The hottest Jazz Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Live Music Event That Changed My Life

The Honest Broker • 15825 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. A single live performance can instantly reveal a life-changing passion and point someone toward their true vocation. It can feel like everything in life led up to that one moment.
  2. The immediacy of live jazz — close quarters, improvisation, and subtle musician interactions — creates unique, unrepeatable experiences that recordings can’t fully capture. Those in-the-moment events are often the real heart of the music.
  3. A transformative musical experience can trigger intense practice and dedication, leading to real skill development and professional opportunities. Even if a performing career later ends, the direction and meaning given by that moment endure.

My Warning About AI Music from 1988

The Honest Broker • 14029 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Human imperfections are central to artistic expression; mistakes and rough edges can make music more expressive and emotionally powerful.
  2. Art is an expressive human activity, so works produced by machines—even if technically flawless—are categorically different from human-created masterpieces and lack the same expressive meaning.
  3. AI that closely imitates human creativity can feel unsettling, and this gap between human artistry and machine imitation can’t be bridged merely by better algorithms.

My Favorite Music for Meditation

The Honest Broker • 7812 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Giving up screen time to make room for regular meditation can cut through digital noise and bring noticeable calm and clarity.
  2. Including music in meditation can deepen the practice, helping create trance-like or "oceanic" feelings of unity and peace.
  3. Long, immersive recordings—such as John Luther Adams' Become Ocean or Miles Davis' In a Silent Way—are especially effective soundtracks for meditation.

I Blame Jan Garbarek

The Honest Broker • 14162 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Jan Garbarek helped create a distinct European jazz identity with a cool, spacious "ECM" sound that stood apart from American jazz and let European artists flourish at home.
  2. He started out steeped in U.S. models like Coltrane but evolved into his own voice, moving from fiery post‑bop to a haunting, minimalist saxophone style.
  3. Garbarek and producer Manfred Eicher championed bold cross‑cultural collaborations that blurred jazz with world, folk, and early music, expanding what jazz could be.

Four Perspectives on Bing Crosby

The Honest Broker • 17853 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. His singing had a powerful, real-world effect for troops in WWII. It comforted and softened soldiers, showing how popular music can sustain humanity in extreme times.
  2. He was musically adaptable and unflappable, effortlessly navigating advanced jazz changes and staying cool when playing with younger, avant-garde musicians.
  3. He influenced technology and teamwork by funding tape recording innovations that helped launch later data storage advances, and by modeling long-lasting, ego-free partnerships like his friendship and films with Bob Hope.
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An Introduction to Stan Getz in 10 Tracks

The Honest Broker • 7413 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. He’s best known for his bossa nova crossover hits like “The Girl from Ipanema,” and he even won a Grammy for the Getz/Gilberto album.
  2. Most listeners only hear the radio hits, but his discography contains many lesser-known recordings that reveal a much wider range and artistic evolution.
  3. Specific tracks show his depth: his reverent performance of “Blood Count” demonstrates emotional maturity, while the string‑arranged Focus project highlights his tone and willingness to explore unusual formats.

Will West Coast Jazz Finally Get Some Respect?

The Honest Broker • 8610 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. West Coast jazz was historically marginalized and often dismissed by the jazz establishment, even when its musicians had significant success. Those players deserve recognition as an important part of jazz history.
  2. A new documentary project aims to tell the definitive story of West Coast jazz but is struggling for funding and public attention. People can help by donating, sharing the project, or otherwise spreading the word.
  3. Many West Coast musicians were forgotten, lived in poverty, and efforts to preserve their oral histories have been underfunded. Grassroots advocacy and financial support are needed to rescue and celebrate their legacy.

The 100 Best Recordings of 2025 (Part 1 of 2)

The Honest Broker • 6582 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. The author curated a top 100 list of the best recordings of 2025 after listening to over a thousand new releases, aiming to highlight the year’s standout music.
  2. The first 50 titles are published in alphabetical order and showcase a wide, global mix of genres and lesser-known artists, with links so readers can sample the music.
  3. Full access and archives are behind a subscription, with an option to support the work for $6/month and a 7-day free trial.

