In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Tijuana Border

This episode is named for the last two tracks you will hear. Both are suites inspired by the border crossing town of Tijuana Mexico. One by Charles Mingus from the Tijuana Moods LP, the other from Carla Bley entitled Tijuana Traffic. Before that, we've queued up new music from Artemis, Isaiah J. Thompson, Jonathan Barber and more.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
ARTEMIS ~ Slink ~ In Real Time
Pat Metheny Group ~ The Roots of Coincidence ~ Imaginary Day
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead ~ Denim ~ Poetic
Joshua Redman Elastic Band ~ Put It In Your Pocket ~ Momentum
Isaiah J. Thompson ~ Good Intentions ~ The Power of the Spirit
Charles Mingus ~ Los Maríachis ~ Tijuana Moods
The Carla Bley Big Band ~ Tijuana Traffic ~ Looking for America

Outertime

The gem in this podcast is the final track from the late great Ahmad Jamal. Before that we hear from newcomer Lakecia Benjamin in her sophomore release. That is followed by a couple of covers from Billy Childs and San Diego guitarist Peter Sprague. Noah Preminger plays filmaker Otto Preminger and an exciting new single from Indian fusion band Shakti.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lakecia Benjamin ~ Phoenix (feat. Georgia Ann Muldrow) ~ Phoenix
Lisa Fischer & Billy Childs ~ Map to the Treasure ~ Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro
Peter Sprague ~ Going with Me ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 2
Noah Preminger ~ For Advise and Consent ~ Preminger Plays Preminger
Shakti ~ Mohanam (single) ~ This Moment 
Ahmad Jamal ~ Bogota ~ Outertimeinnerspace

Herbie at 83

It's Herbie Hancock's birthday celebration podcast episode. We've got him on the first four tracks of this podcast, in different settings. Certainly he is a living legend on the jazz scene today at 83 years of age.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Herbie Hancock ~ Actual Proof ~ Thrust
Herbie Hancock ~ One Finger Snap ~ Empyrean Islands
Freddie Hubbard ~ The Intrepid Fox ~ Red Clay
Lee Morgan ~ Mr. Kenyatta ~ Search for the New Land
Gilbert Castellanos ~ Big P ~ Espérame En El Cielo
Bill Evans ~ Soiree ~ From Left To Right (Expanded Edition)
Isaiah J. Thompson ~ The Soul Messenger ~ The Power of the Spirit

Spring 2023

This is the spring edition of In The Groove. It is also the birth date of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. We celebrate both of these with this week's podcast. Also of note is the release of harpist Brandee Younger with a featured track from her album Brand New Life. Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin's latest release Phoenix wraps up this episode.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Kneebody ~ The Trip ~ Chapters
Emmet Cohen ~ Venus de Milo ~ Uptown in Orbit
Brandee Younger ~ Running Game ~ Brand New Life
Freddie Hubbard ~ UK Forty One  ~ UK Forty One EP 
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers ~ Up Jumped Spring ~ 3 Blind Mice, Vol. 1
Milt Jackson ~ Sunflower ~ Sunflower
Joel Frahm ~ Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most ~ We Used To Dance
Lakecia Benjamin ~ Jubilation ~ Phoenix

Mostly New in 2023

I've added a tribute to Wayne Shorter upon learning of his death. More on Shorters life and music in next week's podcast.

Mostly new music here. Young players like Braxton Cook and Lakecia Benjamin are the future of jazz. New music from Gilbert Castellanos, Christian McBride and Bruce Forman are highlighted here as well.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Wayne Shorter ~ Infant Eyes ~ Speak No Evil
Braxton Cook ~ Meters ~ Who Are You When No One Is Watching?
Christian McBride & New Jawn ~ Obsequious ~ Prime
Gilbert Castellanos ~ Espérame En El Cielo (Bonus) ~ Espérame En El Cielo
Lakecia Benjamin ~ Phoenix ~ Phoenix
Lakecia Benjamin ~ Rebirth ~ Phoenix
Bruce Forman ~ Barney's Tune ~ Reunion!
Bruce Forman ~ April in Paris  ~ Reunion!
Holly Hofmann ~ Soul-Leo ~ Low Life
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter ~ Boogie Down ~ Guilty Pleasures EP
Kurt Rosenwinkel ~ Heartcore ~ Heartcore

Jazztodon - Mastodon for Jazz Fans

The playlist for today's episode was inspired by discussion threads on the social media service Mastodon. Jazztodon is a server on the Mastodon network that was created for jazz fans. Find out more about Mastodon for jazz in this article I wrote for AllAboutJazz.com. You can look me up on Mastodon at http://jazztodon.com/@digginjazz.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Roland Kirk ~ Serenade to a Cuckoo ~ Kirkatron
Jackie McLean ~ Appointment in Ghana ~ Jackie's Bag
Elvin Jones ~ H.M. On F.M. ~ Midnight Walk
Thelonious Monk ~ Sweet and Lovely ~ Monk's Dream
Michael Feinberg ~ Blues Variant ~ Blues Variant
Tyshawn Sorey ~ Jitterbug Waltz ~ The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism
Wayne Escoffery ~ Like Minds ~ Like Minds
Herbie Hancock ~ Heartbeat ~ Man-Child
Al Di Meola ~ Julia ~ Across the Universe

Episode Feb 19 2023

An eclectic set of music starting with Hartford based guitarist Frank Varela. Next is a new release from Terri Lyne Carrington celebrating women jazz composers. LP and the Vinyl cover a pop tune and drummer from Charlie Brown Christmas classic covers Charles Mingus. More from Joe Farrell, Charles McPherson, Ethan Iverson and young vibraphonist Joel Ross round out the set.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Frank Varela ~ Ganja Groove ~ Grandma's Revenge
Terri Lyne Carrington ~ Respected Destroyer ~ New Standards, Vol. 1
LP and the Vinyl ~ Everybody Wants to Rule the World ~ Heard and Seen
Jerry Granelli ~ Boogie Stop Shuffle ~ Dance Hall
Joe Farrell ~ Sonic Text ~ Sonic Text
Charles McPherson ~ Karen ~ First Flight Out
Ethan Iverson ~ Confirmation ~ The Purity of the Turf
Joel Ross ~ WAIL ~ The Parable Of The Poet

Episode Jan 15 2023

This week's episode begins with a couple of San Diego's finest jazz cats. Gilbert Castellanos (tr) has a new release, and Christopher Hollyday (as) soars on these two tracks. Wes, Jackie and more are featured on this podcast. We conclude with a tribute to rock guitarist Jeff Beck, who passed away unexpectedly this week.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Gilbert Castellanos ~ La Puerta ~ Espérame En El Cielo
Christopher Hollyday ~ Everything Happens ~ Telepathy
Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles
Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio ~ Four On Six ~ Smokin' At The Half Note
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ Libra ~ Perpetual Pendulum
Jackie McLean ~ Little Melonae ~ Hat Trick
Jackie McLean ~ Oh Children Rise ~ Rhythm of the Earth
Jeff Beck ~ Goodbye Pork Pie Hat ~ Wired