Jazz Inspired

Bassist Jay Leonhart starting playing multiple instruments as a child and by his early teens had his own TV show with his banjo-playing brother Bill. Leonhart eventually found his home on the bass, but kept the variety going with collaborations with everyone from Judy Garland and Carly Simon to Sinatra and Sting.

Pianist/singer Champian Fulton talks about the advantages of starting a music career outside of L.A. or NY and how her fatherâ??s taste in music has influenced her since before her birth. Hint: He held headphones up to her mamaâ??s baby bump. Baby Bud Powell, anyone?

Jazz pianist/vocalist Larry King discusses his many musical influences from Bill Evans to Ella Fitzgerald and how living and working in Paris has enhanced his creativity.

Judy talks with vocalist Maud Hixson about her new CD â??Donâ??t Let A Good Thing Get Awayâ?? and its focus on the compositions on Mickey Leonard.

Multi-Emmy and Grammy winner, composer/pianist Mike Renzi discusses his work as Music Director for Sesame Street, Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee, Liza and numerous others and reveals what continues to thrill and inspire him about jazz.

Trumpeter Duke Heitger isnâ??t a native New Orleanean, but has lived there many years and talked with Judy about the challenges and advantages of a career in this most musical of cities, when you arenâ??t a native. Recorded onstage at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

The comedian Chevy Chase talks about Jazz and comedy and his own â??Bill Evansâ?? influenced piano playing.

Judy Carmichael interviews Roy Scheider.

Celebrated stage and film director Roger Michell loves emotion. Whether directing Shakespeare on stage or television comedy, an edgy, intense film like â??Changing Lanesâ??, or the romantic comedy â??Notting Hillâ??, emotional truth is his focus. Roger Michell discusses his jazz-love and using Miles Davis in everything film or stage production he can!

Tony Award winning director/lyricist Richard Maltby discusses his Fats Waller inspired play â??Ainâ??t Misbehavinâ??â??, his screenwriting, and how jazz influences everything he creates.

German boogie-woogie pianist Axel Zwingenberger and American vocalist Lila Ammons (opera singer and granddaughter of pianist Albert and niece of saxophonist Gene) talk about working together, in spite of their very different cultural and musical backgrounds.

Catherine has enjoyed a long career as a back up singer with everyone from David Bowie to Jackson Browne but is now focusing on the music of her father, Luis Russell, who was music director for Louis Armstrong and led his own bands in the 20â?²s and 30â?²s. Catherine discusses her love of New Orleans music and early jazz and what it means to come to this music at this stage of her career.

Guitarist/vocalist Matt Munisteri talks about drawing on jazz and western swing for his unique approach to playing and composing.

We revisit Judyâ??s conversation with the late Skitch Henderson about his Hollywood years with Bing Crosby and Sinatra and his long career with the NBC Orchestra and the Tonight Show.

Pianist Conal Fowkes discusses his long participation in Woody Allenâ??s jazz band and his recent part doing the vocals and piano work of the Cole Porter character in Woodyâ??s film Midnight in Paris.