In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

The first set of this podcast reviews some of the music represented at the 2nd annual San Diego-Tijuana (SDTJ) International Jazz Festival. This unique festival features artists from both sides of the US Mexico boarder. We begin with a tribute to the late James Moody, a resident of San Diego, celebrating his 100th Centennial of his birth. Also featured is a young singer from Veracruz Mx, Lucia and pianist-composer Irving Flores with his brand new album. We keep to the Latin jazz theme with a reading of Tres Palabras from Charlie Haden. More music concludes with an extended selection from Dexter's homecoming concert. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album James Moody ~ Darben, the Redd Foxx ~ 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note Lucía ~ Veracruz ~ Lucía Irving Flores ~ With Amanda in Favignana ~ Armando Mi Conga Charlie Haden ~ Tres Palabras ~ Nocturne Tony Davis ~ Trinkets From Mars ~ Jessamine Les McCann ~ Poo Pye McGoochie (And His Friends) ~ Invitation to Openness Dexter Gordon ~ In Case You Haven't Heard ~ Homecoming - Live At the Village Vanguard

This episode begins as a continuation of last week's tribute to the late pianist Mike Wofford with a solo rendition of a Jackie McLean composition Little Melonae. Also featured is another San Diego pianist Irving Flores with his latest album release. Herbie, McLaughlin and Maupin round out the show. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Mike Wofford ~ Little Melonae ~ It's Personal Irving Flores ~ Tramonto a Massa Lubrense ~ Armando Mi Conga Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles Herbie Hancock ~ Ostinato (Suite for Angela) ~ Mwandishi John McLaughlin ~ Peace One ~ My Goals Beyond Bennie Maupin ~ The Jewel In the Lotus ~ The Jewel In the Lotus

We pay homage to pianist Mike Wofford in this episode's first set. Mike passed away last week at age 87. He was a giant in the Socal jazz scene, playing with the great West Coast artists of the 60's, accompanist to Sarah and Ella in the 80's, as well as scores for Hollywood and TV. Mike will be missed by the jazz community in San Diego and beyond. His wife Holly Hofmann (flute) is represented here as well.  Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Mike Wofford ~ Take the "A" Train ~ Time Cafe Rob Thorsen Quartet ~ Beatrice ~ First Impression Mike Wofford & Holly Hofmann ~ Karita ~ Turn Signal Joe Henderson ~ Black Narcissus ~ Power To The People Joe Farnsworth ~ Continuance ~ The Big Room Wes Montgomery ~ West Coast Blues ~ Incredible Jazz Guitar John Coltrane Quartet ~ Lonnie's Lament ~ Crescent

This week's jazz podcast starts with an old standard from 1928, Makin' Whoopee. Classics from Brubeck, Wes and Trane (on his birth anniversary), and new music from Barron and McLaughlin, and more. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Branford Marsalis ~ Makin' Whoopee ~ Trio Jeepy The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ Three to Get Ready ~ Time Out Dave Holland Quartet ~ Four Winds ~ Conference of the Birds Wes Montgomery ~ Bumpin' On Sunset ~ Tequila John Coltrane ~ Dear Old Stockholm ~ Dear Old Stockholm Irving Flores ~ Samba Con Sabor ~ Armando Mi Conga Kenny Barron ~ The Nearness of You ~ Beyond This Place John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension ~ New Blues Old Bruise ~ Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022

This episode is my Chill Playlist. Starting with Miles & Trane is a fine way to begin.  While it is laid back on the surface, many of the tunes start chill, but gain in intensity. Branford's Hope is a great example of this. I especially dig Joe Henderson's take on Lazy Afternoon. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Miles Davis ~ Footprints ~ Miles Smiles John Coltrane ~ Equinox ~ Coltrane's Sound Branford Marsalis Quartet ~ Hope ~ Braggtown Joe Henderson ~ Lazy Afternoon ~ Power to the People Pat Metheny ~ Minuano ~ Still Life (Talking) Emmet Cohen ~ Everlasting ~ Vibe Provider David Borgo ~ InFormation ~ Uplift 

Returning from the Detroit Jazz Fest, I wanted to highlight some of the remarkable artists who graced the stage, both local jazz talents and national acts. The episode concludes with the release of new music from pianist Christian Sands (New Haven) and saxophonist David Borgo (San Diego). Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Louis Jones III ~ Alternative Facts ~ Motions Marion Hayden ~ Buhaina ~ Visions Herlin Riley ~ Wang Dang Doodle ~ Perpetual Optimism Branford Marsalis Quartet ~ Spiral Dance ~ Belonging Walter Smith III ~ Cézanne ~ three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not Jackie McLean ~ Appointment In Ghana ~ Jackie's Bag Christian Sands ~ Divergent Journeys ~ Embracing Dawn David Borgo ~ Fluctuating Friends ~ Uplift

