In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

For the past two week's we have played mostly new releases. This week we go back to the 50's and 60's with classics from Ben Webster, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver and Miles. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Ben Webster & Oscar Peterson ~ Bye Bye Blackbird ~ Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson McCoy Tyner ~ A Night In Tunisia ~ Today and Tomorrow Wayne Shorter ~ Virgo ~ Night Dreamer Immanuel Wilkins ~ Lighthouse ~ The 7th Hand The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ Tokyo Traffic ~ Jazz Impressions of Japan Horace Silver ~ The Tokyo Blues ~ The Tokyo Blues Miles Davis ~ Dear Old Stockholm ~ Round About Midnight Miles Davis ~ Frelon brun ~ Filles de Kilimanjaro

This first episode for the New Year continues where we left off last week with reviews of some of my favorite 2024 releases.  Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Ulysses Owens Jr. ~ Better Days ~ A New Beat Lori Bell Quartet ~ Recorda Me ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Roy Hargrove ~ Lake Danse ~ Grande-Terre Emmet Cohen ~ Vibe Provider ~ Vibe Provider Joel Ross ~ equinox ~ nublues Duke Ellington ~ Blues for New Orleans ~ New Orleans Suite SFJAZZ Collective ~ God Bless The Child / That's The Way Of The World ~ New Works & Classics Reimagined 

This is the time of year where we review some of my favorite releases from 2024. Many of these are from  Hartford CT where I lived for 40+years, and my current home in San Diego.  Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sarah Hanahan ~ We Bop! ~ Among Giants Chris Potter ~ Indigo Ildikó ~ Eagle's Point David Borgo ~ Peace of Mind ~ Persistence Lori Bell Quartet ~ Shade of Jade ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Charles Lloyd ~ Booker’s Garden ~ The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow Andrew Renfroe ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ BIG COUNTRY EP Zaccai Curtis ~ Jazzin' ~ Cubop Lives! Mackenzie Leighton ~ The Obfuscator ~ I Remember Steve Davis ~ To Wisdom, the Prize ~ We See

This episode begins by paying tribute to tabla master Zakir Hussain who passed away last week. He is one of the greatest musicians of my generation, and brought Indian Classical Music awareness to many in the jazz scene. That is followed by a set of music from some of the most influential Hartford jazz mentors. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Shakti & Shakti ~ Mind Ecology ~ Natural Elements Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain & Chris Potter ~ Island Feeling ~ Good Hope Zakir Hussain ~ Zakir ~ Making Music Zaccai Curtis ~ 52nd Street Theme ~ Cubop Lives! Steve Davis ~ What Is This Thing Called Love ~ Say When Rich Goldstein ~ What a Difference a Day Makes ~ Into the Blue George Benson ~ Take Five ~ Bad Benson Terell Stafford ~ Hey, It's Me You're Talking To ~ Fields of Gold The Ed Palermo Big Band ~ Peaches En Regalia ~ Plays the Music of Frank Zappa Miroslav Vitous ~ Bamboo Forest ~ Universal Syncopations

This week's show starts with 3 guitarists; Goldstein, Bernstein and McLaughlin. The show ends with a couple great trumpet players in Hubbard and McGhee. Lots of great jazz in between. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Rich Goldstein ~ Hard Days Night ~ Into the Blue Peter Bernstein ~ You Go to My Head ~ Better Angels John McLaughlin ~ Binky's Dream ~ Extrapolation David Borgo ~ Segmented ~ Persistence Joe Zawinul ~ In a Silent Way ~ Zawinul Gretchen Parlato ~ Holding Back The Years ~ The Lost And Found Freddie Hubbard ~ Weaver of Dreams ~ Ready For Freddie Howard McGhee ~ Maggie's Back In Town ~ Maggie's Back In Town!

