Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired

Italian pianist is equally smitten with jazz of the Barry Harris/Tommy Flanagan era and the great stride pianists who came before them. Rossano Sportiello, while extensively trained in classical music, loves jazz and enjoys combining the two.

Drummer Dave Tull has provided rhythm for everyone from Chuck Magione and Michael Buble, to Jack Sheldon and Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane. While Dave has also occasionally sung a tune or two with these groups and others, he has recently focused on performing his own beautiful melodies and often hilarious lyrics. Dave is a favorite among jazz musicians, who relish his spot on laments of the sometimes ridiculous challenges jazz musicians face.

Singer/pianist Geoffrey Tozer talks about his kooky, fun-loving radio show â??The Sly Crooner of Swanktownâ?? and shares his thoughts on getting more swank in the world.

Pianist Bill Charlap (Part 2) discusses the influence his musician parents have had on his jazz and his continuing love for the Great American Standards.

Pianist Bill Charlap (Part 1) discusses the influence his musician parents have had on his jazz and his continuing love for the Great American Standards.

We revisit Judy's conversation from 2000 (one of her first for Jazz Inspired) with author and movie critic Leonard Maltin where he discusses his favorite jazz, his own piano playing and his four-hand duet with Judy on Entertainment Tonight.

We revisit Judy's conversation with the late, much-admired pianist John Bunch, where he discusses the changes in the jazz world throughout his long career, and his work with Tony Bennett, Benny Goodman and other jazz giants.

British film maker, Hannah Rothschild, explores the extraordinary life of her great-aunt Pannonica de Koenigswarter, (close friend of Thelonius Monk and other jazz greats) who supported bebop long before it was appreciated by the general public.

Brazilian cornetist Marcelo Teixeira Da Costa is the Artistic Director of Brazilâ??s largest jazz festival, the I LOVE JAZZ Festival, a celebration mounted in 3 different cities throughout the country, celebrating not the music of Jobim or other bassa or samba masters, but the classic American jazz of Louis Armstrong and other greats of the early years of jazz.

Jazz pianist Mark Shane discusses his work for movie soundtracks and playing with jazz greats Doc Cheatham, Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff and others.

We revisit my 2012 conversation with filmmaker/Director JP Lipa about his PBS Christmas specials â??Heirloom Mealsâ?? and his use of jazz throughout (including my appearance singing a swinging â??Winter Wonderlandâ??) and his backstage filming of Michael Jackson during preparation for Michaelâ??s last tour.

UPDATED 1/13/2018 - Voice actor/singer Rachael MacFarlane discusses her role as â??Haleyâ?? on American Dad and other characters on Family Guy, working with her brother Seth, and her debut jazz CD Haley Sings, celebrating her characterâ??s (and her own) love for jazz.

We revisit my conversation with magician, actor and side-show specialist Todd Robbins, one of the most unusual entertainers in the business. Todd discusses his musical work with Woody Allen, his passion for early jazz, and how he utilizes these interests in his magic shows.

Cabaret star Steve Ross was one of my early guests on Jazz Inspired and is not only a close pal but a frequent musical collaborator. We revisit this hilarious conversation (Steve's one of the funniest people I know) about his long career and how the greats, Cole Porter, Noel Coward and others, continue to inspire him.

We revisit my conversation with vocalist/saxophonist Curtis Stigers, where we discuss his former life as a pop musician (appearing on the soundtrack of "The Bodyguard") and contrast that to his present life as a jazz musician.

French singer Mina Agossi draws on opera, hip hop and jazz to create her unique approach to the Great American Songbook.

Author, educator and classical and jazz pianist Stuart Isacoff explains how the openness and improvisation of jazz has affected his writing and other creative endeavors.

"I think Iâ??m the only Chinese/American Big Band Leader in the country," says George Gee, and a more enthusiastic proponent of this music cannot be found. George discusses keeping this music alive and the great advice he got from his mentor Count Basie.

Trumpet man Wayne Bergeron is known for his amazing high notes and studio work, and making everyone else sound great. In Judy's 2007 discussion with Wayne he revealed what it was like to finally record under his own name and receive a Grammy nomination for his efforts.

Trombone virtuoso talks about the influence his trombone-playing father Bill Allred had on him growing up and what it takes to be a great player in every setting.