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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The impact of Blue Note Records' high-quality reissue program, the Tone Poet series, has caused another major Jazz library to be treated similarly....

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WMOT, RADIOLEX, WOUB, WLPR and more


  • Added: Jun 26, 2021
  • Length: 57:39
  • Purchases: 6
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Life is at best unpredictable. The good and unfortunately the bad, wax and wane throughout the journey of life. Nevertheless, the ever changing moo...

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


  • Added: Jun 19, 2021
  • Length: 57:43
  • Purchases: 8
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Human beings are complex creatures, how else could we explain the jazz idiom? Nevertheless, all of us at some time have found that interacting with...

Bought by WMOT, KJZX-Austin, RADIOLEX, WLPR , KHNS and more


  • Added: Jun 12, 2021
  • Length: 57:15
  • Purchases: 7
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Polyrhythms are a key component of the jazz construct. At times they are subtle, if not unnoticed. At others they are a bouncing and angular affair...

Bought by KJZX-Austin, WMOT, RADIOLEX, WOUB, WLPR and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2021
  • Length: 57:38
  • Purchases: 6
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Rhythm, in particular swing, is a fundamental component making up the musical endeavor we call Jazz. While there are plenty of examples of jazz tha...

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


  • Added: May 30, 2021
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 6
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The creative canvas on which jazz is painted is broad and draws from countless influences. While many might argue about what constitutes the classi...

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


  • Added: May 23, 2021
  • Length: 57:26
  • Purchases: 9
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California is a vast and dynamic place with most every habitat and climate known to man. It also continues to play a significant role in jazz histo...

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


  • Added: May 15, 2021
  • Length: 57:29
  • Purchases: 9
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The past year or so has proven very challenging in most every respect. As we approach the summer season this year, we are reaching the point where ...

Bought by KHNS, WMOT, KJZX-Austin, RADIOLEX, WLPR and more


  • Added: May 09, 2021
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 8
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Throughout life's journey at times, we can find ourselves in a happy go lucky, carefree mindset and groove. While this can seem to be an everlastin...

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


  • Added: May 02, 2021
  • Length: 57:38
  • Purchases: 9
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Throughout Jazz history we have witnessed musicians interpreting material that at times might have been considered outside their normal playbook. P...

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


  • Added: Apr 25, 2021
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 6
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Ever since the mid-twentieth century, jazz musicians have intermixed Afro-Cuban and Latin American sounds into the jazz idiom. In this hour we will...

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


  • Added: Apr 18, 2021
  • Length: 57:55
  • Purchases: 8
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What started as The American Songbook and later grew into the larger collection of Jazz Standards along with the big band each have a major influen...

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


  • Added: Apr 11, 2021
  • Length: 57:45
  • Purchases: 8
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The creative canvas on which jazz is painted is broad and draws from countless influences. While many might argue about constitutes the classic era...

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


  • Added: Apr 04, 2021
  • Length: 57:31
  • Purchases: 8
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Each jazz musician hones his/her craft during one stylistic era and some go on to participate in several others. Few, however, actually define new ...

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


  • Added: Mar 28, 2021
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
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This hour features ensembles that range in size from an extended combo through the full sized big band. Let's take a listen to the polyphonics that...

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


  • Added: Mar 20, 2021
  • Length: 56:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Jazz is an improvisational showcase where the stories take time to tell. But what if longer form recordings were never developed? This hour feature...

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


  • Added: Mar 13, 2021
  • Length: 56:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Throughout life there is one constant that is impossible to escape; at some point you will be waiting for someone or something to happen for longer...

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


  • Added: Mar 07, 2021
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Poetry and Jazz have much in common. One such Beat poet was Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who passed away a few days ago at the age of 101. In this hour, ...

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  • Added: Feb 28, 2021
  • Length: 57:48
  • Purchases: 9
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It's time once again to play the blues. This time we're going to explore the rich tapestry of sound derived from one part blues and one part jazz.

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


  • Added: Feb 20, 2021
  • Length: 57:15
  • Purchases: 7
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Sadly, another Jazz great has left us. Armando Anthony Corea, better known as Chick Corea passed away a few days ago from a rare form of cancer tha...

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


  • Added: Feb 14, 2021
  • Length: 57:57
  • Purchases: 8