In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Monterey 2023

This special episode is a review of this year's Monterey Jazz Festival. This was my first year attending, and it was a great experience. The selections played are all from artists that I had the pleasure of seeing at the festival, and most of the tracks were those played by these artists during the three day event.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lakecia Benjamin ~ Jubilation ~ Phoenix
Terence Blanchard ~ The Elders ~ Absence
Herbie Hancock ~ Actual Proof ~ Thrust
Peter Sprague ~ Minuano (featuring Diana Reeves ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 1
Samara Joy ~ Can't Get Out Of This Mood (feat. Gerald Clayton) ~ Linger Awhile (Deluxe Edition)
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio ~ Move On Up ~ Live In Loveland! 
Billy Childs ~ Master of the Game ~ The Winds of Change
Charles Lloyd ~ Forest Flower: Sunrise ~ Forest Flower: Charles Lloyd At Monterey

Trane & Chick Classics

Let's begin this week celebrating the birth anniversary of John Coltrane; born September 23, 1926. That is followed by a set from Chick, and more.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
John Coltrane ~ Pt. 1: Acknowledgement ~ A Love Supreme
John Coltrane ~ Giant Steps ~ Giant Steps 
John Coltrane ~ Moment's Notice ~ Blue Train
Chick Corea & Return to Forever ~ Spain ~ Light As a Feather
Chick Corea ~ Windows ~ Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
Stan Getz ~ Litha ~ Sweet Rain
Flora Purim ~ Dindi ~ Butterfly Dreams
Branford Marsalis ~ Scenes In the City ~ Scenes In the City

Episode Sep 17 2023

This episode begins with Wayne Shorter in a post bop 60's context and a 70's fusion setting. That is followed by new music from pianist Miki Yamanaka. Also Tyner with strings, Parker playing bebop, hard-bop from McPherson and Castellanos. The episode concludes with classic Trane.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Wayne Shorter ~ Speak No Evil ~ Speak No Evil
Weather Report ~ Cucumber Slumber ~ Mysterious Traveller
Miki Yamanaka ~ GIN ~ Shades of Rainbow
McCoy Tyner ~ Fly With The Wind ~ Fly With The Wind
Charlie Parker ~ Billie's Bounce ~ The Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes
Gilbert Castellanos ~ New Delhi ~ Espérame En El Cielo
Charles McPherson ~ Evidence ~ Manhattan Nocturne
John Coltrane ~ Mr. P.C. ~ Giant Steps

Sonny is 93

This set begins with a celebration of Sonny Rollins 93 birthday. Sonny is among the last of the living legends of jazz from the 1950's. Also classic tunes from Larry Young, McCoy Tyner and Miles.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Sonny Rollins ~ Without a Song ~ The Bridge
Sonny Rollins ~ Strode Rode ~ Saxophone Colossus
Sonny Rollins ~ Alfie's Theme ~ Alfie
Larry Young ~ The Moontrane ~ Unity
McCoy Tyner ~ Impressions ~ Trident
Dr. Lonnie Smith ~ Too Damn Hot ~ Too Damn Hot
Miles Davis ~ Paraphernalia ~ Miles In the Sky

Honoring WS and 0 Gravity

This week's episode honors a recently released biopic on Wayne Shorter entitled Zero Gravity. The three part series is perhaps the best of it's kind I have ever seen. Also are some discoveries from jazztodon.com (a jazz-centric social media platform) from guitarist John Pizzarelli and drummer Johnathan Blake. The show ends with classic tunes from Nelson and Hubbard.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Wayne Shorter ~ Black Nile ~ Night Dreamer
Wayne Shorter ~ Infant Eyes ~ Speak No Evil
Wayne Shorter ~ Footprints (Live) ~ Footprints Live!
John Pizzarelli ~ James ~ Better Days Ahead
Johnathan Blake ~ Tears I Cannot Hide ~ Passage
Oliver Nelson ~ Stolen Moments ~ The Blues And The Abstract Truth
Freddie Hubbard ~ Red Clay ~ Red Clay

Electric Oliver and more

This episode is titled for a recording found through jazztodon.com .  Oliver Nelson (of Blues and the Abstract Truth fame), recorded Skull Session in 1975. It's quite a departure from his other recordings, and is his take on the fusion sound that was popular in that era. Same can be said for the Preminger track if you are familiar with his work. The podcast ends on a more familiar note for ITG listeners with Mobley, Morgan and Shank.

Playlist 
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Oliver Nelson ~ Skull Session ~ Skull Session
Oliver Nelson ~ Baja Bossa ~ Skull Session
Noah Preminger & Kim Cass ~ Daddy Likey ~ The Dank
Pat Metheny Group ~ The First Circle ~ First Circle
Hank Mobley ~ Carolyn ~ No Room for Squares
Hank Mobley ~ No Room for Squares ~ No Room for Squares
Lee Morgan ~ Mr. Kenyatta ~ Search for the New Land
Bud Shank ~ Blowin' Country ~ California Suite

Redux Last Year Show

I am away from the home studio, so I am replaying a show from this time last year. A wide variety of jazz styles featured in this podcast episode. Great vocals from Leonard Patton and Nicole Zuraitis and organ trio work from Delvon Lamarr, and new music from trombonist Steve Davis are among the highlights. We finish with a piano trio from Chick.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Al Di Meola ~ Julia ~ Across the Universe
Peter Sprague & Leonard Patton ~ Can't Find My Way Home ~ Dream Walkin'
Nicole Zuraitis ~ The Way Home ~ Wandering Hearts
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio ~ Keep On Keepin' On ~ Cold As Weiss
Rippin Chicken, Ben Bloom & Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio ~ Westy  ~ Rippin Chicken
Mike Casey & Blori ~ Breathe In (Remix) ~ Breathe In (Remix) - Single
Steve Davis ~ Encouragement ~ Bluesthetic
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Afterthought ~ A Year and a Day
Darren Litzie ~ Question and Answer ~ My Horizon
Chick Corea Trio ~ Alice In Wonderland ~ Trilogy

Episode Aug 13 2023

This episode begins with percussionist Airto for his 82nd Birthday. That is followed by a couple of tracks featuring the harp, a beautiful sound for jazz. There is some 50/60's hard bop including the inventive sounds from Monk. The show concludes with Miles and Kenny Garrett.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Airto ~ Parana ~ Fingers
Alice Coltrane ~ Blue Nile ~ Ptah the El Daoud
Ravi Coltrane ~ For Turiya ~ Blending Times
Horace Silver ~ Senor Blues ~ Six Pieces of Silver
Cannonball Adderley Quintet ~ Lisa ~ The Quintet Plus
Thelonious Monk ~ Green Chimneys ~ Straight, No Chaser
Miles Davis ~ E.S.P. ~ E.S.P.
Kenny Garrett ~ Hargrove ~ Sounds from the Ancestors