Pianist/composer/arranger Tamir Hendelman is known for his dynamic and sensitive approach at the piano and his imaginative arrangements for his trio and as a long-time member of the Jeff Hamilton Trio. He has performed and recorded with an array of vocalists, from Natalie Cole to Barbra Streisand, Roberta Gambarini to Tierney Sutton.This performance, however, is a solo program featuring interpretations of both standards and of his own compositions, including those of his most recent #1 Jazz Chart album Destinations.

Atlantic Records, Part 12 - 1957. Atlantic Records was the most influential, significant and important independent record label to come out of the late-1940s, during a time when there were many great, small indie labels being born. What gave Atlantic the advantage over Specialty, Chess, Modern, Vee-Jay, Exclusive, King, etc is the breadth of material, variety of music styles and the sheer number of hit records that led to the Rock n' Roll explosion of the mid-1950s. Matt The Cat and the "Juke In The Back" present this behemoth, 14-part series celebrating the first 10 years of Atlantic's existence: 1947-57. This week in part twelve, we wrap up the focus on the parent label, Atlantic by looking at its major releases from the end of 1956 through 1957. Chuck Willis scores the biggest hit of his career with his rendition of the traditional tune, "C. C. Rider," a little over a year before his untimely death. LaVern Baker sails to the top of the chart as "Jim Dandy" crosses over into the Pop Chart, extending its mass appeal as Rock n' Roll becomes mainstream Pop Music. Atlantic takes advantage of Rock's mainstream appeal and begins to smooth out its rough R&B sound for a more poppy approach. Ray Charles continues to develop his sound, scoring more hits and even crossing over to Pop himself with his reinterpretation of Stephen Foster's whimsical look at slavery. The Bobbettes, Drifters and Penguins add some fantastic vocal group records to round out part twelve. Next week, we'll begin looking at Atlantic's successful subsidiary labels. So, buckle in and prepare yourself for an in-depth, 14 part look at the history of Atlantic Records, which could also be described as a look at the history of American Music itself.

Legendary drummer and NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart turns 85 this month. From his early days in Washington, D.C., with Shirley Horn and Jimmy Smith to his groundbreaking years in Herbie Hancock’s visionary Mwandishi band and his own acclaimed quartet, Hart’s story is one of boundless rhythm, curiosity, and groove.

The Bridge: Sonny Rollins On RCA 1962-1964, Part 2. Part 2 features saxophone giant Sonny Rollins in the company of Don Cherry, Billy Higgins, Coleman Hawkins, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall and more.

I first experienced the artistry of ballet dancer/choreographer, Tom Gold at the premiere of his French Cinema-inspired piece, Le Voyage in April 2025 in Manhattan. Although Tom was a twenty-one-year member of New York City Ballet and the founder/director of his own company since 2008, I was new to his work. Imagine my delight when the music accompanying the dancing was jazz performed by vocalist Olivia Chindamo, pianist Matthew Sheens with bassist Marty Jaffe. Tom Gold is a life-long jazz lover and feels the improvisational aspect and rhythmic feel of jazz have always touched something deep inside him and influenced his approach to dance and life.

Pittsburgh based bassist Eli Naragon has toured and worked with some of the biggest names in jazz including Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart and Roger Humphries. He pays tribute to all of them on his 2022 debut album Homage, and he graced our stage on tour in support of that album in this December 28th, 2022 performance. Backed by some of Northeast Ohio’s best musicians including Chris Coles on saxophone, Tommy Lehman on trumpet, Zaire Darden on drums and Theron Brown on piano, Daniel Peck is your host for Eli Naragon – Live at the Bop Stop.

Atlantic Records, Part 13 - ATCO Records. Atlantic Records was the most influential, significant and important independent record label to come out of the late-1940s, during a time when there were many great, small indie labels being born. What gave Atlantic the advantage over Specialty, Chess, Modern, Vee-Jay, Exclusive, King, etc is the breadth of material, variety of music styles and the sheer number of hit records that led to the Rock n' Roll explosion of the mid-1950s. The presentation of this behemoth, 14-part series celebrates the first 10 years of Atlantic's existence: 1947-57. This week, part thirteen focuses on Atlantic's most successful subsidiary label, ATCO Records. When Atlantic co-founder, Herb Abramson returned from his military duty in 1955, he found a very different company that had continued to grow without him. His partner, Ahmet Ertegun suggested starting a subsidiary that would be fully managed by Abramson and so ATCO was born. ATCO originally focused more on vocal groups than its parent company had. The first national hit for the label was by The Sensations, a Philly group that featured Yvonne Mills on lead. The Royal Jokers, The Pearls, The Castelles and The Ray-O-Vacs also released singles on ATCO, but by far the biggest vocal group on the label was The Coasters. They came over in a big deal that Atlantic struck with songwriter/producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Atlantic would buy Leiber/Stoller's Spark records and take on the two of them as staff songwriters/producers. Some of their signed artists were also included in the deal and that's what brought Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn of the Robins over to Atlantic to form a new group called The Coasters. They scored ATCO's first #1 record with "Searchin'." So, buckle in and prepare yourself for an in-depth look at the history of ATCO Records.

Banjo, harp, and drums, three instruments rarely found in the same band. Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, and Antonio Sánchez turn that unlikely combination into something vibrant and deeply musical, finding shared rhythm and shape in spontaneous conversation. The episode also returns to Fleck and Castañeda’s first duet in 2019, when the idea for this trio first came to life.

Coming Soon.

Vocalist Samara Joy burst onto the scene in 2019 when she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and went on to win two Grammy awards in 2023 for best new artist and best jazz vocal album for her CD, Linger Awhile. Since I talked to her in August 2023, she has gone on to win two additional Grammys. As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we’re revisiting that early conversation with Samara, when her fame and career were just getting started.