The Hot Box covers the best in Irish recorded jazz, set it in the wider context of the international language that is jazz.
Latest episodes
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1 h 02
The Hot Box #155 – Abdullah Ibrahim
Donald Helme pays tribute to the wonderful South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim, who died in June 2026 at the age of 91. Known earlier in his career as Dollar Brand,…
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59 min
The Hot Box #153 – Oscar Peterson
A nudge from a listener in Scotland prompts Donald Helme to put right an omission: marking the centenary of the great Oscar Peterson. This episode opens with Norman Granz introduci…
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59 min
The Hot Box #157 – A Home Game (Mostly)
It’s something of a home game on this edition of The Hot Box, with Donald Helme spending most of the hour in the company of Irish musicians, drawing on recordings both new and from…
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1 h 01
The Hot Box #156 – Everybody Digs Bill Evans
As the new movie Everybody Digs Bill Evans launches in cinemas around Ireland, The Hot Box grabs the opportunity to immerse you in Evans’ music. Whilst an hour can only provide a s…
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1 h 12
The Hot Box #154 – Miles Davis 100
Join Donald Helme on this edition of The Hot Box as he celebrates the life and music of one of jazz’s most influential figures, Miles Davis, marking what would have been the legend…
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1 h 02
The Hot Box #152 – Back to Bebop!
Whilst enjoying the multitude of styles that compose the repertoire of jazz today, many fans have long decried the disappearance of Bebop in favour of crossover music and other lis…
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1 h 01
The Hot Box #151 – Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
The upcoming visit of Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra to these shores prompts an hour of listening to their diverse music in the Hot Box. Founded in 1988 and…
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1 h 03
The Hot Box #150 – Ken Peplowski
All the music in Hot Box 150 is from the flautist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski, who died on 2nd February this year aboard a jazz cruise liner. He was one of the finest musicians of hi…
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59 min
The Hot Box #149 – New Stuff
Welcome to Hot Box 149. We begin with a sparkling new release on Blue Note from the young American pianist Paul Cornish. Hailing from Texas, Cornish was a finalist in the prestigio…
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1 h 03
The Hot Box #148 – Jack DeJohnette
Hot Box 148 is going to be both sad and joyful since we now remember the extraordinary drummer Jack DeJohnette who died at the end of October aged 83. He was a native of Chicago an…
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1 h 01
The Hot Box #147 – Christmas Box
An eclectic selection of music that may reflect the desire of the “music business” to generate some income for musicians over the festive period! Or it may represent a genuine love…
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1 h 02
The Hot Box #146 – New Releases
The Hot Box 146 is packed with brand new releases, and as ever there is more to play than time to play it. Donald Helme opens the show with music from pianist John Donegan and his…
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1 h 03
The Hot Box #145 – New Material from Ireland and USA
The new edition of the Hot Box consists of all new material from Ireland and the USA. An hour of the very best in jazz. The international talent is represented by tracks from a you…
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60 min
The Hot Box #144 – Celebrating Two Jazz Greats
This episode of The Hot Box has a distinctly retro feel, as we celebrate the lives and talents of two remarkable female jazz singers who recently passed away. We’re remembering the…
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1 h 03
The Hot Box #143 – Jazz in Ireland
Donald Helme takes the lid off the Hot Box once again, and this time he’s digging deep into a special file marked “Jazz in Ireland”. Reaching back across the decades, Donald uneart…
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1 h 07
The Hot Box #142 – Ryan Truesdell and Gil Evans
Welcome to the 142nd edition of The Hot Box with Donald Helme. This episode is a real treat, dedicated entirely to the music of the legendary Gil Evans. We’re marking the release o…
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1 h 01
The Hot Box #141 – A Gershwin Celebration
In this slightly different edition of The Hot Box, Donald Helme takes a detour through the timeless melodies of one of jazz’s most enduring composers: George Gershwin. Inspired by…
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57 min
The Hot Box #140 – I Thought About You
This edition of The Hot Box features a major re-issue, a remixed and remastered release of Louis Stewart’s quartet album with John Taylor, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins from Livia Re…
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1 h 00
The Hot Box #139 – New Material
This edition has both a tilt towards new material and a tilt towards jazz guitar, with material from the French guitarist Romain Pilon’s new album Open Roads, and from the archive,…
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1 h 01
The Hot Box #138 – Roy Ayres
The Hot Box #138 celebrates the music of another recently departed musician, “Roy Ayres.” Originally known as a jazz vibraphone player, he rapidly expanded his status and became, s…