Articles by Larry Slater

Radio & Podcasts

Abdullah Ibrahim, part II: recordings with Ekaya

by Larry Slater
November 13, 2026

The South African jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim was referred to as his country's Mozart by Nelson Mandela.“Abdullah passed away peacefully with South Africa and its people in his heart," In an extraordinarily accomplished career that spanned eight decades, Ibrahim helped bring modern jazz to South Africa. In his later years, he became an idol and inspiration to new generations of jazz pianists. One South African wrote: “The giant tree has fallen, but its roots remain forever in the ...

Radio & Podcasts

Chapter 13: Kudos And Coda

by Larry Slater
November 6, 2026

Artie Shaw was an enigma. A self-taught, brilliant clarinetist blessed with movie-star good looks, he became one of the defining musicians of the Big Band era. Yet at the height of his fame, he walked away from the music business, leaving behind a legacy as fascinating as it was influential. In the early 1990s, Ted Hallock--a passionate jazz scholar and former Oregon State Senator--spent a week with Shaw recording an extraordinary series of in-depth conversations about music, life ...

Radio & Podcasts

Abdullah Ibrahim, South Africa's Jazz Giant, part I: The early years

by Larry Slater
November 6, 2026

The South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim ( also known as Dollar Brand in his early career ) died in June 2026 at age 91.A guiding light of South African jazz, Ibrahim was also one of the music's most gifted composers. One of the many eulogies posted on-line commented “ His music crossed borders that politics could not. For as long as a piano key is struck in search of truth, as long as jazz breathes in ...

Radio & Podcasts

Chapter 12: To be or not? That's the hassle

by Larry Slater
October 30, 2026

Radio & Podcasts

Chapter 11: The End Of The Beginning

by Larry Slater
October 23, 2026

Artie Shaw was an enigma. A self-taught, brilliant clarinetist blessed with movie-star good looks, he became one of the defining musicians of the Big Band era. Yet at the height of his fame, he walked away from the music business, leaving behind a legacy as fascinating as it was influential.In the early 1990s, Ted Hallock--a passionate jazz scholar and former Oregon State Senator--spent a week with Shaw recording an extraordinary series of in-depth conversations about music, life and ...

Radio & Podcasts

South Africa's Legendary Jazz Musicians

by Larry Slater
October 23, 2026

South African jazz has such an identifiable sound. It is a blending of musical cultures which arose from the oppressive conditions experienced by black South Africans.Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba left South Africa and became internationally recognized artists, particularly in the US. Many other distinctive South African jazz musicians chose to stay, persevering despite the incredible hardships. Some lived long enough to witness the end of apartheid in the early 1990s Others chose to leave for ...

Radio & Podcasts

Chapter 10: That was the year Artie Shaw recorded Jingle bells

by Larry Slater
October 16, 2026

Artie Shaw was an enigma. A self-taught, brilliant clarinetist blessed with movie-star good looks, he became one of the defining musicians of the Big Band era. Yet at the height of his fame, he walked away from the music business, leaving behind a legacy as fascinating as it was influential.In the early 1990s, Ted Hallock--a passionate jazz scholar and former Oregon State Senator--spent a week with Shaw recording an extraordinary series of in-depth conversations about music, life and ...

Radio & Podcasts

South African Jazz, chapter 1: The Jazz Epistles, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba

by Larry Slater
October 9, 2026

South Africa has the most distinctive and long-lived jazz community on the African continent. You might be unaware that there is such a thing as South African jazz, but you've almost certainly heard it.The roots of South African jazz began in township jazz, a vibrant, upbeat music genre born in the segregated black neighborhoods of South Africa during the 20th century. Township jazz blended traditional African rhythms and gospel music with American swing and big band jazz, which ...

Radio & Podcasts

Chapter 9: The day Artie Shaw played Berezowksy at Bop City

by Larry Slater
October 9, 2026

Radio & Podcasts

Remembering Ray Brown and Lou Donaldson on their centennial

by Larry Slater
October 2, 2026

The bassist Ray Brown had one of the most prolific and successful careers in jazz. He did it all, playing in the 40s with Charlie Parker, Art Tatum and Dizzy Gillespie, before becoming a founding member of the early Modern Jazz Quartet. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's trio for 14 years as well as recording with the LA 4 for many years.The alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson came close to celebrating his centennial, but missed it by ...