Best Jazz Real Book Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 12. Camilla George (Saxophone) - 'Peace' 36:16

1d ago36:16

36:16

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 S…

1
Expansion 39:31

3d ago39:31

39:31

For the 200th episode, Carol wanted a topic that is especially intriguing and uplifting. More fundamental than growth, the Universe is expanding in all ways, so the conversation is about how we are expanding in our spirituality, too. Rev. Bill (as usual) takes the discussion back to the fundamental concept that we are already 100% spiritual, and wh…

1
On the Edge of the Real: Guadalupe Nettel on The Accidentals 51:34

8d ago51:34

51:34

In this rich conversation, Guadalupe Nettel joins Adam Biles at Shakespeare and Company to explore the themes of her short story collection The Accidentals. They delve into the complexities of perception and the uncanny, the deep strangeness embedded in familial relationships, and the porous boundary between nature and human nature. Nettel discusse…

1
Episode 11. Pete Churchill (Vocals) - 'How Deep Is The Ocean?' 52:57

9d ago52:57

52:57

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 Conservato…

1
Intrusive Thoughts 35:59

10d ago35:59

35:59

A listener is having trouble with intrusive thoughts about tripping and falling, and is concerned that this repetitive mental activity could be drawing a problem into his life. Carol's experience is that the negative thoughts are coming from within, so the best place to start is an internal dialog to change the thoughts. Rev. Bill adds that it's no…

1
Episode 10. Janek Gwizdala (Bass) - 'Moment's Notice' 55:34

16d ago55:34

55:34

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 per…

1
Artificial Intelligence 45:45

18d ago45:45

45:45

Carol wants to talk about AI. Can it can enhance our expression or risk dulling our minds? She and Rev. Bill explore the rise of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on creativity, spirituality, and human thought. The conversation turns to AI-generated prayer, offering a fresh perspective on tradition, technology, and the soul of spiritual practi…

1
Episode 9. Tom Ollendorff (Guitar) - 'Cotton Tail' 42:47

23d ago42:47

42:47

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 vi…

1
William Blake, Sea Monsters, and the Ecstasy of Art, with Philip Hoare 57:28

26d ago57:28

57:28

In this episode of the Shakespeare and Company Interview Podcast, Adam Biles welcomes Philip Hoare to the bookstore for a mesmerizing conversation about Hoare’s latest book, William Blake and the Sea Monsters of Love. With characteristic lyricism, Hoare explores the mystic intersections between Blake’s visionary art and poetry and the siren call of…

1
Humanizing God 42:21

25d ago42:21

42:21

Carol has noticed that many people have a tendency to think of God in human terms, to anthropomorphize the Infinite. Rev. Bill has some ideas about why this happens, the two discuss the challenges and benefits of letting go of the idea of a Guy in the Sky. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to liste…

1
Episode 8. Dave O'Higgins (Saxophone) - 'It Could Happen To You' 38:53

1M ago38:53

38:53

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…

1
In God We Trust 34:55

1M ago34:55

34:55

Our money says "In God We Trust", and Carol thinks it shows that we all share a common belief that we're carrying with us at all times. Rev. Bill agrees, mostly, and points out that we can trust the Infinite to create according to our beliefs even when we don't like what we're believing in. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - …

1
Episode 7. Gabriella Swallow (Cello) - 'Smile' 53:54

1M ago53:54

53:54

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 durin…

1
Overnight: Dan Richards on Sleep, Service, and the Secrets of the Small Hours 59:27

1M ago59:27

59:27

In this episode, Adam Biles is joined by writer Dan Richards to talk about his new book Overnight, a deep dive into the world of the night and the people who live and work while the rest of us sleep. From ferry captains and bakers to ICU nurses, researchers, and racing drivers, Richards explores the unseen rhythms and quiet heroism of nocturnal lif…

1
Truth 44:40

1M ago44:40

44:40

Carol has been a leader in three different religious denominations, and has found one consistent element throughout, which is the hunger for truth - for what is true? Her answer suggests that each of us has what is true for us. Rev. Bill takes the New Thought perspective and goes back to the Ultimate Truth that there is ONLY God, showing up differe…

1
Episode 6. Mark Armstrong (Trumpet) - 'Cherokee' 46:56

1M ago46:56

46:56

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 Sco…

1
Bruise, Heal, Repeat: Anna Whitwham on On Boxing, Loss, and the Female Body 45:45

2M ago45:45

45:45

In this episode, Adam Biles is joined in the bookshop’s writing studio by Anna Whitwham, author of Soft Tissue Damage, a raw and electrifying memoir of grief, boxing, and womanhood. Following her mother’s death, Whitwham trained and fought competitively as a boxer—an act of both healing and reckoning. She discusses how physical pain can become a la…

