Ten songs of the season that can always put me in the mood for Christmas

The influence of Bud Powell on Monk, Red Garland, and Phineas Newborn

Isaac Hayes and Stax Records were forever linked in terms of their influence on and their promotion of African American culture. As an ace songwriter and session man Hayes was an important part of the label’s rise. When times got tough for both the performer and the label he found the strength to revive both Stax and his own career.

A selection of Steely Dan songs that have meaning to me and have stuck with me through the years, appearing frequently on mix tapes and playlists. Not necessarily stuff you’ll find on an artist’s Greatest Hits collection.

The trumpet player who had become known as ‘the new Miles’ was at a low point in the mid-70s until the V.S.O.P. quintet revitalized his playing.