The Bridge with Joel Hurd
on:

NCPR is supported by:

Playlists from The Bridge

Recent Playlists

Find all The Bridge playlists


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 Hurdsays:

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 on Facebook




Joel's Jazz Links

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
Joel's Jazz Performer Picks
On <em></em><em>Spirityouall</em>, McFerrin performs classic black spirituals with roots in enslaved communities, as well as songs he composed himself. Throughout the album, he says, he hears the influence of his father,...
 
Ever since he started becoming one of the best alto saxophone players in the world, Zenón has drawn from his upbringing in Puerto Rico. But, like many Puerto Ricans, Zenón lives in New York — where his quartet of 10 years has finally been...
 
This week on <em>Alt.Latino</em>, the Guatemalan author joins us to discuss his latest book, <em>The Polish Boxer</em>. Hear a conversation about Guatemala, Judaism in Latin America and, of course, music.
 
Saxophonist Phil Woods is a true master of all things bop. He's been one of the top alto players since his debut in the mid-1950s, and he's been called the musical heir to Charlie Parker. In this session from 2003, Woods joins host Marian...
 
On opening night at San Francisco's newly constructed, free-standing building designed for and dedicated to jazz, fans filled the stunning Robert N. Miner Auditorium at the SFJAZZ Center for a maiden voyage and festive concert.
 
The ever-evolving Pat Metheny constantly experiments with new technology, honing his improvisational skills and refining his unique style. On this episode of <em>Piano Jazz</em>, Pat Metheny performs with bassist Christian McBride and...
 
Bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding has taken the jazz world by storm with her grooving bass lines and her neo-soul vocals. Here, she shows off her talent on Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun" and sings a song that seems to sum up her...
 
The Monterey Jazz Festival is celebrating 55 years of swinging with a coastal California vibe. An all-star sextet is crossing the country, advancing the festival's mission: to create and support jazz education and performance programs....
 


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
Ampersound, Saranac Lake:
518-891-3114
Peacock Music, Plattsburgh:
518-561-0555

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

Listen to the 05/18/13 edition of The Bridge with Joel Hurd

Play in NCPR's online media player
Play in your desktop media player
 Recent Jazz Interviews on The Bridge
Show             

Saxophonist Tim Green reveals life's many seasons in an outstanding debut CD

Baltimore native Tim Green's debut CD, Songs From This Season, showcases writing and playing way beyond his 30 years. Joel Hurd thinks it's the best CD he has heard in at least a year, and he talked with Tim Green about it on The Bridge.  Go to full article

Terri Lyne Carrington brings her Grammy winning Mosaic Project to Potsdam

Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington will bring a stellar band to Potsdam, NY on February 22, 2013 as part of the Community Performance Series. She talked to Joel Hurd about the group, teaching jazz to young people, and winning the 2012 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.  Go to full article
Reggie Quinerly
Reggie Quinerly

Hometown history inspires drummer Reggie Quinerly for his debut CD

Drummer Reggie Quinerly's debut CD, "Music Inspired by Freedmantown" pays tribute to the neighborhood in Houston, TX that was founded by freed slaves. He talked about it with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article
Renee Yoxon and Mark Ferguson
Renee Yoxon and Mark Ferguson

Ottawa Singer Renee Yoxon partners with pianist Mark Ferguson for second CD

Renee Yoxon's ambitious new CD is a collaboration with Ottawa pianist/composer Mark Ferguson and features all original tunes with some of the finest jazz musicians from Ottawa and Montreal. She talked about it with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article

Pianist Jamie Reynolds produces a stunning debut with "Time With People"

Brooklyn-based Canadian pianist Jamie Reynolds first came to our attention as the pianist for his wife, singer Melissa Stylianou. His debut CD, "Time With People" shows strong compositional ideas, brilliant playing, and a refreshing approach to music and life. He talked about it with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article
Dennis Mackrel
Dennis Mackrel

Count Basie Orchestra to play Brockville, Ontario Arts Centre

The Count Basie Orchestra is still swinging and they'll be playing the Brockville, Ontario Arts Centre on November 3. The band's director, Dennis Mackrel, previewed the concert with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article
Taylor Haskins
Taylor Haskins

Trumpeter Taylor Haskins adapting nicely to life in the North Country

Grammy Award winning trumpeter Taylor Haskins has lived in the North Country since November, 2010. After years in New York City, the New Hampshire native now feels right at home here. He talked with Joel Hurd about life as a jazz musician in the Champlain Valley, and previews his August 19, 2012 concert at the Lake Placid Center For The Arts, which will be a benefit for the Lakeside School in Essex, NY.  Go to full article

Trumpet great Wayne Bergeron to play with All Star Big Band directed by Wally Siebel

The All Star Big Band directed by Wally Siebel plays it's annual concerts in Norwood, NY and Potsdam, NY next week, and they'll be joined by the busiest trumpeter on the L.A. studio scene, Wayne Bergeron. Wayne talked with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article

TD Ottawa International Jazz Fest welcomes hundreds of musicians to Canada's capital

This year's TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival will feature over 120 concerts and over 800 artists. Petr Cancura is the Programming Director for the festival and he's in charge of determining who those artists are and where they'll be playing. He talked about the festival with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article

Kingston Jazz Fest features wonderfully diverse lineup

This year's Empire Life Kingston Jazz Festival in Kingston, Ontario features The Anat Cohen Quartet, Sophie Milman, The Jerry Granelli Trio, Tanya Tagaq, Homburger/Guy/Niggli, and the Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet. Brian McCurdy, the Cultural Director for the city of Kingston, talked about it with Joel Hurd on The Bridge.  Go to full article

1-10 of 51 stories   next 10 »   last »