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Theron Brown Quartet Featuring Cliff Barnes. A glimpse of gospel, jazz, and soul from the great legends is what inspires the sound of pianist Theron Browns music. You will get more than just a glimpse of this, however, on this episode of the program. Because not only do we get Theron showing off his talents on the Piano and Fender Rhodes, but Northeast Ohio Legend Cliff Barnes joins Theron on the Hammond B3. Add in Akron based Trumpeter Tommy Lehman and James Johnson III on Drums and it is an unforgettable sold out performance. From July 18th, 2025, Daniel Peck is your host for the Theron Brown Quartet featuring Cliff Barnes…Live at the Bop Stop.
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Allegra Lev. I discovered jazz singer/songwriter Allegra Levy through her delightful, very hip, children’s CD, Songs for You and Me and went on to learn what others had known for years about this award-winning vocalist: that she is one of the most interesting, swinging, heartfelt young talents on the scene today. Allegra was named a Top 10 Rising Star among jazz vocalists in DownBeat’s 2021 Critics’ Poll. After banishing her husband, dog and two-year-old from the room, Allegra discussed the joys and challenges of a jazz life with me from her home in Manhattan in May 2023.
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Bevan Manson, Part 1. Pianist, composer Bevan Manson’s CD Talking to Trees, was inspired by his love of nature and his fears for it, as global warming continues to threaten our environment. Bevan grew up with a jazz musician father who played his great record collection for Bevan, as well as a healthy dose of classical music. Loving it all, Bevan ignored the pop music of his day, and instead, dove into piano lessons at seven, went on to study at Eastman School of Music, to teach at UC Berkeley, and eventually, to write for film and TV. Talking to Trees includes Bevan’s original compositions along with fresh takes on well-known classics, all honoring the importance of our natural environment. We had so much fun that I made this a two-part show!
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Dave Frank is one of the busiest solo jazz pianists and music educators on the scene today. He is the author of the best-selling Hal Leonard book and video series, Joy of Improv and Breakthrough to Improv, was an Associate Professor of piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston from 1987-2004, and was a co-founder of the New York School of Jazz. His involvement in the Dave Frank School of Jazz in New York is kind of self-evident, and his mastery of the piano will be evident very quickly. From September 26th, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for a solo piano performance from the great Dave Frank…Live at the Bop Stop.
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Aladdin Records, Part 2 - 1950-54. Part 2 in our 3-part series on Aladdin Records, one of the most important independent labels of the pre-rock era. Part 2 will pick up the Aladdin Records Story in 1950 and carry it through til rock n' roll began hitting the mainstream in 1953-54. This week, we'll hear more hits from Aladdin's early hit-makers, Amos Milburn and Charles Brown. We'll also dig some of the newcomers, like Floyd Dixon, Peppermint Harris, Calvin Boze, Shirley & Lee, the Five Keys and more. Aladdin was a rare label in that almost everything they pressed was worth hearing. If you ever see a discarded Aladdin 45 by an artist you've never heard before, pick it up, because chances are it'll make you very, very happy. Next week, part 3 will close down the series on Aladdin.
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Three Singers to Know Now. This week, a spotlight on three vocalists carving out sounds of their own. Mei Semones weaves bilingual, bossa-tinged songwriting rooted in her Japanese-American upbringing. Candice Hoyes channels memory, motherhood, and Black musical lineage into richly composed, genre-blurring original music. And pianist-vocalist Kelly Green pairs a standards-rooted vocal style with modern harmonic language
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Spin Cycle. Since 2014, contemporary jazz band Spin Cycle has been bringing their original music to clubs and concert halls across the US and Canada. Co-lead by Scott Neumann and Tom Christensen, the band highlights their flexibility, reach and capacity to surprise their audiences. On any given song, you might encounter the modal influence of John Coltrane, the second-line funk of New Orleans, or the edgy experimentation of free jazz. For this performance, they’re working the kinks out of new material before going into the studio in late 2026. Featuring Tom Christensen on Saxophone, Pete McCann on Guitar, Matt Pavolka on Bass and Scott Neuman on Drums, and from an October 5th, 2025 performance, Daniel Peck is your host for Spin Cycle… Live at the Bop Stop.