The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast

From the first minute of Geoff’s chat with drummer, percussionist, and educator Marc Cecil, we get into the craft behind Latin percussion and the small details that make a groove feel like Brazil rather than a generic “Latin” approximation.Mark traces his musical origin story from seeing Paul McCartney in a small UK theatre as a kid to practising obsessively at school, then landing at Middlesex on a jazz and world music course. A broken bass drum pedal turns into a wild detour: he meets Gary Mann from Remo UK, ends up working the Rhythm Sticks Festival at the Royal Festival Hall, and gets an invitation from the legendary latin percussionist Robin Jones that becomes a long-running education in Cuban and Brazilian rhythm. We talk about Robin’s no-nonsense musical vision, why learning congas, bongos, and timbales together matters, and how real band leading shapes your choices on stage.Mark breaks down what makes a pandeiro special, how tuning and thumb pressure change the sound, why beeswax matters, and how that rolling swing can sit inside a click track without turning robotic. We also chat about building the Quartet jazz play-along apps as a teaching tool that balances inspiration with solid timing. He demonstrates playing along to the 60s standard ‘Só danço samba’.Please subscribe if you want to hear more Quartet podcasts as they land. Search for Quartet on the App Store or find out more at quartetapp.com.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff sits down with Swedish jazz guitar virtuoso Ulf Wakenius in a back room at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London and traces the real chain of events that took him from Scandinavian gigs to recording with Ray Brown and spending 10 years beside Oscar Peterson.Ulf describes the moments that quietly changed everything: touring Europe with Ray Brown, landing in CBS Studios in New York, and realising the tape is rolling after a head arrangement that took minutes…not days.Ulf explains Oscar’s fearless way of keeping the music fresh, sometimes literally dropping the set list and starting something else, and why that kind of pressure makes a band stronger. He breaks down what “the Oscar style” means from the guitar chair: tremendous swing, unstoppable time feel, and a touch that can turn the piano into a roaring big band or a whisper-soft ballad.We get practical about learning jazz standards. We talk Aebersold play-alongs, building a personal repertoire without trying to memorise the entire ocean, and why rhythm changes sits right behind the blues as a core form every jazz musician should embrace. Ulf names a few favourite standards but chooses to play the 50s Leiber/Stoller/Miller standard ‘Bernie’s Tune’ (accompanied by the ever-present Quartet app), and shares how blues language, Miles Davis-style articulation, and saxophone phrasing all feed his improvisation.If you’re practising standards, chasing better swing, or just want a vivid jazz podcast filled with real stories, there’s plenty to steal for your own playing.Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a musician friend, and leave a review with your favourite standard so we can feature your picks in a future chat.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Paul McCartney in the room on your first tune at Ronnie Scott’s would rattle anyone, but pianist and composer Tom Cawley somehow turned moments like that into fuel! Geoff sits down with Tom for a warm, very honest catch-up that traces Tom’s path into the London jazz scene, from a school big band in Lincoln to the Royal Academy of Music, and the sudden realisation of just how much listening, harmony and time feel it takes to become a working musician.We dig into jazz standards as the core training ground for improvisation, especially for rhythm section players. Tom talks comping language, chord voicings, how to create space, and why context matters more than any single lick. He plays two choruses of Charlie Parker’s 1940s standard ‘Confirmation’ on Geoff’s slightly out-of-tune Yamaha, then unpacks what he’s thinking about when he goes “outside”, plus the lasting influence of Phineas Newborn Jr and a hard-won love for Thelonious Monk’s deliberate weirdness.The conversation gets personal too: the value of honest feedback, the highs of playing with Peter Gabriel, touring the ‘Scratch My Back’ project, and the kind of confidence that comes from simply enjoying playing on stage. Tom also shares a frightening stretch of hearing loss and tinnitus that made it hard to hear bass frequencies, and how that changed his relationship with nerves, cues and trust on the bandstand.If you care about jazz piano, improvisation, music education, and the real-life craft behind standards, press play. Subscribe, share this with a musician mate, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the podcast.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

We're at the Royal Academy of Music in London with the internationally renowned jazz educator, trumpeter and conductor Nick Smart. Geoff talks to Nick about what it takes to run a top jazz course, why small intakes are designed around real working ensembles, and how the best training stays rooted in playing, listening, and learning tunes properly rather than hiding behind theory talk. Jazz standards can feel like a rite of passage Nick says, but they're really something more useful: a shared musical language that lets you walk into a room full of strangers and make honest music fast.We get specific about repertoire and improvisation: why standards are "non-negotiable", how the Academy builds a year-by-year repertoire list, and why a tune like ‘Autumn Leaves’ still earns its place as a first-step standard. We also dig into what to avoid early on: songs that are too fast, too chromatic, or too cramped to let younger players develop their ear and time feel. If you care about jazz practice techniques, jazz education, and learning standards in a way that actually sticks, this conversation is packed with grounded guidance.Geoff widens the conversation to talk about Kenny Wheeler: his humanity, his link to the tradition, and the Royal Academy's connection to his archive of handwritten scores. That leads to ‘The Lost Scores’ project, the long research trail through BBC programme records, the pandemic pause, and the eventual release of Kenny Wheeler Legacy: ‘Some Days Are Better:The Lost Scores’ (Greenleaf Music), complete with a Grammy nomination! We also talk nerves, privilege, craft, and what it means to keep doing the work when you spend so much of your life talking about music instead of playing it.If you enjoyed this, please subscribe, share the episode with a musician friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the podcast.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Tokyo is the backdrop for a relaxed but deep jazz guitar conversation between host Geoff and Los Angeles-based, world-renowned guitarist and educator Larry Koonse, hours before they play at the Blue Note.We talk about how a life in jazz actually gets built: early listening at home, finding the music through friends, and learning from mentors who shape your sound for decades. Larry explains why jazz standards sit at the centre of his development, not as museum pieces but as the shared language that lets two musicians meet and connect instantly. He also shares a practical approach to building vocabulary by “owning” small two-bar or four-bar phrases, plus a clear way to escape shape-based guitar playing by making simple melodic decisions your ear can grasp.Larry traces his earliest influences to a home filled with Bill Evans, Count Basie and Stan Getz, plus the lived example of his guitarist father touring with George Shearing. Like many players, he truly commits to jazz as a teenager, not through a single “lightbulb” moment but through peers, hanging out, and learning the street-language side of music that doesn’t always fit neatly into formal education.The conversation also maps a working musician’s path: saying yes early, playing banjo in a Dixieland band, ukulele for Hawaiian gigs, restaurant work, and top 40 jobs that build range and resilience. Larry shares formative touring years with Cleo Lane and John Dankworth, including the regret of not reaching out sooner before it was too late, a sobering note about gratitude in a musician’s life. He describes playing with Warne Marsh and occasional gigs with Lee Konitz, where planning is minimal and the lesson is recovery when things go amiss.The episode then lands on an improvisation of Benny Golson’s 1950s standard ‘Whisper Not’ (accompanied by the Quartet app), chosen for its strong bass motion and baroque feel, plus the workout of minor ii-V-I movement. Add talk about his treasured Roger Borys archtop guitar, the play-along realism of the Quartet app, comping space with pianists, and even favourite chords, and you get a grounded guide to jazz guitar, jazz improvisation, and standards that travel well anywhere.If you care about jazz guitar, improvisation, ear training, and learning standards in a way that travels, hit play, then subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