The 100 Best Recordings of 2025 (Part 2 of 2)

The Honest Broker • 4953 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. A wide-ranging, alphabetical survey of the year’s best recordings that deliberately covers all genres, styles, and regions.
  2. The list spotlights many lesser-known artists and cross-border collaborations, emphasizing fresh, boundary-crossing sounds rather than mainstream hits.
  3. It includes direct links to sample music, mixes new releases with archival or rare material, and encourages subscribing for full access to the complete list.

A New ’Joy‘ in Jazz

Steady • 13994 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Samara Joy is a rising star in the world of jazz music.
  2. She has a unique style that blends classic jazz with gospel influences.
  3. Joy is using her social media presence to introduce jazz to a younger audience.

How Lalo Schifrin Composed the Mission Impossible Theme Song

The Honest Broker • 12700 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Lalo Schifrin created the famous 'Mission Impossible' theme by using Morse code from its initials. The rhythm of the song reflects the Morse code for M and I, giving it a unique pattern.
  2. Schifrin's theme has become iconic over the years, even though it didn't top charts when first released. Its exciting sound has kept audiences engaged in the movies for nearly sixty years.
  3. Themes for heroes in movies have lasting power, often outliving the actors and stories themselves. The 'Mission Impossible' theme is a perfect example of this enduring appeal.

John Coltrane's Love Is Still Supreme at Age 60

The Honest Broker • 20113 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. John Coltrane was incredibly busy in 1964, recording a lot of music and practicing hard. He often practiced so much that fans would overhear him in unusual places, showing his deep commitment to music.
  2. Coltrane's album 'A Love Supreme' was more than just music; it was a gift to God and a spiritual journey for him. The album's liner notes expressed his devotion, which was quite rare in jazz at the time.
  3. Even decades after its release, 'A Love Supreme' remains influential in jazz music. Many modern musicians still draw inspiration from Coltrane's style, showing that his music continues to resonate with new generations.

When Louis Armstrong Conquered Chicago

The Honest Broker • 12035 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Louis Armstrong changed American music by creating new rhythms and melodies that had never been heard before. His unique trumpet playing and singing style influenced countless artists.
  2. Ricky Riccardi has been studying Louis Armstrong for years and has written a detailed biography telling Armstrong's life story in three parts. This highlights both Armstrong's early struggles and his rise to fame.
  3. Armstrong's move to Chicago was a significant turning point in his career. He felt nervous at first, but once he started playing music, his confidence grew, showing how talent can shine through even initial doubts.

Composing 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'

Animation Obsessive • 13095 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Jazz
  1. The music of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' by Vince Guaraldi became a key part of what makes the special so beloved. Many people love this Christmas classic mainly because of its wonderful soundtrack.
  2. Guaraldi wasn't widely known when he composed the score, and he thought it was just another gig. Yet, this music changed his career and became defining for the 'Peanuts' series.
  3. The show faced tight deadlines and a small budget, which made the team worried it would flop. Surprisingly, it became a big success and has remained a holiday favorite for years.

10 Great Vince Guaraldi Tracks NOT from Charlie Brown TV Shows

The Honest Broker • 7812 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Vinciin,??,rﾌ!???d??h,rr??t?j&??C??h??,p???H?????c?o???L??_r?c_?b?p?d???t?r?j_w?_Y???tM??@H??Y?
  2. V?nh????????f,??oh?C%B??y???????,t??t?dV?=G????BM????B??????d?Bhn?????d_no?t?H???kbo_????K??C??ND?Y?A_w??d?d??d??:??_`??????????Gf??_D???F??w?or??wL?
  3. G??_??????G??B??tH?N_????Go?C_????_?_?@??@P?__??t????:U??G??H??_????n???d_f?B??:???_d??????b?_p??'dg????_??d?_K??B?_y??h:CFo??k??H__g??NJ???Y?

