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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This is the sixtieth episode in a thematic series focused on jazz, blues, and spoken word. Welcome to an hour focused on recent jazz outings. Each ...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, KTXK, KHNS and more


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 56:00
  • Purchases: 9
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This is the fifty-ninth episode in a thematic series focused on jazz, blues, and spoken word. Welcome to an hour that steps beyond traditional boun...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, KTXK, KHNS, WKCC and more


  • Added: Aug 22, 2015
  • Length: 55:13
  • Purchases: 8
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Welcome to an hour focused on the art of improvisation. Each of these tracks is a great melody and a set of chord changes that have provided the ba...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, KTXK, WKCC, WLPR and more


  • Added: Aug 15, 2015
  • Length: 55:25
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour of swingin' songs, tunes with great lyrics. It's easy to overlook the artistry of the human voice. So let's listen in to a colle...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, KTXK, KHNS, WKCC and more


  • Added: Aug 08, 2015
  • Length: 55:55
  • Purchases: 8
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Welcome to an hour of the tracks in between the "hits" or better known performances on these albums. Every one is just as good as their better know...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, KTXK, KHNS and more


  • Added: Aug 01, 2015
  • Length: 55:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Welcome to an hour of music to help you wind down without falling asleep. You'll still catch a groove, but just take your time.

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, KPSQ-LP, WMOT, Delmarva Public Media, KTXK and more


  • Added: May 31, 2015
  • Length: 58:15
  • Purchases: 9
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Welcome to an hour that explores the Afro-Cuban influence in jazz.

Bought by RADIOLEX, KMUD, KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR and more


  • Added: May 23, 2015
  • Length: 58:14
  • Purchases: 9
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Welcome to an hour of music that "jumps". Time to put some groove in your shoes and let your fingers do the poppin'.

Bought by KPSQ-LP, WMOT, KSRQ, Delmarva Public Media, WKCC and more


  • Added: May 16, 2015
  • Length: 59:56
  • Purchases: 9
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Welcome to an hour of song focused on the transitional season from winter to summer. Set your clocks ahead and sit back and enjoy the thoughts and ...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, WMOT, Delmarva Public Media, WRST-FM Oshkosh, WLPR and more


  • Added: May 09, 2015
  • Length: 57:33
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour that celebrates one special Michael and the numbers 2 and 3. Buckle up for some soul, funk, swing, bop, and story telling.

Bought by KPSQ-LP, WMOT, Delmarva Public Media, WKCC, WLPR and more


  • Added: May 02, 2015
  • Length: 57:15
  • Purchases: 8
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Welcome to an hour that travels to points past and present and circles back home.

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, WRST-FM Oshkosh, WLPR , WOUB and more


  • Added: Dec 26, 2014
  • Length: 55:58
  • Purchases: 6
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Welcome to some classic interpretations of the idiom and its roots, which of course is just a fancy way of saying we'll listen to some swingin' jazz.

Bought by KPSQ-LP, WMOT, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR , WOUB and more


  • Added: Dec 20, 2014
  • Length: 58:07
  • 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 KPSQ-LP, KTXK, Delmarva Public Media, KSRQ, WLPR and more


  • Added: Apr 06, 2014
  • Length: 56:02
  • Purchases: 7
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Welcome to an hour of classic music. Some of it's old, some of it's new. Each of these pieces has an indefinable but ever present classic sheen tha...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR , WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 14, 2014
  • Length: 58:04
  • Purchases: 5
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Soul Jazz rose to prominence during the 1960s and remained an influence in Jazz Fusion and other idioms to certain degree thereafter. We'll take a ...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, WMOT, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR , KSRQ and more


  • Added: Dec 09, 2014
  • Length: 58:14
  • Purchases: 6
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Jazz can be loud or soft, brash or subtle. This time around we take a laid back vibe that won't rock you out of your easy chair, but will still del...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, WMOT, WLPR , KSRQ, and WOUB


  • Added: Nov 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:15
  • Purchases: 5
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Sometimes a particular tune is intriguing just because it is. It's catchy, fits the mood or something else but most importantly it catches a feelin...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR , WOUB and more


  • Added: Nov 08, 2014
  • Length: 58:43
  • Purchases: 6
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It's that time of year again. Welcome to an hour of Yuletide treats, i.e., jazz interpretations of Christmas and other holiday classics. Let the ki...

Bought by WICR, KPSQ-LP, KRPS, WNMU-FM, WDSE and more


  • Added: Nov 28, 2014
  • Length: 57:27
  • Purchases: 13
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Welcome to an hour of piano players, the weather, and Donald Fagen. Thanks for listening in.

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, KSRQ, WLPR , and WOUB


  • Added: Nov 01, 2014
  • Length: 56:28
  • Purchases: 5
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Welcome to an hour of exploration, i.e. trying something new. We'll hear musicians explore the edges and just a little beyond in an hour of creativ...

Bought by KPSQ-LP, Delmarva Public Media, WLPR , WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Oct 25, 2014
  • Length: 56:30
  • Purchases: 5