After kicking off this episode with classic Miles, we delve into some of jazz's best and most creative pianists. The show ends with Indian/Jazz fusion from McLaughlin's Shakti. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Miles Davis ~ Seven Steps to Heaven ~ Seven Steps to Heaven Renee Rosnes ~ Frevo ~ Crossing Paths Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner & Peter Bernstein ~ Ditty for Dewey ~ Solid Jackson  Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette ~ All the Things You Are ~ Standards, Vol. 1 Billy Childs ~ Master of the Game ~ The Winds of Change George Cables ~ Helen's Song ~ My Muse John McLaughlin & Shakti ~ India ~ A Handful of Beauty

Thanksgiving dinner is great, but we also dig chowing down on leftovers. The first set is inspired by those great ingredients transformed. We also have new music by Kenny Barron, Samara Joy and a re-release of early Miles.  Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Atla DeChamplain ~ Soul Food ~ Pause Matt Hall ~ Biscuits & Gravy ~ I Hope to My Never Zaccai Curtis ~ Black Rice ~ Cubop Lives! Matt Dwonszyk ~ Softly as in a Morning Sunrise ~ Donny Time David Borgo ~ Tabula Rasa ~ Persistence Billy Childs ~ The Black Angel ~ The Winds of Change Kenny Barron ~ The Nearness of You ~ Beyond This Place Samara Joy ~ Day By Day ~ Portrait Miles Davis ~ Four ~ Miles '54: The Prestige Recordings

This is our Thanksgiving special, with the first set paying tribute to perhaps my favorite holiday. Jimmy Greene and Thelonious Monk provide the musical setting for a Thanksgiving feast. The podcast episode concludes with a modern classical composition depicting a ballroom dance with Madam and Chairman Mao for Nixon's visit from composer John Adams and the San Francisco Symphony. In between, there is new music from Borgo, Z. Curtis and Wilcox as well as a new release from Charles Mingus previously released studio tapes. Playlist   Artist ~ Name ~ Album Jimmy Greene ~ Give Thanks ~ Mission Statement Thelonious Monk ~ Stuffy Turkey ~ It's Monk's Time David Borgo ~ Pilgrimage ~ Persistence Zaccai Curtis ~ Maple Leaf Rag ~ Cubop Lives! Andrew Wilcox ~ Self-Doubt ~ Dear Mr. Hill Charles Mingus ~ Re-incarnation Of A Love Bird (1st Version /Take 4) ~ Reincarnations Edo de Waart & San Francisco Symphony ~ The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra) ~ Adams: The Chairman Dances

We begin this show with a tribute to three jazz greats that passed away in recent days, Roy Haynes, Lou Donaldson and Quincy Jones. The show continues with other legends of this music, one still living and actively touring, Charles McPherson followed by Bird and Dexter. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Roy Haynes ~ Moose the Mooch ~ Birds of a Feather Lou Donaldson ~ Blues Walk ~ Blues Walk Quincy Jones ~ Walking In Space ~ Walking In Space Charles McPherson ~ Surge ~ Reverence Charlie Parker ~ Ornithology~ Ornithology: The Best Of Bird Charlie Parker ~ Just Friends ~ Charlie Parker With Strings Dexter Gordon ~ Round Midnight ~ Homecoming - Live At the Village Vanguard

This week's show is an eclectic mix. It was recorded in the week following the elections and perhaps reflective of my emotions during this time. There is no real theme to the selections, and is music I have been listening to recently. Artist ~ Name ~ Album Joe Henderson ~ Short Story ~ In 'n Out  McCoy Tyner ~ When Sunny Gets Blue ~ Today and Tomorrow Lori Bell Quartet ~ Inner Urge ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Nduduzo Makhathini ~ Water Spirits: Iyana ~ uNomkhubulwane Miroslav Vitous ~ I Will Tell Him On You ~ Infinite Search Weather Report ~ 125th Street Congress ~ Sweetnighter Charlie Haden ~ This Is Not America ~ Not In Our Name

