In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

This show opens with a Trane tribute before we talk to Earl MacDonald, director of jazz studies at University of Connecticut. Earl's new CD, Mirror of the Mind creatively draws upon outside influences and incorporates cello into his ensemble. The CD is to be released October 15. Find out more at Earl's website, www.earlmacdonald.com. At the conclusion of the interview we hear from Kris Allen, a frequent collaborator with MacDonald and finally Gary Burton with his new quartet.

with Earl MacDonald at WHUS

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Cousin Mary ~ John Coltrane ~ Giant Steps
After The Rain ~ John Coltrane ~ The Gentle Side of John Coltrane
A Thousand Memories ~ Earl MacDonald ~ Mirror of the Mind 
Dissalusionment ~ Earl MacDonald ~ Mirror of the Mind 
Blackbird ~ Earl MacDonald ~ Mirror of the Mind 
echoes in the night ~ Earl MacDonald ~ echoes in the night 
Star Eyes ~ Kris Allen ~ Circle House 
Jackalope ~ Gary Burton ~ Guided Tour

This podcast is a continuation of last week's New Fusion feature. Vocalist Nicole Zuraitis opens the podcast followed by new music from Antonio Sanchez. You may not have heard the LeBoef Brothers or Russ Kaplan before, but they are both talented artists exploring new directions in music. Rez Abbasi and Rudresh Mahanthappa fuse a Middle Eastern sound with jazz sensibilities. Finaly Chris Potter and Ben Allison are represented, stretching this music in their own unique voices.

Featured Album

AFFILIATE CODE SNIPPETS

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Dagger ~ Nicole Zuraitis ~ Pariah Anthem 
Medusa ~ Antonio Sanchez ~ New Life
D2D ~ LeBoeuf Brothers ~ In Praise of Shadows
Pigz in Space ~ Russ Kaplan +7 ~ The Ulysses Cycle
Divided Attention ~ Rez Abbasi Trio ~ Continuous Beat
Ballad for Troubled Times ~ Rudresh Mahanthappa ~ Gamak
Wayfinder ~ Chris Potter ~ The Sirens
Little Things Run the World ~ Ben Allison ~ Little Things Run the World

Jazz Fusion is alive and well as heard on In The Groove. This show is not about Fusion from the '70s, but fresh new fusion from modern players like Kevin Eubanks and Derrick Hodge. Also, some of the great originators of this genre, Dave Holland, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, are still creating new sounds based as much on electric instrumentation and rock rhythms, as on their classical jazz roots.

Featured Album

Prism - Dave Holland on iTunes

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
The Messenger ~ Kevin Eubanks ~ The Messenger
A New Day ~ Dave Holland and Prism ~ Prism
Evolution ~ Dave Holland and Prism ~ Prism
Not Here Not There ~ John McLaughlin and 4th Dimension ~ Now Here This
Message of Hope ~ Derrick Hodge ~ Live Today
Boro March ~ Derrick Hodge ~ Live Today
Portals to Forever ~ Chick Corea ~ Vigil

This week's podcast is the second half of last week's show due to problems recording this weeks broadcast. We start with Royalty, a track from Chick Corea's new album Vigil. Then we hear a couple tracks from new albums from Netherland's talented sax player Tineke Postma, and bass artist Steve Swallow.

Featured Album

The Dawn of Light - Tineke Postma on iTunes

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Royalty ~ Chick Corea ~ The Vigil
The Observer ~ Tineke Postma ~ The Dawn of Light
Leave Me a Place Underground ~ Tineke Postma ~ The Dawn of Light
Sad Old Candle ~ The Swallow Quintet ~ Into the Woodwork
Into the Woodwork ~ The Swallow Quintet ~ Into the Woodwork

It was Wayne Shorter's 80th birthday this week, and to celebrate, we feature his music. This selection celebrates the diverse sound of Shorter's compositions, from hard bop, Brazilian influences, electronic fusion, to free jazz. We round out the show with music from Trane, McLean, Preminger and Burton.

Featured Artist - Wayne Shorter

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Night Dreamer ~ Wayne Shorter ~ Night Dreamer
Footprints ~ Wayne Shorter ~ Adam's Apple
Miracle of the Fishes ~ Wayne Shorter ~ Native Dancer
Elegant People ~ Weather Report ~ Black Market
Plaza Real ~ Wayne Shorter ~ Without a Net
Afro Blue ~ John Coltrane ~ Riverside 60 Anniversary Sampler
Climax ~ Jackie McLean ~ Jacknife
Morgantown ~ Noah Preminger ~ Haymaker
Jackalope ~ Gary Burton ~ Guided Tour

We begin this podcast with a tribute to the passing of Cedar Walton and Marian McPartland. Hear Cedar's great standard Bolivia. McPartland follows with an excerpt from one of her Piano Jazz series with a gorgeous solo rendition of Trane's Naima. The show then continues with new music from Gary Burton and Chick Corea.

Featured Album

Voices Deep Within - Cedar Walton on iTunes

Track ~ Artist ~ Album
Bolivia ~ Cedar Walton ~ Eastern Rebelion
Another Star ~ Cedar Walton ~ Voices Deep Within
Over the Rainbow ~ Cedar Walton ~ Voices Deep Within
Naima ~ Marian McPartland ~ Piano Jazz Excerpt
Caminos ~ Gary Burton ~ Guided Tour
Elanor Rigby ~ Chick Corea ~ Hot House
Planet Chia ~ Chick Corea ~ The Vigil

This show explores more great music with a Hartford connection. Albert Rivera doubles up on tenor with Hartford's Jimmy Greene to open the show. Matt DeChamplain is next up showing his incredible chops on solo piano. Maxine Martin plays and sings for us on her heartfelt new CD Fragments and Colors of Me. We hear from her collaborators on their own efforts from Warren Byrd and Sinan Bakir. Finally Kris Allen (alto sax) and Fabio Gouvea (guitar) close out the set.

Featured Album

Maxine Martin on CD Baby

Track ~ Artist ~ Album (w/link to purchase)
The New York-Hartford Connection ~ Albert Rivera ~ Re-Introduction
Minor League ~ Ralph Peterson ~ Alive at Firehouse 12
A Handful of Keys ~ Matt DeChamplain ~ Stride-Bop
Fragments and Colors of Me ~ Maxine Martin ~ Fragments and Colors of Me
Solar ~ Warren Byrd & Saskia Laroo ~ Two of a Kind
Rising Tower of Light ~ Sinan Bakir ~ Tales and Stories
Blood Count ~ Kris Allen ~ Circle House
Desinfeliz ~ Fabilo Gouvea ~ So Close so Far

We begin with a tribute to George Duke who passed this week before begining our Newport Recap show. Featured are recordings that highlight some of the best performances we heard at this years Newport Jazz Festival. You will hear from Wayne Shorter, Terrence Blanchard, Robert Glasper, Chick Corea and Gregory Porter. Click here for my full review of the Newport Jazz Festival (and photos). 

Claire and Ken at Newport

Track ~ Artist ~ Album

Capricorn ~ George Duke ~ Faces in Reflection

Inca Roads ~ Frank Zappa ~ One Size Fits All

Zero Gravity ~ Wayne Shorter Quartet ~ Without a Net

Pet Sitters Theme Song ~ Terrence Blanchard ~ Magnetic

Cherish The Day ~ Robert Glasper ~ Black Radio

Legacy ~ Chick Corea ~ The Vigil

On My Way to Harlem ~ Gregory Porter ~ Be Good