Traditions In Swing: Sidney Bechet Needs To Be Heard
Listening is emphasized in this program on legendary Sidney Bechet recordings made in the 1920s and 1930s.
Phil Schaap (1951-2021) was a prominent voice in New York radio since 1970. He taught in the Graduate
Division at Juilliard and was the academic head of Swing University for Jazz at Lincoln Center.
For 14 years, Phil taught in the American Studies Department at Princeton University. He has been
profiled in the New Yorker magazine for his seminal role in the preservation of Jazz music, and
is widely regarded as one of its foremost scholars. The knowledge and radio broadcasts on this
website are the result of his lifelong immersion in America's finest original art form, and represent
the highest possible quality of information available in modern Jazz scholarship. This site is
maintained by Phil's students to honor his legacy by providing accurate and explanatory Jazz information
through his archival radio broadcasts and writings.
Recently Added
Traditions In Swing: Joe Robichaux
Phil explores the obscure 1933 recordings of New Orleans pianist Joe Robichaux.
Bird Flight: Early 1951 Overview Part 1
Disc 1/2Part 1 of an overview of Bird’s activities in early 1951.
Bird Flight: Early 1951 Overview Part 2
Disc 2/2Part 2 of an overview of Bird’s activities in early 1951.
Bird Flight: 1950-1951 Quintet Part 1
Disc 1/2Part 1 in a series acknowledges an overlooked quintet that Bird led from late 1950 to early 1951 on a hiatus from Charlie Parker with Strings.
Bird Flight: 1950-1951 Quintet Part 2
Disc 2/2Part 2 in a series acknowledges an overlooked quintet that Bird led from late 1950 to early 1951 on a hiatus from Charlie Parker with Strings.
Bird Flight: William Henry Apartments Jam Session
Phil investigates the jam session recording of January 7, 1951 at Jimmy Knepper and Joe Maini’s apartment.
Bird Flight: "Star Eyes"
Phil plays the recordings of Bird’s January 17, 1951 studio session and examines the repertory choice of “Star Eyes”.
Bird Flight: Great BeBop by Bird
After a successful fundraiser, Phil takes a break from the chronology to play a selection of great BeBop by Bird.
Out To Lunch: Frankie Newton Part 1
Disc 1/5Part 1 of 5 in a comprehensive examination of the lost master of the trumpet, Frankie Newton.
Out To Lunch: Frankie Newton Part 2
Disc 2/5Part 2 of 5 in a comprehensive examination of the lost master of the trumpet, Frankie Newton.
Out To Lunch: Frankie Newton Part 3
Disc 3/5Part 3 of 5 in a comprehensive examination of the lost master of the trumpet, Frankie Newton.
Out To Lunch: Frankie Newton Part 4
Disc 4/5Part 4 of 5 in a comprehensive examination of the lost master of the trumpet, Frankie Newton.
Out To Lunch: Frankie Newton Part 5
Disc 5/5Part 5 of 5 in a comprehensive examination of the lost master of the trumpet, Frankie Newton.
Traditions In Swing: Chick Webb Instrumentals
Phil concentrates on the recorded instrumental tracks to emphasize the greatness of Chick Webb’s orchestra.
Out To Lunch: Roy Eldridge with Gene Krupa for Black History Month
For the closing show in his annual Black History Month series, Phil presents the music that came from Roy Eldridge integrating the Gene Krupa Orchestra.
Bird Flight: Cherokees
With the 1943 demo disc recording as a framework, Phil plays every recording of Parker playing the song “Cherokee”.
Bird Flight: Bird on Tenor Saxophone
Phil plays the almost complete recordings of Bird on tenor saxophone.
Bird Flight: 1943 Demo Disc
Phil reviews the significant 1943 demo disc session done by Bird in Kansas City.
Bird Flight: Noble Sissle
Phil examines the possibility that Bird is present on a May of 1944 recording of the Noble Sissle Orchestra.
Bird Flight: Tiny Grimes 1944
Phil plates the September 15, 1944 Savoy recording date of Tiny Grimes, which featured Bird.
Kalaparusha Memorial Broadcast
Phil offers some brief recollections of saxophonist Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre for the opening of a memorial program.
Traditions In Swing: Count Basie for Black History Month
Phil brings forth the overlooked actions of Count Basie that justify his place in Black History Month celebrations.
Out To Lunch: Larger Ensemble Brownie
Phil plays the recordings made by Clifford Brown in ensembles larger than his familiar combos.