1
Principle 48:05

2M ago48:05

48:05

Things happen - "bad things" - and Carol has found that people get paralyzed by fear that they'll get worse, or catastrophe will ensue. She and Rev. Bill explore how we can all turn to the Principles underlying the New Thought teaching, and the foundational source of the power of Practical Prayer. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer pod…

1
Episode 5. Phil Merriman (Piano) - 'Everybody's Song But My Own' 46:12

2M ago46:12

46:12

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 artificia…

1
Solvej Balle on Time, Wonder, and Writing the Impossible International Booker Prize Shortlist 56:43

2M ago56:43

56:43

In this episode recorded live at Shakespeare and Company, celebrated Danish author Solvej Balle returns to the bookshop she once called home to discuss her monumental literary project On the Calculation of Volume. The novel’s protagonist, Tara Selter, finds herself reliving November 18th—again and again—opening up a profound meditation on time, mem…

1
Meditation 45:21

2M ago45:21

45:21

People around Carol are insecure about meditation - afraid that they're going to do it wrong,that they'll choose the wrong technique, or an unsuitable teacher or guru, or that they won't be able to stay awake, or sit still, olr whatever. Rev. Bill reminds us that we can't figure it out ahead of time, so the thing to do is meditate, then see how it …

1
Episode 4. Freddie Benedict (Vocals) - ‘One Note Samba’ 38:51

2M ago38:51

38:51

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, part…

1
Episode 3. Chris Standring (Guitar) - ‘Stella By Starlight’ 43:13

2M ago43:13

43:13

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 piv…

1
Episode 2. Alan Barnes (Saxophone) - ‘You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To’ 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

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…

1
Episode 1. Emma Smith (Vocals) - ‘No Moon At All’ 43:42

2M ago43:42

43:42

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 …

1
Trailer - The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast 5:01

2M ago5:01

5:01

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 …

1
The Sacred Contract 41:25

2M ago41:25

41:25

Carol has a notion of a Sacred Contract - an agreement we make as we begin our human lives about who we're here to be, and what we're here to do. Rev. Bill has a similar idea that we are born with a unique set of skills, abilities and possibilities, and our opportunity is to figure out what they are and how best to use them. They wholeheartedly agr…

1
Nobel Prizewinner Abdulrazak Gurnah on Theft, Love, and the Power of Fiction 48:45

2M ago48:45

48:45

Nobel Prize-winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah sits down with Adam Biles in store to discuss his new novel, Theft. Their conversation delves into the intricate interplay between personal history and the enduring legacy of colonialism, examines the complex dynamics of family and servitude, and discusses the challenge of transcending inherited narrativ…

1
Prayer Works 39:57

2M ago39:57

39:57

The reason for prayer is to change an experience we're having in life - a Practical Prayer works! Carol and Rev. Bill discuss the techniques, how different it is from "traditional" prayer, and the ways that their prayers have been yielding results in their lives. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends t…

1
BONUS: Jeremy Pelt on Preserving Jazz Through Storytelling 54:10

2M ago54:10

54:10

For this bonus episode, the Shakespeare and Company podcast welcomes Jeremy Pelt, renowned jazz trumpeter and author of Griot: Examining the Lives of Jazz Great Storytellers. In conversation with Alex Freiman, Pelt discusses the evolution of jazz, the influence of oral traditions, and the importance of documenting firsthand accounts from legendary …

1
Affirmative Prayer or Other Kind of Prayer 46:27

2M ago46:27

46:27

Carol has found that New Thought has Affirmative Prayer, and Practical Prayer, as well as Affirmations and Realizations, and wants to know what the differences are. Rev. Bill takes a giant step back to discuss the differences between New Thought and other spiritual practices, then takes a running jump into Carol's question. Our apologies for the su…

1
Reimagining Moby-Dick, with Xiaolu Guo 57:03

3M ago57:03

57:03

In this episode, we’re joined by novelist and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo to discuss her latest novel, Call Me Ishmaelle. A bold reimagining of Moby-Dick, Guo's novel audaciously swaps the gender of Melville’s narrator and plunges into a world of hidden identities, maritime adventure, and cultural collision. With host Adam Biles, Guo reflects on her perso…

1
Synchronicities 47:41

3M ago47:41

47:41

People are talking to Carol about synchronicities, with certain sequences of numbers appearing over and over, and other indicators that there's more going on than meets the eye. Rev. Bill suggests that these "little happy coincidences" are indications of the "big happy coincidence", which is another version of the Creation Story of the Universe. Th…

1
Personal Abundance 39:33

3M ago39:33

39:33

Carol says that everyone wants abundance, but knows that we are pulling from a limitless sea of potential. The question is how we can connect with it, and experience it? Rev. Bill says that we can't pray for abundance, but instead get to align ourselves between the experience we desire and the Infinite Power that brings it into our lives. Thank you…

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Jazz Real Book Podcasts

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