PODCAST · music
The Hot Box
by Donald Helme
The Hot Box covers the best in Irish recorded jazz, set it in the wider context of the international language that is jazz.
Episodes
-
The Hot Box #153 – Oscar Peterson
A nudge from a listener in Scotland prompts Donald Helme to put right an omission: marking the centenary of the great Oscar Peterson. This episode opens with Norman Granz introducing the Oscar Peterson Trio at Zurich’s Kongresshaus on 8 April 1960. Sharing the bill that evening were the Stan Getz...
-
The Hot Box #154 – Miles Davis 100
Join Donald Helme on this edition of The Hot Box as he celebrates the life and music of one of jazz’s most influential figures, Miles Davis, marking what would have been the legendary trumpeter’s 100th birthday. From his groundbreaking innovations in bebop, cool jazz, modal jazz and jazz fusion,...
-
The Hot Box #150 – Ken Peplowski
All the music in Hot Box 150 is from the flautist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski, who died on 2nd February this year aboard a jazz cruise liner. He was one of the finest musicians of his generation, spanning traditional and modern jazz styles. Track list for The Hot Box #150 – Ken Peplowski Jim Dawgs…
more -
The Hot Box #149 – New Stuff
Welcome to Hot Box 149. We begin with a sparkling new release on Blue Note from the young American pianist Paul Cornish. Hailing from Texas, Cornish was a finalist in the prestigious Herbie Hancock International Piano Competition three years ago, and has already shared the stage with many of the...
-
The Hot Box #148 – Jack DeJohnette
Hot Box 148 is going to be both sad and joyful since we now remember the extraordinary drummer Jack DeJohnette who died at the end of October aged 83. He was a native of Chicago and certainly could lay a claim to being the greatest of all jazz drummers. Immensely influential in the overall...
-
The Hot Box #147 – Christmas Box
An eclectic selection of music that may reflect the desire of the “music business” to generate some income for musicians over the festive period! Or it may represent a genuine love for all things Christmas – or both! An hour of jazz selected to sit back and enjoy. Track list for The Hot Box #147…
more -
The Hot Box #146 – New Releases
The Hot Box 146 is packed with brand new releases, and as ever there is more to play than time to play it. Donald Helme opens the show with music from pianist John Donegan and his new album Interfuse, featuring Richie Buckley. The programme then moves through a wide range of contemporary jazz,...
-
The Hot Box #145 – New Material from Ireland and USA
The new edition of the Hot Box consists of all new material from Ireland and the USA. An hour of the very best in jazz. The international talent is represented by tracks from a youthful band the Visions Jazz Ensemble, with music based on US college “fight songs”. Also music from Joe Lovano with…
more -
The Hot Box #144 – Celebrating Two Jazz Greats
This episode of The Hot Box has a distinctly retro feel, as we celebrate the lives and talents of two remarkable female jazz singers who recently passed away. We’re remembering the incomparable British singer Dame Cleo Laine, and the lesser-known but deeply respected American vocalist Sheila...
-
The Hot Box #143 – Jazz in Ireland
Donald Helme takes the lid off the Hot Box once again, and this time he’s digging deep into a special file marked “Jazz in Ireland”. Reaching back across the decades, Donald unearths vintage recordings that showcase both the big names who have defined the Irish jazz landscape and the lesser-known...
-
The Hot Box #142 – Ryan Truesdell and Gil Evans
Welcome to the 142nd edition of The Hot Box with Donald Helme. This episode is a real treat, dedicated entirely to the music of the legendary Gil Evans. We’re marking the release of what may be the final volume of unearthed Evans material, lovingly brought to light by arranger and bandleader Ryan...