In this episode, Geoff catches up with the super-talented saxophonist, guitarist, composer and arranger Harry Greene - a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music who is already making a big name for himself on the London jazz scene.We are in a back room at The Stables Theatre in Milton Keynes and it is abundantly clear that Harry has a serious work ethic and a wide-angle taste. He takes us right back to the moment Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’ hooked him, not just for the groove, but for the fact it featured both sax and guitar, and he decided he wanted to learn both! From there we explore the real building blocks of a career in in jazz: teachers who unlock vocabulary, the early thrill of hearing Charlie Parker language, and the kind of listening that turns curiosity into fluency.We also get practical about what life looks like after training. Harry talks about living outside London in Suffolk, and why the commute pushes him towards arranging, composing, and music production work alongside gigging. You’ll hear how he balances playing sax and guitar across different bands and genres, including dates with Incognito and the excitement of travel. We zoom in on improvisation with an impromptu performance of  the Leiber/Stoller/Miller 50s standard ‘Bernie’s Tune’ (accompanied by the Quartet app no less), and unpacking the choices, colours, and pathways he reaches for, plus the saxophone voices that shaped him, from Hank Mobley to Dexter Gordon.If you’ve ever argued about charts versus learning by ear, we go there too. Harry shares why reading and clear charts can save hours, how under-preparation is the fastest route to nerves, and what it took to prep off-book horn parts for a recent pop tour with Olly Murs.We finish with a quick-fire run of favourites, a love letter to Ronnie Scott’s, and even a favourite chord. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a musician friend, and leave a review with the one track that changed your musical life.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff sits down with American Grammy-winning pianist, composer, arranger and former Jazz Messenger Geoffrey Keezer who is in London for a series of concerts.He begins by describing playing jazz clubs as a teenager, playing piano for Art Blakey at age 18 and touring alongside Benny Golson and Ray Brown while still in his 20s.He shares how he came up through Aebersold play-alongs, the early Real Book, and constant record collecting, sharpening his language through relentless transcription.Transcribing sits at the centre of his method, starting with advice he received as a teenager: “Transcribe, transcribe, transcribe”, beginning with Thelonious Monk. He describes writing on the grand staff so the left hand is not ignored, even when the right hand dominates, because the harmony and rhythm in the accompaniment explain the language. The value is not completing twelve choruses for bragging rights; it is extracting usable information: how a master navigates a ii–V–I, how a line breathes, and how the time sits. Then comes the real practice: transpose ideas into all keys, reshape them, and place them into your own lines so they do not sound like isolated licks. That approach builds jazz vocabulary while protecting originality.The conversation also digs into repertoire choices for recordings and gigs, including the balance between jazz standards and new compositions. His duet work with jazz singer Gillian Margot leans on standards because audiences connect instantly, and because the songwriting is often extraordinary, harmonically and lyrically. He also makes a strong case for covering pop songs when the connection is genuine, pointing to projects that include artists like Peter Gabriel and Alanis Morissette. A useful practice tip emerges here: lyrics matter even for instrumentalists. Knowing what a song is about changes tempo, articulation, and emotional intent, and it can stop you from playing a tragic lyric like a cheerful jam!Geoffrey’s stories are just as rich: Ray Brown stopping a tune to demand “pocket”, Herbie Hancock giving him a private harmony lesson on stage at the Blue Note, and Wayne Shorter walking over to the piano and saying “zero gravity”.He also treats us to a stunning improvisation of the 1950s Benny Golson/Jon Hendricks standard ‘Along Came Betty’ (alongside the Quartet app).Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a musician friend, and leave a review if it helps your playing.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff has travelled to Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London’s Soho district to meet with the legendary Brazilian jazz guitarist Romero Lubambo.In a candid interview between his run of shows with Dianne Reeves, Romero contemplates what changes when there’s no band behind you: you become the time, the bass, the harmony, the dynamics, and the safety net, all while keeping the song clear and the singer supported.We dig into the craft of playing slowly through the lens of Antônio Carlos Jobim, where silence becomes part of the arrangement and every note has consequences. Romero shares how his Brazilian upbringing shaped his ears, how teenage dance gigs forced him to learn many styles fast, and how classical guitar technique helped him refine hand position and tone. If you’re into jazz guitar, bossa nova, chord melody, comping, and building a beautiful sound, you’ll find plenty to steal for your own practice.Romero also talks about learning jazz standards from recordings, transcribing Wes Montgomery, avoiding “boxy” scale habits, and what it means to develop a personal musical identity in an age of endless online information. He treats us to an impromptu improvisation of the 1930s standard ‘Alone Together’…accompanied by the Quartet app of course. Along the way we hear stories of playing with legends like Jobim, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny and the American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the mindset shift he got from producer George Duke: you’re hired to be yourself.If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more, share it with a musician friend, and leave a review so more jazz players can find the show.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff is in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire to meet with the renowned British jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader Tim Garland for a wide-ranging conversation on how a real musical voice is built over decades…not weeks.We start with the spark: ECM Records vinyl, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and the late Ralph Towner, plus the pull of funk and rhythm that hits you in the chest. Tim breaks down how he learned jazz improvisation by writing small fragments, moving them through keys, and then consciously letting that material go so it doesn’t become imitation. We also dig into composition, jazz harmony, and contemporary classical influences, including how time feel, note length, and cut-offs can change everything you think you know about swing and groove.  Tim tells the near-impossible story of how his music reached Chick, what “Chick boot camp” felt like on stage, and why conversational playing matters more than licks.Tim treats us to an improvisation of Cole Porter’s 50s standard “All Of You” (accompanied by the Quartet app of course), and discusses Jamey Aebersold play-alongs, favourite records, career highs, nerves, and the harmonic rabbit holes behind a favourite chord. Plus, a nod to his latest project featuring the rare mezzo saxophone with the American jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer.If you enjoy jazz standards, saxophone craft, and honest stories from the bandstand, subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff closes the year with a Christmas ‘session’ that blends memory, humour, and unapologetic swing, featuring the brilliant Ian Shaw and the incomparable Trudy Kerr. From the first count-in you can feel the band's pocket and the playful way we shape tradition: ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ settles into a medium swing, ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ nods to Horace Silver, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ stretches on a tasty vamp, and ‘Deck the Halls’ dances with a Latin pulse.Between takes we wander through the stories that make the season personal. Ian riffs on Johnny Mathis's legendary breath control, the showbiz roots behind those perfect phrases, and why holding a single note can be a high-wire act! We laugh about panettone, glittering rooms at London’s ‘Crazy Coqs’ cabaret club, and the problem of wrapping paper that accidentally exposes Santa. Trudy arrives with sunlit memories of Australian Christmases and the heat-haze version of turkey and tinsel. Then she leans into a tender ‘Away in a Manger' that quiets the room.If you love jazz vocals, holiday standards, or just hearing great singers play with form, this episode is for you. We talk phrasing, key choices, vamps, and why carols thrive in swing without losing their heart. And yes, we celebrate Quartet Volume 5, our brand new Christmas edition of the play-along app for iOS, built for singers and players who want a tight, responsive band in their pocket. It's an invitation to practice, perform, and find new colours in songs you've known forever.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff is in the coastal town of Deal in Kent to meet with the wonderful jazz singer and lyricist Norma Winstone.A childhood steeped in radio, a cinema crush on Lena Horne, and a record collection that swung from Ella and Louis to Sinatra’s ‘Only The Lonely’—Norma charts how a voice finds its own gravity.We talk about the hinge moments that redirected the road: pub sit‑ins that led to John Taylor, the New Jazz Orchestra and Michael Garrick inviting the voice into instrumental roles, and Kenny Wheeler asking for words to expansive, breath‑testing lines. There's a live spin through Clifford Brown’s 1950s standard ‘Joy Spring’ (accompanied by the Quartet app) where she improvises new melodies while keeping the lyric intact, showing how language can anchor freedom.Azimuth's origin story unfolds—an improvised loop, Manfred Eicher's instinct for flugelhorn and voice, and the Oslo sessions that changed how she heard her own tone. We touch favourites and influences, from Herbie Hancock's writing to the Bill Evans trio at Ronnie Scott's, and dig into stagecraft: moving past nerves by focusing on music, not self, and shaping a personal sound that carries feeling in the first syllable. Upcoming projects include Nikki Iles, Dave Holland, and Pete Churchill's choir, honouring Kenny Wheeler's poem settings with the care they deserve.If you love vocal jazz, lyric writing, ECM lore, and the craft that turns breath into resonance, this conversation offers history, technique, and heart in equal measure. Follow and subscribe, share with a friend who loves jazz, and leave a review with the lyric that changed you—what's yours?Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff is back in Bedford, England to sit down with the highly-acclaimed American singer, songwriter and keyboardist Charlie Wood.A voice steeped in Memphis and refined in London, Charlie Wood’s conversation moves from Beale Street grind to big-band elegance. We start with origins: a home filled with Charlie Parker records, classical lessons, and the kind of eclectic listening that makes Johnny Cash, B.B. King, and Debussy feel like neighbours. That early mix shaped a musician who treats songs as stories first and chord changes second, and it shows when Charlie improvises on the Ray Henderson 1920s standard ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ (accompanied by the Quartet app of course), then flips the script by improvising lyrics from a history book, letting syntax and swing lead the way.Geoff digs into the craft behind the sound. Charlie breaks down the physics of the organ trio, why pedal bass changes the comping map, and how space keeps the groove clean. He explains how a seven-nights-a-week Beale Street residency sharpened his repertoire, pushed him toward lyric-driven standards, and taught him to avoid repetition without losing clarity. The conversation moves to the realities of making a living: why US touring economics stalled, how European circuits and a Go Jazz Records release opened doors, and the serendipity that led to Jacqui Dankworth recording his song and, eventually, to a life in the UK.Arranging fans get plenty to chew on. Charlie shares his approach to writing for small big band and strings, anchored by John Dankworth's deceptively simple guidance: “…write the notes you want to hear, then orchestrate”. We talk constraint as a creative engine, the relaxed precision of the American jazz pianist Mose Allison, and why concise songs often carry the deepest punch. There are stories of high-pressure concerts that soared, candid thoughts on nerves and overplaying, and a few favourites for the road: Peggy's Skylight (Nottingham) for its warmth, Paris and New Orleans for colour, and that luminous 13 sharp 11 favourite chord.If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about songwriting, jazz standards, organ technique, and the real-world life of a working musician, this one's for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What standard would you love to hear reinvented next?Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