Bird Flight: Benny Goodman Overdubs Part 1
Disc 1/2Phil investigates the dating of the Charlie Parker overdubs of Benny Goodman small group recordings, and offers some thoughts on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Bird Flight: Benny Goodman Overdubs Part 2
Disc 2/2Phil investigates the dating of the Charlie Parker overdubs of Benny Goodman small group recordings.
Bird Flight: Tiny Grimes 1944 Part 1
Disc 1/2Putting the September of 1944 Savoy session of Tiny Grimes into focus, Phil discusses the practices of the era related to composition and Bird’s original, “Red Cross”
Bird Flight: Tiny Grimes 1944 Part 2
Disc 2/2Putting the September of 1944 Savoy session of Tiny Grimes into focus, Phil discusses the composition “I’ll Always Love You Just The Same” and Grimes’ earlier band, The Cats and the Fiddle.
Bird Flight: Clyde Hart 1945 Part 1
Disc 1/2Phil tells the story of Bird’s involvement in two vocal dates on the Continental label organized by pianist Clyde Hart in January of 1945.
Bird Flight: Clyde Hart 1945 Part 2
Disc 2/2Phil tells the story of Bird’s involvement in two vocal dates on the Continental label organized by pianist Clyde Hart in January of 1945.
Bird Flight: Bird with Lennie Tristano and Allen Eager
Phil takes a break from the chronology, playing Bird’s recordings with Allen Eager and Lennie Tristano.
Bird Flight: Red Norvo 1945 Part 1
Disc 1/2Phil delves into one of the first BeBop recording sessions, Red Norvo’s June 6, 1945 date for Comet.
Bird Flight: Red Norvo 1945 Part 2
Disc 2/2Phil delves into one of the first BeBop recording sessions, Red Norvo’s June 6, 1945 date for Comet.
Traditions In Swing: Louie Bellson Memorial Broadcast
Phil remembers legendary drummer Louie Bellson.
Traditions In Swing: Leonard Gaskin Memorial Broadcast
Phil remembers bassist Leonard Gaskin, the patriarch of Brooklyn BeBop.
Out To Lunch: Tommy Flanagan 79th Birthday Broadcast
Phil celebrates the birthday of Detroit pianist Tommy Flanagan, who made music with John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Out To Lunch: Territory Bands
Phil explores the concept of territory bands, featuring obscure music from the 1920s by Lloyd Scott, Cecil Scott, McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, Walter Anderson, George Osborne, Arnold Frank, The Marigold Entertainers, Wally Erickson, Slatz Randall, Charlie Creath, Oscar Celestin, and Fate Marable.
Bird Flight: Spring 1945 Concerts Part 1
Disc 1/2Phil discusses a Sarah Vaughan record date and two concerts, all recorded in the spring of 1945.
Bird Flight: Spring 1945 Concerts Part 2
Disc 2/2Phil discusses two concerts and a Red Norvo record date, all recorded in the spring of 1945.
Bird Flight: June 22, 1945 Town Hall Concert Part 1
Disc 1/4Phil presents the music of the Town Hall concert given on June 22, 1945 by Dizzy Gillespie’s working quintet.
Bird Flight: June 22, 1945 Town Hall Concert Part 2
Disc 2/4Phil presents the music of the Town Hall concert given on June 22, 1945 by Dizzy Gillespie’s working quintet.
Bird Flight: June 22, 1945 Town Hall Concert Part 3
Disc 3/4Phil presents the music of the Town Hall concert given on June 22, 1945 by Dizzy Gillespie’s working quintet.
Bird Flight: June 22, 1945 Town Hall Concert Part 4
Disc 4/4Phil presents the music of the Town Hall concert given on June 22, 1945 by Dizzy Gillespie’s working quintet.
Max Roach Birthday Broadcast (85th)
After examining some miscellaneous Max Roach items, Phil jumps into a presentation on the drummer’s 1949 recordings done after leaving Charlie Parker’s group.
Out To Lunch: 39 Records for Phil's 39th Broadcast Anniversary
On the 39th anniversary of his first WKCR broadcast, Phil plays a selection of 39 different legendary to obscure Jazz records.
Traditions In Swing: Benny Morton 102nd Birthday Broadcast
Phil Provides a brief biography of trombonist Benny Morton, and plays his recordings with Billie Holiday.
Out To Lunch: New Orleans Rhythm Kings
Phil plays the early and pioneering recordings of the legendary New Orleans Rhythm Kings from 1922 and 1923.
Traditions In Swing: Coleman Hawkins on Keynote
Phil plays the complete recordings as a leader by Coleman Hawkins done for the Keynote label in 1944.
Bird Flight: Joe Albany Birthday Broadcast
Phil takes a break from the examination of unidentified 1951 material to celebrate the 80th birthday of pianist Joe Albany.
Bird Flight: Bird's Issued Records Part 1
Disc 1/6Phil explores the recordings of Charlie Parker that were released and widely available in his lifetime.
Bird Flight: Bird's Issued Records Part 2
Disc 2/6Phil explores the recordings of Charlie Parker that were released and widely available in his lifetime.
Bird Flight: Bird's Issued Records Part 3
Disc 3/6Phil explores the recordings of Charlie Parker that were released and widely available in his lifetime.
Bird Flight: Bird's Issued Records Part 4
Disc 4/6Phil explores the recordings of Charlie Parker that were released and widely available in his lifetime.
Bird Flight: Bird's Issued Records Part 5
Disc 5/6Phil explores the recordings of Charlie Parker that were released and widely available in his lifetime.
Bird Flight: Bird's Issued Records Part 6
Disc 6/6Phil explores the recordings of Charlie Parker that were released and widely available in his lifetime.
Out To Lunch: Cannonball Adderley 80th Birthday Broadcast Part 1
Disc 1/3Phil celebrates the 80th birthday anniversary of the legendary alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley with a program on his earliest recordings.
Out To Lunch: Cannonball Adderley 80th Birthday Broadcast Part 2
Disc 2/3Phil celebrates the 80th birthday anniversary of the legendary alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley with a program on his late 1950s recordings with Miles Davis.
Out To Lunch: Cannonball Adderley 80th Birthday Broadcast Part 3
Disc 3/3Phil celebrates the 80th birthday anniversary of the legendary alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley with a program on his 1960s recordings as a leader.
Freddie Hubbard Memorial Broadcast Part 1
Disc 1/3Phil remembers and pays tribute to trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.
Freddie Hubbard Memorial Broadcast Part 2
Disc 2/3Phil remembers and pays tribute to trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.
Freddie Hubbard Memorial Broadcast Part 3
Disc 3/3Phil remembers and pays tribute to trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.
Bird Flight: 1942 - 1944 Summary
Phil summarizes the information known about the 1942 to 1944 activities and recordings of Charlie Parker.
Bird Flight: Clyde Bernhardt 1945
Phil discusses the 1945 Clyde Bernhardt demo disc jump and blues session, which also included Jay McShann and his rhythm section reuniting with Bird.
Bird Flight: January 17, 1951
Phil examines the January 17, 1951 recording date done for Norman Granz.
Bird Flight: Early 1945 Dizzy Part 1
Disc 1/2Phil examines Dizzy Gillespie-led sessions made in early 1945 that did not feature Bird.
Bird Flight: Early 1945 Dizzy Part 2
Disc 2/2Phil examines Dizzy Gillespie-led sessions made in early 1945 that did not feature Bird.
Bird Flight: Bird with Cootie Williams
Phil focuses on Charlie Parker’s month with Cootie Williams’ orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom in February of 1945.
Bird Flight: Miscellaneous Bird
Phil plays a selection of miscellaneous Bird items, including late Dial recordings, the session with Gil Evans, and a possible recording with Cootie Williams.
Traditions In Swing: Jelly Roll Morton and Herbie Nichols
Phil celebrates two great pianist-composers with Jelly Roll Morton’s Jazz-Age Big Band sides, and a rare recording of an interview with Herbie Nichols.
Bix Beiderbecke Birthday Broadcast Part 1 (109th)
In part 1 of an extended Bix Beiderbecke celebration, Phil focuses on Bix’s talents as a composer by playing recordings of his 5 originals made by others.
Out To Lunch: Wingy Manone in the Mid-1930s
Phil explores the mid-1930s recordings of trumpeter and singer Wingy Manone and their connection to the early Swing Song Tradition. Includes an interview segment with Irv Shenkler.
Bird Flight: 1950s Overview Part 1
Disc 1/6Phil presents an overview of Bird’s activities in the 1950s, the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: 1950s Overview Part 2
Disc 2/6Phil presents an overview of Bird’s activities in the 1950s, the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: 1950s Overview Part 3
Disc 3/6Phil presents an overview of Bird’s activities in the 1950s, the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: 1950s Overview Part 4
Disc 4/6Phil presents an overview of Bird’s activities in the 1950s, the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: 1950s Overview Part 5
Disc 5/6Phil presents an overview of Bird’s activities in the 1950s, the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: 1950s Overview Part 6
Disc 6/6Phil presents an overview of Bird’s activities in the 1950s, the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: Roy Haynes 88th Birthday Broadcast
Phil celebrates the 88th birthday of drummer Roy Haynes with several recordings he made alongside Bird.
