Strictly Jazz Sounds-SJS

About Strictly Jazz Sounds-SJS

Strictly Jazz Sounds (SJS) features the finest legacy and contemporary jazz musicians and beyond. Every episode will feature an in-depth interview with current jazz musicians and their music, or jazz music producers, music critics and writers and jazz music venue owners/operators. SJS is about all things jazz. Host Steve Braunginn was on the air 20+ years for WORT89.9-FM.

Publisher

Stephen Braunginn

Category

music · music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Jan 2023

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Episode 36-Thelonious Monk: Wrong Is Right-Part Two

   The conversation continues. In Part Two of Thelonious Monk: Wrong Is Right, Steve Braunginn returns to his extraordinary two-day conversation with T.S. Monk—Thelonious Sphere Monk III—and his son, Thelonious Monk IV. We pick up with tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse and a fascinating question: What made Rouse such a distinctive musical partner for Monk? T.S. draws a revealing distinction between the great saxophonists who played with his father. Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane brought powerful individual voices to Monk's music. Rouse, he says, found a way to play with Monk—to understand his time, space and musical language. Then comes a remarkable Archie Shepp story, along with T.S.'s argument that Monk's harmonic influence reaches far beyond jazz. His shorthand for young musicians: "No Monk, no funk." And we hear why one of Monk's favorite sayings—"Wrong Is Right"—may tell us more about his musical revolution than a stack of textbooks. The conversation moves into the present as Thelonious Monk IV discusses joining his sister Sierre in carrying the family legacy into the digital age—preserving archival recordings, confronting bootlegs and introducing Monk to generations born long after his death. Branding the name is their future, says T.S. Monk. The excitement about future products was so present that both men were almost giddy when disclosing consumer items yet to arrive at the marketplace. Secrets were kept close to the vest but they did whisper about the wine "Legit" and beer "Brother Thelonious Belgian Ale." But some of the most revealing moments are personal. T.S. forcefully challenges the mythology surrounding his father and remembers the man he knew: a working father, a family man and, simply, "Daddy." And then there's Nellie Monk—Thelonious's lifelong partner and, in T.S.'s words, the support system without whom there might not have been a Thelonious Monk as we know him. The music continues thanks to the Monk Estate, with selections from Thelonious Monk: Live in Paris, Volume 2, released October 9th on the Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment label. The playlist is: Epistrophy (with the opening), Blue Monk-5:15 and Oska_T-12:24. Part Two brings the journey home: Charlie Rouse, Archie Shepp, "Wrong Is Right," the future of the Monk legacy—and the family behind one of the most singular voices in American music. Strictly Jazz Sounds with Steve Braunginn—conversations that let the music breathe. Photo from Arthur R. George (Thelonious Monk with Children, T.S. and Barbara).

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Episode 36-Thelonious Monk:Wrong is Right-Part One

   Thelonious Monk changed the language of jazz. But behind the unmistakable harmonies, rhythms and compositions was a husband, father and grandfather whose story is still being told by the family carrying his legacy forward. On this edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds, Steve Braunginn welcomes T.S. Monk—Thelonious Sphere Monk III—and his son, Thelonious Monk IV, for an expansive conversation about the man the world knows simply as Monk. T.S. remembers his father not as the mysterious, eccentric figure often portrayed in jazz history, but as "Daddy"—a deeply committed family man who always came home. He also makes the case for recognizing Monk as the father of modern jazz, whose new musical vocabulary helped open doors for other jazz giants-Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins-and generations that followed. The conversation takes a particularly revealing turn toward Charlie Rouse, Monk's longtime tenor saxophonist. T.S. explains why Rouse's sound represented something new for Monk and explores the musical connections among Rouse, Coltrane and Monk. Preserving the legacy of Thelonious Monk is what the family is all about today. The brand of Monk is their focus, says Monk IV as he and TS take us inside the continuing work of preserving the legacy. Thelonious Monk IV discusses Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment and the challenge of bringing historic recordings to new audiences while protecting the catalog from decades of unauthorized releases, better known as bootlegs. He also gives us a peak at the merchandise they're selling to boost the brand: cabernet from Tuscany (Legit-bottled by Tolaini; imported by Banville Wine Merchants), a dark Belgian ale (Brother Thelonious Belgian Ale), even a hat and watch. The conversation also explores Monk's relationship with Paris, the restoration and release of his remarkable 1967 Paris performance, the rediscovery of archival recordings such as Palo Alto, and what Monk's live performances reveal that his studio recordings sometimes do not and could not. Most importantly, T.S. offers listeners a different way to hear his father's genius: don't listen only to Monk's solos. Listen closely to what he plays behind the other musicians—the countermelodies, rhythms and unexpected harmonies that could lift a soloist without ever getting in the way. This is Thelonious Monk through the memories of his son, the perspective of his grandson, and a family determined to carry one of America's great musical legacies into the future. Part-one closes as we learn how important Monk was to Miles Davis, leaving listeners wondering where this fantastical story goes. Part two is close behind. The music is provided by Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment. Music from the Thelonious Monk/Live in Paris 1967, Vol. 1 playlist includes: 1. Ruby My Dear-7:08, Epistrophy-9:37, We See-07:50. Thank you for listening. Subscribe and you become one of the first to get the podcast episodes, annual top 20 jazz music playlist and jazz articles. Photo is by Olivia Monk.

3. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Episode 35-Joe Lovano: Still on the Rise

   Having a virtual conversation with someone like Joe Lovano invites you to take in more than the words. You find yourself looking around the room with him — the basement, the books, the CDs, maybe a few records, family photos, and a trombone resting naked on top of a bookcase like it had just stepped away from the bandstand. Behind Joe, as we begin talking, there's a music stand with sheet music on it, though I couldn't quite make out the title. Somehow, that feels right. With Joe Lovano, there is always music in view, and always something still being discovered. Grammy Award winning tenor saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano joins Steve Braunginn for an expansive conversation about artistic growth, jazz history and his new ECM recording, Paramount Quartet. After more than 50 years of touring, recording and helping shape modern jazz, Joe Lovano says he still feels that he is "on the rise." The Paramount Quartet, different from any other that he's had, features guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Will Calhoun, bringing together four musicians from different generations and musical backgrounds. Lovano explains how an initial trio performance with Debriano and Calhoun inspired him to add Lage, a former student in one of his Berklee College of Music ensembles, and create what he describes as an entirely new musical situation. Lovano takes listeners inside the recording session with ECM producer Manfred Eicher in southern France. He discusses the importance of sequencing, silence, spontaneous orchestration and approaching a composition differently each time it is played. He also contrasts the "nightclub sound" of his Blue Note years with the recital-hall atmosphere he associates with ECM. The conversation reaches back to Lovano's childhood in Cleveland, Ohio and the influence of his father, tenor saxophonist Tony "Big T" Lovano. Joe discusses the scholarship fund he created in his father's honor and reflects on Cleveland's often-overlooked contributions to jazz through artists such as Tadd Dameron, Albert Ayler, Jim Hall and Bill DeArango. Lovano also shares memories of Paul Motian, Elvin Jones, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and Charlie Haden, whose composition "First Song" opens the new album. Throughout the interview, Lovano returns to a central principle: improvisation is not about displaying everything a musician knows. It is about listening, leaving space, sharing ideas and finding "the melody in your heart and your rhythm spirit." ECM Records generously provided three tracks of music for this podcast. They are in the order played: Fanfare for Unity-4:12, Amsterdam-6:30, and Congregation-5:36. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Subscribe and you become one of the first to receive new episodes, jazz articles, photos and my annual Top 20 jazz recordings.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

4.3 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

69

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.