Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin dig into the You'll Hear It mailbag, answering your questions and checking out the tunes you always wanted them to hear. Plus, a trivia round inspired by your comments.

-------------------------------

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

-------------------------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes FREE today: 
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

-------------------------------

Learn to play tracks from You'll Hear It. Join the You'll Hear It Players Club: 
https://yhi.link/players-club

-------------------------------

📞 Send us a message: https://youllhearit.com/

------------------------------

About You'll Hear It:

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack popular albums track-by-track in this weekly listening party. They talk about what their trained ears hear in the music, offering audiences a new window into the records they love. 

00:00 The You'll Hear It mailbag episode
01:52 What's on your workout playlist?
04:27 When did you start playing piano?
07:10 What got you into jazz?
09:48 If you could choose only one chord ...
10:36 One album you'd perform live TONIGHT
13:05 The best jazz solos for beginners to transcribe
15:36 Does classical training help jazz musicians?
18:08 Playing listener requests
20:23 Test out a hi-fi system with this
24:21 A new favorite album 
26:06 Adam loves this 70s singer-songwriter
28:12 A vibey, spacey pick
30:50 The album they overlooked
33:15 Alternate takes better than the originals
37:42 What we missed about Radiohead
39:33 The jazz we're listening to right now
46:20 Why kindred artists find each other
51:38 You tell us all the details we missed
56:49 GALA

D'Angelo's Black Messiah is one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. You can hear his musical influences all over it: Prince's arrangements, the Bee Gees' falsettos, Jimi Hendrix's guitar, Sly's groove. But the alchemy that makes Black Messiah so powerful could only come from one mind: D'Angelo, the artist who gave us Voodoo and Brown Sugar.

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack D'Angelo's Black Messiah track by track, detailing what their trained ears hear in the music, and highlighting new textures, harmonies, and song structures you may have missed on the first listen. 

Plus, Peter shares stories about his friendship and working relationship with legendary trumpet player Roy Hargrove.
------------------------------

Adam shows you how to play D'Angelo's "Really Love". Get the lesson:
https://yhi.link/really-love
-------------------------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes FREE today: 
https://yhi.link/linernotes-6

-------------------------------

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

-------------------------------

 Send us a message: https://youllhearit.com/

------------------------------

0:00 D'Angelo and the Vanguard - Black Messiah
1:44 Ain't That Easy
7:35 Questlove, Pino Palladino, and James Gadson
9:35 1000 Deaths
14:09 The Charade
17:44 Where this album sits next to Sly, Marvin, and Prince
19:33 Roy Hargrove, and the Peter Martin connection
22:28 Sugah Daddy
28:45 Really Love
39:40 Back to the Future (Part I)
44:05 Where does talent like this come from?!
51:15 Till It's Done (Tutu)
53:43 Prayer
56:35 Betray My Heart
1:02:55 The Door
1:07:13 Back to the Future (Part II)
1:09:25 Is this album backwards?
1:11:11 Another Life
1:17:00 Our favorite moments
1:17:27 How snobby is this album?
1:19:53 Is it better than Voodoo?

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin play each other their favorite Ahmad Jamal tunes to build the ULTIMATE Ahmad Jamal playlist. 

Learn to play tracks from You'll Hear It. Join the You'll Hear It Players Club: 
https://yhi.link/players-club

-------------------------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes FREE today: 
https://yhi.link/linernotes-5

-------------------------------

Watch Ahmad Jamal at Studio 61: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KFMLNop0_g&t=607s

-------------------------------

📞 Send us a message: https://youllhearit.com/

-------------------------------

Listen to the Ultimate playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1TvAf7P7H5JvG0hP0SJth9?si=vH8EJXmHS4mGw8eWm0BqnA

------------------------------

About You'll Hear It:

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack popular albums track-by-track in this weekly listening party. They talk about what their trained ears hear in the music, offering audiences a new window into the records they love. 

