In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Episode June 14 2026

This episode begins with a Joe Henderson tribute after attending a show by flautist Lori Bell of Henderson arrangements. Other tracks of note are Emmet Cohen's latest release, a Miles' classic, and the fusion feature from RTF.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lori Bell Quartet ~ Black Narcissus ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson ~ Isotope ~ Inner Urge
Larry Young ~ Zoltan ~ Unity
Emmet Cohen ~ I. Eternal Glimpse ~ Universal Truth
Miles Davis ~ Sid's Ahead ~ Milestones
Return to Forever ~ The Romantic Warrior ~ Romantic Warrior

More Sonny and Miles

The last two episodes have been dedicated to Miles and Sonny, but there were a few more tracks I wanted to get into, so we review those at the top of the show. That is followed by some new music including a recent release by Emmet C and Joe F. Finally, we review some early Weather Report and late Joe Zawinul. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Sonny Rollins ~ Way Out West ~ Way Out West
Thelonious Monk ~ Bemsha Swing ~ Brilliant Corners
Miles Davis ~ Honky Tonk ~ Get Up With It
Joe Farnsworth ~ You Already Know ~ The Big Room
Emmet Cohen ~ Gingerbread Boy ~ Universal Truth
Emmet Cohen ~ III. Universal Truth ~ Universal Truth
Weather Report ~ Orange Lady ~ Weather Report
Joe Zawinul ~ Black Market ~ Brown Street

Sonny RIP

One of the greatest players in the jazz legacy, Sonny Rollins passed away last week on May 25 at 95 years of age. On this episode, we look back on his career which spanned 7 decades. Here are some of my favorite "Newk" recordings from his most creative years.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Sonny Rollins ~ Strode Rode ~ Saxophone Colossus
Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time
Sonny Rollins ~ Alone Together ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contempory Leaders
Sonny Rollins ~ God Bless the Child ~ The Bridge
Sonny Rollins ~ Alfie's Theme ~ Alfie (Original Music From The Score)
Sonny Rollins ~ The Freedom Suite ~ Freedom Suite

Miles Centennial Celebration

For this week's episode, we celebrate Miles Davis on the Centennial of his birth, May 26 1926. Miles is one of the most influential of jazz artist, having set new directions for jazz time and time again. Here we represent music from his first and second great quintets along with his explorations in electronics and rock rhythms that led to the jazz-rock fusion of the 70's and beyond.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones
Miles Davis ~ So What ~ Kind of Blue
Miles Davis ~ Joshua ~ Seven Steps To Heaven
Miles Davis ~ Footprints ~ Miles Smiles
Miles Davis ~ Spanish Key (alternate take) ~ Bitches Brew (Legacy Edition)
Gregory Hutchinson ~ Water Babies ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis
Peter Sprague ~ Flamenco Sketches ~ Blue Kind of Miles

Latest from the Greatest

This episode features brand new music from some of the best jazz artists of today. From Potter to Metheny to Marsalis and more we have new album releases for your listening pleasure. They don't dissapoint.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Chris Potter ~ Sister Annie ~ Alive With Ghosts Today
Steve Wilson ~ Quiet Girl ~ Enduring Sonance
Billy Childs ~ Lazy Afternoon ~ Triumvirate
Gregory Hutchinson ~ Bitches Brew ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis
Pat Metheny ~ Make a New World ~ Side-Eye III+
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra & Wynton Marsalis ~ Let Freedom Swing (Eleanor Roosevelt) ~ Let Freedom Swing
Brian Lynch ~ Blue n' boogie ~ Torch Bearers

A New York City Groove

In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on my recent trip to New York City, focusing on the jazz clubs and concerts I explored. We visited some of the iconic spots that have been standing the test of time, like Smalls, Mezzrow, and Smoke, and also discovered some fresh new places, such as Jazz Cultural and Close Up. Plus, we went to the Essentially Ellington competition at Jazz @ Lincoln Center to see the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory perform and snag an Honorable Mention Award. You can listen to the audio from the stream in this podcast.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Caelan Cardello ~ Gone Fishin’ ~ Chapter One
Sarah Hanahan ~ We Bop! ~ Among Giants
Jacobs Jazz Orchestra (YLJC) ~ Star Crossed Lovers ~ Essentially Ellington Competition
Steve Wilson ~ Helen's Song ~ Enduring Sonance
Sean Jones ~ How High the Moon ~ Im·pro·vise Never Before Seen
John Di Martino ~ Isfahan ~ Passion Flower
Scott Robinson ~ Tenor Eleven ~ Scott Robinson: Tenormore
Sullivan Fortner ~ In a Sentimental Mood ~ Moments Preserved
Steve Davis ~ Club 880 ~ Images

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