The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast

• Episode 27. Jim Mullen (Guitar) - 'When Sunny Gets Blue'

  Geoff travels to London’s West End to catch up with the legendary jazz guitarist Jim Mullen. The conversation offers a masterclass in authentic musical development as Jim recounts his journey from Glasgow's jazz clubs to becoming one of Britain's most distinctive guitarists. Approaching his 80th birthday, he reflects on the transformative experiences that shaped his musical identity – witnessing jazz titans like John Coltrane, Ray Brown, and the Oscar Peterson Trio in his hometown during the 1960s.What sets Jim Mullen apart is his entirely self-developed approach. Never formally taught, he developed his unique playing style through necessity and intuition. Being left-handed but playing a right-handed guitar led to his signature thumb technique, creating a warm, vocal tone that has become his hallmark. "When you play with your thumb, you can only play downstroke," he explains, revealing how this limitation forced creative solutions that ultimately defined his sound.Jim’s philosophy on improvisation proves particularly illuminating. Unlike many jazz musicians, he never transcribed solos, believing it would trap him in others' vocabularies. Instead, he focused on capturing the essence of players he admired while developing his own melodic approach. "Improvising a solo is really trying to invent an alternative melody," he shares, emphasising continuity of ideas over technical display. By way of example, he improvises to the 1950s Marvin Fisher/Jack Segal standard ‘When Sunny Gets Blue’ accompanied by the Quartet jazz playalong app of course.The conversation explores his pivotal role in developing British jazz-funk with saxophonist Dick Morrissey, creating a groundbreaking sound that attracted diverse audiences and influenced a generation of musicians. Now in his musical maturity, Jim has embraced jazz standards over complex original compositions, finding profound expression in simplicity: "A good tune does half the work for you."Whether you're a jazz aficionado, guitarist, or simply appreciate stories of authentic artistic development, this episode offers rare insights from a musician who carved his own path through jazz history. Subscribe to hear more of them. Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

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• Episode 26. Theo Travis (Saxophone) - '500 Miles High'

  Geoff is in Finchley, North London to catch up with the wonderful saxophonist, flautist and composer Theo Travis.Theo takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable musical career, from classical beginnings to jazz excellence and groundbreaking prog rock collaborations. This conversation feels like eavesdropping on two musicians sharing secrets about their craft, filled with moments of genuine musical insight and discovery.Theo reveals how his early musical path began with classical flute before teenage obsessions with T. Rex, David Bowie, and The Beatles led him toward improvisation. The pivotal moment came when a friend introduced him to John Coltrane's ‘Afro Blue Impressions’ (1963), igniting a passion for jazz that would shape his future. His methodical approach to learning improvisation through pattern books that forced him to transpose phrases through different keys built the foundation for his versatile playing style.What makes this episode particularly fascinating is Theo’s ability to move seamlessly between musical worlds. A chance phone call from Japan bassist Mick Karn in 1997, opened the door to prog rock collaborations, leading to work with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and Robert Fripp of King Crimson. He describes how these experiences liberated him from conventional jazz forms, inspiring him to create music that transcends genre boundaries. His insights about the differences between jazz musicians' theoretical knowledge and rock musicians' instinctive creativity offer a refreshing perspective on artistic authenticity.The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Theo introduces us to the duduk, an Armenian double-reed instrument with a haunting sound that he mastered during lockdown. His enthusiasm for this ancient instrument and how he's incorporated it into contemporary contexts demonstrates his ongoing musical curiosity.Throughout the episode, Theo’s thoughtful reflections on memorable performances—like his completely improvised duo with Robert Fripp at Coventry Cathedral—reveal an artist who remains open to musical discovery. His performance of Chick Corea's 1970s standard ‘500 Miles High’ (accompanied by the trusted workhorse that is the Quartet app) showcases both his technical facility and deep understanding of harmony.Whether you're a jazz aficionado, prog rock enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates musical storytelling, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of an extraordinary musician who refuses to be confined by genre boundaries.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.  

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• Episode 25. Mark Lockheart (Saxophone) - 'It Could Happen To You'

