Discovering Jazz: Recent Episodes
Discovering Jazz
How did North America’s first International Jazz festival get established in Edmonton, Alberta? Why Edmonton? And who is the Kansas City Bluesman, Big Miller, after whom a park in this city has been named? And lastly…what famous jazz musician left town in the middle of his concert, absconding with his band’s pay? More from an…Continue reading Episode 244:How a Small City in Canada became known as “Jazz City”.
It’s been claimed to be North America’s first International Jazz Festival. In a city of only half a million. Festival founder Marc Vasey talks about how Edmonton, Alberta, Canada became known as ‘jazz city’. And he talks about some of the challenges and inspiring moments from those early years of 1980 to 1983.
Some of the stories include:
-How Chet Baker had to be locked into his hotel room.
-How an opening night disaster was transformed into an amazing beginning for the festival.
-How playing in a circus tent affected John McLaughlin’s mood.
-A surprise from Etta James.
I also play some great music by some of the the amazing artists who came to that festival. You’ll hear Sonny Rollins, James Blood Ulmer, Joe Pass, John McLaughlin, Chet Baker, Kenny Wheeler, McCoy Tyner, and Etta James.
And the photo? Could be entitled “LarryTheRadioGuy gives John McLaughlin some guitar tuning tips :). Photo by Patrick Hinely., 1982.
This is the last of my 4 part series on folk songs ‘jazzified’. I also introduce you to some Western Swing—which combines so many different genres. I play jazz recordings by The Stanley Clarke Trio with Hiromi, John Coltrane, Vince Guaraldi, Big Miller with Jon Hendricks, Seattle’s Floyd Standifer, and the wonderful Icelandic pianist Sunna…Continue reading Episode 242: More Folk ‘n Jazz.
The first 12 minutes of this podcast takes you to Sweden. Three tracks with Swedish jazz musicians playing folk music from Russia, U,S,A,, and Hungary. That’s followed by Django Reinhardt playing a traditional Russian tune. Then we have more jazz interpretations of Spirituals by Nina Simone, Bevely-Glenn Copeland, Ramsay Lewis, Don Shirley, and Albert Ayler.…Continue reading Episode 241: Folk Music and Jazz, Part 3
Did you know that Sonny Rollins didn’t actually write “St. Thomas”. And that Randy Weston recorded this traditional folk song before Rollins, but under the name of “Fire Down There”? And another piece of information: Thelonious Monk’s “Japanese Folk Song” wasn’t really a folk song—as the writer was known. But it has entered an oral…Continue reading Episode 240:Jazz Interpretations of Folk Songs Part 2
A lot of folk songs—and I’m talking mostly about traditional tunes—have been adapted into jazz. And in a lot of cases the results have been spectacular! Right from the earliest years of jazz when Louis Armstrong with Earl Hines had the 1929 hit of St. James Infirmary. And today, 94 years later, we have the…Continue reading Episode 239: Folk Music and Jazz, Part 1
I’m back with new episodes after a three week break. There have been many well-deserved tributes to Tony Bennett, who we lost July 21st of this year. Here is another one, focusing mostly on his ‘jazz’ side. A number of great jazz musicians played with and respected Tony Bennett, and I feature a few of…Continue reading Episode 238: Tribute to Tony Bennett
This program, originally posted January of 2019, features tracks from 2018 albums that Downbeat Magazine reviewers–and a few others–raved about. You’ll hear: -singer Stacey Kent -Polish bassist Wojtek Masolewski and his Quintet – Canadian trumpet player Ingrid Jensen -More trumpet from Ambrose Akinmusire -Downbeat Hall of Fame pianist Kenny Barron -Guitarist Steve Tibbets -London’s Sons…Continue reading Archives: Episode 50, Top Rated Albums of 2018
More from my archives of old programs while I take a bit of a summer break. IMPORTANT NOTE: Because this program had been recorded directly off a feed from Trent Radio, the sound quality isn’t up to my usual Discovering Jazz podcast standards. But the music’s great…and I hope you’ll find some of the information…Continue reading Archives: Episode 10: New Acquisitions from Fall of 2017.