Today's show begins with a reminder to vote on or before Election Day, Nov 5, 2024. Let's start with a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie's run for President in 1964. That's followed by Ella's Vote for Mr. Rhythm. A new posthumous release from trumpeter Roy Hargrove has a track, Kamala's Dance (written for Roy's daughter). After that is just some music I have been listening to this past week. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Dizzy Gillespie ~ Salt Peanuts ~ Groovin' High Ella Fitzgerald ~ Vote For Mister Rhythm ~ The Complete Decca Singles Vol. 1: 1935-1939 Roy Hargrove ~ Kamala's Dance ~ Grande-Terre Roy Hargrove ~ Ethiopia ~ Grande-Terre Jackie McLean ~ Star Eyes ~ Nature Boy The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ The City Is Crying ~ Jazz Impressions of Japan David Borgo ~ Relational View ~ Persistence Steve Davis ~ Milestones ~ We See Wayne Shorter ~ Orbits ~ Celebration, Volume 1

Following my recent themes of music from SoCal and New England, I will feature music that exemplifies some of the fine jazz artists from these two areas of the country. Also, we close out the show with classic guitar work from Kenny Burrell and brand new music from Imannuel Wilkins.   Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Rob Thorsen ~ Dexterity ~ Lasting Impression Gilbert Castellanos ~ Bilad as Sudan ~ Espérame En El Cielo Mackenzie Leighton ~ November ~ I Remember Steve Davis ~ To Wisdom, the Prize ~ We See Abena Koomson-Davis ~ Everyday I Have the Blues ~ Where Is Love Matt Dwonszyk ~ It's Donny Time ~ Donny Time Kenny Burrell ~ Kenny's Sound ~ Midnight Blue Immanuel Wilkins ~ DARK EYES SMILE ~ Blues Blood

Kind of a random playlist of music I have been listening to this week. Of particular interest are the tunes that feature McCoy Tyner, including a Michael Brecker piece (composed by Metheny). Also a track from Immanuel Wilkins' new release Blue Blood has some interesting vocals. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Andrew Renfroe ~ SPRINGS ~ Big Country EP Michael Brecker ~ Song for Bilbao ~ Tales from the Hudson McCoy Tyner ~ When Sunny Gets Blue ~ Today and Tomorrow McCoy Tyner ~ Sama Layuca ~ Sama Layuca Dan Pugach ~ My Favorite Things (feat. Nicole Zuraitis) - Single Immanuel Wilkins ~ MOTION (feat. June McDoom) ~ Blues Blood Billy Childs ~ Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp ~ Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro Bill Bruford's Earthworks & Tim Garland ~ Tramontana ~ Random Acts of Happiness Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum

This episode continues from last week in bringing new music that I heard from Monterey Jazz Fest recently. Following that is more music from the Hartford jazz scene with Abena Koomson-Davis, Andrew Wilcox and Matt Dwonczyk. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Marquis Hill ~ A Star Is Born ~ Composers Collective: Beyond The Jukebox Brandee Younger ~ Brand New Life ~ Brand New Life Robert Glasper ~ Prototype ~ Keys To The City Volume One Anat Cohen ~ Paco ~ Quartetinho: Bloom Abena Koomson-Davis ~ Just the Two of Us ~ Where Is Love Matt Dwonszyk ~ Groovin' on Wine ~ Donny Time Matt Dwonszyk ~ What a Difference a Day Makes ~ Donny Time Andrew Wilcox ~ Old Devil Moon ~ Dear Mr. Hill Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra & Wynton Marsalis ~ Freedom Day ~ The Music of Max Roach

This year's Monterey Jazz Festival is reviewed in this week's podcast episode. Some of the best shows took place on the smaller stages featuring young artists. That is reflected in the playlist below. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Jahari Stampley ~ Power ~ Still Listening Ulysses Owens Jr. ~ Chicken An' Dumplins ~ A New Beat Sean Mason ~ Final Voyage ~ The Southern Suite Endea Owens ~ For the People ~ Feel Good Music Joshua Redman ~ Chicago Blues (feat. Gabrielle Cavassa) ~ where are we Hiromi ~ Up ~ Sonicwonderland  Marquis Hill ~ Libra (South Node) ~ Composers Collective: Beyond The Jukebox Stephane Wrembel ~ Le Mythe de Sisyphe ~ Triptych Stanley Clarke ~ Song to John, Pt. II ~ Journey to Love

