The Swingin Fox, My Best Friend in Jazz

The Jazz Scene with Ken Grady

SHE HAS BEEN called one of the, “baddest pianists out there” by Jazz vocalist, Jon Hendricks. And, “…the blonde ambassador of Steinway”, by Brian Hough of Jassman magazine.

As a teenage prodigy, Lenore Raphael, The Swingin’ Fox, studied classical music at the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan, and performed at Carnegie Hall in the 1950’s. She received a BA in Music from New York University, became a talented music teacher, and was on her way to a promising career in her field of study. That is, until she heard the music of the great Canadian Jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson. At that point all bets were off. She gave up her teaching career and began playing Jazz professionally, being further influenced by Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and George Shearing. She also studied Jazz piano underBarry Harris.

As a performer she has worked with Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jaquet, and Clark Terry, while continuing to compose, record, and teach

 throughout her career. She has released a dozen CD’s, and is a two time Grammy nominee. And, that’s just part of her illustrious career.

With all that, though, I have to admit that I knew very little about Lenore, in 2001, when I began my second gig as a jazz radio program host at Shaw Universities’ WSHA 88.9fm. At 55, I was a newbie at the station. But, I was asked if I would do an on air interview with a famous jazz pianist calling long distance from New York. The regular dj at that hour had called in sick. Never one to walk away from a challenge, I said, “…sure”. I had never done this before. The interview would be in 30 minutes, later that morning. I hurriedly put together some questions I thought might work. Most of all, I knew I had to keep the conversation going. This was live, on radio, and online. Well, Lenore was very gracious, and the interview came off without a hitch. At least without a hitch that I was aware of. But, that’s not even half the story.

Several years went by. I continued my jazz dj work, moving from WSHA, in Raleigh, to WNCU in Durham, North Carolina. Both stations were National Public Radio(NPR) Affiliates. I kept Lenore in my playlist, and introduced her music to listeners, friends and family. I still had never met Lenore, or seen her perform. Then, about 2006, one of my listeners called to tell me Lenore Raphael would be performing locally in Apex, North Carolina. I was not going to miss this concert.

 I saw Lenore in person for the first time. She gave a great performance. During intermission, as she spoke with members of the audience, I walked up and, when I had the chance, I introduced myself. To my surprise she said, “…you interviewed me several years ago when the regular dj was out sick”. I was impressed with her memory, and asked if I could get another interview. She granted the session for the next day. My wife was there, and her husband was also present.After that we just hit it off and began a friendship that lasts until this day. Before I left North Carolina, Lenore and I talked on the phone regularly, and now we keep in touch by email. She tours all over around the world. South Africa one week, L.A. the next, and continues to teach. I hope she can come to Panama to perform and visit.

I emailed Lenore the other day to see if I could get a third interview for Newsroom Panama. But, before she received my email, I received one from her announcing her new release, Love Notes-A Tribute to Oscar Peterson, with a link to an interview she had just given Jon Norton, Music Director at WGLT fm radio in Normal, Illinois. I highly recommend listening to Jon’s interview with Lenore at: http://wglt.org/music/jazz/jazz-next.php.

For more go to, www.lenoreraphael.com, or  www.swinginfox.com