In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

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

A few musical references from last week's Democratic Convention was the inspiration for this episode. VP Kamala Harris invoked the names of Aretha, Miles and Coltrane, and an appearance by Stevie Wonder are relived in this show.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Aretha Franklin ~ A Change Is Gonna Come ~ I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Miles Davis Quintet ~ Solar ~ Walkin'
John Coltrane ~ Giant Steps ~ Giant Steps
Stevie Wonder ~ Higher Ground ~ Innervisions
Herbie Hancock ~ You've Got It Bad Girl ~ The New Standard
SFJAZZ Collective ~ Creepin' ~ Music of Stevie Wonder and New Compositions
Jacob Collier ~ Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing ~ Single
George Duke ~ Capricorn ~ Faces In Reflection
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention ~ Inca Roads ~ One Size Fits All

This episode begins with a set, taken from the news video of VP Kamala Harris showing off her vinyl purchases after visiting a DC record store. Following that, we have a bass player set featuring a couple of San Diego based artists. The show ends with a tribute to Alice Coltrane and a symphonic piece from Tim Garland.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong ~ It Ain't Necessarily So ~ Porgy and Bess
Charles Mingus ~ The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers ~ Let My Children Hear Music
Roy Ayers Ubiquity ~ Everybody Loves the Sunshine ~ Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Rob Thorsen Quartet ~ Let's Fall In Love ~ Evolution
Mackenzie Leighton ~ Summer Strollin' ~ I Remember
John Patitucci ~ We See ~ Trio
Ravi Coltrane ~ For Turiya ~ Blending Times
Tim Garland ~ The Forever Seed Part V - Praise ~ Moment Of Departure

This episode begins with a wonderful harpist Brandee Younger carrying on the legacy of Alice Coltrane and others bringing the sound of harp to modern jazz. This is followed by new music and concludes with three of the greatest saxophone players that have graced this art form.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger ~ The Creator Has a Master Plan ~ Force Majeure
Brandee Younger ~ Moving Target ~ Brand New Life
Brandee Younger ~ Blue Nile ~ Soul Awakening
Jonathan Barber ~ The City That Sits On A Hill ~ In Motion
Tim Garland ~ Trails ~ Moment Of Departure
Kenny Barron ~ We See ~ Beyond This Place
Chris Potter ~ Indigo Ildikó ~ Eagle's Point
Wayne Shorter ~ Orbits ~ Without a Net
Joe Henderson ~ Power to the People ~ Power to the People