This week Geoff is in Bedford, England to meet with one of the most highly regarded British jazz singers Jacqui Dankworth MBE – daughter of singer Cleo Laine and musician John Dankworth.A song can carry a family. This episode begins with Stephen Sondheim and a daughter finding strength after losing her mother, the incomparable Cleo Laine. From the first quiet days after the memorial to the bright lights of new stages, we trace an artist's path through grief, discipline, and the brave work of beginning again.Jacqui talks about the moment confidence clicked at boarding school, the drama teacher who opened a door, and the night a young mind met Judi Dench and felt its wings. Guildhall memories surface with the kind of detail musicians love: locking yourself away to prepare, sounding bad so you can sound true, and raising your average so it holds on tough nights.Growing up around Cleo Laine and John Dankworth meant learning by watching rather than formal lessons, and it taught a lifelong respect for craft. That ethos lives alongside a wide-open ear: Stevie Wonder's ‘Innervisions’, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Al Jarreau, Diane Reeves, and a family belief in "all music" that rejects genre silos and celebrates crossover.There are stories you'll replay: singing ‘London by Night’ down the phone to its composer (Caroll Coates), stepping onstage with Chick Corea while sick, and learning to tap for Sondheim’s musical ‘Follies’ as a way through heartbreak. There are songs you’ll replay: Jacqui treats us to a gorgeous improvisation of Gershwin’s 1920s standard ‘The Man I Love’ accompanied by none other than the Quartet jazz standards app. We unpack nerves, venues, and why large halls and church acoustics can free a voice. We revisit Jacqui’s ‘Live To Love’ album, the joy of reimagining Weather Report and Geoff and Jacqui’s collaboration ‘It’s Tomorrow's World’.Looking ahead, the goal is simple and brave: blend acting and singing, chase Sondheim, and keep making space where legacy and self can meet.If this journey resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves jazz and theatre, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff is in Ruislip, West London at the home of the legendary jazz bassist Dave Green.A soft case in an aircraft hold, a school-grade rental at a major festival, and the quiet conviction that your sound should survive all of it—Dave takes us through a bassist's life built on time, touch, and taste. From tea chest beginnings with next‑door neighbour Charlie Watts, to month-long residencies at Ronnie Scott's, Dave maps the long road from village halls to the world's jazz stages with humour and unflinching honesty.We dig into the craft: how to hold centre time with drummers who sit on the front of the beat, why Phil Seaman's volume still felt like joy, and what Trevor Tomkins taught about listening in real time. Dave shares why Jimmy Blanton and Scott LaFaro remain his north stars, how copying Israel Crosby on 78s shaped his phrasing, and the way a reliable room like PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho) lets the acoustic bass speak. There's a beautiful detour into instruments too: the 1860 Louis Lowendall that "wanted to be played" after years of rest, and the heavy Bohemian 7/8 that powered nights with Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and Sonny Rollins.You'll hear road-level stories that humanise legends. A breakfast smile from Ron Carter, a stunned airport moment with Charlie Haden, a shy hello to Herbie Hancock at a tour party—and a cheeky reminder from Ron about leaving the stick bass behind. We also spin the 1940s standard ‘Autumn Leaves’ with the Quartet app and talk about the old ‘Ronnie’s' ecology where support bands learned by proximity, not paperwork.If you're a bassist, there's practical wisdom on adapting to rooms, instruments, and personalities without losing your voice. If you're a jazz fan, you'll get rare, warm snapshots of a scene that shaped modern British jazz from the inside out.Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share with a friend who loves jazz!Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff is in the Hertfordshire town of Watford to chat with the wonderful British jazz vibraphone player Anthony Kerr…digging into practice, reading, and why space shapes sound.A trumpet felt like the wrong clothes. Drums were closer. Then Anthony hit a vibraphone at the Belfast School of Music and everything snapped into place. That moment of fit carries through this conversation as we trace his route from school band standards to New York's proving grounds and back to London's 606 Club with a vibraphone in the boot and the nerve to ask for a tune.Geoff digs into the practice habits that build real fluency: zooming in on one bar, singing transcribed lines before playing them, shifting phrases across the beat, and treating short, focused sessions like strength training. Anthony explains why Bach keeps improvisers honest and how mallet players juggle reading, vision, and physical balance on an instrument they don't actually touch. He also breaks down technique—four-mallet control, circular scale shapes, and why C major can be the most awkward key on vibes.Loop apps are useful, Anthony says, but Quartet changes the game by giving you a rhythm section that "hears" the actual tune, thanks to Graham Harvey's piano playing and intros that hint at elements of the melody. We put that to the test on Cedar Walton's 1970s standard ‘Bolivia’, exploring the modal first half and the change-heavy second, and why playing without piano can open space for shape, dynamics, and harmonic clarity. Stories from years with Georgie Fame reveal the power of collective instinct, the kind you only earn by working together night after night.If you love jazz standards, vibraphone technique, focused practice, and the craft of improvisation, this one's for you. Subscribe, share with a musician friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. If you haven’t yet got the Quartet app…what are you waiting for?Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff is in the North London suburb of Muswell Hill to sit down with the highly acclaimed trumpeter Henry Lowther as he unpacks the sessions, the stories and the systems behind a musician who has been a mainstay of the British jazz scene for over half a century.A trumpet on a cathedral step, a helicopter over Woodstock, and a fixer's phone call that changes your week—Henry Lowther has lived the kind of musical life that hides in liner notes and explodes on stage.Henry takes us inside London's studio culture: anonymous credits, bank holiday double rates, and the quiet politics of producers who double-track without paying extra. He remembers AIR Studios with Paul McCartney under George Martin's eye, the bass that made a horn section sound out, and the moment "fresh ears" became a punchline. Then the camera pans back to his origins: a violinist at the Royal Academy, captured by Indian classical logic, drawn to Sonny Rollins' trio lines, and pulled home to trumpet by Miles Davis and Clifford Brown.His learning method is stubbornly musical—ears first, theory second—and it shows when he improvises the 1930s Isham Jones/Marty Symes standard ‘There Is No Greater Love’ (alongside the Quartet app of course), explaining why one-scale-per-chord falls short and why thinking in keys keeps lines alive.We trace the ‘free’ music thread with Jack Bruce and John Hiseman, the influence of late Coltrane, and the British habit of crossing scenes instead of forming cliques. Henry reflects on the academic wave that raised standards yet risks flattening voices, and he celebrates players who sound like themselves in just two bars. Harmony talk gets vivid: Miles' long arcs versus Coltrane's saturated chords, Monk's push to play every note, and Kenny Wheeler's blend of slash chords, pedal points, and classical rigour. There are snapshots you'll remember—helicopters into Woodstock, trumpets blooming in Canterbury Cathedral, a sleepless ECM session, and Gil Evans on a London Underground platform clutching handwritten parts, chaos wrapped in kindness.If you care about jazz history, improvisation craft, and the human side of a life in music, you'll find wisdom and warmth here. Subscribe, share with a musician who needs the push, and leave a review telling us the story or chord that stayed with you.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff is in the picturesque Oxfordshire town of Henley on Thames to meet with the wonderful saxophonist (and former orthopaedic surgeon) Art Themen. What began with a misassembled clarinet and a missing page turned into a life split between the operating theatre and the bandstand, shaped by New Orleans tone, bebop language, and the stubborn joy of playing for real people in real rooms. We trace the arc from tin whistles and trad bands to hearing Louis Armstrong's All‑Stars in Manchester, discovering Lionel Grigson's bebop road map at Cambridge University, and stepping into the London jazz scene alongside Alexis Korner, Phil Seamen, and a young Rod Stewart in the wings.We get personal about balance: pulling late‑night gigs through medical school, covering colleagues to tour with Stan Tracey across South America, and learning why calm under lights and calm under surgical lamps feel oddly similar. There's a love letter to Dexter Gordon's ‘Go!’ as the perfect straight‑ahead blueprint, a warm nod to Sonny Rollins' generosity, and a candid take on what non‑musicians really hear at a jazz gig: timbre, breath, humour, and the shared attention that turns solos into stories.We also open the case on a legend - Ronnie Scott's Selmer Super Balanced Action - how it left the glass cabinet, the rumoured Hank Mobley link, and why a horn with history should still see the stage. We are treated to an impromptu rendition of the Burke/Van Heusen 40s standard ‘It Could Happen To You’ accompanied by the Quartet app (of course!)Along the way, we talk practice that actually happens: play‑along tools that focus the mind after long days, picking tunes at random to break ruts, and letting new repertoire force fresh lines. We weigh tradition against free improvisation, revisit career highs from Chicago to Hyde Park, and keep it human with quickfire favourites (Coronation Chicken, The Producers, the Bull's Head, Nice…). The thread running through it all is generosity - toward the audience, the band, and the music itself - anchored by the belief that swing and a good joke can live in the same bar.If you enjoy honest stories, live playing, and craft without pretence, hit follow, share this with a friend who loves Dexter or Rollins, and leave a short review telling us your favourite jazz album and why. Your notes shape the next set.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

This week Geoff is in Suffolk to catch up with the fabulous jazz pianist, singer, composer and author Chris Ingham.Sitting at Chris’s piano in Suffolk, we trace how a kid who refused lessons became a singer-pianist, bandleader and repertoire obsessive who builds shows people actually want to hear. Chris takes us from The Beatles and Sinatra to Hoagy Carmichael and Dudley Moore, revealing why “themes” hook audiences, why standards are the best teachers, and how self-discipline sticks only when it's born from love rather than orders.We get granular on practice that works in real life. Chris breaks down his tiers of using a playalong app: fast, fluent warm-ups on familiar tunes; awkward-key transpositions to stretch the hands and the ear, and ultra-slow when a tune like ‘Falling Grace’ has to be learned from scratch.Then he opens up Bill Evans' ‘Very Early’ with a clear map: track tonal centres, hear the cadences, respect the sudden "brick wall" modulation, and let thirds and sevenths light the way. Comping becomes a story, not filler. His improvisation on this 1960’s standard (accompanied by the Quartet jazz play along app) provides a wonderful demonstration.Between craft insights come the human beats that shape taste. Dave Frishberg's ‘Songbook’ shifted his compass. Sondheim still makes him tear up. He's honest about his reading abilities as a past weakness, the kind of nerves that only show up when preparation hasn't, and the chord colours he loves—sus 13 with the added third and those rich C minor 11/13 sonorities that hang in the air.If you care about standards, tonal centres, and making audiences lean forward, this conversation brings both method and heart.Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a friend who loves jazz standards, and leave a quick review. Thank you.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

