It is a gorgeous morning in Hartford, CT, and no better song expresses that as one by Ray Charles to start off the show. A heavy emphasis on local jazz artists permeate this podcast with new releases from Trio 149, Trombeatz, Dezron Douglas and Matt Dwonszyk. We close out the show with a set spanning Miles great ensembles.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album 
Ray Charles & The Count Basie Orchestra ~ Ray Sings, Basie Swings ~ Oh, What A Beautiful Morning
Trio 149 ~ A New Beginning ~ Raise Up
Kenny Garrett ~ She Waits For the New Sun ~ Song Book
Trombeatz ~ M3 ~ A Carribean Thing
Dezron Douglas ~ SoulIris ~ Black Lion
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Theocidy (Give and Take) ~ Wonderful World
Matt Dwonszyk ~ What A Wonderful World ~ Wonderful World
Marc Cary ~ Free the Spirits (feat. Awah Sangho) ~ Cosmic Indiginous
Tony Williams ~ Soweto Nights ~ Civilization
Tony Williams ~ Allah Be Praised ~ Turn It Over
Miles Davis ~ Love For Sale ~ Kind Of Blue 50th Anniversary
Miles Davis ~ Joshua ~ Seven Steps to Heaven
Miles Davis ~ Shhh/Peaceful ~ In A Silent Way

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The title says it all. This episode is full of funky jazz tunes. Funk takes many forms and we will explore some examples. Beginning with Les McCann's timeless expression of outrage. Then from Jazz/Rock fusion of the 70"s to new music that continues the tradition of blending jazz artistry with electronics and funk beats. Finally Dave Liebman pays homage to the man that innovated fusion.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Les McCann & Eddie Harris ~ Compared to What ~ Swiss Movement
War ~ City Country City ~ The World Is A Ghetto
Return to Forever. ~ Sorceress ~ Romantic Warrior
Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Miles Beyond ~ Birds of Fire
Herbie Hancock ~ Actual Proof ~ Thrust
Takuya Kuroda ~ R.S.B.D. ~ Zigzagger
Rale Micic ~ Hotel Insomnia ~ Night Music
Fareed Haque ~ Big Bhangra ~ Flat Planet
Dave Liebman ~ Lieb Talks about Miles ~ On The Corner Live! The music of Miles Davis
Dave Liebman ~ In a Silent Way ~ On The Corner Live! The music of Miles Davis
Dave Liebman ~ On The Corner ~ On The Corner Live! The music of Miles Davis

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The gem of this podcast comes near the end with three tracks from an innovative take on the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper. Prior to that we have classic jazz from Oliver Nelson and Duke Ellington. Wayne Shorter stretches your imagination with artful noise. Chris Potter and Jonathan Barber bring a modern feel to this American artform, jazz.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Joey Alexander ~ Moments Notice ~ Eclipse
Oliver Nelson ~ Stolen Moment ~ Blues and the Abstract Truth
Chris Potter ~ Eurydice (for Wayne Shorter) ~ Gratitude
Chris Potter ~ High Noon (for Eddie Harris) ~ Gratitude
Duke Ellington ~ Morning Glory ~ Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
Duke Ellington ~ Cotton Tail ~ Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
Wayne Shorter ~ Moto Grosso Feio ~ Moto Grosso Feio
Brandee Younger ~ Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite ~ A Day In The Life: Impressions of Pepper
Makaya McCraven ~ Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds ~ A Day In The Life: Impressions of Pepper
Sullivan Fortner ~ When I'm Sixty-Four ~ A Day In The Life: Impressions of Pepper
Jonathan Barber ~ Crown ~ Vision Ahead

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Had a great time interviewing Nicole Zuraitis (vocals, piano) and her husband Dan Pugach (drums, arranger) about their new album releases and upcoming gigs. You will get to hear from their new CD's, Nicole's Hive Mind and Dan's Nonet Plus One. Following the interveiw is a review of the 2018 Grammy Awards in the Jazz categories. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Nicole Zuraitis ~ Sunny Side (excerpt) ~ Hive Mind
Nicole Zuraitis ~ Failing ~Hive Mind
Dan Pugach Nonet ~ Brooklyn Blues ~ Plus One
Nicole Zuraitis ~ Inscription ~Hive Mind
Dan Pugach Nonet ~ Our Blues ~ Plus One
John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension ~ Miles Beyond (Grammy Jazz Improvised Solo) ~ Live At Ronnie Scott's
Billy Childes ~ Starry Night (Grammy: Jazz Instrumental Album) ~ Rebirth
Cecile McLorin Salvant ~ Youv'e Got To Give Me Some (Grammy Jazz Vocal Album) ~ Dreams and Daggers
Christian McBride Big Band ~ Optimism (Grammy Jazz Big Band) ~ Bringin' It
Jane Ira Bloom ~ Song Patrol (Grammy Best Surround Sound) ~ Early Americans

