Jazz as Wellness

Stress Awareness Month

With taxes due, the weather constantly changing from hot to cold, and final exams and report deadlines for students, April can be a pretty stressful month. Taxes can be so complicated. The shifts in temperature and spring pollen can make you sick. And cramming for a test is overwhelming. So it makes sense then that April is Stress Awareness Month. Founded in 1992, this month is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes, effects, and management of stress. In honor of this month and cause, Night is Alive has curated a playlist of gentle, relaxing jazz that will help you unwind and unload some of your stress.

Lonnie Plaxico, Camille Thurman & others – Free

I don’t know about you but I tend to get stressed when I’m sick. Getting sick one day isn’t the end of the world, but I hate staying home from work. It makes me feel like I’m shirking my responsibilities and I feel thrown off my routine. Then if I don’t get better in a day or two, I feel even more off-kilter and stressed. What am I missing at work? Am I going to be able to catch up? Instead of letting myself recover, I stress myself out, which makes me sick for longer.

Instead of stressing though, what you really should do when you’re sick is relax and let yourself be free to rest and recover. If you’re not freely resting with no stress then you won’t get better. So if you’ve got spring fever this month then why don’t you curl up in a warm blanket on the couch with a hot cup of tea and listen to this song. Let Thurman’s voice guide you to a place of freedom and R&R.

John Di Martino, Joe Magnarelli, Wayne Escoffery & others – Hudson River Wind

The wind and spring storms may be raging outside your window but that doesn’t mean stress needs to be raging inside your heart. Take refuge in your warm cozy home and don’t let the winds and tides of the world throw you off balance. If you’re feeling stressed there’s nothing wrong with canceling plans with friends and staying home for a night. Don’t let the FOMO get to you! Just turn on this tune, from Night is Alive’s album Old New Borrowed and Blue and ease yourself into a warm bathtub.

WJ3 All-Stars – Cry Me A River

Sometimes life can just feel like too much. How are we supposed to get everything on our to-do lists done? In just one day, how are we supposed to sleep eight hours, eat healthy meals, exercise for at least thirty minutes, work, talk to friends and family, and make time for our hobbies? Sometimes it just doesn’t seem possible, does it? Sometimes it can be so stressful that all you can do is break down and cry. Well, that’s okay. Sometimes you need a good cry; a good cry can be a healthy, cathartic release of stress. So, this April, turn on this song, from Night is Alive’s album Lover and Love Songs and cry yourself a river.

Lorca Hart Trio – Here’s That Rainy Day

All the April rain might get you down and make you feel stressed. Maybe the rain and storms are making you have to cancel plans. Maybe you and your friend were supposed to go for a walk in the park today but it’s raining so you have to pivot. You might be angry–it’s your only day off!–but the best way to avoid stress is to let go of the things that you can’t control. You can’t control the rain, so why bother getting upset about it? Instead of fighting against it, why not try and enjoy the rest and relaxation that a rainy day has to offer? Maybe you and your friend can stay home and watch a movie instead? Or you can stay cozy in bed and binge-read that novel that’s been on your shelf!

Bill Cunliffe, Martin Wind & Tim Horner – Standing By The Window Waving Goodbye

There are many ways to alleviate stress: deep breathing, meditation, yoga. Or maybe journaling is your thing, or running, or talking things out with a good friend. No matter what your strategy is, it’s important that you have a stress alleviation toolbox at your disposal. That way, whenever you’re feeling stressed you know the steps you can take to slough it off. Before you know it, you’ll be standing by the window waving goodbye to your stress!

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

What is the Chicago style of Jazz?

Did you know that there are lots of different styles of jazz music?

There’s jazz typical of New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City, New York City, the West Coast and much more! Today we’re going to focus on the Chicago style. If you’ve ever sat in a jazz club and felt the music get a little faster, a little more “rebellious,” and a lot more focused on individual flair, you might have been listening to the Chicago style of jazz.

While jazz was born in the humid streets of New Orleans, it also flourished in the speakeasies of Chicago. During the 1920s, the Great Migration brought about six million Black people from the rural South to the North, Midwest and West, including legendary musicians like Louis Armstrong and King Oliver. Once they reached the Windy City, their sound collided with that of the local young, eager musicians (often high schoolers from the suburbs), and a brand-new flavor of jazz was born.

