In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Jazz 2024 Grammy Recap

This episode is a recap of the Grammys awarded to jazz artists in various categories. What strikes me in this playlist is the wide range of styles and cultural influences that have melded in today's modern jazz. There is funk, R&B, Indian, Latin, jazz and folk music represented here. Congrats to all these artists on their Grammy awards.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer ~ Tradewinds Bengali ~ As We Speak
Shakti ~ Shrini’s Dream ~ This Moment
Billy Childs ~ The End of Innocence ~ The Winds of Change
Nicole Zuraitis ~ Reverie ~ How Love Begins
Samara Joy ~ Tight ~ Tight - Single
Meshell Ndegeocello ~ Burn Progression ~ The Omnichord Real Book
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo ~ En La Soledad ~ El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2
Tracy Chapman ~ Fast Car ~ Tracy Chapman
Emma Rawicz ~ Rangwali ~ Chroma

Episode Feb 4 2024

A variety of music beginning with guitarists Wes Montgomery and Larry Coryell. That is followed by music from towns that I have resided in for most of my adult life, Hartford and San Diego. Also, the "Jazztodon" inspired track. We have new music from Vijay Iyer and Linda May Han Oh as well.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Wes Montgomery ~ Tequila ~ Tequila
Larry Coryell ~ Bumpin' on Sunset ~ The Power Trio
Gilbert Castellanos ~ Bilad as Sudan ~ Espérame En El Cielo
Mike DiRubbo ~ Scrollin' and Trollin' ~ Inner Light
Ken Peplowski & New York Trio ~ In the Middle of a Kiss ~ Stardust
Vijay Iyer ~ Overjoyed ~ Compassion
Linda May Han Oh ~ Phosphorus ~ The Glass Hours
Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles

Soprano Trane to Electric Miles

This episode features iconic tracks that changed the direction of jazz music. Trane takes up the soprano, and Miles invents fusion. Lots of great stuff in between.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
John Coltrane ~ My Favorite Things ~ My Favorite Things
Sonny Rollins ~ Asiatic Raes ~ Newk's Time
Eddie Henderson ~ Why Not? ~ Witness to History
Joe Farrell ~ Time's Lie ~ Moon Germs
Miles Davis ~ Spanish Key ~ Bitches Brew

Episode 21 Jan 2024

This week's playlist is mostly based on albums that were posted on Jazztodon.com . We begin with artists that you likely have never heard of, then transition into some of the jazz greats like Getz, McLean and Cannonball. 

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Muriel Grossmann ~ Knowledge and Wisdom ~ Devotion
Mitchum Yacoub ~ OB Joint ~ Living High in the Brass Empire
Joe Gordon ~ A Song for Richard ~ Lookin' Good!
Stan Getz ~ Times Lie ~ Captain Marvel
Lyle Mays ~ Ascent ~ Lyle Mays
Jackie McLean ~ You Don't Know What Love Is ~ Nature Boy
Cannonball Adderley ~ One For Daddy-O ~ Somethin' Else

MLK Day and more

This episode starts with a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as this show will air on MLK Day weekend. Following are some great tracks, most notably from Tommy Flanagan and Jackie McLean. The show ends with two versions of Mercy Street from the original Gabriel recording followed by Hancocks great cover.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Herbie Hancock ~ I Have a Dream ~ The Prisoner
Tommy Flanagan ~ Raincheck ~ Jazz Poet
Joe Gordon ~ Terra Firma Irma ~ Lookin' Good!
Christopher Hollyday ~ Everything Happens ~ Telepathy
Jackie McLean ~ Nature Boy ~ Nature Boy
Peter Gabriel ~ Mercy Street ~ So
Herbie Hancock ~ Mercy Street ~ The New Standard

Episode 7 Jan 2024

We start this show (first of 2024) with a tribute to Les McCann. New music from Mike DiRubbo and fellow Hartford cat Matt Dwonszyk. Another Matt, Matt Hall brings us to the close with SFJazz Collective.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Les McCann & Eddie Harris ~ Cold Duck Time ~ Swiss Movement
Les McCann ~ Poo Pye McGoochie (And His Friends) ~ Invitation to Openness
Roberta Flack ~ Compared to What ~ First Take
Mike DiRubbo ~ The Muse ~ Inner Light
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Afro Blue ~ A Year and a Day
Matt Hall ~ No Going Back ~ I Hope to My Never
SFJAZZ Collective ~ Smokey ~ New Works & Classics Reimagined

Jazzy New Year 2024

Wishing you all a jazzy Happy New Year as we begin this episode with an aptly titled tune from Joshua Redman. As I look at this playlist, it is dominated by great guitarists including Bernstein, Scofield, McLaughlin and newcomer Andrew Renfroe... and more

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joshua Redman ~ New Year ~ Still Dreaming
Mike DiRubbo ~ Inner Light ~ Inner Light
Andrew Renfroe ~ SPRINGS ~ Single
John Scofield ~ Mr. Tambourine Man ~ Uncle John's Band
John McLaughlin ~ Peace One ~ My Goals Beyond
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum
Todd Sickafoose ~ Prospects ~ Bear Proof
Hampton Hawes ~ Morning ~ On Contemporary: Hampton Hawes

Holiday with a San Diego Spin

This holiday episode of In The Groove begins with a few Christmas classics. Then we continue with some of my favorite 2023 releases, including ones from San Diego.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Chris Potter ~ O Come All Ye Faithful ~ A Concord Jazz Christmas
Marian McPartland ~ God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen ~ A Concord Jazz Christmas
Samara Joy ~ The Christmas Song ~ A Joyful Holiday
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society ~ Ferromagnetic ~ Dynamic Maximum Tension
Andrew Renfroe ~ FLUFFY ~ (Single)
Gilbert Castellanos ~ Home is Africa ~ Espérame En El Cielo
David Borgo ~ Aqaba ~ Pathika
David Whitman ~ Ode To Joe (feat. Bob Sheppard) ~ Ode To Joe
Peter Sprague ~ Wise One ~ Wise One: Peter Sprague Plays Coltrane