According to Wikipedia, Jan Randall, a Canadian composer, pianist, and arranger, has made a career of composing soundtracks for films, theatre, radio, and television.  He combines playing by ear with his formal classical and jazz training.  He is now teaching an Introduction to Jazz course at the University of Victoria.

For this week’s program, Jan talks about that course, playing some of the music he plays in order to help everybody expand their minds.  And he expanded mine!  Never before had I thought about jazz’s “Chopin roots”.

Enjoy Jan’s inspiring commentary, his positive energy,  and some great music!  From Louis Armstrong, through Art Tatum, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Joe Pass & Herb Ellis, and up to The Yellow Jackets.  Plus one very fine original Jan Randall composition, and he demonstrates his creative process in putting it together.