You'll Hear It

With her 1974 masterpiece Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell transforms from folk singer into something harder to define.Her piano playing matures. Her songwriting blossoms into one of the richest harmonic and melodic color palettes we've ever heard up to this point. Not to mention her incredible lyricism and melodies. And she brings a new production sensibility from her backing band: a group of jazz musicians called The LA Express.In this episode of You'll Hear It, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Joni Mitchell's greatest artistic achievement (and her greatest commercial success) track-by-track. You'll never hear Court and Spark the same way again-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/------------------------------Blue: https://youtu.be/ly6ENKGV-S8------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------00:00 Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell00:32 New From Open Studio03:37 Joni's Sound Before Court and Spark10:04 Joni Starts Hanging Out With Jazz Musicians11:07 🎧 "Court and Spark" - Alluding To An Epic15:25 Three Songwriters in One, At the Highest Level15:57 🎧 "Help Me" - Joni DELIVERS19:09 🎧 "Free Man In Paris" 22:02 🎧 "Midnite Flite" - Tom Scott and The LA Express23:25 🎧 "People's Parties"25:55 🎧 "The Same Situation"28:05 Joni's Lyrical Prowess31:38 🎧 "Car On A Hill"34:31 🎧 "Down To You" - A Perfect Song39:54 Joni's Vocal Instrument42:17 🎧 "Just Like This Train" - A MASTERCLASS In Lydian Mode45:32 🎧 "Raised on Robbery" - What Genre Is This?!48:09 🎧 "Trouble Child"49:52 🎧 "Twisted" - The Only Cover On the Album53:55 Desert Island Tracks55:42 Best Moments On Court and Spark57:13 How Snobby Is This Album?

Charlie Parker was punk rock before there was punk rock. His bebop was underground music: subversive, intellectual, and a major departure from popular music of the day (think: Nat King Cole, The Andrews Sisters, Perry Como). He was an intellectual heavyweight, nearly untouchable in his technical ability and pushing music to places no one else was daring to go. So where did Charlie Parker with Strings, his most accessible album, come from?It's not Bird going commercial, like some have claimed. Charlie Parker with Strings is an album he fought to make. He loved Bach and Stravinsky (even quoting the opening of Stravinsky's 'Firebird Suite' mid-solo in one legendary performance), and had longed to make a record where his jazz saxophone was accompanied by strings.The resulting record is music's greatest improviser at his best. Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness listen to select tracks (like "Just Friends" and "Summertime"), breaking down the theory behind the music to understand what makes this album great. Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo. In this popular music series, You'll Hear It, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.Like the jam at the end of the show? Head to @openstudiomusic on YouTube for more.Visit Open Studio for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://osjazz.link/yhi00:00 - Intro: Charlie Parker with Strings01:10 - "Just Friends"04:40 - Want to Be a Great Musician? Study This Track10:20 - Early Recording: "Swingmatism" (1941)12:45 - The Secret to Charlie Parker's Genius: Practice15:20 - The Savoy Sessions: "Now's the Time" & Young Miles Davis18:20 - The Contrafact Built in Real Time21:45 - "Koko": Miles Davis Couldn't Play It?!24:30 - Musicians NEED to Listen to This27:15 - Think Parker Sold Out? Think AGAIN28:55 - "April in Paris": Parker's Chosen Tune33:55 - About Mitch Miller's Oboe ... 38:25 - "Summertime"44:10 - "Out of Nowhere"46:35 - We Have An Album! 47:20 - "East of the Sun"53:00 - "I'll Remember April"55:50 - Categories: Desert Island Tracks56:35 - The BEST Moments on Strings1:11:10 - Open Studio Plays "Just Friends"

The Impossible follow-up: Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. Five years after Thriller changed everything, Michael returned with a record that would become one of the best-selling of all time, win two Grammys, feature some of the greatest musicians in the world (hey, Stevie Wonder!) ... and somehow still gets called a letdown. We've covered two of Michael's albums produced by Quincy Jones: Off the Wall and Thriller. What about Bad? Could it actually be better than its predecessor? Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness deliver their final verdict on this 80s pop sensation.Along the way, you'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the album. Plus - we break down the tracks (with keyboards) to highlight the music theory behind this album's most compelling moments. “Annie, are you OK?” Sometimes the best hooks come from the strangest places - find out where in the YHI newsletter: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter00:00 - Intro: "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson01:30 - Michael Jackson's Bad (1987)6:40 - Quincy's Smaller Role on Bad7:50 - The Quincey Jones Brain Trust11:00 - "Bad" - Tough Guy Michael15:00 - Too Much Programming?18:40 - That Organ Solo? Jimmy Smith!22:40 - The Tragedy Behind Bad23:45 - "The Way You Make Me Feel" - Sweet Michael29:15 - How WE Really Feel (About Bad vs Thriller)30:30 - "Speed Demon" - A Nostalgic Track31:55 - Can We Be Honest?32:50 - "Liberian Girl" - The Mid-Album Dip35:30 - "Just Good Friends" - Stevie Can't Save It41:00 - "Another Part of Me" - Pure Joy45:00 - How "Man in the Mirror" Got Its Name45:55 - "Man in the Mirror" - The Apex53:00 - Why We Don't See Songs Like This Today57:30 - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - Rejected By Babs1:01:00 - "Dirty Diana" - Phil Collins Vibes1:02:50 - "Smooth Criminal" - That's MJ's Heartbeat!1:06:25 - "Leave Me Alone" - The Shuffle1:09:15 - Apex Moments: Phillinganes and That "Woo!" 1:10:55 - Final Verdict: Bad vs Thriller1:14:05 - Open Studio Plays "Smooth Criminal"

We're looking at the best jazz releases of January 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks.Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://osjazz.link/yhi 00:00 - Intro00:50 - Why Don't You - Sam Fribush, Corey Fonville, Charlie Hunter03:09 - Talking Drum - Julian Lage04:58 - Flim - Winderman, Colman, Kimock06:53 - Nacho Supreme - Motion II08:51 - Wisdom Is Eternal (For Barry Harris)10:49 - Unpersuadable Extern - N∆BOU12:11 - Free Walk - Vladko14:17 - Fireball - John Ellis & Double Wide15:52 - Giant Steps - Billy Hart18:50 - Parks Lope - Aaron Parks