In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

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

Post New Years Show

Let's bring in the New Year with cool, soulful 70's jazz. Here are some covers of pop tunes of that era by Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Charles Earland. That is followed by new music from San Diego legend Gilbert Castellanos, and Miguel Zénon. We celebrate the 81st birthday of guitarist John McLaughlin before closing out the show with a trio album from Charles Lloyd.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Wes Montgomery ~ Tequila ~ Tequila
George Benson ~ California Dreamin' ~ White Rabbit
Charles Earland ~ More Today Than Yesterday ~ The Almighty Burner
Gilbert Castellanos ~ Totem Pole ~ Espérame En El Cielo
Miguel Zenón ~ Bámbula ~ Música De Las Américas
John McLaughlin ~ Right Here, Right Now, Right On ~ Liberation Time
John McLaughlin and Shakti ~ La Danse Du Bonheur ~ A Handful of Beauty
Charles Lloyd ~ Tales of Rumi (feat. Julian Lage & Zakir Hussain) ~ Trios: Sacred Thread

Tony, Wes & McCoy

This week's episode features three jazz innovators. Tony Williams, Wes Montgomery and McCoy Tyner. Hope you enjoy my selections from these great artists. As a bonus, we conclude the show with Duke Ellington.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Tony Williams ~ Warrior ~ Civilization
Tony Williams ~ Sister Cheryl ~ Foreign Intrigue
Tony Williams ~ Big Nick ~ Turn It Over
Wes Montgomery ~ Jingles ~ Wes's Best: The Best of Wes Montgomery on Resonance
Wes Montgomery ~ S.O.S (Live / Take 3) ~ Full House
McCoy Tyner ~ Sama Layuca ~ Sama Layuca
McCoy Tyner ~ Contemplation ~ The Real McCoy
Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra ~ Ad Lib on Nippon ~ Far East Suite