So, what exactly makes the Chicago style different from its New Orleans cousin? Let’s break it down into three easy-to-spot characteristics:

  1. From the Group to the Soloist

In early New Orleans jazz, the whole band usually played at once in a style called collective improvisation. It was a beautiful, chaotic, improvised conversation with everyone engaging at the same time.

Chicago style changed the rules. It put the spotlight on the individual. The band plays together at the start, but then the music clears out to shine the light on one musician. Usually the trumpeter or the saxophonist really shows off for a few rounds. If New Orleans jazz is a dinner party conversation, then Chicago jazz is a talent show.

  1. The Rise of the Saxophone

In the original New Orleans jazz, the clarinet was the king of the woodwinds. But in Chicago, the tenor saxophone stepped into the ring. Musicians like Bud Freeman helped make the sax a staple of the jazz sound. It added a huskier, more aggressive tone to the music that fit the fast-paced energy of a big, bustling city like Chicago.

  1. A “Hurry Up” Kind of Energy

Chicago jazz feels a bit more driven than the relaxed, swinging porch-music vibe of the South. Because it was influenced by the frantic pace of urban life and the rhythmic precision of ragtime, the tempo is often a bit faster than the New Orleans style. It has a direct, straight-ahead feel, like a strut down a busy sidewalk rather than a meandering stroll.

Why is it so hard to tell them apart?

If you’re feeling a bit confused, don’t worry, even the experts get still stumped! Because recording technology didn’t really take off until the mid-1920s, we don’t have many “pure” examples of what jazz sounded like before all the styles started mixing.

By the time the famous Austin High Gang (a group of young white musicians including Jimmy McPartland) started recording, they had already been listening to Black legends like Louis Armstrong for years. Everyone was influencing everyone else! This melting pot of sounds eventually moved to New York in the 1930s and evolved into what we now call  the Dixieland style of jazz.

Whether it’s the elaborate arrangements of Jelly Roll Morton or the informal, rowdy jams of the McPartland crew, Chicago jazz is all about the rush of the moment and the power of the solo. To finish off this post, Night is Alive will leave you with two signature Chicago style jazz tracks:

The McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans – Nobody’s Sweetheart

This 1927 track is practically a manifesto for the Chicago style. Recorded by members of the Austin High Gang, you can hear that signature fast-paced energy right from the start. Unlike the smoother New Orleans recordings of the same era, this song features explosive solo sections where the individual players get to flex their muscles. It’s gritty, slightly frantic, and perfectly captures the rebellious spirit of 1920s youth culture in the city.

Jimmy McPartland and His Orchestra – China Boy

Jimmy McPartland was one of the driving forces behind the Chicago style of jazz, and “China Boy” is a fantastic example of the transition from collective playing to solo-exalting jazz. Pay close attention to the way the instruments interact; while there is still that classic feeling of togetherness at the beginning and end, the middle of the song showcases the soloists. The 1922 tune highlights the technical skill and the brighter, more aggressive fire that defined the Chicago brass sound.

We hope that you learned something new from reading this post, and if you’re interested in learning more about jazz music history, check out NiA’s post about the birthplace of jazz and post about the role of women in jazz music history.

Visit Night is Alive’s albums page and explore all the different genres of jazz we have to offer!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by TJ Dragotta on Unsplash

Why Do We Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month?

Did you know that April is Jazz Appreciation Month?

Appropriately referred to as “JAM” for short, this month is all about celebrating jazz as not only a genre of music but also as a living and breathing symbol of American unity, creativity and artistry. Jazz has history but it also has a future. Jazz is constantly evolving and adapting according to the rich and diverse talents of the musicians, tastes of the listeners and spirit of the time. Here at Night is Alive we are eager and overjoyed to celebrate our many impressive musicians who contribute to the dynamic, soul-nourishing and community-enhancing genre of jazz!

NiA represents countless exemplary musicians, but in this post we would like to recognize the artists from one of our newest albums, It Takes 3: saxophonist Harry Allen, pianist Rossano Sportiello and drummer Bryan Carter. This album is a testament to the continuing appeal of jazz and the remarkable magic that is achieved when masterful musicians come together. Have a listen to the poignant rendition of “Unforgettable,” which captures both the rich tradition of jazz as well as the excitement of fresh interpretations.