00:00 The Ultimate Ahmad Jamal Playlist
01:48 72 years of recording, longer than a queen's reign
04:06 Excerpts from the Blues (Jazz from '61, CBS Studios)
08:21 But Not For Me 
14:02 Jamal's quiet swagger
16:05 Old Devil Moon 
19:02 The 1 a.m. New Orleans gig with Brian Blade
20:37 Star Eyes 
25:09 When Peter met Ahmad Jamal
26:15 Poinciana (Live at the Pershing, 1958)
27:19 I Love Music 
29:25 It Could Happen to You
32:08 The elephant in the room: Miles Davis
35:39 Cherokee 
39:55 Peter's hot take on Israel Crosby
41:13 Willow Weep for Me 
43:42 What's New
46:35 Our favorite moments
48:53 How snobby is this playlist?
50:50 Is this better than Kind of Blue?

Waltz for Debby is the sound that all "boring coffeehouse jazz" tries to imitate, but none can replicate. Featuring Bill Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums, this 1962 live album has become the template for every AI jazz playlist. And yet, it stands apart as one of the greatest jazz piano trio albums of all time. Pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin listen to the full album, track-by-track, describing what they hear in the music that lends this album its undeniable humanity.

-------------------------------

Learn to play tracks from You'll Hear It. Join the You'll Hear It Players Club: 
https://yhi.link/players-club

-------------------------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes FREE today: 
https://yhi.link/linernotes-4

-------------------------------

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

-------------------------------

📞 Send us a message: https://youllhearit.com/

00:00 Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby
03:20 My Foolish Heart
09:20 Waltz for Debby
16:40 Detour Ahead
18:53 My Romance
23:55 Some Other Time
27:09 Milestones
30:31 Categories
34:03 Mailbag

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin take turns playing each other songs, and the goal is to get the biggest involuntary reaction out of the other guy. Along the way, they break down what's actually happening in the music. In a final round, they have to sit through their opponent's pick without cracking. 

Who gets the best reactions? You decide. Share your verdict in the comments.

Listen to the playlist: https://tinyurl.com/3cmnby37

-------------------------------

Learn to play Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean". Join the You'll Hear It Players Club: 
https://yhi.link/the_ocean

-------------------------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes FREE today: 
https://yhi.link/linerNotes-3

-------------------------------

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

-------------------------------

📞 Send us a message: https://youllhearit.com/

------------------------------

About You'll Hear It:

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack popular albums track-by-track in this weekly listening party. They talk about what their trained ears hear in the music, offering audiences a new window into the records they love.

------------------------------

00:00 Rules of Engagement
00:44 Round 1
05:59 Round 2
10:01 Round 3
16:08 Round 4
20:28 Round 5
25:00 Round 6
33:51 Bonus: The Poker Face Round
36:50 Encore

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack Radiohead's 2007 masterpiece 'In Rainbows', track-by-track. Hear about the harmonies, odd time signatures, Thom Yorke's singing technique and the production choices that give this album its sound. And learn why many of the musical choices made for 'In Rainbows' are strange for an album that hit #1 on the US and UK charts, and sold three million copies.

If you're hearing 'In Rainbows' for the first time, you're not alone. So is Peter! And if you're a Radiohead fan (like Adam), watch for Peter's reaction to, and verdict on, your favorite tracks.

-------------------------------

Learn to play "Weird Fishes", even if you've never played a note. Led by You'll Hear It co-host Adam Maness, this special lesson is simple enough to follow, even for absolute beginners.

You've spent an hour listening to Adam and Peter take the album apart. Now, you can sit down and play it. Join the Players Club: https://yhi.link/weird-fishes

-------------------------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes today:
https://yhi.link/linerNotes-2

-------------------------------

📞 Send us a message: https://youllhearit.com/

-------------------------------

Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

------------------------------

Kid A: https://youtu.be/uRs2yuQbH1Q

------------------------------

About You'll Hear It:

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack popular albums track-by-track in this weekly listening party. They talk about what their trained ears hear in the music, offering audiences a new window into the records they love.

