Welcome to 251, where two pianists, Simon Whiteside and Nick Tomlin, dive into the fascinating world of jazz and art. In this episode, they explore the jazz paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a renowned artist who drew inspiration from the world of jazz.

• The early life and career of Jean-Michel Basquiat, including his participation in the Times Square Show and his rise to fame in the early 1980s.
• Basquiat's love for jazz and how it influenced his art, including his famous works such as "The Horn Players" featuring Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
• The abstract symbols and text in Basquiat's paintings, which were inspired by graffiti culture and had personal significance to him.
• Basquiat's connection to black culture and how it influenced his art, as well as his own experiences growing up with jazz music.
• A special mention of a sleep story on the Calm app narrated by Don Cheadle, which explores the Harlem Renaissance and its connection to jazz and art.

• Basquiat's art was deeply influenced by jazz, which he saw as a way to express himself freely and spontaneously.
• His paintings often featured abstract symbols and text, which were inspired by graffiti culture and had personal significance to him.
• Basquiat's connection to black culture and jazz music played a significant role in shaping his art and identity.

Welcome to 2-5-1, the podcast where two pianists, Nick Tomlin and Simon Whiteside, dive into a new jazz-related topic every episode. Today, they're reviewing the documentary film "Ronnies", which tells the story of the iconic London jazz club Ronnie Scott's.

• The history of Ronnie Scott's, from its founding in 1959 to its 60th anniversary in 2019
• The documentary's focus on Ronnie Scott himself, as well as co-owner Pete King and other key figures in the club's history
• The film's use of archive footage, including scenes from Soho and midtown Manhattan
• The club's struggles and triumphs, including its early days as a musicians' collective and its current efforts to keep the legacy alive
• The documentary's poignant portrayal of Ronnie Scott's depression, which was not widely discussed during his lifetime

• Ronnie Scott's is more than just a jazz club - it's a symbol of the power of musicians coming together to create something new and innovative
• The documentary "Ronnies" is a must-see for jazz fans, with its wealth of archive footage and insightful interviews
• Despite its challenges, Ronnie Scott's continues to thrive, thanks to the efforts of its owners and the dedication of its musicians and patrons

Mid Season Break Announcement

Whiplash is a 2014 American independent psychological drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle, and starring Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, and Paul Reiser. It focuses on an ambitious music student and aspiring jazz drummer (Teller), who is pushed to his limit by his abusive instructor (Simmons)

Chazelle completed the script in 2013, drawing upon his experiences in a "very competitive" jazz band in high school. Soon after, Right of Way and Blumhouse helped Chazelle turn fifteen pages of the screenplay into an 18-minute short film. The short film received acclaim after debuting at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, which attracted investors to produce the complete version of the script. Filming took place in September 2013 throughout Los Angeles over twenty days. The film explores concepts of perfectionism, dedication, and success, and deconstructs the concept of ambition.

this is the first film Simon couldn't remember the name of, me of

Chazelle wrote and directed his debut feature, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, as part of his senior thesis project with classmate Justin Hurwitz at Harvard

A long time ago we did an episode on humour in jazz. you can hear it here

This is a longer investigation into it.

in another one of our tunes we love Nick and Simon discus But Beautiful

But Beautiful" is a popular song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen, the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was published in 1947.

One of five songs written by Burke and Van Heusen featured in the Paramount Pictures movie Road to Rio (1947)

one of our under the radar pianists episodes John Williams there Jazz pianist . Yes the Star Wars guy!

Following on from our last episode this is a special longer examination of what makes a jazz singer