In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Guitar Progression

We begin this edition with a set demonstrating the progression of modern jazz guitar from the 60's groove style of Kenny Burrell and Peter Bernstein to a more fusion approach from Gilad Hekselman and Andrew Renfroe. We conclude this episode with a variety jazz styles. A popular tune from a movie soundtrack by husband-wife team Mike Wofford an Holly Hofmann, Indian influenced Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain & Chris Potter, and a cooking track from Jackie McLean's collaboration with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. The show concludes with a great groove from Ahmad Jamal.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Kenny Burrell ~ Isabella ~ Soulero
Peter Bernstein ~ Hidden Pockets ~ Let Loose
Andrew Renfroe ~ 1998 ~ Run in the Storm
Gilad Hekselman ~ Magic Chord ~ Far Star
Mike Wofford & Holly Hofmann ~ Pure Imagination ~ Turn Signal
Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain & Chris Potter ~ Mazad ~ Good Hope
Jackie McLean ~ Blue Rondo ~ One Step Beyond
Ahmad Jamal ~ Arabesque ~ It's Magic

Miles & Jackie

This podcast celebrates the recent birthdays of two all time great jazz artists; Miles Davis and Jackie McLean. It also features two releases by young musicians that are a product of the Jackie McLean Institute for jazz in Hartford Connecticut, where Jackie spent his later years mentoring students of the art form.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones
Miles Davis ~ Paraphernalia ~ Miles In the Sky
Jackie McLean ~ Appointment in Ghana ~ Jackie's Bag
Jackie McLean ~ Sweet Love of Mine ~ Demon's Dance
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Afro Blue ~ Afro Blue - Single
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead ~ South ~ Poetic
Joey Alexander ~ Rise Up ~ Origin
Christian Sands ~ Can’t Find My Way Home ~ Be Water

Episode May 15 2022

We kick off this week's episode with fire from Freddie Hubbard. Most of what follows is from young west coast artists beginning with another trumpeter and a San Diego legend in Gilbert Castellanos. Following that are many of SoCal's great young talent. Danny Green, Justin Joyce, Justin Grinnell and Matt Hall display the virtuosity that we have in the San Diego area. The podcast ends with LA's latest guitar phenom, Andrew Renfroe and finally a young drummer from back east currently on tour on the left coast, Jonathan Barber and his group Vision Ahead.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Freddie Hubbard ~ The Intrepid Fox ~ Red Clay
Gilbert Castellanos ~ Chula Juana ~ Federal Jazz Project
Danny Green Trio ~ After the Calm ~ After the Calm
Justin Joyce ~ E.R.J. ~ Story Tales
Justin Grinnell Quartet ~ Hit the Brakes ~ Without You
Matt Hall ~ The Tiger's Ritual ~ I Hope to My Never
Andrew Renfroe ~ Chemirocha ~ Chemirocha - Single
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead ~ Poetic ~ Poetic

Africa Inspired

This episode features music heavily inspired by the African diaspora. We begin with rock legend Santana's Mother Africa and Trane's Africa Brass. Hugh Masekela takes us deep into South African native music, and Herbie has a modern take on jazz/rock/African fusion. We finish this show with Emmet Cohen Trio's contemporary treatment of Fats Waller stride classics.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Santana ~ Mother Africa ~ Welcome
John Coltrane Quartet ~ Africa ~ Africa/Brass
Hugh Masekela ~ Languta ~ Hope
Herbie Hancock ~ Ostinato (Suite for Angela) ~ Mwandishi
Emmet Cohen ~ Ain't Misbehavin', Honeysuckle Rose / Handful of Keys ~ Dirty in Detroit 

Couple of Birthdays

A couple of birthdays to celebrate this month; Charles Mingus on his Centennial 100th birthday, and Herbie Hancock who turned 82 years young. First, a track from the Grammy award winning McBride Big Band. Also, new music from drummer Jonathan Barber's Vision Ahead, and his jazz partner, guitarist Andrew Renfroe. Also represented in this episode are two of my favorite modern tenor sax players, Joe Farrell and Chris Potter.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Christian McBride Big Band ~ Down by the Riverside ~ For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver
Charles Mingus ~ Ysabel's Table Dance ~ Tijuana Moods
Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles (Expanded Edition)
Joe Farrell ~ Geo Blue ~ Penny Arcade
Jonathan Barber ~ Denim (feat. Vision Ahead) ~ Denim (feat. Vision Ahead) - Single
Andrew Renfroe ~ Alps (feat. Braxton Cook, Taber Gable, Rick Rosato & Curtis Nowosad) ~ Run in the Storm
Chris Potter ~ Southbound ~ Sunrise Reprise

Episode Apr 16 2022

After seeing Chris Potter live this week, I was inspired to start this week's podcast with some of his recent work. Another sax player with a modern sound is Mike Casey, and we have two singles from him. Next up, trombonist Matt Hall brings the sounds of San Diego. Two giants of jazz piano, Chick and McCoy, close out the podcast.

Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain & Chris Potter ~ Good Hope ~ Good Hope
Chris Potter ~ Sunrise and Joshua Trees ~ Sunrise Reprise
Mike Casey & Blori ~ Breathe In ~ Breathe In - Single
Mike Casey ~ Click Bait ~ Click Bait - Single
Matt Hall ~ Charlie's Harley ~ I Hope to My Never
McCoy Tyner ~ Search for Peace ~ The Real McCoy
McCoy Tyner ~ Passion Dance ~ The Real McCoy
Chick Corea ~ Inner Space ~ Inner Space

Jazz Grammy Awards 2022

Usually not a big fan of the Grammy Awards, but this year had some intriguing picks. From the feel good, straight ahead sounds of McBrides Big Band, to the probing improvisations of Carter, DeJohnette, Rubalcaba, and the creative explorations of Esperanza, these picks span a wide pallet of today's jazz. The posthumous awards to Chick and Lyle are also represented in this episode. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Christian McBride Big Band ~ Medgar Evers' Blues ~ For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver
Jon Batiste ~ MOVEMENT 11’ ~ WE ARE
Jon Batiste ~ ADULTHOOD (feat. Hot 8 Brass Band) ~ WE ARE
Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette & Gonzalo Rubalcaba ~ Ahmad the Terrible ~ Skyline
Esperanza Spalding ~ Formwela 10 ~ SONGWRIGHTS APOTHECARY LAB
Eliane Elias & Chucho Valdés ~ Sabor a Mi ~ Mirror Mirror
Chick Corea Akoustic Band ~ Humpty Dumpty ~ LIVE
Lyle Mays ~ Eberhard ~ Eberhard - EP

Episode Apr 3 2022

Jazz masters Freddie Hubbard and Chick Corea bookend this episode along with players not quite as well known. Garzone channels Trane's Equinox, Eubanks rocks, Renfroe and Davis cover Campbell and Hendrix, and San Diego's Justin Joyce creates a sweet sound before Chick takes us out.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Freddie Hubbard ~ Open Sesame ~ Open Sesame
George Garzone, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua & Darek Oles ~ Equinox (Night #3) ~ 3 Nights in L.A.
Orrin Evans & Kevin Eubanks ~ I Don't Know ~ EEE (Eubanks-Evans-Experience)
Luke Sellick & Andrew Renfroe ~ Wichita Lineman ~ Small Vacation
Tony Davis ~ May This Be Love ~ Golden Year
Justin Joyce ~ Placid Pandemonium ~ Story Tales
Chick Corea ~ Admiration ~ Antidote (feat. The Spanish Heart Band)