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In these days of political chaos and division, truth does matter. We are reminded of that through music from Noah Baerman (Satyagrahi) and Kamasi Washington (Truth) at the center of this podcast. Those tunes are sandwiched between classic jazz from Miles and Blakey, and a jazz/fusion set featuring Haque, Mahavishnu and new from Chick/Gadd. 

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Miles Davis Quintet ~ Freedom Jazz Dance ~ Miles Smiles
Art Blakey ~ Nica's Dream ~ Jazz Messengers
Noah Baerman ~ Satyagrahi ~ Soul Force
Kamasi Washington ~ Truth ~ Harmony of Difference
Fareed Haque and the Flat Planet ~ The Chant ~ Flat Planet
Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Hymn to Him ~ Apocalypse
The Chick Corea and Steve Gadd Band ~ A Spanish Song ~ Chinese Butterfly

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This podcast celebrates the birthday of jazz fusion guitarist John McLaughlin. We play his music in several different settings to show the depth of his artistry and innovation. Most of this show has (Mahavishnu) John McLaughlin as a leader, but there are also tracks as a sideman. His work with Miles Davis is legendary. The podcast ends with an unrelated track from a CTI release of Milt Jackson playing Hubbard's Sunflower.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Playlist
John McLaughlin ~ Extrapolation ~ Extrapolation
John McLaughlin ~ Peace One ~ Our Goals Beyond
Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Dawn ~ The Inner Mounting Flame
Shakti ~ The Daffodill and the Eagle ~ Natural Elements
Joe Farrell ~ Follow Your Heart ~ The Joe Farrell Quartet
Miles Davis ~ Miles Runs the Voodoo Down ~ Bitches Brew
Milt Jackson ~ Sunflower ~ Sunflower

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We celebrate the birth date of Cannonball Adderly, but first new music from John McLaughlin and Joey DeFrancesco. Harrold Mabern plays the Wes classic Road Song. A vocal set with Melissa Morgan and something new from Cecile McLorrin Salvant. Then we kick off the Cannonball tribute with his collaboration with Nancy Wilson.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
John McLaughlin and 4th Dimension ~ New Blues Old Bruise ~ Live at Ronnie Scotts
Joey DeFrancesco + The People ~ So Near, So Far ~ Project Freedom
Harold Mabern ~ Road Song ~ Live at Smalls
Melissa Morgan ~ Save Your Love For Me ~ Until I Met You
Melissa Morgan ~ Days Like This ~ Days Like This
Cecile McLorrin Salvant ~ Devil May Care ~ Dreams and Daggers
Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson ~ Never Will I Marry ~ Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley
Cannonball Adderley ~ Minority ~ Portrait of Cannonball
Cannonball Adderley ~ Autumn Leaves ~ Somthin' Else
Cannonball Adderley ~ Jeannnine ~ Them Dirty Blues

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Here is your jazzy soundtrack for this Labor Day festivities. We begin with some Miles' covers, then some funky fusion and finish with Hartford's own Stevie D.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
SF Jazz Collective ~ Tutu ~ The Music of Miles Davis & Originals
SF Jazz Collective ~ So What ~ The Music of Miles Davis & Originals
John McLaughlin and 4th Dimension ~ Live at Ronnie Scotts ~ Miles Beyond
Takuya Kuroda ~ Zigzagger ~ R.S.B.D.
Rale Micic ~ Hotel Insomnia ~ Night Music
George Benson ~ Take Five ~ Bad Benson
Dave Stryker ~ Shadowboxing ~ Strykin' Ahead
Steve Davis ~ A Little Understanding ~ Think Ahead
Steve Davis ~ Runway ~ Portrait In Sound
Christian McBride Big Band ~ Optimism ~ Bringin' It

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