While I am at the Monterey Jazz Festival, I've queued up another episode originally published in March of this year. The episode begins with new music from guitarist Andrew Renfroe and vibraphonist Joel Ross. We then work our way back to the 1950's with classic Brubeck, Wes and Trane.   Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Andrew Renfroe ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ Big Country EP Joel Ross ~ nublues ~ nublues Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger ~ This Woman's Work ~ Force Majeure Samara Joy ~ Misty ~ Linger Awhile Shelly Manne and His Men ~ Our Delight ~ Shelly Manne & His Men At the Blackhawk, Vol. 1 The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ The Duke ~ Jazz: Red, Hot and Cool Wes Montgomery ~ Four On Six ~ The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery John Coltrane ~ Moment's Notice ~ Blue Train

A wide variety of jazz music represented here, from jazz classics, to new jazz releases to jazz/rock fusion, progressive rock and even jazz harp with a reggae beat. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones McCoy Tyner ~ Impressions ~ Trident Bobby Broom ~ Hallucinations (Budo) ~ Keyed Up Joel Frahm ~ Yesterdays ~ I'm Old Fashioned  Charles McPherson ~ Blues for Lonnie in Three ~ Reverence Jonathan Barber ~ Radar ~ In Motion (feat. Vision Ahead) Steely Dan ~ Aja ~ Aja Brandee Younger ~ Dust (feat. Meshell Ndegeocello) ~ Brand New Life Brandee Younger ~ Soulris (feat. Ravi Coltrane) ~ Soul Awakening

This week's edition has new releases and classic hard bop. From the new, we have Hanahan, Barber, Escoffery, Castellanos. As we know, modern jazz always draws from the legacy of the art form with masters like Hubbard, Roach, Hancock, and Shorter. All are represented here. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sarah Hanahan ~ We Bop! ~ Among Giants Jonathan Barber ~ Can't Call It ~ In Motion Freddie Hubbard ~ Luana ~ Hub Cap  Gilbert Castellanos ~ La Tinsa ~ Underground Herbie Hancock ~ The Peacocks ~ Round Midnight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Max Roach ~ Libra ~ Members Don't Get Weary Wayne Escoffery ~ Rapture ~ Alone Wayne Shorter ~ Edge Of The World ~ Celebration, Volume 1 

This episode celebrates Sonny Rollins on his 94th birthday with three tracks from some of his best albums. We also feature new music including the debut recording from altoist, Sarah Hanahan and flautist Lori Bell. The podcast ends with Kurt Elling covering a fold classic from P. Simon. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time Miles Davis & Sonny Rollins ~ Oleo ~ On Prestige Sonny Rollins ~ Way Out West ~ Way Out West Gerry Mulligan Quartet ~ Bernie's Tune ~ Gerry Mulligan Quartet Hampton Hawes ~ I Love You  ~ For Real!  Hank Mobley ~ Up a Step ~ No Room for Squares Sarah Hanahan ~ Resonance ~ Among Giants Lori Bell Quartet ~ Black Narcissus ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Kurt Elling ~ American Tune ~ The Questions

For this week's episode, we go back 60's hard bop format for most of the show. From Rollins to Trane, we groove to this era's hard hitting jazz. I did throw in a couple of modern pieces from Eddie Henderson and Billy Childs, that reflect on the hard-bop period. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sonny Rollins ~ Alone Together ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders Hank Mobley ~ Up Over And Out ~ Reach Out! Eddie Henderson ~ Totem Pole ~ Witness to History Billy Childs ~ The Starry Night ~ Rebirth Jackie McLean ~ Climax ~ Jacknife John Coltrane ~ Bahia ~ Bahia John Coltrane ~ Something I Dreamed Last Night ~ Bahia