In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Love Wins

This show was broadcast just after attending the homegoing of Ana Marquez-Greene, slain in the Newtown CT tragedy one week ago. The theme of the service and of this show is Love Wins. Ana's father Jimmy Greene is one of the most respected and revered members of the jazz community in Hartford, having been raised and schooled here. Jimmy and Nelba have shown tremendous strength, compassion and love in dealing with this tragedy. Love will heal us, love will be the impetus for change, love will keep Ana's memory alive. As always, Love Wins!

Ana Marguez-Greene

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Love in Action ~ Jimmy Greene ~ Mission Statement
This Little Light of Mine ~ Noah Baerman ~ Soul Force
Baby, I Love You ~ Wynton Marsalis ~ The Magic Hour
Dear Lord ~ John Coltrane ~ The Gentle Side of John Coltrane
Love ~ John Coltrane ~ Meditations
I Love You ~ Jimmy Greene Sextet ~ Introducing Jimmy Greene
Ana Grace ~ Jimmy Greene ~ Mission Statement
To the Hive ~ Nicole Ziraitus ~ Pariah Anthem on CDBaby
All Matter ~ Robert Glasper ~ Double Booked
For Turiya ~ Ravi Coltrane ~ Blending Times

The Human Race

This is a somber episode of In the Groove in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school tragedy. It is dedicated to the victims and the families of those affected by this terrible event. Joining me for this podcast is Dane Scozzari as we present some of his compositions and try to inject some holiday spirit into our heavy hearts. The tragedy especially hit home with the news that Hartford's own tenor sax great Jimmy Greene and his wife Nelba lost their beautiful young daughter Ana in this awful incident. Dane and I try to express our sadness over their loss. When words cannot express one's feelings, music seems to fill that void. Jimmy wrote a beautiful composition in honor of his daughter, so we play Ana Grace from his Mission Statement album. That is followed by another Jimmy Greene original, Anthem of Hope which is certainly relevant for today.

Dane Scozzari and the Human Race

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Let Them Be Children ~ The Curtis Brothers ~ Together
The Human Race ~ Dane Scozzari ~ 2010:Profile in Humanity
What Christmas Means to Me ~ Dane Scozzari & the Human Race ~ It's Christmas Time Again
It's Christmas Time Again ~ Dane Scozzari & the Human Race ~ It's Christmas Time Again
Ana Grace ~ Jimmy Greene ~ Mission Statement
Anthem of Hope ~ Jimmy Greene ~ Overcomer's Suite
O Come O Come Emanuel ~ Kris Allen ~ Together

Time Out

In this week's podcast we remember Dave Brubeck, who passed away on December 5 on day before his 92nd birthday. Dave was perhaps best known for his unique use of time in music and we explore that with both his own works, and some modern jazz artists that were influenced by Dave's playing. We begin with Dave Brubeck's most successful album Time Out and the track Blue Rondo A La Turk and then from Time Further Out. George Benson covers Brubeck's best known work, Take Five. We switch gears to modern day jazz artists such as Hiromi, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Sinan Bakir, Donny McCaslin, and Robert Glasper.

Featured Album

Time Further Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet on iTunes

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Blue Rondo A La Turk ~ Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ Time Out
Bru's Boogie Woogie ~ Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ Time Further Out
Unsquare Dance ~ Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ Time Further Out
Take Five ~ George Benson ~ Bad Benson
My Favorite Things ~ Hiromi ~ Beyond Standard
Delusion ~ Hiromi ~ Voice
Gamma Band ~ Kurt Rosenwinkel ~ Star of Jupiter
Rising Tower of Light ~ Sinan Bakir ~ Tales & Stories
Pria Grande ~ Donny McCaslin ~ Casting for Gravity
Why Do We Try ~ Robert Glasper ~ Black Radio

Some New Stuff 2012

On this show, recorded post-Thanksgiving weekend, we feature all new releases, including two from Kurt Rosenwinkel's Star of Jupiter. We also play a couple from Brad Mehldau's latest as well as Donald Vega, Yoron Israel, Branford Marsalis, Kurt Eling, Bad Plus and Donny McCaslin.

