In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

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)

Episode Mar 20 2022

We start this show with swingin' "soul-jazz", with a new release from trombonist Matt Hall and classic sax from Dexter G. Next that slick CTI sound from Stanley Turrentine and Joe Farrell. Finally, back to Southern California with local favorites Gilbert and Holly.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Matt Hall ~ Biscuits & Gravy ~ I Hope to My Never
Dexter Gordon ~ Society Red ~ Doin' Allright
Stanley Turrentine ~ Sugar ~ Sugar
Joe Farrell ~ Great Gorge ~ Moon Germs
Gilbert Castellanos ~ This Is for Horace ~ Underground
Holly Hofmann ~ Jack of Hearts ~ Low Life

New music from SoCal

We begin with new music from San Diego jazz artists Peter Sprague (guitar) and Matt Hall (trombone), followed by jazz icon Charles McPherson from his latest album Jazz Dance Suites. I haven't forgotten my Hartford music roots, Steve Davis and John Hasselback III are represented here too.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Peter Sprague ~ Going with Me ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 2
Matt Hall ~ Spearhead ~ I Hope to My Never
Charles McPherson ~ Tropic of Capricorn ~ Charles McPherson's Jazz Dance Suites
George Garzone, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua & Darek Oles ~ I Want To Talk About You (Night #2) ~ 3 Nights in L.A.
John Hasselback III ~ Robert's Run ~ Entrance
Steve Davis ~ Inner Glimpse ~ Correlations
Herbie Hancock ~ Cantaloupe Island ~ Empyrean Isles

Pepper Revisited

A look back at the iconic album Sgt. Pepper's LHCB, with unique covers from jazz artists, and finally George Harrison's classic composition on that record. That is followed by three fine San Diego jazz artists, Lori Bell, Holly Hofmann and Matt Hall. A new single from Jamile & Tony Davis, playing one of my favorite tunes and concluding with a John Coltrane classic.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
San Francisco String Trio ~ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ~ May I Introduce to You
Peter Sprague & Leonard Patton ~ With a Little Help from My Friends ~ Dream Walkin'
Brandee Younger ~ Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! ~ A Day in the Life: Impressions of Pepper
The Beatles ~ Within You Without You ~ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Lori Bell ~ Harlem Nocturne ~ Brooklyn Dreaming
Holly Hofmann ~ Farmer's Trust ~ Low Life
Matt Hall ~ No Going Back ~ I Hope to My Never
Jamile & Tony Davis ~ Never Will I Marry ~ Never Will I Marry - Single
John Coltrane ~ Lonnie's Lament ~ Crescent

Episode Jan 30 2022

Today's show begins with classic CTI recordings from Milt Jackson and Joe Farrell. Sellick and Renfroe cover Tom Petty from an acoustic duet album. The San Diego jazz scene is represented by alto saxophonist Chris Hollyday and guitarist Peter Sprague. Last but not least, we have jazz icons Hank Mobley and Cedar Walton to wrap up the show.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Milt Jackson ~ Sunflower ~ Sunflower
Joe Farrell ~ Time's Lie ~ Moon Germs
Luke Sellick & Andrew Renfroe ~ Wildflowers ~ Small Vacation
Christopher Hollyday ~ Text Tones ~ Dialogue
Peter Sprague ~ All Blues ~ Blue Kind of Miles
Gerald Wilson Big Band ~ Patterns ~ Gerald Wilson: Deep Dive!
Hank Mobley ~ If I Should Lose You ~ Soul Station
Cedar Walton Trio ~ Voices Deep Within ~ Cedar