In this episode, Geoff catches up with the wonderful trumpet player and educator Martin Shaw.Born into a household where music constantly filled the air—his mother a classical pianist, his father a jazz improviser—Martin's story reveals how these dual influences created the perfect foundation for his development.Martin shares the pivotal moment when, as a schoolboy faced with the choice between heading to the tuck shop or trying brass instruments, he chose the latter and discovered his lifelong relationship with the trumpet. This seemingly small decision would launch a career that included six years with Jamiroquai, performances at Woodstock '99 before 130,000 people, and collaborations with legendary figures in the jazz world.What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Martin's articulation of his approach to improvisation. Unlike many jazz musicians who rely heavily on memorised patterns, his style developed primarily through deep listening to piano players like Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea—giving his trumpet playing a distinctive harmonic richness. His innovative teaching method of "minim jazz"—where students improvise using only half notes to focus solely on harmonic choices—offers a fascinating glimpse into his pedagogical philosophy.From discussing and improvising on his favourite jazz standard ‘My Romance’ (accompanied by the Quartet app), to sharing candid reflections on his professional journey, Martin provides listeners with both practical insights and inspirational takeaways.Listen now to gain valuable perspective from a musician whose journey spans classical training, worldwide performances, and becoming a professor of jazz trumpet at prestigious institutions including the Royal College of Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and The Purcell School. Whether you're a trumpet player, jazz enthusiast, or simply curious about the development of musical identity, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of how family influence, education, and personal discovery shape an artist's voice.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff travels to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in the heart of the City of London to meet with the wonderful guitarist and educator Chris Allard.Growing up in a musical family with roots stretching back to The Juilliard School in New York, Chris recalls his path from classical piano lessons to discovering rock guitar through Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, before Pat Metheny's ‘Letter From Home’ (1989) opened the door to jazz improvisation. This pivotal moment set him on a course that would lead to conservatory training, where his reluctant classical guitar studies unexpectedly became a career asset, enabling performances with artists like Russell Watson and Lea Salonga.The heart of the discussion centres on Chris's doctoral research, where he has meticulously transcribed and analysed four contrasting guitarists—Lionel Loueke, Jesse van Ruller, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Nelson Veras—to develop his own musical language. His systematic approach to absorbing their innovations while establishing his distinctive sound offers valuable insights for musicians of all levels struggling with the influence of their heroes.From performing at the Pyramids in Cairo to playing intimate jazz clubs, Chris shares candid reflections on stage nerves, memorable performances, and the practical challenges of developing as a musician. We even explore his equipment choices, favourite recordings, and get a demonstration of some particularly tasty chord voicings.Ready to take your jazz practice and performing to the next level? Download the Quartet app for iOS today and experience the difference of playing along with professional-quality backing tracks, just like Chris demonstrates in this episode with Irving Berlin’s 1930s standard ‘How Deep is the Ocean’.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff travels to London’s West End to catch up with the legendary jazz guitarist Jim Mullen. The conversation offers a masterclass in authentic musical development as Jim recounts his journey from Glasgow's jazz clubs to becoming one of Britain's most distinctive guitarists. Approaching his 80th birthday, he reflects on the transformative experiences that shaped his musical identity – witnessing jazz titans like John Coltrane, Ray Brown, and the Oscar Peterson Trio in his hometown during the 1960s.What sets Jim Mullen apart is his entirely self-developed approach. Never formally taught, he developed his unique playing style through necessity and intuition. Being left-handed but playing a right-handed guitar led to his signature thumb technique, creating a warm, vocal tone that has become his hallmark. "When you play with your thumb, you can only play downstroke," he explains, revealing how this limitation forced creative solutions that ultimately defined his sound.Jim’s philosophy on improvisation proves particularly illuminating. Unlike many jazz musicians, he never transcribed solos, believing it would trap him in others' vocabularies. Instead, he focused on capturing the essence of players he admired while developing his own melodic approach. "Improvising a solo is really trying to invent an alternative melody," he shares, emphasising continuity of ideas over technical display. By way of example, he improvises to the 1950s Marvin Fisher/Jack Segal standard ‘When Sunny Gets Blue’ accompanied by the Quartet jazz playalong app of course.The conversation explores his pivotal role in developing British jazz-funk with saxophonist Dick Morrissey, creating a groundbreaking sound that attracted diverse audiences and influenced a generation of musicians. Now in his musical maturity, Jim has embraced jazz standards over complex original compositions, finding profound expression in simplicity: "A good tune does half the work for you."Whether you're a jazz aficionado, guitarist, or simply appreciate stories of authentic artistic development, this episode offers rare insights from a musician who carved his own path through jazz history. Subscribe to hear more of them. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff is in Finchley, North London to catch up with the wonderful saxophonist, flautist and composer Theo Travis.Theo takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable musical career, from classical beginnings to jazz excellence and groundbreaking prog rock collaborations. This conversation feels like eavesdropping on two musicians sharing secrets about their craft, filled with moments of genuine musical insight and discovery.Theo reveals how his early musical path began with classical flute before teenage obsessions with T. Rex, David Bowie, and The Beatles led him toward improvisation. The pivotal moment came when a friend introduced him to John Coltrane's ‘Afro Blue Impressions’ (1963), igniting a passion for jazz that would shape his future. His methodical approach to learning improvisation through pattern books that forced him to transpose phrases through different keys built the foundation for his versatile playing style.What makes this episode particularly fascinating is Theo’s ability to move seamlessly between musical worlds. A chance phone call from Japan bassist Mick Karn in 1997, opened the door to prog rock collaborations, leading to work with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and Robert Fripp of King Crimson. He describes how these experiences liberated him from conventional jazz forms, inspiring him to create music that transcends genre boundaries. His insights about the differences between jazz musicians' theoretical knowledge and rock musicians' instinctive creativity offer a refreshing perspective on artistic authenticity.The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Theo introduces us to the duduk, an Armenian double-reed instrument with a haunting sound that he mastered during lockdown. His enthusiasm for this ancient instrument and how he's incorporated it into contemporary contexts demonstrates his ongoing musical curiosity.Throughout the episode, Theo’s thoughtful reflections on memorable performances—like his completely improvised duo with Robert Fripp at Coventry Cathedral—reveal an artist who remains open to musical discovery. His performance of Chick Corea's 1970s standard ‘500 Miles High’ (accompanied by the trusted workhorse that is the Quartet app) showcases both his technical facility and deep understanding of harmony.Whether you're a jazz aficionado, prog rock enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates musical storytelling, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of an extraordinary musician who refuses to be confined by genre boundaries.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff is in Greenwich, London to meet with the renowned saxophonist and composer Mark Lockheart.Mark's story begins with the heartwarming image of waking up to his father's jazz records and following his dad into saxophone playing at age eleven. What follows is a rich narrative of musical discovery that spans decades.Mark vividly recalls the American record club that delivered formative jazz recordings to his family home, introducing him to the sounds of Wes Montgomery and Paul Desmond that would shape his musical sensibilities. His path led through classical saxophone studies at Trinity College, where fateful meetings with musicians like Django Bates and John Parricelli set the stage for his involvement with the revolutionary jazz collective Loose Tubes in the early 1980s.The conversation delves into Mark's distinctive approach to composition – intuitive, often arising from improvisation rather than formal theory. "For me, writing is all about counterpoint," he explains, describing how he focuses on melody and bass movement before determining the chords between them. This approach has served him well through various projects, from the quartet Perfect Houseplants to his most ambitious orchestral work ‘Days on Earth’ (2019).Perhaps most revealing is Mark's complex relationship with jazz standards. Despite considering them foundational to his practice routine and musical development, he has never recorded them on his own albums – a hesitation born from deep respect for the definitive versions that already exist. Through demonstrations and stories, Mark illustrates how saxophone masters like Henderson, Rollins, and Coltrane shaped his sound through imitation and absorption rather than formal instruction.The conversation culminates in a philosophical insight that resonates beyond music: "The older I get, the more I realise that the things you can't do are as important as the things you can do." Mark's journey reminds us that finding your voice isn't about mastering everything, but about making something distinctive with what you have.Explore this fascinating musical conversation and hear Mark's interpretation of the 1940s Van Heusen/Burke standard ‘It Could Happen To You’ accompanied by the Quartet app of course! Subscribe now and discover more illuminating jazz dialogues in future episodes.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff travels to Honor Oak Park in South London to meet with an old friend – the British composer and pianist Simon Wallace. Simon opens a portal into jazz's rich tapestry through personal stories that span from his childhood in South Wales to the vibrant scenes of New York City and London. This conversation reveals how a secondary school music teacher sparked what he beautifully describes as discovering “…a magic window into another world" – specifically the world of Black American culture centred in New York.Simon takes us on a fascinating journey through his musical development, from studying classical music at Oxford University while secretly yearning for jazz, to landing his first professional gig at London's legendary Blitz Club in 1978 where Boy George worked in the cloakroom during the New Romantic era. His connections to jazz history come alive through stories of friendships with figures like Bob Dorough, who recorded with Miles Davis and performed with Charlie Parker.The heart of the episode delivers a masterclass in jazz harmony as he unpacks the revolutionary theories of piano legend Barry Harris. With remarkable clarity, he explains how Harris's approach to diminished scales and sixth chords creates pathways between multiple keys, freeing musicians from predictable patterns. This isn't just technical talk – Simon demonstrates these concepts improvising the 1940s standard ‘Autumn Leaves’ alongside the Quartet jazz playalong app, showing how theory transforms into living, breathing music.Beyond music theory, he shares captivating stories including writing a symphony for the King of Thailand's 60th birthday broadcast on all four Thai TV channels simultaneously. His reflections on musical growth, the value of being "slightly out of your depth," and jazz's competitive yet supportive culture offer wisdom for musicians at any stage.Whether you're a jazz aficionado, a musician seeking fresh approaches to harmony, or simply someone who appreciates a good story well told, this episode offers rich rewards. Listen now and discover how jazz continues to open magical windows into other worlds.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff gets a visit from the wonderful pianist and composer Andrea Vicari who opens up about her rich musical journey inspired by her jazz pianist father and a house filled with the sounds of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong.Andrea shares fascinating insights into her improvisation process, demonstrating how pentatonic scales and fourth-based voicings – influenced by McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea – shape her approach to standards like the 1940s classic ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ which she performs accompanied by the Quartet app. Rather than planning solos in advance, she responds organically to her initial phrases, allowing ideas to develop naturally through active listening. This responsive approach reflects decades of absorbing the language of jazz through transcription and performance.The conversation takes us to the beautiful Dordogne region of southern France, where Andrea’s summer school has flourished for 22 years at Chateau de Monteton. What began as a practical way to spend time near her relocated parents has evolved into a beloved institution where two-thirds of participants return annually, forming lifelong friendships and even marriages. She describes it as like “Love Island on Jazz”. This blend of community-building and jazz education represents the holistic approach Andrea brings to music—valuing connection alongside technical mastery.Perhaps most touching are Andrea’s reflections on performing in post-war Bosnia, where audiences would sing along to folk melodies integrated into jazz performances amid buildings still bearing bullet holes. These experiences, alongside her sophisticated approach to harmony and improvisation, reveal an artist whose musical expression is deeply informed by human connection and emotional resonance.Discover Quartet for iOS, taking your jazz play-along experience to another level. Search for Quartet on the App Store or visit quartetapp.com to learn more about the top-selling innovative tool for jazz musicians.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff is at the Troubadour club in London with the highly acclaimed jazz drummer Sebastiaan de Krom.When a jazz bassist and drummer have played together for 25 years, there's a musical telepathy that can't be taught—it can only be earned through countless gigs, recording sessions, and miles on the road. In this revealing conversation, Sebastiaan opens up about his remarkable journey from banging on pots and pans as a toddler in Holland to becoming one of the UK’s most respected jazz drummers and educators.Sebastiaan shares the unique way his drummer father taught him—starting with just a snare drum and "earning" additional pieces as he progressed. His story winds through an unexpected year studying law before winning a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, followed by acceptance to the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute (now the Herbie Hancock Institute). These formative experiences set the stage for his eventual move to London in 1999, where he and Geoff would form a musical partnership that included eight years touring the world with Jamie Cullum.Throughout their conversation, Sebastiaan reveals deep insights into the art of jazz drumming. He unpacks why Philly Joe Jones remains his greatest influence, demonstrating specific techniques that define Jones' distinctive sound. "His triplet feel is really right in the pocket," Sebastiaan explains, before playing examples that illuminate the subtle differences between drum legends. Jazz aficionados will appreciate Sebastiaan's detailed breakdown of how he approaches playing melodies on drums and building solos from simple motifs.The most moving moments come when Sebastiaan recounts playing with jazz giants Gene Harris (piano) and Clark Terry (trumpet) — experiences he describes as transcendent. "It was like I was a marionette... it didn't matter what I did, he'd make it sound great." This sense of musical freedom beyond ego or technical concerns remains his ideal.For anyone passionate about jazz, drumming, or the lifelong pursuit of musical excellence, this conversation offers rare insights from two veterans who've lived the music from the bandstand to the recording studio. Catch Sebastiaan every Sunday at London's historic Troubadour, where he continues the tradition of piano-less jazz inspired by Sonny Rollins—creating space for the music to breathe in new and exciting ways.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff sits down with the award-winning jazz vocalist Anita Wardell.In this intimate conversation, Anita shares how music became her sanctuary during a difficult childhood and continues to be her healing force while recovering from a stroke suffered 16 months prior. "Music was where I kind of got myself together," she reflects, describing how discovering jazz gave her focus and purpose at a crucial time in her life.Anita reflects on the time she heard two students practicing Dizzy Gillespie’s ‘Birks’ Works’ through a classroom door at age 17, she knew immediately: "I want to do that for the rest of my life." This revelation would spark a journey from Adelaide, Australia to becoming one of the most respected jazz vocalists and educators in the UK.The heart of the episode features Anita's masterclass on jazz vocal improvisation, demonstrating the methodical approach she's developed over 30 years of teaching. Beginning with roots, thirds, and fifths, she shows how understanding harmony creates the foundation for expressive improvisation. Her breakdown of scat syllables—using "doo" for downbeats, "ba" for upbeats, and "diddler" for triplets—offers fascinating insight into the vocabulary jazz singers develop to articulate their musical ideas.Despite ongoing recovery challenges, Anita delivers a beautiful improvised performance of the 1940s standard ‘Autumn Leaves’ (accompanied by the Quartet app) showcasing her skill and resilience. Geoff observes Anita’s leg moving involuntarily during the performance—a powerful physical manifestation of music's neurological impact during her healing process.From career highlights at Ronnie Scott's to her favourite jazz albums and chords, Anita's passion for music remains unwavering despite physical setbacks. As she prepares to return to Australia to continue her recovery, her parting sentiment captures the essence of a true artist: "I'm not a giver-upper... I'll just keep searching."Whether you're a jazz vocalist looking to improve your improvisation, a musician interested in teaching methodology, or simply someone who finds inspiration in stories of artistic resilience, this conversation offers valuable insights and heartfelt moments that celebrate the healing power of music.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff is in Box Hill, Surrey to meet with the legendary jazz saxophonist, composer and educator Stan Sulzmann.Stan takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable career as one of Britain's most respected jazz saxophonists. From his unexpected start with a secondhand Selmer tenor saxophone to playing alongside jazz royalty, the interview reveals both musical insights and deeply personal reflections.The conversation opens windows into jazz history as Stan recounts his transformative experiences at age 17, traveling on the Queen Mary to New York City in 1967. With wide-eyed wonder, he describes sitting literally at the feet of Miles Davis's legendary quintet featuring Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, and Wayne Shorter. These formative experiences watching jazz giants at venues like the Village Vanguard and Blue Note shaped his musical consciousness, though he admits with characteristic humility that he "had no idea what they were doing" at the time.Particularly fascinating are Stan's stories about his long association with the brilliant composer Kenny Wheeler. Their musical partnership produced landmark recordings like ‘Flutter By, Butterfly’ (1988) and the classic ‘Music for Large and Small Ensembles’ (1990). Stan provides insight into Wheeler's compositional approach, describing how Kenny deliberately simplified his harmonic palette over time to make his music more accessible while retaining its emotional depth. The interview includes a beautiful performance of Wheeler's jazz standard ‘Gentle Piece’ – accompanied by the steadfast Quartet app –  demonstrating Stan's sensitive interpretation despite recent health challenges.Beyond his jazz credentials, Stan reveals his life as a session musician during London's recording heyday, playing on tracks for Elton John and Paul McCartney, and even recording the soundtrack to McCartney's 1980s film ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’. With refreshing candour, he discusses his struggles with performance anxiety throughout his career, shedding light on the psychological challenges many musicians face behind their accomplished exteriors.This conversation offers a masterclass in musical development, the importance of finding one's authentic voice, and adapting to life's challenges. Whether you're a jazz aficionado or simply appreciate stories of artistic perseverance, Stan Sulzmann’s warmth, wisdom and musical journey will resonate deeply. Subscribe now to hear more conversations with jazz's most fascinating personalities.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff heads east to Essex to catch up with an old friend — the award-winning jazz saxophonist, bandleader, arranger, and recording engineer Derek Nash.What happens when a lifelong love of saxophone meets decades of sound engineering expertise? Derek Nash's musical journey provides the perfect answer.From the moment 12-year-old Derek heard the Pink Panther theme played by a tenor saxophonist during his father's BBC radio broadcast, his path was set. Though his career would take a 20-year detour through the technical corridors of BBC sound engineering, music remained his true calling. Eventually, Derek left the BBC to establish his own recording studio (the aptly named ‘Clowns Pocket’) and pursue his saxophone career full-time.The conversation reveals Derek as both a consummate musician and skilled sound engineer with remarkable stories of recording some of Britain's jazz legends. He speaks fondly of producing Jamie Cullum's first album, working with George Melly, Digby Fairweather, and creating multiple albums with Stan Tracey. His technical expertise combined with musical sensitivity made him particularly skilled at working with singers, developing a diplomatic language to guide performances while maintaining creative relationships.When discussing improvisation, he offers fascinating insights into how jazz vocabulary develops through listening and transcription. His approach to soloing has evolved to become as natural as driving – focused on the musical journey rather than technical mechanics. During a performance of Gerry Mulligan's 1950s standard ‘Walkin' Shoes’ (accompanied by the Quartet app), he demonstrates his creative process, explaining how he thinks about theme and variation, melody contour, and responsive playing.The conversation concludes with quick-fire questions that reveal Nash's personality beyond music – from favourite sandwiches to performing at the Royal Albert Hall, his preference for flat ninth chords, and his excellent advice for young musicians: "Play any kind of music anywhere…” to discover preferences and build valuable networks.Join us for this illuminating conversation with one of Britain's most versatile saxophonists, whose musical journey continues to evolve after decades in the jazz world. Whether you're a musician seeking inspiration or simply love the stories behind the music, Derek Nash delivers wisdom, warmth and musical insights in equal measure.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

