In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Episode May 3 2026

Lots of new music in this week's episode. But first we begin with some funky 80's fusion from Steps Ahead with great tenor work from Michael Brecker. Perhaps two of the greatest jazz artists currently touring and making new music are on the playlist from Potter and Metheny. Also new music from today's modern creative forces Wilkins, Preminger and Turner.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Steps Ahead ~ Radio-Active ~ Modern Times
Chris Potter ~ Into Africa ~ Alive With Ghosts Today
Pat Metheny ~ Urban and Western ~ Side-Eye III+
Immanuel Wilkins ~ THE BIG COUNTRY ~ Immanuel Wilkins Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 2
Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Smoke Gets In Your Eyes ~ Stitching Life
Mark Turner ~ It Very Well May Be ~ Patternmaster

Episode April 25 2026

This is an eclectic set for sure! It features a vocal track, modern jazz, 70's fusion and a jazz suite with chamber orchestra. The latter is selections from the Zodiac Suite composed by Mary Lou Williams and arranged for strings, brass and woodwinds. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Nicole Zuraitis ~ won't make it out alive ~ the devil i knew
Immanuel Wilkins ~ COMPOSITION II ~ Immanuel Wilkins Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 1
Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Meeting Of The Spirits ~ The Inner Mounting Flame
Weather Report ~ Gibraltar ~ Black Market
Weather Report ~ Orange Lady ~ Weather Report
Helen Sung ~ I Can't Help Falling In Love ~ Everybody's Waltz
Umlaut Chamber Orchestra ~ Virgo ~ Zodiac Suite - Mary Lou Williams
Umlaut Chamber Orchestra ~ Capricorn ~ Zodiac Suite - Mary Lou Williams
Umlaut Chamber Orchestra ~ Aquarius ~ Zodiac Suite - Mary Lou Williams

Episode April 19 2026

This episode was inspired by recent live performances to commemorate Miles/Coltrane centennial. These concerts featured some of modern jazz's finest artists including Emmet Cohen, Joe Lovano, Terrance Blanchard and others represented here.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Emmet Cohen ~ Well You Needn't ~ Universal Truth
Joe Lovano ~ Lady Day ~ Paramount Quartet 
Joe Lovano ~ Solid Steps ~ Solid Steps
Melissa Aldana ~ La Sentencia ~ Filin
Terence Blanchard ~ Footprints ~ Bounce
Ravi Coltrane ~ Marilyn & Tammy ~ Spirit Fiction
Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane & Matt Garrison ~ Alabama ~ In Movement
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Mode For Rene ~ Live at the Side Door

Chick on the Side

This podcast episode features Chick Corea as a sideman on other artists recordings. All except the final track are Corea compositions. His contributions to these albums are significant. These tunes span a timeframe from the 1960's through the 1990's. Chick's influence on the jazz lexicon cannot be overstated. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Stan Getz ~ Five Hundred Miles High ~ Captain Marvel
Joe Farrell ~ Circle in the Square ~ Joe Farrell Quartet
Bobby Hutcherson ~ Matrix ~ Total Eclipse
Blue Mitchell ~ Chick's Tune ~ The Thing to Do
Joe Henderson ~ Crimson Lake ~ Relaxin' At Camarillo
Gary Burton ~ Straight Up and Down ~ Like Minds
Chaka Khan ~ I Love You Porgy ~ Echoes of an Era

Episode April 5 2026

Highlights from this week's In The Groove include early fusion from Weather Report, lush vocals from San Diego's Steph Johnson and a set of Indian fusion from Shakti and Anoush Shankar to conclude the show... and more

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Weather Report ~ Between the Thighs ~ Tale Spinnin'
Wayne Shorter ~ Second Genesis ~ Second Genesis
Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Blooming Coldblood ~ Stitching Life
Steph Johnson ~ Here's to Life ~ So in Love
Steph Johnson ~ Case of You ~ So in Love
Shai Maestro ~ The Time Bender ~ The Guesthouse
Shakti ~ Get Down and Sruti ~ Natural Elements
Anoushka Shankar & Norah Jones ~ Traces Of You ~ Traces Of You
Anoushka Shankar ~ River Pulse ~ Traces Of You

Take Me Out to the Ballgame 2026

Celebrating Baseballs Opening Day 2026 with this week's episode. Really the only track that relates to baseball is the first one by B3 organist Joey D. The balance of the show is music I have been listening to this week. We wrap up the show with the archival release of a 1964 Duke Ellington concert.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joey DeFrancesco ~ Take Me out to the Ballgame ~ Joey D!
Weather Report ~ A Remark You Made ~ Heavy Weather
ARTEMIS ~ Sights Unseen ~ ARBORESQUE
Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Everything Means Nothing To Me ~  Single
Shai Maestro ~ GG's Metamorphosis ~ The Guesthouse
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Mode For Rene ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door
Duke Ellington ~ Isfahan ~ Copenhagen 1964
Duke Ellington ~ Medley: Black and Tan Fantasy, The Mooche & Creole Love Call ~ Copenhagen 1964

Episode March 22 2026

Classic jazz albums bookend new artists from both coasts. Plus there are some interesting covers of Metheny tunes from guitarist Peter Sprague and vocalist Leonard Patton.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lee Morgan ~ Mr. Kenyatta ~ Search for the New Land
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Stage Dive ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door
Ian Harland ~ Four-Flat Blues ~ Behind Bars
Shai Maestro ~ Moon of Knives ~ The Guesthouse
Shai Maestro ~ Gloria ~ The Guesthouse
Peter Sprague ~ Life Loves Lone Jack ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 1
Peter Sprague ~ Going with Me ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 2
Alice Coltrane ~ Journey in Satchidananda ~ Journey in Satchidananda

More New Jazz 2026

More new music in this week's show. The first half are established artists with national/international touring bands. The second have are young jazz cats, some with a local following that are making a name for themselves with creative new sounds and music.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joshua Redman ~ Icarus ~ Words Fall Short
Chris Potter ~ Osawatomie Brown ~ Alive With Ghosts Today
Noah Preminger ~ Hummus ~ Dark Days 
Pat Metheny ~ Make a New World ~ Side-Eye III+
Dolphin Hyperspace ~ The Life of a Bee ~ ECHOLOCATION
Shai Maestro ~ Nature Boy ~ The Guesthouse
Justin Joyce ~ Dos Hermanos ~ Almost Familiar
Carsten Dahl Experience ~ You Stepped Out of a Dream ~ Into the Storm