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The fifth Hot Box includes the charming album MIQ plays MJQ, highlighting an Irish quartet that included Tony Micelo on vibes. Also check out the debut album by progressive group CEO Experiment, underlining the lively international jazz scene in Ireland. Also featured are tracks by recent visitors to Ireland, Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd and the Hot Club of Cowtown.
Jazz Ireland releases the fourth edition of The Hot Box, hosted by veteran jazz presenter Donald Helme. The show includes new releases from Resonance Records, previously unreleased gems by Bill Evans, Stan Getz and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. All pristine and excellent recordings. The Bill Evans double album was recorded in Germany just days after the trio recorded their “Live at Montreux” album. The show also includes vocal jazz from Emilie Conway, Carmel McCreagh and Renée Marie.
The Hot Box 003 is a guitar parade, put together in honour of JJ Smyth’s jazz venue, and their legendary “Guitar Nights” which are now looking like things of the past following the sale of the pub this autumn. The Hot Box honours some of the finest Irish guitarists, including Tommy Halferty, Mike Nielsen and Hugh Buckley. You’ll also hear tracks from Jon Scofield’s new album “Country for Old Men”, from Frank Vignola and Bill Frisell among others.
In the second issue we wanted to pay personal tribute to the great Irish musician Louis Stewart who died recently. I feel that whilst musicians around the world recognised Louis’ brilliance, the listening public in Ireland never really appreciated the talent in their midst, excepting a few dedicated guitar fans. The 90 minute show gives us a musical insight and included rare material with the Tubby Hayes band as well as an extraordinary recording with the late drummer John Wadham.
Welcome to the very first issue of The Hot box. In this issue you will hear the young Cleveland-based trumpeter Dominick Farrinacci, tracks from Irish drummer Kevin Brady and his trio, Irish singer Stella Bass, and the new American piano virtuoso Sullivan Fortner amongst many others. Show lasts one hour.
The Hot Box is a new radio show coming to you from www.jazzireland.ie, and presented by Donald Helme. The show focusses on setting the best of Irish jazz within the international language to which it belongs. The focus is on enjoyability, and will doubtless evolve as it goes on.
Donald Helme presented Jazz Alley on RTE Lyric fm from the station’s first week on air, each week for the following 17 years, when the show was axed, leaving a large gap in representation of jazz on the national airwaves.
The great jazz legend Louis Stewart has passed away at the age of 72. Louis will not only be remembered for his incredible career in jazz but also as an inspiration for future jazz musicians and of course his rapier wit. I thought it would be nice to put together a collection of some of the things people had to say about Louis.