Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting Jazz Podcast

This week's episode is about alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley It features music from his early days, his time playing with Miles Davis, and from his albums as a bandleader. Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com

This week's episode is about west coast jazz drummer Chico Hamilton.  It features music from the first two decades of his career. Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at wnpmpod@gmail.com

Omnivore Recordings has released Metaphysics, a recently uncovered album by pianist Hasaan Ibn Ali, and it is amazing! This episode talks a bit about the legendary Hasaan, and plays some excerpts from the new album and a track from the other album he appears on, Max Roach Trio Featuring the Legendary Hasaan.  Next week's episode will be about Chico Hamilton, one of the finest drummers in the 50s/60s west coast jazz scene.  Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com Spotify playlists for previous episodes: Modern Jazz Quartet Bud Powell

This week's episode is about the music of Donald Byrd, a trumpeter in the peak of the hard bop movement in jazz.  It features music from his own albums as a leader and as a sideman with artists as diverse as Kenny Drew, Herbie Hancock, and Eric Dolphy. Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me at wnpmpod@gmail.com Playlist here Previous episode playlists on Spotify: Kenny Drew Art Blakey

An episode about trumpeter Donald Byrd will be available next week.  In the meantime, enjoy a fantastic track that shows off his avant garde jazz bona fides.   Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me at wnpmpod@gmail.com

This week's episode is about the virtuoso bassist Scott LaFaro.  LaFaro lived a brief life, but managed to record some incredible music in his short time on this world.  It features music from his early years, his legendary time in Bill Evans' trio, and some of his more avant-garde endeavors. Questions? Comments? Requests?  E-mail me at wnpmpod@gmail.com

It's been a busy week, so I haven't had time to finish the episode about virtuoso bassist Scott LaFaro that I'm working on.  It will be ready for next week, so in the meantime, enjoy a few tracks that LaFaro appears on.  

This week's episode is about Benny Golson, a tenor saxophonist who was also a prolific composer and arranger. It features mostly songs he composed, performed by groups he led and by other top notch jazz outfits. Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com or find me on twitter

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting returns with an episode about superstar trumpeter Chet Baker.  Baker rose to fame in the 1950's as the prince of cool jazz, and recorded some truly beautiful music.  The episode covers his early recordings with Gerry Mulligan's quartet, his early recordings as a bandleader, and some from later in his career, post-comeback.  Enjoy! Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz I'll be trying to get back to episodes every week, so if you like the show, spread the word! 

I'm working on an episode about trumpeter Chet Baker, and noticed that it's focused mostly on his ballad playing.  So, while I finish that, I thought you'd enjoy hearing some tracks that showcase his singing and faster playing.  Enjoy these couple songs, and tune in next week for a full episode about Baker's music

This week's episode is about the guitarist Wes Montgomery, a self-taught virtuoso who developed a unique, all thumb approach to the instrument.  I hadn't given Montgomery much of a chance after initially being turned off after hearing some of his later work, so I would like to thank the listeners who requested this episode for getting me to give his music another chance and helping me to discover the wonderful music he made.   Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz

This week's episode is about the music of Curtis Fuller, a phenomenal trombonist who was one of the earliest in the hard bop idiom of jazz.  It features music from his time playing with John Coltrane, the Jazz Messengers, and others, as well as from his own albums as a leader.   Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me: WNPMPod@gmail.com or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz  

This week's episode is about pianist Bobby Timmons.  Timmons' style is sharp, danceable, catchy, and soulful.  He spent time playing in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers before striking out to make a string of fantastic albums as a leader.   It features music from his time as a Messenger and more from his time as a leader.   Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me at WNPMPod@gmail.com Announcement: I'll be moving this weekend, so will probably be taking a few weeks off from making the podcast, but will be back soon.  Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is about the amazing, underrated trumpeter Kenny Dorham, and features music from throughout his career.  Great mostly straight-ahead jazz!  Quetions? Comments? Requests? Email me: wnpmpod@gmail.com

This week's episode is about the music of bassist Richard Davis.  Davis came up in the Chicago jazz scene, and studied classical music intensively, and went on to play on some of the most interesting, progressive albums of the post bebop era in the 1960's.  it features phenomenal performances from his time playing with Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard and others. Questions? Comments? Request?  email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com 

This week's episode is about the music of drummer Elvin Jones, best known for his time playing with John Coltrane, during the tenor saxophonist's transition into the most prominent figure in the music's avant garde. It features music by Coltrane's Quartet, and from groups that Jones led and participated in before and after his time with Trane Questions? Comments? Request?  email me at WNPMPod@gmail.com

I took the last few weeks off to deal with some family stuff. I should be back to a regular schedule beginning next week with an episode about drummer Elvin Jones.  In the meantime, enjoy a preview: Elvin Jones at the peak of his powers with John Coltrane's quartet

Last Saturday, August 29th was the 100 year anniversary of the great Charlie Yardbird Parker's birth, and this happens to be the 100th episode of Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting! Join me to celebrate both with an hour of Bird's music! Questions? Comments? Requests? E-Mail me: WNPMPod@gmail.com

This week's episode is about bassist Jimmy Garrison.  It features music from his early days playing in some fantastic hard bop groups like those of Kenny Dorham, Ted Curson, and Jackie McLean, a track from his time in John Coltrane's Classic Quartet, and some exciting free jazz oriented tracks from later in his career.  Enjoy! Questions? Comments? Requests?  WNPMPod@gmail.com or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz

This week's episode is about the music of bassist Charlie Haden, and features music from the very beginning of his career playing with Paul Bley and Ornette Coleman to the last recordings he made with his own Liberation Music Orchestra. Enjoy!  Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me: WNPMPod@gmail.com