 2017
  • Length: 56:08
  • Purchases: 4
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The journey through life is filled with emotions that run the gamit but one that seems to always cause reflection is the blue-hue. This hue can be ...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, KSRQ, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: May 23, 2017
  • Length: 57:35
  • Purchases: 6
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Welcome to a celebration of song! This is an hour of singers, songs, and swing; an exploration of the human voice. In this episode we hear the many...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), KHNS, WLPR , WOUB, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: May 13, 2017
  • Length: 56:44
  • Purchases: 6
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Everyone who played in jazz bands during their high school and college years were learning the basics of musicianship. This hour will feature some ...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WOUB, Delmarva Public Media, and KSRQ


  • Added: May 07, 2017
  • Length: 55:48
  • Purchases: 5
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In this hour, we will examine four tracks that seek to tell a longer tale; each with a 10:00 minute minimum. So grab your favorite beverage, sit ba...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WOUB, Delmarva Public Media, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 29, 2017
  • Length: 56:14
  • Purchases: 5
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This hour is about deep cuts, longer exploration and exposition on a form. None of these gems would ever fit on a "45"

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 22, 2017
  • Length: 55:27
  • Purchases: 4
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It's time once again to explore the deep blue hue that is the basis of so much of American music, and in particular jazz.

Bought by WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), Delmarva Public Media, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 15, 2017
  • Length: 56:53
  • Purchases: 5