Harry Allen, Rossano Sportiello, Bryan Carter – Unforgettable

Even though JAM was technically created in 2001 by John Edward Hasse, the curator of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, its origins date back to earlier. In 1980 the Louisiana Jazz Federation founded the statewide Jazz Awareness Month. JAM is now a national extension of this original state festival and is held in both the U.S. and Canada every April. Many schools, organizations and local communities celebrate JAM with free concerts and educational programs that pay tribute to jazz’s past, present and future. Be sure to check your local libraries, theaters and schools for activities near you!

If you live in the Washington D.C. area, be sure to check out the many events going on at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The Smithsonian website writes that the 2026 program will honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. by exploring the rich, diverse tapestry of jazz across the nation. “From the hot rhythms of New Orleans and the swinging streets of Chicago and Kansas City to the cool, sophisticated sounds of the West Coast, this series shines a spotlight on the myriad regional styles and histories that have shaped jazz as a uniquely American art form,” the website reads.

To learn more about jazz music history, please check out NiA’s post about the birthplace of jazz and post about the role of women in jazz music history. We also have a post that includes six tunes to listen to on April 30th for International Jazz Day! And stay tuned for an upcoming post about the Chicago style of jazz.

For now, we’ll leave you with a tune from jazz icon Tony Bennett, whose legacy will be remembered this year at JAM in honor of his 100th birthday. Almost everyone will recognize this tune, which was released in 1962 and won a Grammy that same year for the best male solo vocal performance. Bennett captures the nostalgia that the narrator feels towards the American city of San Francisco. When I come home to you, San Francisco / Your golden sun will shine for me.

Tony Bennett – I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Visit Night is Alive’s albums page and explore all the different genres of jazz we have to offer!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Tunes for a rainy day

April can be a tough month, with the relentless rain and cold when all you want is spring flowers already! We’ve been through the winter for long enough, so why can’t it just release its grip on us already!? That is a very good question, and one that unfortunately only Mother Nature understands. But instead of bemoaning the April showers, why don’t we try to practice some patience? Only patience will get us through this time and usher us into the period of beautiful blooming May flowers. To help you focus on the rainbow at the end of the storm, Night is Alive has curated an April Showers Bring May Flowers playlist!

Harry Allen Trio – It Seems To Me I’ve Heard That Song Before

With every gray rainy day blurring into another gray rainy day, it can start to feel a bit repetitive, like groundhogs day. The songs on the radio might even start to blur together and it may even feel like you’ve heard this song before! But alas, it’s not true. Each and every day is unique and special in its own way, even if it is raining and storming. Let this song from Night is Alive’s album It Takes 3 wash over you while you bask in the present moment, even if it feels a bit like deja vu.

Lorca Hart Trio – Recluse

Staying inside for days on end can start to make you feel like a recluse. All the rain and cold might make you feel a bit stir crazy, like you need to get out of the house and do something, anything! Maybe you live alone and feel particularly solitary and lonely. It can be hard to endure these stormy days, but maybe you can try and appreciate the gift of solitude. It’s not often that we get to spend so much time alone, so why not make the most of it? Soon enough you’ll be busy, in the full swing of summer and you’ll be wishing for these quiet days again.

Janis Siegel and John Di Martino – Are You Alright

Being stuck inside during a thunderstorm gives you a good opportunity to check in with old friends. Maybe you call up someone who you haven’t chatted with in a while, or maybe you write a long distance friend a letter or postcard. Or maybe the person who you need to check in with is yourself. Maybe you need to journal a bit, schedule an appointment with your therapist. This song, from Night is Alive’s album Cryin In My Whiskey reminds us that it’s crucial to check in with loved ones and ourselves.

Bill Cunliffe, Tim Horner and Martin Wind – Little Bird

Do you see that? A little bird is perched on a branch outside your window! Watch as it pecks around, maybe even sings a little bit. The bird is a good sign, an omen that warmer weather is right around the corner! Enjoy this hopeful, upbeat tune, from Night is Alive’s album Border Widow’s Lament, as you observe the cute little bird. Maybe the bird’s song will even harmonize with the jazz?

John Di Martino, Harry Allen  & Others – Suddenly It’s Spring

Would you look at that! Before you know it, the rainy days have vanished and spring has arrived! Finally, you don’t have to wear a warm winter jacket outside; a light jean one will do. Celebrate this glorious day with a stroll in the park while you listen to this beautiful song from Night is Alive’s album Call Me Irresponsible. Trees stomp their feet . . . all at once there seems to be a change.

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by michael podger on Unsplash