Episodes
Sunday Dec 26, 2010
Jazzy Christmas 2010
Sunday Dec 26, 2010
Sunday Dec 26, 2010
Spiritual means different things to different people. I, for one, would not say I am a spiritual person in the conventional meaning of the word. Yet jazz fans regardless of faith recognize the spiritual nature of John Coltrane's voice on saxophone. Trane's spirituality had a major influence on modern jazz music that I tried to represent on this weeks Christmas day podcast. The show begins with some standard holiday fare from Greg Abate as he swings through The Christmas Song and Greensleeves. We follow with what I feel is the highlight of the podcast, Trane's Spiritual. Branford puts on his best Trane covering Resolution from A Love Supreme. Pharaoh rocks the house carrying on the tradition of Coltrane and then we settle down with tunes from early Chick Corea and finish up with a spiritual ballad, This Little Light of Mine, from Noah Baerman.
Featured Album
Afro Blue Impressions on amazon.com
Track ~ Artist ~ Album
The Christmas Song ~ Greg Abate ~ It's Christmastime
Greensleeves ~ Greg Abate ~ It's Christmastime
Spiritual ~ John Coltrane ~ Afro Blue Impressions
A Love Supreme: Resolution ~ Branford Marsalis Quartet ~ Footsteps of our Fathers
You've Got To Have Freedom ~ Pharoah Sanders ~ Pharaoh Sanders Finest
Misty ~ Pharoah Sanders ~ Crescent With Love
Litha ~ Chick Corea ~ Inner Space
This Little Light of Mine ~ Noah Baerman ~ Soul Force
Sunday Dec 19, 2010
The Warmth of Jazz
Sunday Dec 19, 2010
Sunday Dec 19, 2010
Though I had no preconceived theme for this show, as I listen now, it has a certain warmth to all the selections that hopefully will bring some comfort to the cold winter nights ahead. Listen to the horn arrangements and the vibe from the vibraphones on Noah Bearman's Know Thyself (listen to the entire suite here). Noah Preminger's warm breathy tone on his tenor on his fine new release Before the Rain. Rez Abbasi, Rudresh, and Brian Blade all have that deep warming effect on our soul in their own unique ways. Veejay Iyer's rendition of Somewhere will warm your heart as it did mine. Keep warm, my friends, with these fine jazz tunes.
Featured Album
Know Thyself from CD Baby
Know Thyself from amazon.com
Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Know Thyself (excerpt) ~ Noah Baerman ~ Know Thyself
Abreaction ~ Noah Preminger ~ Before the Rain (pre-order)
Dream State ~ Rez Abbasi ~ Things to Come
Apti ~ Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition ~ Apti
Somewhere ~ Vijay Iyer Trio ~ Historicity
Monk/Trane ~ John Patitucci ~ Remembrance
Crooked Creek ~ Brian Blade ~ Perceptual
Return of the Prodigal Son ~ Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band ~ Season of Changes
Sunday Dec 12, 2010
Nickle Bag of Funk
Sunday Dec 12, 2010
Sunday Dec 12, 2010
This isn't a particularly funky podcast, but we do start off this show with a Nickle Bag from Digable Planets. We continue from there in a fusion vain with a new CD's from Janek Gwizdala with some hot guitar work from Mike Stern. Ralph Peterson is up next with a great new release with his Unity Project. We'll hear two from that one including contributions from Hartford's own Josh Evans (trumpet) and Jovan Alexander (sax) as well as fine Hammond B3 playing by Pat Bianchi. Of course, the great drumming of Ralph Peterson Jr. lays down a foundation for some smokin' tunes. Later in the show we highlight other great Connecticut jazz heroes with the Curtis Brothers, Craig Hartly, and Noah Baerman.
Featured Album
Outer Reaches on amazon.com
Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Nickel Bags ~ Digable Planet ~ Reachin'
Four Brothers ~ Janek Gwizdala ~ The Space Between
Spectrum ~ Ralph Peterson's Unity Band ~ Outer Reaches
Outer Reaches ~ Ralph Peterson's Unity Band ~ Outer Reaches
Villa Palmeras ~ Miguel Zenon ~ Esta Plena
Song to Break the Spell ~ Curtis Brothers Quartet ~ Blood Spirit Land Water Freedom
Wind Dance ~ Dave Holland ~ Pathways
Dial 411 ~ Craig Hartly ~ Dial 411
Atam Bomb ~ Noah Baerman ~ Bliss
Yes, Yes, Oh Yes! ~ Playdate ~ Playdate
Sunday Dec 05, 2010
Shadow Dance
Sunday Dec 05, 2010
Sunday Dec 05, 2010
While this week's show covers a lot of great music by new and perhaps lesser known jazz artists, the jewel of the program is Dave Holland's Shadow Dance from his recent release, Pathways. Dave Holland has had a remarkable career as a band leader, composer, arranger, and bass player. He first came to prominence in the US as a member of Miles Davis's band in the 60's. Since leaving Miles and leading bands on his own, he has released many remarkable recordings, and Pathways is among the best I have heard. I had the honor of interviewing Dave a couple of years ago in Tanglewood, MA. An edited video of our discussion is here:
Also in this podcast are samplings from new CD's by Rudresh Mahanthappa, Ralph Peterson Jr., Albert Rivera, JD Allen and much more.
Featured Album
Pathways on amazon.com
Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Chronic Mistakes ~ Winard Harper ~ Make It Happen
East Boogie (Kolby's Theme) ~ JD Allen ~ Shine!
After All ~ Christian Scott ~ Yesterday You Said Tomorrow
Keeping a Balance ~ Albert Rivera ~ Inner Peace
Zoltan ~ Ralph Peterson Jr. ~ Outer Reaches
Soft ~ Rudresh Mahanthappa ~ Apex
Shadow Dance ~ Dave Holland Octet ~ Pathways
Follow Your Heart ~ Joe Farrell ~ Joe Farrell Quartet