In the tranquil setting of Hertfordshire, England, Geoff sits down with the legendary tenor saxophonist Alan Skidmore, a musical force whose extraordinary career spans nearly seven decades. At 83, Alan's recollections are sharp, his stories captivating, and his legacy in jazz undeniable.The conversation begins with Alan's reluctant entry into music. After failing his school qualifications and enduring what he describes as "dodgy day jobs", the 15-year-old Skidmore finally turned to the saxophone his father had given him two years earlier. What follows is a fascinating account of his father's strict teaching methods – forcing him to practice scales for hours, developing his sound through “long notes”, and immersing him in the music of Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. This rigorous foundation launched a lifetime devoted to jazz.The narrative takes a profound turn when Alan recounts witnessing John Coltrane perform live in 1961. Just 19 years old at the time, he watched in awe as Coltrane played ‘My Favourite Things’ on soprano saxophone for an entire hour. This transformative experience solidified Coltrane's position as "the greatest saxophone player I've ever heard in my life" in Alan's estimation.Perhaps the most moving segment comes when Alan shares his experience playing with Coltrane's drummer, Elvin Jones, at Ronnie Scott's. His description of Jones as "such a lovely person" and "an unbelievable nice, genuine, decent guy" offers a heartwarming glimpse into the character behind the legendary musician. Equally remarkable is the story of Michael Brecker thanking Alan because it was Skidmore's solo with John Mayall and Eric Clapton on ‘Have You Heard’ (‘The Beano album’) in 1966 that inspired Brecker to play saxophone – a testament to Alan's influence on even the greatest players of subsequent generations. Alan tries out the Quartet app for the first time with a spontaneous Blues in E Flat.The conversation weaves through Alan's session work, including recording with The Beatles, his fifty-year stint with Georgie Fame, and his critically acclaimed six-CD anthology that was voted box set of the year in New York. Throughout it all, Alan's humility shines, whether discussing his musical weaknesses or sharing wisdom about encouraging fellow musicians.This episode offers more than just a journey through jazz history – it's a masterclass in musical lineage, the power of influence, and the human connections that define a life in music. Whether you're a jazz aficionado or simply appreciate remarkable life stories, Alan Skidmore's experiences will resonate, educate, and inspire. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff has a visit from an old friend – the wonderful jazz saxophonist, composer and educator Martin Hathaway. What does it take to forge a path in jazz that spans performing, teaching, and leading one of the UK's most prestigious jazz education programs? In this captivating conversation, Martin opens up about his musical journey from curious child to influential jazz pedagogue.Martin's story begins with a recorder, an innate ability to play by ear, and an uncle who introduced him to the sounds of West Coast jazz through cherished vinyl records. These early experiences of recording jazz albums onto cassette tapes from the library and learning solos by ear would later form the foundation of his approach to jazz education. There's something wonderfully authentic about his recollection of performing Gerry Mulligan's ‘Walkin’ Shoes’ as a school assembly solo - cobbling together improvisations he'd learned from recordings without truly understanding the theory behind them.The conversation delves deep into the art of teaching jazz improvisation, with Martin reflecting on his years leading the Guildhall School of Music's jazz program. He thoughtfully explores the tension between academic approaches to jazz education and the more organic, ear-based learning that characterised his own development. His balanced perspective acknowledges multiple pathways to improvisation - from melody-based approaches inspired by Louis Armstrong to vocabulary-building "licks" methods - offering invaluable insight for players at any stage of development.Martin demonstrates his improvisational approach to the 1930s Irving Berlin standard ‘How Deep is the Ocean?’ (accompanied by the Quartet app of course), revealing how an experienced improviser navigates harmony in real-time while maintaining melodic coherence. His reflections on career highlights - from debut performances at Ronnie Scott's to sharing stages with heroes like Harry Beckett - remind us that jazz is ultimately about human connection and the passing of a torch from one generation to the next. Whether you're a jazz student seeking guidance or a seasoned player looking for fresh inspiration, Martin's journey offers both practical wisdom and the reassurance that even the most accomplished musicians continue learning throughout their careers. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

