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About The Bridge

The Bridge features classic jazz recordings, new releases, local musicians and interviews with the people who make jazz exciting.

Joel HurdHost
Joel Hurd
:

It all started with public radio. Growing up 50 miles west of Boston I would tune in to WGBH-FM every night to hear Eric in the Evening with Eric Jackson. His voice was (and still is) amazing and the music he played gave my 12-year-old ears a thrill that exists to this day.

That was right around the time that I started playing guitar. So the Miles, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Coltrane, Bill Evans and Duke Ellington that Eric was playing got mixed in my brain with Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Robben Ford, Mike Stern, Steve Morse and Scott Henderson. The result is how I hear the music today.

On The Bridge you won't hear screaming guitars or drum machines, but you will hear a program that embraces the new sounds of jazz and celebrates the classics that have shaped those sounds. We'll also play a cut or two from a classic piece of vinyl from the NCPR jazz collection and usually spend a few minutes chatting with an artist about a new release or upcoming concert.

As with all of our programs, your input is welcomed and encouraged. Please drop me an email and let me know what you think. E-mail Joel

 

The Bridge with Joel Hurd

The Bridge with Joel Hurd airs
Saturdays
from 9-10 pm.

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The Bridge (latest edition)
The best in jazz each week. Here's your place to listen to the latest edition of The Bridge, hosted by Joel Hurd, anytime you want. This edition will be available until next edition is posted. (updates Sunday at 3 am)
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 Recent Jazz Interviews on The Bridge
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Singer Shirley Crabbe releases her debut CD, "Home".
Shirley Crabbe's new CD,
Shirley Crabbe's new CD, "Home"
(02/04/12) Jazz singer Shirley Crabbe's new CD, "Home" is getting rave reviews and lots of national attention. She joined Joel Hurd on The Bridge (via Skype from her home near NYC) to talk about the new disc, growing up in a musical family, and a vocal cord injury that nearly ended her singing career before it ever even started.

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Singer Alan Leatherman makes a strong debut with "Detour Ahead"
(10/22/11) Alan Leatherman's new CD, Detour Ahead, is a very appealing, yet simple, celebration of songs that fit the theme, "The Blues In Love". It's Joel Hurd's favorite CD release of 2011. Alan talked about it with Joel on The Bridge.

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Potsdam native Paul Meyers releases new CD
Paul Meyers
Paul Meyers
(08/06/11) Guitarist Paul Meyers grew up in Potsdam and now lives in the New York City area. He's a fixture on the Brazilian jazz scene in the city, teaches at two colleges, and is the longtime guitarist for legendary singer Jon Hendricks. Paul's latest CD, recorded here in the North Country, is called Welcome Home. He talked about it with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.

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Guitarist Frank Vignola to play in Norwood
Frank Vignola
Frank Vignola
(07/09/11) Frank Vignola is one of the busiest guitarists on the jazz scene today. His versatility, showmanship, and blistering technique have made him a favorite around the world. Later this week he and his trio will play the Norwood Village Green Concert Series. He talked about his music with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.

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Preview: Kingston Jazz Festival
(06/23/11) The Kingston Jazz Festival takes place today through Saturday with five headlining performances and other jazz activities around the city. Recently Joel Hurd spoke with Brian McCurdy, the cultural director for the City of Kingston, Ontario, to find out more.

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Preview: Burlington Jazz Festival starts Friday
(05/31/11) The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival kicks off this Friday at various venues around Burlington, and this year features more music than ever before. Joel Hurd spoke with the festival's Managing Director Brian Mital.

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Guitarist Steve Khan's new CD, Parting Shot, is a celebration of Latin Jazz
(05/14/11) Guitarist Steve Khan has always used Latin rhythms on his CDs, but the new CD, Parting Shot, is a full-out Latin Jazz effort from this veteran jazz guitarist. he talked about the new CD and more with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.

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Guitarist Julian Lage mixes many musical styles on the new CD "Gladwell"
Julian Lage (courtesy julianlage.com)
Julian Lage (courtesy julianlage.com)
(05/07/11) At age 23 Julian Lage has just released the followup to his Grammy-nominated 2009 debut CD, "Sounding Point". Without any lyrics, "Gladwell" tells the story of an imaginary and forgotten town through music. He talked about the new CD and lots more with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.

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Local pianist/composer Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius releases new CD, Karibu
Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Heard
Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Heard
(04/30/11) Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius, who grew up on the southern edge of the North Country in Queensbury has a new CD called Karibu. She talked about the new disc, and her very talented band which she calls Heard, with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.

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Piano legend Monty Alexander featured on "The Bridge"
Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander
(04/02/11) Jamaica-born Monty Alexander is widely regarded as one of the best pianists in the history of jazz. He's celebrating 50 years as a professional musician with a new live CD, "Uplift", and he talked about the CD and his career with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.

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Joel's Jazz Links

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
Joel's Jazz Performer Picks
The brilliant and nimble guitarist reinvents the songs of John Lennon at the NPR Music offices.
 
One of the world's foremost jazz trumpeters delights with two masterful performances of time-honored standards.
 
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, the pianist has earned a reputation as a ferocious jazz player — and lately, as a classical stylist, too. Camilo performs originals, classics and selections from across the Afro-Latin...
 
The late Paul Motian plays drums on this set from the Village Vanguard, his favorite room.
 
The jazz bassist says there's nothing more illuminating than improvisation. His newest album, <em>Come Sunday</em>, is a collaboration with the late pianist Hank Jones.
 
Full of stutter steps and snare claps, power chords and low end, Iyer's group turns new lenses on jazz's big-picture history. Hear a live performance, recorded at the 2012 NYC Winter Jazzfest.
 
Sheila Jordan, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Jimmy Owens and Von Freeman are honored. Watch live.
 
The Hot Club of Detroit is a jazz quintet that takes its inspiration from the legendary Gypsy-jazz juggernaut the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Guitarist Evan Perry follows in the footsteps of Hot Club originator Django Reinhardt, and he leads...
 


Finding Music

You can find or special order any of the music heard on this program from local music stores, including:
Northern Music & Video, Potsdam: 315-265-8100
Strawberry Fields, Potsdam: 315-265-7700
Ampersound, Saranac Lake:
518-891-3114
Peacock Music, Plattsburgh:
518-561-0555