How Miles Davis Hired John Coltrane

The Honest Broker • 8710 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Miles Davis hired John Coltrane out of necessity, as his band needed a saxophonist for an upcoming tour.
  2. John Coltrane's musical talent and knowledge of Miles Davis's repertoire impressed during tryouts, leading to his eventual hiring.
  3. Their initial interactions were characterized by Miles Davis's aloofness and Coltrane's uncertainty, but despite difficulties, Coltrane eventually joined Davis's band.

In Search of Dupree Bolton

The Honest Broker • 8245 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Dupree Bolton was a mysterious and talented jazz trumpeter who emerged suddenly on the West Coast jazz scene in the 1950s, made recordings marked by his unique style, but then disappeared abruptly.
  2. Despite his brief career, Dupree Bolton left a lasting impact with his remarkable trumpet playing on records like 'The Fox' and 'Katanga!' alongside saxophonist Curtis Amy.
  3. Researcher Ted Gioia tracked down Dupree Bolton years later in San Francisco, where the musician was playing on the streets, revealing a complex and troubled life story that included struggles with drugs and internal conflict.

"This Is a Hell of a Statement I'm About to Make—But He Superseded Miles"

The Honest Broker • 7846 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Spotify is facing challenges with fake artists, playlists, and financial losses, raising concerns about the music streaming service's business model.
  2. The shift from macroculture to microculture is evident in the media industry, with traditional legacy outlets experiencing layoffs while alternative platforms like Substack thrive.
  3. There is a trend towards investment firms buying song catalogs, the decline of live music reviews in mainstream media, and interest in the transformative power of sound highlighted through the work of Hans Jenny in 'Cymatics'.

Miles Davis

Flow State • 569 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Miles Davis was an American trumpeter and composer known for his 'cool jazz' sound
  2. Davis incorporated funk, rock, and electronic styles into his music in the 70s
  3. One of Davis's notable albums, 'Agharta', captured a live performance in Japan

The 2025 Jazz Recs Edition

Why is this interesting? • 482 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Jazz is experiencing a really exciting time right now, unlike any we've seen in the last 40 years.
  2. There are some new albums out that show how diverse and talented jazz music has become.
  3. Checking out these recent releases can help you understand the current state of jazz and its fresh talent.

THE MIND OF SONNY ROLLINS

The Nelson George Mixtape • 452 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Sonny Rollins was obsessed with study and rehearsal, enjoying practice more than performing for an audience.
  2. Sonny Rollins' music and philosophy were influenced by Buddhism, yoga, and the streets of New York.
  3. To learn more about Sonny Rollins, recommended readings include 'Saxophone Colossus' by Aidan Levy.

Hiromi

Flow State • 275 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Hiromi is a talented Japanese pianist, composer, and bandleader.
  2. She moved to the U.S. to study at Berklee and caught the attention of Ahmad Jamal.
  3. Check out her albums Spectrum and Duet for a mix of blues, jazz, pop, and classical music.

MacArthur Park — that 7½-minute "cake out in the rain" song that mesmerized us

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 119 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. The song 'MacArthur Park' tells a story about losing true love and the deep emotions connected to that loss. It's a journey of heartache that many can relate to.
  2. There are famous versions of the song by Richard Harris, Donna Summer, and Maynard Ferguson, each bringing a different vibe, from emotional ballad to upbeat disco.
  3. The lyrics are both literal and symbolic, with imagery that represents beauty lost, like a cake left out in the rain, and the songwriter wanted to capture that feeling in both music and words.

Wayne Shorter

Flow State • 452 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Wayne Shorter was an American saxophonist known for his legendary experimentalism in jazz music.
  2. He was part of Miles Davis's second quintet and co-led Weather Report.
  3. Shorter's passing was acknowledged, and a 2011 compilation of his Blue Note Records tracks is recommended for listening.

Jazz and confrontation

Expanding Dan • 432 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. In 1977, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen showcased their jazz influences on a radio program
  2. Becker and Fagen engaged in confrontational and humorous banter during the broadcast
  3. The interview highlighted the duo's wit and humor, even in the face of criticism