------------------------------

0:00 In Rainbows - Radiohead
1:25 The poll that picked this album
8:44 The pay-what-you-want release
20:05 Adam HAD to teach this track
26:58 Now we're really into great stuff
31:20 Why this album sounds so good
44:15 The closer, and a question about Thom Yorke's voice
47:50 Peter's verdict
50:05 The ten-year run

New albums all hand-picked from jazz pianist Adam Maness for your listening pleasure. 

00:00 - Intro

01:51- Epiphanie - Domi & JD Beck
https://store.bluenote.com/products/domi-jd-beck-who-asked?srsltid=AfmBOoqy83sYVjg7gWOWEPzDP1lzL0qSN3BWoiNb80SR6foAtB1hFJUi 

05:45 - Solidarity Song - Terri Lyne Carrington
https://terrilynecarrington.bandcamp.com/album/trip-the-night-fantastic

08:01 - Eye Level - Fathers
https://store.bluenote.com/products/fathers-fathers?variant=45730941010111&utm_source=Original&utm_campaign=KennyBeats20260610&utm_medium=direct&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluenote.com%2F&utm_board=bluenote&utm_country=US&utm_linkurl=bluenote.lnk.to%2Ffathers&lf=09636c21c8ac71dedf000e172e87d2a6

10:37 - Tagore - Charles Lloyd
https://store.bluenote.com/products/charles-lloyd-sangam-friends?srsltid=AfmBOorf1UxNmnTthTwtn0_zwgRhQmgDPrf_q9bYi0JObJCE-vYEtzKg 

12:58 - Tethered - Nduduzo Makahthini
https://store.bluenote.com/products/nduduzo-makhathini-the-myth-we-choose?variant=45410756886719&utm_source=Original&utm_campaign=NduduzoMakhathini20260330&utm_medium=direct&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluenote.com%2F&utm_board=bluenote&utm_country=US&utm_linkurl=nduduzomakhathini.lnk.to%2Fthemythwechoose&lf=eb502d0210407eb575699b99ef700288 

15:28 - Stella By Starlight - Joey Alexander
https://joeyalexander.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-keeper 

17:51 - Bem Querer - Curio Curio
https://curiocurio.bandcamp.com/album/curi-curi

19:43 - Out of the quiet - Richard Spaven
https://richardspaven.bandcamp.com/album/light-of-day

Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life is all killer, no filler. Every track is a masterpiece. It's almost TOO easy for two jazz pianists in the business of reviewing history's greatest albums. So we're upping the stakes ... with a draft. Adam and Peter each present their top tracks from Songs in the Key of Life, compare and contrast, and see who comes out on top with the best lineup.

Along the way, they reveal why Stevie Wonder is the master of harmony, how he (and only he) can get away with flourishes that would sound "corny" anywhere else, and the production details you'll never unhear.

----------------

Learn to play "Isn't She Lovely", even if you've never played a note. Led by You'll Hear It co-host Adam Maness, this special lesson is simple enough to follow, even for absolute beginners.

You've spent an hour listening to Adam and Peter take the album apart. Now, you can sit down and play it in the Players Club: https://yhi.link/stevie-sitkol

----------------

Learn to talk like a jazz musician. Download the Liner Notes today: https://yhi.link/linerNotes-1
----------------

Open Studio plays Stevie Wonder's "If It's Magic": https://youtu.be/hY21yVJhOck

----------------

00:00 Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
01:24 New rules: we're drafting the album
02:57 The place setter that counts for nobody
05:50 Round 1
10:00 Round 2
12:25 Round 3
16:48 Round 4
20:50 Round 5
24:10 Round 6
27:13 Round 7
30:45 Round 8
33:25 Round 9
36:17 Round 10
41:35 The final lineups

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 - Prince
01:27 Prince, the Revolution & the Biggest Album of 1984
04:25 🎧 "Let's Go Crazy"
07:54 Making the Movie and the Album at Once
12:58 🎧 "Take Me With U"
19:59 Wendy Joins the Revolution
23:38 🎧 "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 Rain
1:01:33 Quibble Bits
1:04:56 Snobometer
1:06:23 Open Studio Performs "Purple Rain" 

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