In this episode Geoff catches up with the award-winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price.Nigel’s remarkable journey from infantry service to jazz mastery provides a fascinating window into the development of a truly unique musical voice.Nigel reveals how his three years in the army unexpectedly prepared him for life as a bandleader—discovering parallels between commanding a four-man military section and leading a jazz quartet. This disciplined approach extended to his practice regime, where he spent "three hours a day for seven years" developing his voice-leading technique within systematically organised fret positions.Rather than simply copying jazz legends, Nigel focused on understanding harmonic foundations to create his own language. "I'd sort of hear something and work it out and then try and twist it around and try and make it my own," he explains. This philosophy was reinforced by mentor Jim Mullen's advice that “…it’s far more interesting when someone's worked it out for themselves."The conversation delves into Nigel’s ingenious "jazz wheel" practice method, his custom-designed Fibonacci guitar, and his approach to composition. We're treated to stunning demonstrations of his technique, including a masterclass in playing the challenging 1930s Hammerstein/Kern standard ‘All the Things You Are’ (accompanied by the steadfast Quartet app of course) while restricted to just five frets! Between technical insights, Nigel shares candid stories about struggling with sight-reading ("a guitarist’s disease"), weeping on stage after selling out Ronnie Scott's, and watching Jaws 47 times!Whether you're a jazz guitarist seeking practice inspiration or simply fascinated by the creative process, Nigel’s methodical yet deeply musical approach offers valuable lessons about finding your unique voice through disciplined exploration. Ready to revolutionise your practice routine? Listen now and discover how military precision transformed one guitarist's musical journey.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff is on tour in Holland with the internationally renowned trumpet player Steve Fishwick. In a dressing room before the gig, they catch up on all things jazz improvisation.Growing up in Manchester during the UK's jazz boom of the late 1980s, Steve recalls his first encounters with jazz through television documentaries and live performances, including a memorable Dizzy Gillespie concert that ignited his passion. What makes this discussion particularly valuable is Steve's honesty about the challenges of learning improvisation without today's resources. His description of "groping in the dark" with mail-order jazz books and painstakingly transcribing solos by ear offers a stark contrast to today's learning landscape. Yet there's something profoundly important about that struggle – it forced a deep listening practice that became the foundation of his musical identity. Steve shares pivotal moments that shaped his development: advice from saxophonist Jim Tomlinson about arpeggiating chords in time, discovering the power of transcription through Steve Waterman's example, and transformative guidance from Lew Soloff about breathing techniques. His reflections on studying with the legendary Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra reveal the cross-pollination between classical and jazz traditions that enriches his teaching at institutions like Leeds Conservatoire and Trinity College London. The conversation takes fascinating turns as Steve demonstrates Lee Morgan's distinctive trumpet techniques and discusses the challenge of being an introvert in an art form that demands extroverted expression.  Steve shows his improvisational prowess through Victor Young/Ned Washington’s 40s standard ‘Stella by Starlight’ accompanied by the trusty Quartet app of course! His career highlights – recording with Cedar Walton, performing with Anita O'Day, and being mentored by jazz legends – illustrate how dedication to craft eventually opens remarkable doors. If you're passionate about jazz, trumpet playing, or the artistic journey itself, this episode offers both practical insights and inspiring wisdom. Listen as we explore the delicate balance between technical mastery and authentic expression, and discover why playing for the love of music – rather than competition – remains Steve's guiding principle.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff is in London’s Waterloo district to meet with the multi award-winning jazz singer, broadcaster, producer, actor and comedian Ian Shaw.What does it take to build a career spanning jazz vocals, comedy, acting, and broadcasting? In this intimate conversation, Ian invites us into his creative world, tracing a fascinating journey from Welsh choir boy to one of Britain's most versatile artists.He reveals how an unconventional audition in full punk regalia launched his early career in piano bars before discovering jazz through the most unexpected source—David Bowie's album ‘Hunky Dory’. With refreshing candour, he shares how this discovery led him to explore the jazz vocal tradition through Betty Carter, Mark Murphy, and Billie Holiday, developing a unique approach to improvisation that continues to evolve even at the age of 63.The conversation takes fascinating turns as Ian discusses balancing multiple creative pursuits throughout his career. From his classical training and brass band beginnings to recent work with contemporary classical composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, he demonstrates an artistic curiosity that refuses to be confined to a single genre.Perhaps most revealing are Ian’s reflections on career highlights—performing with Quincy Jones, touring with Cedar Walton, sharing the stage with jazz legends he once only knew through vinyl discoveries. When asked about musical weaknesses, he confesses to secretly practicing flugelhorn “…into the pillow," a charming glimpse into the continued growth of an artist who never stops evolving.Whether discussing his favourite chord (E13 with a flat 9) or demonstrating his spontaneous improvisational skills on Fats Waller's ‘Ain't Misbehavin’’ (with music accompaniment from the Quartet app and ‘lyrics’ courtesy of Andrew O’Hagan’s novel ‘Caledonian Road’ open at page 112!),  Ian displays the versatility and genuine passion for music that has made him a beloved fixture on the UK jazz scene.Whether you’re a jazz aficionado, an aspiring musician or you just love stories of passion pursued without compromise by hardworking artists, this episode offers rare insights into the creative mind of a true musical polymath.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff steps into the rich musical world of Brazilian guitarist Luiz Morais as he shares his fascinating journey from the vibrant northeast of Brazil to becoming an accomplished performer, composer, and bandleader in London. The conversation delves into the intricate world of Choro music - Brazil's first truly urban musical style that blends European harmonic sophistication with African-derived rhythms. Luiz illustrates his Bossa Nova improvisation on Jobim’s 1960s standard ‘Wave’ followed by a masterful demonstration of comping techniques showcasing the subtle complexity behind these seemingly simple rhythmic patterns. Luiz shares pivotal moments in his musical development - from his move to Rio de Janeiro to immerse himself in the heart of Brazilian musical culture, to his relocation to London in 2010 seeking artistic expansion. We hear about his compositional approach ("red carpet for the melody"), his recent big band project at London’s Pizza Express Jazz Club, and the beauty behind "Waltz for Us Two," a piece written for his wedding that blends Brazilian sensibilities with Indian classical vocals. For anyone fascinated by Brazilian music traditions, jazz guitar, or cross-cultural musical fusion, this conversation offers valuable insights from a musician who embodies the sophisticated melodic and harmonic language that Brazil has contributed to global music…and download the Quartet iOS app to take your jazz play along even further.  Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff travels to Acton in West London to meet the visionary alto saxophonist, bandleader and composer Camilla George.Born in Nigeria before moving to the UK, Camilla's musical foundation was built on Sunday afternoons spent with her jazz-enthusiast father, listening to his extensive vinyl collection featuring legends like Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.What emerges throughout the conversation is how powerfully Camilla's Nigerian heritage influences her artistic expression. Her third studio album ‘Ibio-Ibio’ celebrates the culture of the people from her birthplace in Eket (now Akwa Ibom State), with compositions reflecting creation myths and cultural touchstones. When she describes transforming African folk tales from her childhood into jazz compositions we glimpse how story becomes sound in her creative process.Her journey through transcription began with Dexter Gordon before tackling Charlie Parker, with Kenny Garrett emerging as a significant influence on both her playing and compositional approach. Camilla’s rendition of Horace Silver’s  1950s standard ‘Peace’ also demonstrates her warm, expressive alto saxophone tone. The conversation takes us through career highlights, including sitting in with bass virtuoso Marcus Miller at London's Festival Hall—what was meant to be one song expanded to four when Miller invited her to stay on stage. Yet even with such achievements, Camilla remains refreshingly candid about the challenges musicians face, sharing a recent experience with performance anxiety during a big band rehearsal.Whether you're a musician seeking inspiration or a listener curious about the creative process, Camilla's thoughtful reflections offer valuable insights into crafting an authentic voice in contemporary jazz. Subscribe to hear more conversations with today's most compelling jazz artists, and explore the Quartet app to take your own jazz journey further.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

