Our TOP Picks For Your Favorite Listens of July 2026

You'll Hear It is a weekly listening party for people who love music ... a little too much. Every Monday, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin sit down with one great album and break it down track-by-track. They listen, demonstrate what they are hearing, and put words to the moments you have always felt and haven't been able to explain. You’ll never hear your favorite albums the same way again.You'll Hear It returns with Season 15: August 2026. 

Adam and Peter break down Prince and the Revolution's Purple Rain, the 1984 soundtrack that turned him into a global superstar. They go track by track, from "Let's Go Crazy" to the title song. With keyboards in hand, they break down the sophisticated music theory underneath this pop hit to reveal the hidden qualities that make this album great. You'll never hear Purple Rain the same way again.Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a bonus track: A jazzy live performance of Purple Rain by Open Studio and St. Louis soul singer Brian Owens. For more tracks from Open Studio's band, check out @openstudiomusic on YouTube.00:00 Purple Rain - Prince01:27 Prince, the Revolution & the Biggest Album of 198404:25 🎧 "Let's Go Crazy"07:54 Making the Movie and the Album at Once12:58 🎧 "Take Me With U"19:59 Wendy Joins the Revolution23:38 🎧 "The Beautiful Ones"30:24 🎧 "Computer Blue"35:16 🎧 "Darling Nikki"41:50 🎧 "When Doves Cry"45:41 🎧 "I Would Die 4 U"48:58 🎧 "Baby I'm a Star"52:21 🎧 "Purple Rain"58:41 Best Moments On Purple Rain1:01:33 Quibble Bits1:04:56 Snobometer1:06:23 Open Studio Performs "Purple Rain" 

Our Top Picks of new jazz and jazz-adjacent releases from June 2026!

Weather Report's Heavy Weather became one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. But there's so much more to it than "Birdland", Heavy Weather's radio hit. In fact, Peter makes the case that it might just be the weakest moment of the entire record.Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break it down track-by-track: From Jaco Pastorius's fiery fretless bass, to Joe Zawinul's beautiful piano, to the less-than-perfect production. You'll never hear Heavy Weather the same way again.0:00 Heavy Weather - Weather Report2:55 The Origins of Weather Report6:29 Jaco Pastorius Joins the Band10:40 "Birdland"14:46 Birdland is the most popular. Is it the best?20:38 "A Remark You Made"25:17 "Teen Town"30:49 "Harlequin"36:22 "Rumba Mama"38:38 "Palladium"41:33 Production issues on Heavy Weather45:11 "The Juggler"50:59 "Havona"58:13 The Best Moments on Heavy Weather1:01:47 Is This Weather Report's Best Album?1:02:43 Up Next1:03:23 Open Studio plays "Teen Town" (with upright bass!)

Check out the latest jazz and jazz-adjacent releases for June 2026 with host and jazz drummer Kaleb Kirby.

With her 1974 masterpiece Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell transforms from folk singer into something harder to define.Her piano playing matures. Her songwriting blossoms into one of the richest harmonic and melodic color palettes we've ever heard up to this point. Not to mention her incredible lyricism and melodies. And she brings a new production sensibility from her backing band: a group of jazz musicians called The LA Express.In this episode of You'll Hear It, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Joni Mitchell's greatest artistic achievement (and her greatest commercial success) track-by-track. You'll never hear Court and Spark the same way again-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:https://openstudiojazz.com/------------------------------Blue: https://youtu.be/ly6ENKGV-S8------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:https://youllhearit.com/newsletter-------------------------------00:00 Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell00:32 New From Open Studio03:37 Joni's Sound Before Court and Spark10:04 Joni Starts Hanging Out With Jazz Musicians11:07 🎧 "Court and Spark" - Alluding To An Epic15:25 Three Songwriters in One, At the Highest Level15:57 🎧 "Help Me" - Joni DELIVERS19:09 🎧 "Free Man In Paris" 22:02 🎧 "Midnite Flite" - Tom Scott and The LA Express23:25 🎧 "People's Parties"25:55 🎧 "The Same Situation"28:05 Joni's Lyrical Prowess31:38 🎧 "Car On A Hill"34:31 🎧 "Down To You" - A Perfect Song39:54 Joni's Vocal Instrument42:17 🎧 "Just Like This Train" - A MASTERCLASS In Lydian Mode45:32 🎧 "Raised on Robbery" - What Genre Is This?!48:09 🎧 "Trouble Child"49:52 🎧 "Twisted" - The Only Cover On the Album53:55 Desert Island Tracks55:42 Best Moments On Court and Spark57:13 How Snobby Is This Album?

Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin review their three favorite songs from Michael Jackson's most iconic albums: Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall. And their choices aren't what you might expect. Plus - Adam, Peter and the Open Studio band play their jazzy interpretation of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal. -------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com/------------------------------Off the Wall: https://youtu.be/jR9zxGueeq4Thriller: https://youtu.be/KZx6W3SI8JABad: https://youtu.be/XgcI9LkZqeo------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter -------------------------------00:00 The Top 3 Songs on Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall00:55 #3 05:02 #212:23 #1 16:40 "Smooth Criminal" - Open Studio

Adam Maness brings you the freshest releases of May 2026!0:00 Intro0:50 Jeff Parkerhttps://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/happy-today3:45 Greg Hutchinsonhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/kind-of-now-mw0004778588 6:15 Chris Potterhttps://chrispotterjazz.bandcamp.com/album/alive-with-ghosts-today9:09 New Jazz Undergroundhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/hoodies-mw000479189111:04 Virginia MacDonaldhttps://virginiamacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of13:00 Harry Skolerhttps://harryskoler1.bandcamp.com/album/echoes15:05 Laurie Anderson & Sexmobhttps://laurieanderson.bandcamp.com/album/let-x-x-live17:06 Alabaster DePlumehttps://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/dear-children-of-our-children-i-knew-epilogue19:31 Ben Wolfehttps://benjonah.bandcamp.com/album/any-time-after-now 21:30 Joe Lovanohttps://joelovano.com/recordings/paramount-quartet/

Sonny Rollins passed away this week at 95. Jazz pianists Peter and Adam are listening through the recordings that defined his career and made him one of the most influential musicians in jazz history. From his earliest bebop tunes to Saxophone Colossus to A Night at the Village Vanguard, they trace the arc of a player who kept raising the bar on himself even when the rest of the world thought he'd already cleared it. Plus - they talk through the legendary Williamsburg Bridge sabbatical: two years of practicing up to 16 hours a day.------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.00:00 Sonny Rollins (1930-2026)00:37 Celebrating Sonny Rollins: Opening Tribute04:54 Sonny as the Bridge Between Bebop Generations05:57 "Autobahn" 09:47 "Pent-Up House" 12:56 "I'll Remember April" 16:10 "Oleo" 17:32 "Tenor Madness" 19:32 "More Than You Know" 21:19 "The Way You Look Tonight" 22:51 "Bemsha Swing" with Clark Terry24:00 Is Sonny Rollins the Most Influential Tenor Saxophone Player of All Time?28:01 "St. Thomas" from Saxophone Colossus34:40 "I'm an Old Cowhand" from Way Out West36:14 "A Night at the Village Vanguard" (Afternoon Set)39:00 "Wonderful! Wonderful!" 40:50 The Williamsburg Bridge Sabbatical44:04 "Without a Song" 46:29 Later Career: 1970s - 201249:13 "Blue Seven"

Miles Davis's Kind of Blue is one of the greatest albums of all time - possibly THE greatest. But it's not perfect. In this special episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down this classic record, track-by-track, to uncover why it has become so legendary. They dig into what's really going on in the music during this album's best moments: Miles's trumpet solo on "So What", Wynton Kelly's piano solo on "Freddie Freeloader", John Coltrane's entrance on "Blue in Green".Plus - we learn more about what Miles was doing in his early years, his break from bebop, what he thought of Bill Evans's approach, and the production and engineering techniques that give Kind of Blue its unique sound.Miles Davis was born just outside of St. Louis 100 years ago this week. To celebrate his centennial birthday, Adam and Peter filmed this episode in front of a live audience at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, MO.Chapters Legend: 🎧 Listening to a track     🎹 Music theory breakdown     🎵 Live studio jam-------------------------------Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs: https://openstudiojazz.com------------------------------Related YHI VideosSteamin', Relaxin', Workin', Cookin': https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cookin-relaxin-workin-and-steamin-miles-davis-quintet/id1342674932?i=1000762361399Someday My Prince Will Come: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someday-my-prince-will-come-miles-davis/id1342674932?i=1000724354435Birth Of the Cool: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miles-first-masterpiece-birth-of-the-cool/id1342674932?i=1000710841989My Funny Valentine: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miles-greatest-album-youre-welcome/id1342674932?i=1000700565428-------------------------------About You'll Hear It:In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.-------------------------------Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter -------------------------------00:00 Kind of Blue - Miles Davis5:45 🎧 Bebop and Miles Davis's Early Years10:56 Bill Evans and Miles Davis11:48 🎧 "So What"20:49 KOB Is NOT A Perfect Album?26:59 Miles On Bill Evans's Approach32:13 🎧 "Freddie Freeloader"41:31 🎧 "Blue In Green"44:38 How They Made That KoB Sound50:02 🎧 "All Blues"58:20 🎧 "Flamenco Sketches"1:02:44 Is It Perfect?1:04:56 🎧 Outakes1:06:38 Categories: Desert Island Tracks & Apex Moments1:11:20 How Snobby Is This Album?1:16:21 What To Listen To Next1:19:13 🎵 "So What" - Open Studio