Alton Purnell

Alton Purnell

Author: BBC Radio 3 April 16, 2011 Duration: 30:55

Alton Purnell was born on 16 April 1911, and to celebrate his centenary, Mike Pointon joins Alyn Shipton to pick the best records by the New Orleans pianist.

The programme covers his work with Bunk Johnson and George Lewis, his own records, and later recordings with Jimmy Archey and with the Legends of Jazz. Both Pointon and Shipton played with Purnell on his UK tours, so this edition of Jazz Library includes some shared insights into his musical world.


Curated by BBC Radio 3, Jazz Library is more than a simple listening guide; it’s an invitation to explore the vast and varied landscape of jazz history through its most essential recordings. Each episode focuses on a single, pivotal artist, from the foundational giants to the pioneering innovators, offering a deep and contextual dive into their work. You’ll hear insightful commentary alongside carefully selected musical excerpts that trace artistic development and highlight landmark albums. This approach provides a rich, narrative framework, transforming a collection of songs into a coherent story. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the genre's breadth or simply looking to deepen their appreciation, this podcast serves as a trusted companion. It helps in building a meaningful and personal archive of jazz, one informed by knowledge and passion rather than chance. Tune in to discover the stories behind the sounds and find a clearer path through one of music's most rewarding traditions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Jazz Library
Podcast Episodes
Marian McPartland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
The British-born pianist Marian McPartland has become an American national treasure, not least through her long-running radio show Piano Jazz. In this edition of Jazz Library she joins Alyn Shipton to celebrate her 92nd…
Keith Tippett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
Pianist Keith Tippett is a musician of extraordinary breadth and vision. His projects range from the vast 50-piece orchestra Centipede - so large it had its own private plane for touring - to introspective improvised sol…
A Tribute to John Dankworth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
On 6 February 2010, Sir John Dankworth died aged 82. In this special edition of Jazz Library, Alyn Shipton introduces an archive interview in which John Dankworth selected some of his finest recordings. These range from…
Erroll Garner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:44
Erroll Garner was one of the most distinctive and original pianists in jazz. To select his finest recordings, Alyn Shipton is joined by the young British pianist Neil Cowley. The programme includes examples of Garner's e…
Bing Crosby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:54
Focusing on the jazz side of Bing Crosby, Gwyneth Herbert joins Alyn Shipton to pick Bing's jazziest recordings, ranging from his Paul Whiteman days to the swing bands of Buddy Bregman and Billy May, and including Bing's…
Stefano Bollani [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:12
One of the highlights of 2009's London Jazz Festival was pianist Stefano Bollani's residency at Kings Place, where the Italian gave solo performances as well as concerts in duo, trio and quintet settings. Recorded in fro…
Lawrence Lucie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:27
Swing guitarist Lawrence Lucie died in 2009, aged 101. Not long before his death, Lucie met Alyn Shipton in New York to look back over his remarkable career, which not only included stints with Fletcher Henderson, Lucky…
Graham Collier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:29
Few people did more to promote the cause of jazz in Britain than Graham Collier, who died on September 9th. He led a succession of pioneering ensembles over the last 45 years, and was a key figure in Jazz Education. Coll…
Lionel Hampton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:40
Critic and pianist Brian Priestley joins Alyn Shipton to select recording highlights from the career of drummer, vibraphonist and pianist Lionel Hampton, one of the greatest musicians of the swing era. Including his work…
John Surman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:01
Recorded in front of an audience at the 2009 London Jazz Festival, British saxophonist John Surman joins Alyn Shipton to look back over his recording career. As one of the country's finest saxophonists, Surman's copious…