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


456 Pieces

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In this hour, we will explore some tracks that were brand new when I was in college; man, has my inner spring chicken flown the coop?

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX, KJZX-Austin, WETF, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: Mar 19, 2023
  • Length: 57:43
  • Purchases: 8
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In this hour, we will explore some tracks that were brand new when I was in high school; man, how did I get "old" so fast?

Bought by WETF, KHNS, KJZX-Austin, RADIOLEX, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: Mar 12, 2023
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 8
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Over the past decades Wayne Shorter became one of the most influential saxophonists in the musical realm. In this hour, we will sample just a tiny ...

Bought by KHNS, KJZX-Austin, RADIOLEX, Delmarva Public Media, WETF and more


  • Added: Mar 04, 2023
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 8
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Jazz encompasses such a wide pallet of sounds, textures, and moods that at times may seem to defy definition or simple categorization. Performances...

Bought by WETF, KHNS, RADIOLEX, WLPR , WOUB and more


  • Added: Feb 25, 2023
  • Length: 57:58
  • Purchases: 7
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To the accomplished jazz improviser, it is sometimes difficult to stop as one has so much to say. After all, it takes time to tell a good story whi...

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


  • Added: Feb 19, 2023
  • Length: 57:13
  • Purchases: 8
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Two of the most influential jazz musicians ever were Billie Holiday and John Coltrane. Each are known for unique contributions in style, pushing th...

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


  • Added: Feb 12, 2023
  • Length: 57:47
  • Purchases: 8
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Time has a habit of moving forward whether or not we are prepared for it. In this hour we will explore jazz that is on the forefront of new sounds ...

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


  • Added: Feb 05, 2023
  • Length: 57:42
  • Purchases: 9
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The jazz canvas is tall, wide, and vast. In this hour we will dig some small groups delivering big sounds for your ears.

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


  • Added: Jan 29, 2023
  • Length: 57:24
  • Purchases: 9
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In this hour, we will sample jazz with a broader perspective, a rich tapestry of sound and experience that builds on the heritage while exploring n...

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


  • Added: Jan 22, 2023
  • Length: 57:48
  • Purchases: 9
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In this hour, we will continue our exploration of recently reissued Tone Poet Heavyweights as well as the inaugural members of the Contemporary Rec...

Bought by WVTF, KJZX-Austin, WETF, KHNS, WOUB and more


  • Added: Jan 15, 2023
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 10
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After some unanticipated delays earlier in the year, Blue Note Records' Tone Poet series delivered several great releases in the latter half of 202...

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


  • Added: Jan 08, 2023
  • Length: 57:38
  • Purchases: 8
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Life is an emotional journey. We've all experienced times where in a fraction of a second our emotional standing suddenly shifts for no apparent re...

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


  • Added: Jan 01, 2023
  • Length: 57:54
  • Purchases: 9
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Life is a precious gift with an unknown, but inevitable expiration date. It is said that the Jazz life is a hard life, but a Jazz death is all the ...

Bought by KHNS, KJZX-Austin, GCR (Global Community Radio), Delmarva Public Media, WETF and more


  • Added: Dec 25, 2022
  • Length: 57:49
  • Purchases: 7
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Christmas is a special time with a unique soundtrack that is only heard four weeks of the year. In this hour, let the kid in all of us dig some bel...

Bought by WETF, GCR (Global Community Radio), KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., WLPR , WOUB and more


  • Added: Dec 15, 2022
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 7
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Once again as the calendar year draws to a close, it's time to pull out Yuletide gems with a serious blue or bebop tint to them. Get ready as yule ...

Bought by KHNS, KJZX-Austin, GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif. and more


  • Added: Dec 10, 2022
  • Length: 57:29
  • Purchases: 10
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Welcome to an hour of Yuletide treats. Let the kid inside you relive some of the magic of the season while the adult in you finger pops along the w...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, KOJB 90.1 FM The eagle, WETF, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: Dec 04, 2022
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 11
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Jazz paints on a broad canvas with a variety of sounds and textures. Some are cool, others hot; some linger in the background, others demand the fo...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif. and more


  • Added: Nov 26, 2022
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 9
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Overlooking certain era-specific contrivances, jazz remains a remarkably timeless art form. In this hour, we will explore some of my personal class...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, KHNS, Delmarva Public Media, WETF, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: Nov 19, 2022
  • Length: 57:53
  • Purchases: 10
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Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come from afar to gather and celebrate, and for many, to watch football. Nevertheless, it's hard t...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WHCP-LP Cambridge, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX and more


  • Added: Nov 13, 2022
  • Length: 57:36
  • Purchases: 10
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Anyone listening to jazz quickly realizes that there is an ever-increasing canon of jazz standards that underpin this creative art form. In this ho...

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


  • Added: Nov 06, 2022
  • Length: 57:49
  • Purchases: 9