This playlist is a retrospective of recordings on CTI albums released in the 1970. They have that quality production and slick arrangement that make these albums so recognizable. These are some of my favorite examples. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Airto ~ Return to Forever ~ Free Deodato ~ Also Sprach Zarathustra ~ Prelude Milt Jackson ~ Sunflower ~ Sunflower Stanley Turrentine ~ Sugar ~ Sugar Joe Farrell ~ Follow Your Heart ~ Joe Farrell Quartet George Benson ~ So What? ~ Beyond the Blue Horizon

We begin with a couple big band tunes arranged by Gerald Wilson followed by guitar greats Benson and Wes. This show concludes with an extended cover of one of Chick's great tunes, by a quartet of modern jazz top tier players. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Gerald Wilson Big Band ~ Milestones ~ Moment Of Truth Gerald Wilson and His Orchestra ~ California Soul ~ California Soul George Benson ~ Affirmation ~ Breezin' Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio ~ Impressions ~ Smokin' At The Half Note Weather Report ~ Brown Street ~ 8:30 (Live) Michael Brecker ~ Midnight Voyage ~ Tales from the Hudson Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Larry Grenadier, Eric Harland & Chris Potter ~ 500 Miles High ~ First Meeting (Live at Dizzy's Club)

An eclectic show. We begin with a couple tunes from Brubecks 'Time Out' with a twist. Then a set with jazz masters Jamal, Tyner and Davis. The set ends with new music including Indian Fusion from Shakti. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album George Benson ~ Take Five ~ Bad Benson Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ Blue Rondo A La Turk ~ Time Out Ahmad Jamal ~ Arabesque ~ It's Magic McCoy Tyner ~ Man From Tanganyika ~ Tender Moments Miles Davis ~ Oleo ~ Bags' Groove  Shakti ~ 5 In The Morning, 6 In The Afternoon ~ Mind Explosion Brandee Younger ~ Breaking Point ~ Gadabout Season Irving Flores ~ Armando Mi Conga  ~ (Single)

Recent episodes have centered around jazz/rock fusion and new releases. This week we go back to Hard-Bop. Blakey, Miles, Trane, Freddie, Mobley to name a few. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers ~ One By One  ~ Ugetsu Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones John Coltrane ~ Moment's Notice ~ Blue Train Freddie Hubbard ~ Arietis ~ Ready For Freddie Donald Byrd ~ Off To The Races ~ Off To The Races Joe Henderson ~ Black ~ Mode For Joe  Hank Mobley ~ Up Over and Out ~ Reach Out!  Jackie McLean ~ Appointment In Ghana ~ Jackie's Bag

This episode begins with Michael Brecker in some interesting situations with Paul Simon and James Taylor. We follow that up with new music from another tenor sax player, Jimmy Greene from his newest release. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Michael Brecker ~ African Skies ~ Tales from the Hudson Paul Simon ~ Under African Skies ~ Graceland Michael Brecker ~ The Nearness of You ~ Nearness of You: The Ballad Book Jimmy Greene ~ Praises ~ As We Are Now Jimmy Greene ~ Speak Low ~ As We Are Now Sam Rivers ~ Beatrice ~ Fuchsia Swing Song Chick Corea ~ Friends ~ Friends Herbie Hancock ~ Maiden Voyage ~ Maiden Voyage

This show begins by paying tribute to Chuck Mangione who passed away last week. Best known for his hit 'Feel So Good', Mangione is one of a few musicians that bridged jazz and popular music audiences. Also notable in this show we play new releases from modern jazz artists you may not yet have heard. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Chuck Mangione ~ Land of Make Believe ~ Land of Make Believe  Chuck Mangione ~ Give It All You Got ~ Fun and Games Kenny Burrell ~ Midnight Blue ~ Midnight Blue Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio ~ Impressions ~ Smokin' At The Half Note Nicole McCabe ~ A Change In Scenery ~ A Song To Sing Jimmy Greene ~ As We Are Now ~ As We Are Now Andrew Renfroe ~ DREAMER ~ POP LOGIC Linda May Han Oh ~ The Sweetest Water  ~ Strange Heavens  Dexter Gordon ~ Soy Califa ~ The Swingin' Affair

This is an all flute special, with jazz greats James Moody, Herbie Mann, Roland Kirk, Hubert Laws and many more. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Holly Hofmann Quartet ~ Bohemia After Dark (Live) ~ Live At Birdland James Moody ~ Cherokee ~ 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note Lori Bell ~ Streets of New York ~ Brooklyn Dreaming Herbie Mann ~ Memphis Underground ~ Memphis Underground Roland Kirk ~ Serenade to a Cuckoo ~ Kirkatron Eric Dolphy ~ Gazzelloni ~ Out to Lunch! Jamie Baum ~ Far Side ~ Solace Hubert Laws ~ The Rite of Spring ~ Rite of Spring

