Bayou Blue Jazz
The flagship series ran from 2017 through 2021, featuring curated jazz selections each month. Ilene Martinez and Thierry C. guided listeners through standout tracks and artist profiles spanning classic and contemporary jazz.
2017
Inaugural year of the series. Early episodes established the show's signature blend of smooth and nu jazz.
2018
Expanded artist roster with deeper dives into cool jazz and soul-inflected selections.
2019
A standout year featuring Gregory Porter, Joel Culpepper, and Alessia Piermarini among the monthly highlights.
2020
Continued through a challenging year with remote sessions and intimate artist conversations.
2021
Final season of the series, closing with memorable spotlights on Ben Tiberio and emerging talents.
Bayou Blue Jazz et Compagnie
A companion series that ran from 2019 to 2021, broadening the scope with guest co-hosts and extended artist interviews. The format allowed deeper exploration of album releases and behind-the-scenes stories.
2019
Launched alongside the main series, bringing collaborative episodes and fresh perspectives.
2020
Featured conversations with Céline Bonacina around her album Fly Fly! and other artist highlights.
2021
Concluded with episodes tying together the broader Bayou Blue Radio community and its international reach.
Featured Artists Across the Archives
Over five years, the archives captured performances and interviews with a wide range of jazz and soul artists. Notable names include:
- Ben Tiberio — bassist and composer featured in later-series spotlights.
- Joel Culpepper — soul vocalist whose work appeared in 2019 programming.
- Alessia Piermarini — Italian jazz vocalist highlighted in the 2019 season.
- Gregory Porter — Grammy-winning vocalist featured across multiple archive years.
- Ilene Martinez — presenter and artist; her CD Reasons was covered in the series.
- Céline Bonacina — saxophonist; her album Fly Fly! featured in Jazz et Compagnie.
Related Programming
The Jazz Archives complement the International Music archives (2017–2020) and current Program Schedule. For recent artist interviews and album news, visit the News section.