This is the Trent Radio program that spawned the Discovering Jazz podcast. In February 2016 my partner and I had recently moved to Peterborough, Ontario and I decided I wanted to do a program on Trent Radio, Call letters CFFF-the community and university radio station. Since they didn’t have a jazz program and I was…Continue reading From the Archives: NCRA Award Winning Episode from 2017
Some more New Discoveries from The Real Book. Some are songs written by jazz musicians, others are Broadway ‘standards. I play music by artists as diverse as Bing Crosby and Roland Kirk. I also try to look at what exactly is a “Charlie Parker Blues”. And for many of those tunes, I play an original…Continue reading Episode 237:Quiet Now, Minority,Blue Room, Broadway,Blues for Alice, Gloria’s Step, Could It Be You
As I go through this ‘jazz bible’ for students and jammers, I keep discovering new tunes. This leads me to listen to some versions of them. And this week and next I’m sharing some of my ‘discoveries’. I start the podcast with two different versions of Wayne Shorter’s Beauty and The Beast (including a great…Continue reading Episode 236: Discoveries from The Real Book, Part 1
The last of my series on the upcoming Edmonton Jazz Festival. This week I explore some history—touching on the fore-runner of this festival, Jazz City. That festival became Canada’s first Internationally renowned Jazz Festival….beginning in 1980. I also explore the attempt being made to attract youth to this festival. Many of the artists are young,…Continue reading Episode 235: Youth, Gender Parity, and history: Edmonton Jazz Fest Part 3.
Today’s podcast starts with an amazing ‘jam’ led by pianist Emmet Cohen. Other jazz artists featured this week are The Leon Phal Quartet from France, flautist Naissam Jalal, The Ostara Project of Canadian women ‘superstars’, Edmonton trombonist Audrey Ochoa, and Polish bassist Piotr Lemanczyk. And more on the ‘fringes’ of jazz, you’ll hear Nik West…Continue reading Episode 234: More Great Artists Playing Summer Jazz Festivals. Part 2
There are some great artists coming to the Edmonton Jazz Festival, June 28 to July 02nd. And many of them are touring and going to other festivals as well….so hopefully many of you will get a chance to hear and see them.
This three part series features some of the players.
I start out with one that I’m most excited about; that’s John Beasley’s MONK’estra, who are opening the evening concerts.
Or, one could go and see Australia’s Brekky Boy playing around the same time at Edmonton’s Chateau Lacombe.
The second night includes grammy winning trumpet player Chris Botti and the very much transformed “The Bad Plus”. Opening for them is an Edmonton raised L.A. session drummer named Efajemue Etoramo Jr. Between those two concerts, overlapping each of them, is an impressionistic chamber ensemble from Nova Scotia who call themselves New Hermitage.
You’ll hear tracks by all of those artists on this podcast.
Also I play a couple tracks by some of Edmonton’s great local artists. The first night you can hear Edmonton drummer Joel Jeschke and his quartet. And the second night, quite the contrast, with Chandelle Rimmer and Tom Van Seters.
Next week: I’ll talk more about the 3rd and 4th nights and play the music of some of those artists.
I’m one of these people that like to touch and see whatever music I’m playing. So I prefer cd’s and lp’s to downloads. I especially like them when I order them by mail or browse through one of those rapidly dwindling cd and record stores. Others I like to be surprised when I find them…Continue reading Episode 232: Recently Acquired CD’s.
I’ve started listening to some of the new music that artists and publicists have been sending me, and have made some great discoveries. In this episode I share with you a few of them.
The episode starts with a trumpet player from Vancouver (Daniel Hersog) and his 17 piece jazz orchestra. And it ends with a 9-piece group led by saxophonist Brian McCarthy.
Between those you’ll hear old-style swing, modern Latin, electronic-jazz fusion, bebop (including some with a Cuban touch), part of a symphonic suite of Stardust, and at least one that is totally unclassifiable.
This is the final program of this four=part series where I play records that have been rated as being good ones to turn a jazz ