Joni Mitchell’s Blue, a folk masterpiece, has inspired jazz musicians since its release in 1971. Is it because she sings like a horn player? Her improvisational melodies? Her unconventional chord structures? Her confessional songwriting?

We dive into every song on Blue, breaking down her favorite chords and her vocal phrasing to understand what makes this album great. You’ll never hear this record the same way again.

Watch to the end to see the Open Studio band’s extended interpretation of our favorite song off this record: “River.”

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://osjazz.link/yhi

John Coltrane's A Love Supreme: Some call it the greatest album of the 20th century. Others say it isn't even Coltrane's best album ... of 1965.

No matter where you think it sits in the jazz music canon, Coltrane's love letter to God is a masterpiece. We break it down track-by-track, chord-by-chord to uncover what makes this album such a rewarding listen from front to back.

This week marks 99 years since Coltrane's birth. In his honor, we look back at this episode from 2024, where we listen deeply to what just may be Coltrane's magnum opus.

Looking for more Coltrane? Here are 6 Songs To Turn Coltrane Curious Into Coltrane Converted:
https://youtu.be/aSdNNTmL7Yk

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://osjazz.link/yhi

We're talking jazz influences in hip hop today with Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding from Switched On Pop. We dig into tracks from Kendrick Lamar (there's that TPAB acronym!), Common, Cautious Clay and David Bowie to surface the musical qualities that explain why jazz musicians love these artists.

Plus - we explore the striking similarities between jazz and hip hop, especially in the recording booth, and why we don't hear more jazz in the popular music canon.

Check out our Robert Glasper episode:
https://youtu.be/hsJpuqtNH9o

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://osjazz.link/yhi