In this week’s episode of Breaking Waves, Hugh and Shai dive into the electrifying world of 1940s jazz—a decade that reshaped modern music. From the big-band swing era to the birth of bebop and the cool, spacious sound of early Miles Davis, the duo guide listeners through the artists, the history and the cultural shifts that transformed jazz forever.

Along the way, Hugh and Shai bring their signature humour and heart: chatting about baseball on Sydney buses, the Sydney Blue Sox, Yankees caps, childhood music memories, New York in the 40s and even Shai’s unexpected film career. Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk all make an appearance as the hosts break down how wartime shortages, musician strikes and Harlem jam sessions sparked one of the most creative explosions in music history.

Featuring classics like “Take the A-Train” and Charlie Parker’s “Ko-Ko”, this episode blends storytelling, jazz education and warm community-radio energy. Whether you’re a lifelong jazz fan or discovering bebop for the first time, you’ll hear why jazz became the soundtrack of the night.

side Radio 89.7FM as Hugh and Shay celebrate the decade that changed jazz forever.