-
The Hot Box #141 – A Gershwin Celebration
In this slightly different edition of The Hot Box, Donald Helme takes a detour through the timeless melodies of one of jazz’s most enduring composers: George Gershwin. Inspired by the brand new release The Man I Love from British pianist Gabriel Latchin, Track list for The Hot Box #141 – A…
more -
The Hot Box #140 – I Thought About You
This edition of The Hot Box features a major re-issue, a remixed and remastered release of Louis Stewart’s quartet album with John Taylor, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins from Livia Records. Originally recorded in 1977, and released in 1980 with some edits and overdubs, this impeccable version…
more -
The Hot Box #139 – New Material
This edition has both a tilt towards new material and a tilt towards jazz guitar, with material from the French guitarist Romain Pilon’s new album Open Roads, and from the archive, tracks from Tommy Halferty’s extensive back catalogue. Track list for The Hot Box #139 – New Material Giant Steps…
more -
The Hot Box #138 – Roy Ayres
The Hot Box #138 celebrates the music of another recently departed musician, “Roy Ayres.” Originally known as a jazz vibraphone player, he rapidly expanded his status and became, some would say, one of the major creators of jazz funk. Track list for The Hot Box #138 – Roy Ayres Compared to What –...
-
The Hot Box #137 – New Releases
A selection of some wonderful music from albums released in recent weeks, from concert performances in the 1990s to brand new compositions and recordings both Irish and American. Track list for The Hot Box #137 – New Releases There Will Never Be Another You: Oscar Peterson Quartet from the album...
-
The Hot Box #136 – In Memory of Lou Donaldson
He was born in 1926 and lived to be just 98 years old, having played in public well into his 80s. Donaldson was an alto saxophonist who began his career as a disciple of Charlie Parker, with whom he played, but, as part of the group of young players recruited to Blue Note Records in the 1950s he...
-
The Hot Box #134 – Roy Haynes
The Hot Box 134 is devoted to the memory of the great drummer Roy Haynes. Haynes died, at the age of 99 in November last year, secure in his place as one of the greatest drummers of all time. His career spanned the whole of the era of modern jazz, his first big job being with Charlie Parker in...
-
The Hot Box #135 – Some New Stuff
Welcome to the first Hot Box of 2025. Regular listeners will know that we had a rush of obituary type shows at the back end of last year but we start 2025 with some new material as well as a quick nod in the obituary section again, I’m sorry to say, to remember the great saxophone player Lou...
-
The Christmas Box 2024
(The Ghost of Christmas Past) Celebrating Christmas and also celebrating the 90th anniversary of the campaign to ban jazz in Ireland, which seems to have failed. Track list for The Christmas Box 2024 Gin for Christmas: Lionel Hampton Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells: Fats Waller Jingle Bells: Benny...
-
The Hot Box #133 – Remembering Quincy Jones
The celebrated composer, orchestrator and arranger, and sometime trumpet player, Quincy Jones, died November 3rd aged 91. The Hot Box looks at the jazz contribution he made in the latter part of the 20th century, with tracks from Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole and the…
more -
The Hot Box #132 – New Stuff
The Hot Box #132, an hour-long exploration of fresh and exciting sounds in jazz. This episode dives into new material from remarkable artists, blending the vibrancy of contemporary jazz with the timeless artistry of legends. Featuring tracks from John Donegan’s Irish Sextet, Shuteen Erdenebaatar,...
-
The Hot Box #131 – Benny Golson
This special episode pays tribute to the remarkable life and music of the late Benny Golson — a saxophonist, composer, and arranger whose profound influence on jazz endures through both his compositions and recordings. Golson’s legacy is woven into jazz history, known for iconic pieces that have...
-
The Hot Box #129 – Exploring More Piano
In this episode of The Hot Box, we revisit a theme from episode #128 where we took a deep dive into the piano files, looking for the slightly less obviously famous musicians but still among the very best in the world. The Hot Box #129 Track Listing 1. Blues in Baxters Pad: Gene Harris Quartet…
more -
The Hot Box #130 – Remembering Russell Malone
(Note HB 129 is in production but has not been posted yet so will follow 130) In this special episode of The Hot Box, we pay tribute to the remarkable Russell Malone, a virtuoso guitarist known for his versatility, impeccable swing, and soulful sound. Throughout his distinguished career, Malone...
-
Hot Box #127
Welcome to the 127th edition of The Hot Box! In the last two episodes, we celebrated Irish albums from start to finish. If you missed them, I highly recommend catching up—those shows were packed with fantastic music. This time, we’re diving into longer, more immersive tracks designed to help you...