  Geoff is in Greenwich, London to meet with the renowned saxophonist and composer Mark Lockheart.Mark's story begins with the heartwarming image of waking up to his father's jazz records and following his dad into saxophone playing at age eleven. What follows is a rich narrative of musical discovery that spans decades.Mark vividly recalls the American record club that delivered formative jazz recordings to his family home, introducing him to the sounds of Wes Montgomery and Paul Desmond that would shape his musical sensibilities. His path led through classical saxophone studies at Trinity College, where fateful meetings with musicians like Django Bates and John Parricelli set the stage for his involvement with the revolutionary jazz collective Loose Tubes in the early 1980s.The conversation delves into Mark's distinctive approach to composition – intuitive, often arising from improvisation rather than formal theory. "For me, writing is all about counterpoint," he explains, describing how he focuses on melody and bass movement before determining the chords between them. This approach has served him well through various projects, from the quartet Perfect Houseplants to his most ambitious orchestral work ‘Days on Earth’ (2019).Perhaps most revealing is Mark's complex relationship with jazz standards. Despite considering them foundational to his practice routine and musical development, he has never recorded them on his own albums – a hesitation born from deep respect for the definitive versions that already exist. Through demonstrations and stories, Mark illustrates how saxophone masters like Henderson, Rollins, and Coltrane shaped his sound through imitation and absorption rather than formal instruction.The conversation culminates in a philosophical insight that resonates beyond music: "The older I get, the more I realise that the things you can't do are as important as the things you can do." Mark's journey reminds us that finding your voice isn't about mastering everything, but about making something distinctive with what you have.Explore this fascinating musical conversation and hear Mark's interpretation of the 1940s Van Heusen/Burke standard ‘It Could Happen To You’ accompanied by the Quartet app of course! Subscribe now and discover more illuminating jazz dialogues in future episodes.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

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• Episode 24. Simon Wallace (Piano) - 'Autumn Leaves'

  Geoff travels to Honor Oak Park in South London to meet with an old friend – the British composer and pianist Simon Wallace. Simon opens a portal into jazz's rich tapestry through personal stories that span from his childhood in South Wales to the vibrant scenes of New York City and London. This conversation reveals how a secondary school music teacher sparked what he beautifully describes as discovering “…a magic window into another world" – specifically the world of Black American culture centred in New York.Simon takes us on a fascinating journey through his musical development, from studying classical music at Oxford University while secretly yearning for jazz, to landing his first professional gig at London's legendary Blitz Club in 1978 where Boy George worked in the cloakroom during the New Romantic era. His connections to jazz history come alive through stories of friendships with figures like Bob Dorough, who recorded with Miles Davis and performed with Charlie Parker.The heart of the episode delivers a masterclass in jazz harmony as he unpacks the revolutionary theories of piano legend Barry Harris. With remarkable clarity, he explains how Harris's approach to diminished scales and sixth chords creates pathways between multiple keys, freeing musicians from predictable patterns. This isn't just technical talk – Simon demonstrates these concepts improvising the 1940s standard ‘Autumn Leaves’ alongside the Quartet jazz playalong app, showing how theory transforms into living, breathing music.Beyond music theory, he shares captivating stories including writing a symphony for the King of Thailand's 60th birthday broadcast on all four Thai TV channels simultaneously. His reflections on musical growth, the value of being "slightly out of your depth," and jazz's competitive yet supportive culture offer wisdom for musicians at any stage.Whether you're a jazz aficionado, a musician seeking fresh approaches to harmony, or simply someone who appreciates a good story well told, this episode offers rich rewards. Listen now and discover how jazz continues to open magical windows into other worlds.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production. 

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• Episode 23. Andrea Vicari (Piano) - 'On Green Dolphin Street'

  Geoff gets a visit from the wonderful pianist and composer Andrea Vicari who opens up about her rich musical journey inspired by her jazz pianist father and a house filled with the sounds of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong.Andrea shares fascinating insights into her improvisation process, demonstrating how pentatonic scales and fourth-based voicings – influenced by McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea – shape her approach to standards like the 1940s classic ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ which she performs accompanied by the Quartet app. Rather than planning solos in advance, she responds organically to her initial phrases, allowing ideas to develop naturally through active listening. This responsive approach reflects decades of absorbing the language of jazz through transcription and performance.The conversation takes us to the beautiful Dordogne region of southern France, where Andrea’s summer school has flourished for 22 years at Chateau de Monteton. What began as a practical way to spend time near her relocated parents has evolved into a beloved institution where two-thirds of participants return annually, forming lifelong friendships and even marriages. She describes it as like “Love Island on Jazz”. This blend of community-building and jazz education represents the holistic approach Andrea brings to music—valuing connection alongside technical mastery.Perhaps most touching are Andrea’s reflections on performing in post-war Bosnia, where audiences would sing along to folk melodies integrated into jazz performances amid buildings still bearing bullet holes. These experiences, alongside her sophisticated approach to harmony and improvisation, reveal an artist whose musical expression is deeply informed by human connection and emotional resonance.Discover Quartet for iOS, taking your jazz play-along experience to another level. Search for Quartet on the App Store or visit quartetapp.com to learn more about the top-selling innovative tool for jazz musicians.Presenter: Geoff GascoyneSeries Producer: Paul SissonsProduction Manager: Martin SissonsThe Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.

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