In this episode we get back to a more hard-bop oriented sound, from the 1960's to new releases with roots in that more straight ahead jazz tradition. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Hank Mobley ~ This I Dig Of You ~ Soul Station Wayne Shorter ~ Tom Thumb ~ Schizophrenia Joshua Redman ~ Era's End ~ Words Fall Short Branford Marsalis Quartet ~ The Windup ~ Belonging David Borgo ~ Tanpura ~ Cycles Brandee Younger ~ Discernment ~ Gadabout Season Kurt Rosenwinkel & Jean-Paul Brodbeck ~ Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2 ~ The Brahms Project

Another Fusion set, but this one a bit different. We'll hear jazz fused with pop tunes, string quartets, orchestra, Indian Classical, Ukrainian folk music and hard rock. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Frank Zappa ~ Stolen Moments ~ Broadway the Hard Way Frank Zappa ~ Murder By Numbers ~ Broadway the Hard Way Roman Baranskiy | Scott Amendola, Matt Muntz, Friction Quartet ~Chuhayster ~ (YouTube)  Ben Williams ~ Consciousness ~ Between Church & State Andrew Renfroe ~ DREAMER ~ POP LOGIC Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Lila's Dance ~ Visions Of The Emerald Beyond Shakti ~ Happiness Is Being Together ~ Natural Elements Tim Garland ~ Moment Of Departure ~ Moment Of Departure Brandee Younger ~ Gadabout Season ~ Gadabout Season Miles Davis ~ Honky Tonk ~ Get Up With It

Jazz Rock Fusion is on tap to begin this week's show. Headhunters, Return To Forever, and Mahavishnu Orchestra were the innovators in Jazz from the early 70's. After that set we hear new music from saxophonist Joshua Redman and others. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Herbie Hancock ~ Sly ~ Head Hunters Return to Forever ~ Captain Señor Mouse ~ Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Open Country Joy ~ Birds of Fire Joe Farrell ~ Sound Down ~ Outback Joshua Redman ~ Icarus ~ Words Fall Short David Borgo ~ Bright Sun ~ Cycles Victor Baker Quartet ~ Time Ripples ~ As the Crow Flies Wes Montgomery ~ Bumpin' On Sunset ~ Tequila

A varied playlist of vocals, hardbop, fusion and electronic music ranging from the 1960's to today's modern jazz. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson ~ The Old Country ~ Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson ~ Unit 7 ~ Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade ~ La Fiesta ~ Trilogy 2 Eberhard Weber & The Gary Burton Quartet ~ Sea Journey ~ Passengers Freddie Hubbard ~ Arietis ~ Ready for Freddie Christopher Hollyday ~ Everything Happens ~ Telepathy Nicole McCabe ~ A Song To Sing ~ A Song To Sing Weather Report ~ American Tango ~ Mysterious Traveller Michael Brecker ~ African Skies ~ Tales from the Hudson

The San Diego jazz scene is well represented in this episode, featuring some of the most respected artists in Southern California. Wofford, Hofmann, Thorsen, Sprague and others are at the top of the show. We have Miles too and more. Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Mike Wofford & Holly Hofmann ~ Soul Street ~ Turn Signal (feat. Terell Stafford) Rob Thorsen Quartet ~ Beatrice ~ First Impression Peter Sprague ~ Can't Find My Way Home ~ Sunshine of Your Love: Peter Sprague Plays Cream Steely Dan ~ Home at Last ~ Aja Miles Davis ~ Straight, No Chaser ~ Milestones Miles Davis ~ Black Comedy ~ Miles in the Sky Joey DeFrancesco ~ Take Me out to the Ballgame ~ Joey D!

This episode begins with jazz masters Trane, McCoy and Moody. Then a talented San Diego guitarist Alex Ciavarelli. The show concludes with a set of 70's jazz/rock fusion classics. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album John Coltrane ~ Pt. 1: Acknowledgement ~ A Love Supreme McCoy Tyner ~ Man From Tanganyika ~ Tender Moments James Moody ~ Cherokee ~ 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note Alex Ciavarelli ~ This Could Be the Start of Something Big ~ A Tribute to Oscar Peterson on Guitar Freddie Hubbard ~ Red Clay ~ Red Clay Herbie Hancock ~ Watermelon Man ~ Head Hunters Joe Farrell ~ Time's Lie ~ Moon Germs

Much of this week's show is inspired by music I heard performed at local jazz clubs in San Diego. The show begins with McCoy and ends with Miles. They bookend the set of tunes performed at local jazz venues and performed by Matt Hall at the Jazz Lounge and Gilbert Castellanos at Panama 66. More info is contained in the podcast. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album McCoy Tyner ~ Contemporary Focus ~ Today and Tomorrow Jon Faddis ~ The Hunters & Gatherers ~ Teranga Michael Brecker ~ Midnight Voyage ~ Tales from the Hudson Matt Hall ~ Spearhead ~ I Hope to My Never Horace Silver ~ Senor Blues ~ Six Pieces of Silve Gilbert Castellanos ~ Home is Africa ~ Espérame En El Cielo Miles Davis ~ Paraphernalia ~ Miles in the Sky