-
Hot Box #126
Firstly, we would like to welcome back Jazz Ireland to the jazz scene and without further ado here’s #126! www.jazzireland.ie
-
Hot Box #124 – All Irish!
The all Irish edition of the Hot Box!
-
The Hot Box #123
A long jump in just one hour, from a live concert by Duke Ellington’s Orchestra in Paris to settings of the poetry of Emily Dickinson by the Italian guitarist Daniele Cervigni, with a few new releases in between!
-
The Hot Box #122
Another root in the big band files yields some great performances from bands you may never had heard before….
-
The Hot Box #120 – Ella Fitzgerald Special
It happens to be Ella’s anniversary of her first concert in Ireland and also her birthday. Join Donald for 100% Ella!
-
The Hot Box #119 – Big Bands You’ve Never heard of!
As the title suggests, here are some big bands you’ve never heard of! The Lloyd Ryan Big Band? The Jazz Pacific Orchestra? Ring a bell? All on the 119th Hot Box!
-
The Hot Box #117
Your latest edition of The Hot Box with Donald Helme. Put the kettle on, sit back and relax with #117!
-
The Hot Box #116
Keeping you all in suspense as to what happened Hot Box #115, heres episode #116!
-
The Hot Box #114
John Pizzarelli, Bobby Short and Mose Allison. All will be revealed on The Hot Box #114!
-
The Hot Box #113 – New Releases
Our delve into new releases for our first edition of 2024. Happy New Year!
-
The Hot Box #112 – Christmas 2023
Donald Helme brings you a festive Hot Box. Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year.
-
The Hot Box #111
The latest edition of the ever popular “Hot Box”.
-
The Hot Box #110
The clarinet has been an endangered species for most of the last 50 years, and despite much admiration for modern-day exponents such as Anat Cohen, it remains on the outer fringes of jazz. Hot Box takes a look at clarinet from the heyday of Benny Goodman, Sidney Bechet and Jimmie Noone through to...
-
The Hot Box #109 – Big Bands 2
After the great reaction to Hot Box 108’s focus on big bands, we felt that a second dip into this big reservoir of music was advisable, if not inevitable. Some of the best ever herein!
-
The Hot Box #108
Big Bands! A selection of recordings of big bands modern and not-so modern.
-
The Hot Box #107
Stimulated by the upcoming release of John Donegan’s album Light Streams featuring his Irish Sextet, Hot Box 107 checks out some new releases, and a couple of returns to recent albums for a second look.
-
The Hot Box #106
Hot on the heels of a little exploration of the role of the Hammond organ in jazz (HB104) a listener suggested we take a look at the role of another “minority” instrument in jazz music – the vibraphone. So we have. Starting at the beginning we hear from Lionel Hampton through to some modern-day...
-
The Hot Box #105
This edition of the Hot Box is comprised 9 pieces of new material, with all of it coming from USA and Canada.
-
The Hot Box #104
In which we devote over an hour to the Hammond organ! In vogue during the 1960s and having star exponents like Jimmy Smith, and latterly Joey DeFrancesco, the Hammond B3 occupied a secure slot in instrumental jazz. Has it lost that? Hot Box this time is Organic!
-
The Hot Box #103 – Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett died on July 21st, aged 96, representing in a very real sense “the end of an era”. Across much of the history of crooning and singing jazz, Bennett succeeded in transferring a reputation amongst older fans of the Great American Songbook to an entirely new generation. He never lost…
more -
The Hot Box #102 – “In Memoriam”
Some jazz journalists have been using phrases like “the end of an era” since the death of Wayne Shorter and Ahmad Jamal. In this Hot Box we pay tribute to a few of the jazz greats who have left us in recent years…….or stopped performing.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Hot Box covers the best in Irish recorded jazz, set it in the wider context of the international language that is jazz.
HOSTED BY
Donald Helme
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Hot Box have?
The Hot Box currently has 161 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Hot Box about?
The Hot Box covers the best in Irish recorded jazz, set it in the wider context of the international language that is jazz.
How often does The Hot Box release new episodes?
The Hot Box publishes regularly with 161 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Hot Box?
You can listen to The Hot Box on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Hot Box?
The Hot Box is created and hosted by Donald Helme.
URL copied to clipboard!