Podcast 939: A Conversation with Sammy Stein

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show

I enjoyed having author Sammy Stein on the podcast so much (check out Podcast 810), when I learned she had a new book out, I had to have her back.

The Wonder of Jazz: Music That Changed the World is slim in size but not in scope, as she takes both the jazz newbie and the aficinado on a tour of jazz past, present and future. Backed with a long listening list, it represents the ideal read for those looking to get deeper into this great music. Early Christmas present anyone?

Her previous book, All That’s Jazz (Tomahawk Press), received critical acclaim, and her Women in Jazz (8th House) gained the JazzTimes Distaff Award, made the Gearbox list and was nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association for best jazz book. She has curated several radio series and has appeared on Jazz FM, BBC, Jazz Bites Radio and more. Sammy organized the London Jazz Platform mini-festival event and was named the Jazz Journalists Association International Editor.

In our conversation we try to define exactly what jazz music is, where it might be going in the future, and how the pandemic changed things for musicians in her home UK as well as around the world.