In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Episode March 1 2026

Another eclectic mix. From a 1957 recording from alto sax player Art Pepper to brand new releases from tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger, and other iconic jazz artists in between. Enjoy this musically diverse set list.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Art Pepper ~ You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To ~ Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section
Ian Harland ~ Blues For Bobbie ~ Behind Bars
Lyle Mays ~ Slink ~ Lyle Mays
Pat Metheny Group ~ James ~ Offramp
Pat Metheny Group ~ Last Train Home ~ Still Life (Talking)
Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Blooming Coldblood ~ Blooming Coldblood - Single
Noah Preminger ~ Mopti ~ Dark Days
Kurt Elling & WDR Big Band ~ Steppin' Out ~ In The Brass Palace

Episode Feb 22 2026

An eclectic mix of music this week with no real theme. We have new releases, bebop from the 60's and jazz rock fusion. Open your mind and enjoy the full breadth of what jazz music can be.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Kurt Elling & WDR Big Band ~ They Speak No Evil ~ In The Brass Palace
Vi Redd ~ If I Should Lose You ~ Bird Call
Vi Redd ~ Now's the Time ~ Bird Call
Phil Woods ~ The Last Page ~ Musique du bois
Brandon Sanders ~ 8/4 Beat ~ Lasting Impression
Andrew Renfroe ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ POP LOGIC
Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin & Paco de Lucía ~ Meeting of the Spirits ~ Saturday Night in San Francisco

Valentine Vibe

This episode kicks off with the iconic Valentine's day tune My Funny Valentine with a unique interpretation by vocalist extraordinaire Dianne Reeves. The rest of the playlist is vibraphone heavy with contributions from San Diego's Ian Harland as well as several tracks that include Joel Ross as both a leader and sideman. Also featured is Hartford's hard working bassist Matt Dwonszyk. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Dianne Reeves ~ My Funny Valentine ~ The Palo Alto Sessions 1981-1985
Ian Harland ~ Hitchcock ~ Behind Bars
Ian Harland ~ Four-Flat Blues ~ Behind Bars
Joe Farnsworth ~ You Already Know ~ The Big Room
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Peaceful World ~ A Year and a Day
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Morning Dreams ~ Morning Dreams - Single
Anthony Fung ~ Duid Deed ~ Duid Deed - Single
Julian Lage ~ Havens ~ Scenes From Above
Joel Ross ~ The Shadowlands ~ Gospel Music

All New 2025-2026

All selections in this episode are from recent releases. Some of these you may never had heard of, like Brandon Sanders or Justin Joyce. Some like Joel Ross, Julian Lage or artists in Out Of/Into are young players with active touring bands. Then we have the jazz masters like Metheny, Scofield and Holland. Jazz is here to stay as a creative force in music.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Brandon Sanders ~ Tales of Mississippi ~ Lasting Impression
Joel Ross ~ Hostile ~ Gospel Music
Out Of/Into ~ Brothers In Arms ~ Motion II
Justin Joyce ~ That Was Never ~ Almost Familiar
Pat Metheny ~ Don't Look Down ~ Don't Look Down - EP
Julian Lage ~ Talking Drum ~ Scenes From Above
John Scofield & Dave Holland ~ Mine Are Blues ~ Memories of Home
Sam Yahel ~ Strum It ~ Quiet Flow

Minneapolis Strong

In this episode, we pay tribute to the spirit of Minneapolis as the city resists a heavy-handed federal ICE presence. We honor the memories of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, whose lives were taken during protests against these federal actions. This playlist features jazz artists with roots in the Twin Cities, ranging from local talents to national acts.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
The Bad Plus ~ Long Distance Runaround ~ For All I Care
The Bad Plus ~ Smells Like Teen Spirit ~ These Are The Vistas
José James ~ Lovely Day ~ Lean On Me
Bobby McFerrin ~ Joshua ~ SpiritYouAll
Craig Taborn ~ When Kabuya Dances ~ Dream Archives
Society of Chemists ~ transactional kindness by candlelight - Single
Zacc Harris ~ This Land Is Your Land ~ American Reverie
Atlantis Quartet ~ You Are Here ~ Live at Berlin
Connie Evingson ~ Lullaby of the Leaves ~ Gypsy In My Soul
Russ Kaplan ~ Leopard Frog ~ Lake Songs
Jennifer Grimm ~ Minneapolis & St. Paul ~ After Noon

In Protest

Jazz artists have a history of making political statements. Mingus, Max, Rollins and Nina are among those. Recently there have been several jazz artists that have made a statement to this administration for the taking over the respected Kennedy Center for the Arts. We honor them here. Chuck Redd, The Cookers and Bela Fleck have cancelled their scheduled appearances at the Center in protest.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Chuck Redd ~ A Groove for Gail ~ Groove City
Chuck Redd ~ Lonely Woman ~ Groove City
The Cookers ~ Capra Black ~ Warriors
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sánchez ~ Touch and Go ~ BEATrio
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum
Charlie Haden ~ This Is Not America ~ Not In Our Name
Les McCann & Eddie Harris ~ Compared to What ~ Swiss Movement
John Coltrane ~ Alabama ~ Live At Birdland

Episode January 18 2026

At the center of this episode is music from alumni of the Jackie McLean Institute for Jazz, University of Hartford where this show is broadcast. Also music from jazz greats Rollins, Pepper and Miles.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension ~ Lock Down Blues ~ Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022
Tony Davis ~ Trinkets From Mars ~ Jessamine
Brandee Younger ~ End Means ~ Gadabout Season
Sarah Hanahan ~ NATO ~ Among Giants
Al Foster ~ Pent-Up House ~ Live at Smoke
Sonny Rollins ~ How High the Moon ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders
Art Pepper ~ You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To ~ Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section
Miles Davis ~ Joshua ~ Seven Steps To Heaven

2025 Review Part 2

We continue with a 2025 album release review. This week we are concentrating on recordings from local jazz scenes that I have a connection with, Hartford and San Diego. I also include Detroit after attending their great jazz festival.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Irving Flores ~ With Amanda in Favignana ~ Armando Mi Conga
Victor Baker Quartet ~ As the Crow Flies ~ As the Crow Flies
David Borgo ~ The Lick ~ Uplift
Tony Davis ~ Unrequited ~ Jessamine
Alex Tremblay & Vanisha Gould ~ Scenic Route ~ People and Places
Louis Jones III ~ Stuck ~ Motions
Chuck Mangione ~ Children of Sanchez ~ Children of Sanchez