Featured Album

Star of Jupiter - Kurt Rosenwinkel on iTunes

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Accompong ~ Donald Vega ~ Spiritual Nature
Another Star ~ Yoron Israel ~ Visions (music of Stevie Wonder)
Brews ~ Branford Marsalis Quartet ~ Four MF's Playin' Tunes
Star of Jupiter ~ Kurt Rosinwinkel ~ Star of Jupiter
Kurt 1 ~ Kurt Rosenwinkel ~ Star of Jupiter
Broadway ~ Kurt Elling ~ 1619 Broadway
Re-elect That ~ Bad Plus ~ Made Possible
Holland ~ Brad Mehldau ~ Where Do You Start
Aquelas Coisas Todas ~ Brad Mehldau ~ Where Do You Start
Bend ~ Donny McCaslin ~ Casting for Gravity

Thanksgiving 2012

For this Thanksgiving special, we feature some beautiful jazz compositions inspired by Giving Thanks. Included in the podcast is the audio of a Thanksgiving tribute from Wynton Marsalis that was aired on CBS This Morning. The video is below. Besides the holiday tunes we also get to hear new music from Kris Allen, Sinan Bakir, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Donny McCaslin, Brad Mehldau and others. I hope you all have a great deal to be thankful for on this holiday.

On Being Thankful On Thanksgiving - Wynton on CBS This Morning from Wynton Marsalis on Vimeo.

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Give Thanks ~ Jimmy Greene ~ Mission Statement
Thanksgiving feature ~ Wynton Marsalis
Prayer #2 Thanksgiving ~ Miguel Zenon ~ Looking Forward
Compassion ~ Kris Allen ~ Circle House
Thanks for Giving ~ Rez Abbasi ~ Suno Suno
Gamma Band ~ Kurt Rosenwinkel ~ Star of Jupiter
Circles ~ Sinan Bakir ~ Tales & Stories
Temptation ~ Hiromi ~ Voice
Losing Track of Daytime ~ Donny McCaslin ~ Casting for Gravity
Airegin ~ Brad Mehldau Trio ~ Where Do You Start

Sinan

The fine guitarist Sinan Bakir comes to the WHUS studio to promote his new CD Tales & Stories. We talk to Sinan about the new album, his early life in Turkey and how that influenced his music. Sinan gets the Blindfold Test as well. Also heard on today's podcast is Scolohofo, Tony Williams Lifetime and John McLaughlin.

Featured Album

Tales & Stories on CD Baby

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
2 Parts Air ~ Oliver Lake Organ Quartet ~ Plan
The Messenger ~ Sinan Bakir ~ Tales & Stories
Off the Hook ~ Sinan Bakir ~ Tales & Stories
Shorter Form ~ Scolohofo ~ Oh!
Allah Be Praised ~ Tony Williams Lifetime ~ Ultimate Tony Williams
East West ~ Sinan Bakir ~ Tales & Stories
Peace One ~ John McLaughlin ~ My Goals Beyond
55 Dive ~ Mike Stern ~ Is What it Is

Back to Rochester

I had to skip this weeks radio broadcast to visit family in Rochester. So, for this podcast, we will revisit one that was published about a year ago that features some Rochester musicians. We bring you drummer Mike Melito and guitarist Bob Sneider, a couple of the central figures in the Rochester jazz scene. The next track is from The Westview Project, a jazz trio with the addition of Doug Stone on tenor sax. This podast also has some of the masters of the genre. We featured Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Kenny Garrett on tonight's show. Hope you enjoy.

Featured Album

Mike Melito - In the Tradition on CDBaby

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Cheese Cake ~ Dexter Gordon ~ Go!
Hankerin' ~ Mike Melito ~ In the Tradition
Skylark ~ Mike Melito ~ In the Tradition
Laura ~ Bob Sneider & Joe Locke ~ Nocturn for Ava
Forbidden Fruit ~ The Westview Project ~ Aspire
Theme from the Eulipions ~ Rahsaan Roland Kirk ~ Return of the 5000lb man
Lonnies Lament ~ Kenny Garrett ~ Pursuance: The music of John Coltrane
Equinox ~ Kenny Garrett ~ Pursuance: The music of John Coltrane

After the Rain - Before the Vote

We pay tribute to the post hurricane victims from last week and look towards the upcoming elections in this podcast. First a moving rendition of Trane's After the Rain by clarinetist Anat Cohen. We follow that with a mashup I created using Sonny Rollin's Freedom Suite with excerpts from President Obama's inaugural speech from January 2009. While that election was one of historic proportions, this one is just as important for setting the future direction of our nation. Please vote on Tuesday, November 6. It is your civic duty to do so, and it sure feels good to participate in our democracy. The rest of the podcast features some fine playing and composing by Noah Baerman. We finish out this podcast with Mingus' classic Fables of Faubus.

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
After The Rain ~ Anat Cohen ~ Notes from the Village
Obama-Freedom Suite ~ Sonny Rollins-Barack Obama ~ (the original Freedom Suite - Sonny Rollins)
Patch Kit ~ Noah Baerman ~ Bliss
Soul Force ~ Noah Baerman ~ Soul Force
Fables of Faubus ~ Charles Mingus ~ Mingus Ah Um