October 4, 2024
The Bob Dylan Songbook
This week, vocal jazz interpretations of Bob Dylan songs, including Dylan covers by Nina Simone, Kurt Elling, Madeleine Peyroux and more.
September 27, 2024
Songs Of The Season: Autumn
The leaves are changing from green to red, the air outside is brisk and cool, and that means it’s time to look at autumn songs from the Great American Songbook.
September 13, 2024
The Great American Songbook’s One-Hit Wonders
Not every composer had the extensive catalog of George Gershwin or Irving Berlin. This week, we’ll explore songwriters like Ann Ronell, Brooks Bowman, and Erroll Garner whose songbooks contain only one hit song.
September 6, 2024
The Artistry Of Stephen Sondheim
This week, we remember the artistry of American songwriter Stephen Sondheim, and his many contributions to the American songbook, like “Small World,” “Send In The Clowns,” and more. Sondheim passed away last November at age 91.
August 30, 2024
Miss D On Mercury
A look at singer Dinah Washington, and her years recording for the Mercury record label in the 1940s and 50s.
August 23, 2024
Live Ella!
Beginning in the 1950s, Ella Fitzgerald became known around the world as one of the most renowned live performers in jazz. This week, we’ll sample from some of her best live sets in places like Berlin, Juan-Les-Pins, and the Hollywood Bowl.
August 16, 2024
Lucky To Be Me: The Songs Comden and Green
We explore the musical partnership of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, two songwriters who contributed gems like “Just In Time” and “The Party’s Over” to the American Songbook.
August 9, 2024
If I Loved You: Conditional Love Songs
The “conditional love song” became a staple of musical theater in its golden age, and this week, we’ll listen to jazz interpretations of these songs, as well as other songs with “if” in the title and more “hypothetical” tunes.
August 2, 2024
A Jazz Date With Chris Connor
This week, we celebrate the smoky voice of jazz singer Chris Connor, who got her start with Claude Thornhill’s band in the 1940s, and went on to record some of the best cool jazz vocal records of the 1950s.
July 26, 2024
The Songs Of Donaldson And Kahn
Before Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, there was Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn. This week, we’ll explore the songs of these early songwriters, including “Makin’ Whoopee,” “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” and “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby.”
July 19, 2024
Come Dance With Me: Songs About Dancing
Put on your dancing shoes as we cut a rug with the American Songbook. On this episode, we look at jazz standards meant for dancing, including “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Cheek To Cheek.”
July 12, 2024
Songs In The French Style
This week on Afterglow, we turn to the music of Paris, and hear songs written "dans la mode française" performed by Madeleine Peyroux, Dean Martin, Blossom Dearie, and more.
July 5, 2024
An All-American Road Trip
A road trip to different U.S. states, with songs like "Georgia On My Mind," "I Been Down In Texas," "Mississippi Mud," and "Massachusetts."
June 28, 2024
Let’s Get Away From It All: Songs About Traveling
We’re living life among the jet set this week on Afterglow, as we explore songs about traveling from the Great American Songbook, including “Come Fly With Me,” “Travelin’ Light,” and "It's Nice to Go Trav'ling."
June 21, 2024
Songs Of The Season: Summer
This week, I’ll be bringing you our traditional songs of the season, like "Summer Wind," "Summertime," and "Too Darn Hot."
June 14, 2024
The American Songbook’s “I Want” Songs
We explore wants and desires this week, hearing “I Want” songs from the American Songbook, including “I Want To Be Happy,” “Whatever Lola Wants,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.”
June 7, 2024
Judy At The Movies
2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the film studio MGM, so this week, we’re celebrating one of MGM’s biggest stars: Judy Garland! We’ll take a closer look at her singing work on film, from The Wizard Of Oz to A Star Is Born.
May 31, 2024
The Songs Of 1924
Our 1920s retrospective concludes this week with a look at songs from 100 years ago: 1924. We’ll hear some songs from this year that have resonated over the century, including “Fascinating Rhythm,” “Tea For Two,” and “I’ll See You In My Dreams.”
