I call this set Lazy DJ, because I play all extended arrangements which means less mic breaks and more music. We begin with a rip-roaring arrangement of Aaron Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Next we keep the energy level at maximum with a couple from early Weather Report. We go back to Prog-Rock with Close to the Edge from Yes. Thus far, everything we have played is from the early '70s. We time shift from there to our current era with Five Peace Band led by Chick Corea and John McLaughlin performing from the Miles' classic In A Silent Way to finish this podcast.

Featured Album

Five Peace Band (Live) - Chick Corea & John McLaughlin in iTunes

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Fanfare for the Common Man ~ Emerson Lake and Palmer ~ Works
Medley ~ Weather Report ~ I Sing the Body Electric
Boogie Woogie Waltz ~ Weather Report ~ Sweetnighter
Close to the Edge ~ Yes ~ Close to the Edge
In a Silent Way - Its About Time ~ Chick Corea & John McLauglin ~ Five Peace Band Live

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This show really cooks for Father's Day. Starting with a unique project from tenor player and arranger Travis Sullivan doing his take on Bjork tunes. Cyrus Chestnut has a new one with Hartford's own Dezron Douglas. While we are featuring hometown cats, we play from the Curtis Brother's latest release. The Cookers were in town, and I play two from them. Horace Silver helps celebrate Father's Day with his classic Song For My Father. We finish out this podcast with three cookin' tracks from the late Joe Farrell.

Featured Album

Enjoy! - Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Hyperballad ~ Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra ~ Enjoy
What's Happening ~ Cyrus Chestnut ~ The Cyrus Chestnut Quartet
Mass Manipulation ~ The Curtis Brothers ~ Completion of Proof
Croquet Ballet ~ The Cookers ~ Cast the First Stone
Peacemaker ~ The Cookers ~ Cast the First Stone
Song For My Father ~ Horace Silver ~ Song for My Father
Malibu ~ Sonic Text ~ Joe Farrell
Skate Board Park ~ Joe Farrell ~ Skate Board Park
Great Gorge ~ Joe Farrell ~ Moon Germs

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This extended In The Groove podcast features Frank Varela and the VLM Project. Frank, Ricky Marshall and Deva Varela are in our studio to talk about the newly released CD Grandma's Revenge. We also revisit the CD So Real featuring Deva on vocals, flute and harmonica. Ricky speaks about his older brother, the late great west coast drummer Eddie Marshall, and we pay tribute with some of his compositions and recordings. Also on this podcast are other influences of Frank's; Wes Montgomery and George Benson.

Featured Album

Frank Varela on CDBaby

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Abangoma ~ Hugh Masakela ~ Hope
Ganja Groove ~ Frank Varela ~ Grandma's Revenge
Giant Steps ~ Frank Varela ~ Grandma's Revenge
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know ~ VLM Project ~ Unreleased
Grandma's Revenge ~ Frank Varela ~ Grandma's Revenge
West Coast Blues ~ Frank and Deva Varela ~ So Real
Memphis Underground ~ Frank and Deva Varela ~ So Real
Holy Mischief ~ Eddie Marshall ~ Holy Mischief
Knucklebean ~ Bobby Hutcherson ~ Knucklebean
Twisted Blues ~ Wes Montgomery ~ Cottentail
My Latin Brother ~ George Benson ~ Bad Benson
Off the Top ~ Jimmy Smith ~ Off the Top
Casey's Blues ~ Deva and Frank Varela ~ So Real

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This show begins with Jazz pianist, composer and educator Noah Baerman. Noah also struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), an incurable connective tissue disorder. Last month was EDS awareness month, and I had pledged to highlight EDS on this podcast. Please check out Noah's blog post at his website ( http://noahjazz.com ) for more information. We feature other Connecticut jazz artists on this week's show and some great jazz cats from Rochester NY. We have Jen Allen, Jimmy Greene, Noah Preminger, Frank Varela, Peter Greenfogel from CT, and Mike Melito and the Sneider Brothers from Rochester. Rounding out the show are Ambrose Akinmusire, Ornette Coleman, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin. This makes for a very eclectic mix. Hope you dig it.

EDS Blog post

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
This Little Light of Mine ~ Noah Baerman ~ Soul Force
The Repercussions ~ Jen Allen ~ Pieces of Myself
Love in Action ~ Jimmy Greene ~ Mission Statement
Law Years ~ Ornette Coleman ~ Science Fiction
Toy Dance ~ Noah Preminger ~ Before the Rain
Confessions to My Unborn Daughter ~ Ambrose Akinmusire ~ When the Heart Emerges Glistening
New Blues, Old Bruise ~ Chick Corea and John McLaughlin ~ Five Peace Band
Upstream ~ Frank Varela ~ Grandma's Revenge
Tailwind ~ Mike Melito ~ The Right Time
It Must Schwing ~ Sneider Brothers ~ Brockton Beat
Halfway Between Places ~ Peter Greenfogel ~ Halfway Between Places

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