Bird Flight: New Adventures in Music Part 1
Disc 1/5Phil explores the many new adventures in music attempted by Charlie Parker after the dissolution of his working bands in the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: New Adventures in Music Part 2
Disc 2/5Phil explores the many new adventures in music attempted by Charlie Parker after the dissolution of his working bands in the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: New Adventures in Music Part 3
Disc 3/5Phil explores the many new adventures in music attempted by Charlie Parker after the dissolution of his working bands in the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: New Adventures in Music Part 4
Disc 4/5Phil explores the many new adventures in music attempted by Charlie Parker after the dissolution of his working bands in the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: New Adventures in Music Part 5
Disc 5/5Phil explores the many new adventures in music attempted by Charlie Parker after the dissolution of his working bands in the last years of his life.
Bird Flight: August 1951 Session Part 1
Disc 1/2Phil examines a studio session of August 1951, Bird’s last recording of that year, and specifically the intriguing “Blues for Alice”.
Bird Flight: August 1951 Session Part 2
Disc 2/2Phil explores the alternate takes of Bird’s August 8, 1951 Norman Granz session.
Out To Lunch: Quintet of the Hot Club of France
Phil celebrates Europe’s greatest Jazz band, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, and its’ master musicians Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.
Out To Lunch: Lou Donaldson 87th Birthday Broadcast
Phil belatedly celebrates the 87th birthday of Sweet Papa Lou Donaldson with a set of his recordings made with organist Jimmy Smith in 1957 and 1958.
Out To Lunch: The Jazz Message of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Phil gives his musings on the MLK holiday, and presents music of significance related to it.
Traditions In Swing: Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall
Phil presents the music from the most historically important Jazz concert of all time - Benny Goodman’s January 16, 1938 Carnegie Hall debut.
Out To Lunch: Lester Young for President's Day
In his annual celebration of the music of Lester Young, Phil plays the President’s recordings made after leaving Count Basie in 1940.
Bird Flight: Unidentified 1951 Boston Part 1
Disc 1/3Phil examines extensive but underdocumented recordings by a Charlie Parker quintet likely from the first part of 1951 and reported to be from Boston.
Bird Flight: Unidentified 1951 Boston Part 2
Disc 2/3Phil examines extensive but underdocumented recordings by a Charlie Parker quintet likely from the first part of 1951 and reported to be from Boston.
Bird Flight: Unidentified 1951 Boston Part 3
Disc 3/3Phil examines extensive but underdocumented recordings by a Charlie Parker quintet likely from the first part of 1951 and reported to be from Boston.
Bird Flight: Unidentified Philadelphia 1951 Part 1
Disc 1/3Phil examines an informal recording thought to have been made in Philadelphia in either June or November of 1951.
Bird Flight: Unidentified Philadelphia 1951 Part 2
Disc 2/3Phil examines an informal recording thought to have been made in Philadelphia in either June or November of 1951.
Bird Flight: Unidentified Philadelphia 1951 Part 3
Disc 3/3Phil examines an informal recording thought to have been made in Philadelphia in either June or November of 1951.
Bird Flight: Eastern Parkway 1951 Part 1
Disc 1/3Phil examines a recording of the working Charlie Parker Quintet, done on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on June 23, 1951.
Bird Flight: Eastern Parkway 1951 Part 2
Disc 2/3Phil examines a recording of the working Charlie Parker Quintet, done on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on June 23, 1951.
Bird Flight: Eastern Parkway 1951 Part 3
Disc 3/3Phil examines a recording of the working Charlie Parker Quintet, done on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on June 23, 1951.
Bird Flight: Later Years Part 1
Disc 1/3Phil starts the new year with a broad examination of the later years of Bird’s life.
Bird Flight: Later Years Part 2
Disc 2/3Phil starts the new year with a broad examination of the later years of Bird’s life.
Bird Flight: Later Years Part 3
Disc 3/3Phil starts the new year with a broad examination of the later years of Bird’s life.
Out To Lunch: Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop Concerts
Phil explores several mid-1960s Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop concerts given by two distinct bands.
Traditions In Swing: Coleman Hawkins Birthday Broadcast Part 4 (104th)
Disc 4/5In part 4 of a long-form celebration of Coleman Hawkins’ artistry, Phil examines the recordings Coleman Hawkins made upon his return to the United States from 1939 to 1945.