In this episode, Geoff invites the enigmatic jazz pianist, vocalist, composer and legendary educator Pete Churchill round to his pad in Bromley, Kent. After almost twenty years teaching at London’s Guildhall School of Music, Pete is now Professor of Jazz Composition at the Royal Academy of Music as well as Head of Jazz Voice at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels. Pete's musical journey weaves through rebellion, rediscovery, and remarkable innovation in jazz education. Growing up with classical musician parents (his father founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields), Pete’s path took an unexpected turn when he dramatically abandoned formal music education at 13. This teenage rebellion opened the door to jazz when his father began sending cassette tapes of jazz pianists like Jelly Roll Morton and Errol Garner.What makes Pete’s approach to teaching jazz so powerful is his extraordinary ability to "remember what it was like not to know." This perspective allows him to bridge complex musical concepts with practical understanding, creating pathways for students to discover rather than simply memorise. His methodology strips harmony back to essential relationships, using key centers and "trigger notes" that help musicians navigate harmonic terrain while maintaining their bearings.Churchill's explanation of chord symbols as musical shorthand—comparable to figured bass in Baroque music—reveals how his classical background enhances his jazz teaching. He demonstrates these concepts beautifully through a masterful rendition of Irving Berlin’s 1930s standard "How Deep Is The Ocean?” using the Quartet jazz accompaniment app, showing how paraphrasing techniques borrowed from rhetoric can shape meaningful improvisations.For singers especially, Churchill has developed approaches that honour the vulnerability of the voice. Beginning with stable reference points and gradually expanding the harmonic palette, his methods help vocalists build confidence while developing authentic expression. His insights into the narrative arc of improvisation—from presenting material to expressing personal feeling to collective interpretation—provide a framework that respects both tradition and individual voice.Beyond his teaching philosophy, Pete shares fascinating stories from his career, including his work with legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks on lyrics for Gil Evans' ‘Miles Ahead’ album—a collaboration that felt serendipitous, uniting Pete’s knowledge of jazz, The Great American Songbook, and spiritual texts.Whether you're a seasoned musician, educator, or passionate listener, this conversation offers rare insights into jazz education from one of its most thoughtful practitioners. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Geoff catches up with the internationally respected bass player and record producer Janek Gwizdala who is fresh off a flight from his home in LA for a series of London gigs. What does it take to transform from a wide-eyed teenager in South London to a sought-after bass virtuoso commanding respect around the globe? This episode captures a deeply personal conversation about an extraordinary musician whose journey spans continents, musical styles, and creative pursuits.Despite the jet lag from his transatlantic flight, Janek vividly recalls his musical awakening at Croydon's Gun Tavern, where watching a Laurence Cottle performance changed everything. "Monday morning went to Gig Sounds in Lewisham and got a bass," Janek shares, describing how within just two weeks of this revelation, he met Geoff at a jazz music course and began his remarkable journey.Janek recounts his bold decision to move to America in 1998. "Looking back as a 46-year-old man, parent and husband—totally bonkers," he reflects on his younger self's fearlessness. His time at Berklee College of Music, surrounded by future stars like Walter Smith, Jaleel Shaw, and Kendrick Scott provided the foundation for his New York career.Most fascinating is Janek’s evolution beyond performance. His 22 critically acclaimed books, 100k-subscriber YouTube channel, and thriving educational platform reveal a musician who's expanded his impact far beyond the stage. "I used to just be a bass player," he explains, detailing how he's carefully managed his online presence to maintain artistic integrity while building genuine connections with jazz students worldwide.Throughout their chat, both bassists explore deeper questions about jazz education, authenticity, and maintaining curiosity decades into a career. Janek demonstrates his approach to improvisation with a spontaneous performance of Coltrane’s 1950s standard ‘Moment’s Notice’ using the Quartet app for accompaniment, before sharing his ambitious goal: "I'm trying to make three albums a year for the rest of my life... at least another 60 or 70 records!”Whether you're a jazz aficionado, aspiring musician, or simply appreciate stories of passion pursued without compromise, this conversation offers rare insights into the mind of a true musical innovator. Subscribe to hear more conversations with remarkable musicians who are pushing boundaries and preserving the improvisational spirit at the heart of jazz.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

This week Geoff is in West London to meet one of the best-known young guitarists to emerge onto the international jazz scene – Tom Ollendorff. What makes a great guitarist instantly recognisable? How do you develop a personal musical language that transcends technical proficiency? These questions lie at the heart of Geoff’s conversation with the virtuoso guitarist who shares his fascinating journey from blues-rock enthusiast to internationally acclaimed jazz artist. Tom's evolution began organically through improvising in blues and rock contexts before a chance encounter with jazz standards opened new harmonic possibilities. "I remember going to a bar with my Dad and there was a great guitarist playing standards," he recalls. "I remember thinking, 'what are all these chords and scales?'" This curiosity launched him into deep exploration of jazz harmony through standards like ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘All The Things You Are,’ establishing the functional vocabulary necessary for improvisation. Most revealing is Tom's discussion of his classical influences. Having spent thousands of hours mastering Debussy and Bach pieces on guitar, he developed an extraordinary sensitivity to touch, tone, and the ability to create distinct voices within a single instrument. He demonstrates this brilliantly during the conversation, showing how to make melodies sing over accompaniment as well as giving a remarkable breakneck improvisation on Duke Ellington’s 1940’s standard ‘Cotton Tail (Rhythm Changes)’. What truly sets apart musicians like John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Peter Bernstein, Tom explains, is their distinctive rhythmic identity: "They could just play a C major scale and you could tell it was them just by the rhythm." This individuality represents the ultimate goal of musical development – finding your unique voice through deep study and personal expression. Whether you're a guitarist seeking to expand your horizons or simply a music lover curious about the creative process, Tom's insights offer a roadmap to musical authenticity. As he puts it: "Take what you love and internalise it... that's the beautiful thing."Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff travels to Brixton in South London to catch up with the fabulous saxophonist, band leader and composer Dave O’Higgins. This is an intimate conversation about Dave’s remarkable journey from progressive rock drummer to acclaimed jazz musician. With disarming honesty, he traces his unlikely path through music, describing how transcribing Charlie Parker solos by hand and slowing down vinyl records until they wore out shaped his approach to improvisation. Dave's current project ‘Monkin' Around’ – a chordless trio playing Thelonious Monk compositions – becomes a springboard for fascinating insights into harmony and improvisation. He explains the liberating experience of playing without piano, forcing musicians to imply rather than state harmonic structures. We witness this approach firsthand as Dave gives an impromptu performance of the 1940’s Van Heusen/Burke standard  "It Could Happen To You," demonstrating how jazz standards share common harmonic patterns that improvisers navigate through practiced vocabulary and in-the-moment listening. The conversation takes an unexpectedly vulnerable turn when Dave admits to experiencing significant performance anxiety throughout his career – particularly after lockdown – despite recording nearly 30 albums as a band leader. His stories of high pressure performances (including a memorable live radio broadcast and playing with the London Symphony Orchestra when his music disappeared) reveal the resilience required by professional musicians. These candid admissions from such an accomplished player remind us that self-doubt never fully disappears, even at the highest levels of mastery. Whether you're a jazz aficionado, a working musician, or simply curious about the creative process, this episode offers rare insights into the mind of a master improviser. Subscribe to the Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast and download the Quartet app for iOS to take your jazz play-along experience to another level.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.   

Geoff is in the leafy North London suburb of Muswell Hill to meet the wonderful Gabriella Swallow – one of the most versatile and exciting cellists of her generation.When Gabriella declares "I just want the biggest one" as her instrument selection as a child, it perfectly captures her fearless approach to musical exploration. Born in Belfast during “The Troubles” to dentist parents who loved music, Gabriella's journey from classical prodigy to genre-crossing improviser reveals a musician who refuses to be confined by tradition.The conversation takes you through her formative years at Chetham’s School of Music, where she befriended future jazz innovators like Gwilym Simcock before continuing her classical training at the Royal College of Music. All while secretly jamming with indie bands and taking her first steps into session work. Her candid reflections on these early experiences highlight the delicate art of working across musical divides - learning to respect musicians who couldn't read music but possessed extraordinary creative gifts.The heart of this episode centres on Gabriella's transformative experience touring with jazz keyboard virtuoso Hiromi. After being bluntly told her timing wasn't good enough, she embraced what she calls "funk school," spending hours daily with Hiromi and a drum machine developing walking bass technique and time feel - skills rarely taught to classical cellists. "To learn those skills post-40 years old was the biggest present she could have given me," Gabriella reflects, demonstrating how embracing vulnerability led to musical growth.Throughout the conversation with Geoff, Gabriella reveals how music became her sanctuary during life's challenges, from her boarding school experience to balancing motherhood with her career. "Playing made me a better mother and motherhood made me a better musician," she notes, showing how these seemingly competing identities actually strengthened each other.Listen as Gabriella performs an impromptu improvisation on Charlie Chaplin’s 1930s standard 'Smile', demonstrating her lyrical approach to jazz standards while discussing the technical challenges of adapting classical technique to new contexts. Her story will inspire anyone seeking to cross musical boundaries and find their authentic voice, regardless of their training or background.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff is in Blackheath in South London to meet the greatly respected trumpet player, composer, arranger and educator Mark Armstrong. Mark opens up about the electrifying moment jazz first captivated him as a schoolboy—a "kinesthetic experience" of colours and sounds that sparked a lifelong pursuit. Now an accomplished trumpet player with Ronnie Scott's big band, Jazz Professor at the Royal College of Music and former musical director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Mark brilliantly articulates how jazz education parallels language acquisition. For those not born into jazz communities, he suggests learning the music requires understanding its grammar while developing an authentic accent—placing rhythmic feel at the foundation before tackling harmony. His thoughtful breakdown of "the butter notes" (what Miles Davis called his chord extensions) and sophisticated rhythmic groupings demonstrates why he's become such a respected educator. The conversation reveals Mark’s analytical yet deeply expressive approach to improvisation. He masterfully explains how certain beats create more tension than others, how abrupt directional changes within melodic lines create "internal syncopation," and why the silence after notes matters as much as the notes themselves. When demonstrating on Ray Noble’s 1930’s jazz standard "Cherokee," his playing embodies these concepts with fluid, bebop-influenced lines that showcase his meticulous understanding of harmonic and rhythmic interplay. Mark’s vulnerability about his own challenges—particularly leaving enough space and maintaining the right mental state during performance—offers reassurance to developing musicians. His reflections on career highlights, including working with British jazz legend Stan Tracey, and his passion for science fiction literature reveal an intellectually curious musician who values emotional authenticity.Whether you're a trumpet player, jazz educator, or curious listener, Mark Armstrong's insights will transform how you hear and approach jazz improvisation. Try the Quartet App he recommends for your own practice journey! (shameless plug)Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff travels to Wallington in South London to meet the incredibly talented jazz pianist, composer and arranger Phil Merriman.Phil isn't your typical jazz pianist. You immediately sense you're with a musician who refuses to be confined by traditional genre boundaries. "For me, it's not about two camps at all," he explains, discussing the artificial division between classical and jazz. "I even struggle saying I'm a jazz piano teacher. I think I just teach the piano."This refreshingly integrated approach to music stems partly from Phil's formative years studying with the legendary John Taylor, whose influence permeates Phil's playing and teaching philosophy. He recalls Taylor's unique teaching style with reverence: "Very warm and very welcoming nature which, even before you've begun the music, says so much." Unlike conventional jazz instruction that might focus on licks and patterns, Taylor created an environment of exploration where Phil learned as much from Taylor's touch and tone as from the notes themselves.Phil's technical approach reflects this boundary-crossing sensibility. While many jazz pianists focus primarily on right-hand melodies with left-hand comping, Phil has made it his mission to develop equal strength in both hands. The result is a captivating dialogue between left and right that creates a truly pianistic approach to improvisation. When he demonstrates Kenny Wheeler's ‘Everybody's Song But My Own’ this balanced technique shines through - melodic lines flow seamlessly between hands, creating conversations within a single player.For aspiring composers, Phil offers practical wisdom about the creative process. Rather than waiting for inspiration from sunsets or profound experiences, he designates specific time for composition - Thursdays from 9 to 3 - emphasising that writing music requires discipline and regular practice.Whether you're a pianist looking to develop a more integrated approach to the instrument, a composer seeking practical wisdom, or simply a lover of thoughtful music-making, Phil Merriman's perspectives will transform how you think about artistic boundaries and creative process. Listen now to expand your musical horizons.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

Geoff doorsteps the 29-year old vocal genius Freddie Benedict and discovers that his talents go far beyond just trumpet and vocals. Could Britain’s answer to Michael Bublé be any more talented?With an undergraduate degree in Spanish and Portuguese before formally studying jazz at Guildhall, Freddie brings linguistic depth to his performances, particularly evident in his passion for Brazilian music. This linguistic mastery combines with his unique dual identity as a vocalist and trumpet player, to create performances that blend technical skill with emotional depth. His debut show at London’s Ronnie Scott’s sold out in just two weeks – compelling evidence that audiences are eager to experience his unique and diverse musical talent.Freddie talks jazz heroes, ADR and Bossa Nova demonstrating his vocal improvisation prowess to Jobim’s ‘One Note Samba’. Technical insights and the human story behind a rising star’s development, subscribe now to catch more conversations with today's most exciting jazz artists.    Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

In a rather noisy back room at London’s Pizza Express Jazz Club, Geoff chews the fat with ‘soul’ jazz guitarist Chris Standring before a gig. Native Brit Chris has just flown in from LA for a series of concerts in London and reminisces about his dilemmas as a frustrated young jazz guitarist looking to make it as a solo artist. Chris reveals the pivotal moment when a friend’s casual observation – “You’ve got more gigs in LA than you’ve got over here” – prompted him to permanently relocate to America in 1991. “I slept on that overnight and by the morning I had decided not to come back”.He candidly discusses his early influences, from classical guitar studies to the transformative impact of hearing players like Larry Carlton at iconic venues such as The Baked Potato in North Hollywood. His introduction to the ‘smooth' jazz scene came through unexpected friendships and collaborations, gradually leading to recording contracts and his emergence as a distinctive voice within contemporary jazz.Chris talks frankly about everything from a guitar lesson with Pat Martino, lucky breaks and jam sessions in LA, to his evolving jazz vocabulary. Chris also treats us to a couple of spontaneous improvised choruses in the style of Victor Young’s ‘Stella By Starlight’. Whether you’re a dedicated jazz aficionado or simply appreciate stories of artistic perseverance, subscribe now to catch more candid conversations with today's most exciting jazz artists.    Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff gets the train to Leighton Buzzard to meet the legendary jazz saxophonist Alan Barnes. This intimate conversation reveals the musical journey of one of Britain's most respected reed players, from his first enchantment with Acker Bilk's clarinet to his evolution as a multi-award-winning bandleader, composer, and record label owner.Alan shares revelatory insights about the art of improvisation, explaining his refreshingly straightforward approach: "Play the tune and embellish it if you can." Rather than getting lost in theoretical frameworks and modal terminology, he emphasises melodic paraphrasing and the importance of being able to sing what you play. His tales of transcribing Art Pepper and Clifford Brown solos illuminate how jazz vocabulary develops through deep listening and imitation before becoming personal expression.The conversation takes us through Alan's formative years, including his father's insistence on achieving Grade 8 on clarinet before getting a saxophone – "the best thing that happened to me" – and his move to London in 1980 that launched collaborations with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Tommy Chase, and eventually touring America with Warren Vache's 12-piece band. We hear fascinating anecdotes about musical legends and gain insight into the mental aspects of performance, with Alan explaining how overthinking can undermine improvisation: "It's like a tightrope walker looking down!”With an extensive repertoire and vast technical knowledge of jazz standards, Alan treats us to an improvised solo in the style of Cole Porter’s ‘You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To’ on what is (possibly) the UK’s most refurbished alto sax!  Whether you're a seasoned player or jazz enthusiast, this episode offers rare wisdom from a lifetime dedicated to this enduring art form. Subscribe now to catch more conversations with today's most exciting jazz artists. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

Geoff tracks down the wonderful jazz singer Emma Smith just a few weeks after she lands a major record deal. She opens up about her remarkable journey from rebelling against her jazz musician parents to becoming one of the UK’s most captivating jazz performers. They discuss everything from improvisation technique to social media and the challenges of making it Stateside. Emma’s approach to vocal improvisation reflects her deeply thoughtful musicianship. Unlike instrumentalists who can press keys to produce specific notes, vocalists must develop an internal understanding of harmony. "I have to feel it, I have to become familiar with what a flat 13 feels like," she explains, detailing how she personifies musical modes as characters with distinct personalities. In a brilliant demonstration of her improvisation methods, Emma treats us to a world first: an impromptu rendition of her TV wall bracket instruction manual to the Evans/Mann jazz standard ‘No Moon At All’. From transcribing trumpet solos to her adventures with the Quartet app, Smith's musical journey reveals an artist committed to growth while remaining authentically herself. Her parting advice resonates with wisdom earned through experience: "Be in the driver's seat of your improvising, of your conviction, of your melodic development, of your storytelling”.Subscribe now to catch more conversations with today's most exciting jazz artists. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

Step into the vibrant world of jazz through intimate conversations with the artists who live it every day. The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast, hosted by renowned bassist, composer and producer Geoff Gascoyne, strips away the mystique surrounding jazz musicians to reveal the human stories behind the solos.Each week, we sit down with both legendary artists and rising stars from the jazz world, exploring their musical journeys in ways both profound and playfully candid. Vocalist Emma Smith shares practice techniques you can use on your morning commute, while veteran saxophonist Alan Barnes breaks down Clifford Brown's iconic solos with the wisdom that only decades on the bandstand can provide. Guitarist Chris Standring reveals how a single lesson with Pat Martino transformed his relationship with music after 34 years of playing professionally, while young talent Freddie Benedict surprises us with his political impressions alongside serious harmonic insights.What makes our podcast unique is the perfect balance between technical jazz discussion and entertaining storytelling. You'll gain genuine insights into improvisation techniques and harmonic approaches while enjoying plenty of laughs along the way. These musicians don't just share their musical expertise - they open up about the realities of hustling for gigs, life on the road, and the moments of connection that make a jazz career worthwhile despite its challenges.Whether you're a dedicated musician seeking to expand your improvisational toolkit or simply someone who appreciates authentic conversations with creative minds, you'll find something valuable in these weekly episodes. Download the first four episodes now, and don't forget to check out the Quartet app for iOS to take your jazz play-along experience to another level.Subscribe now to never miss an episode!Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.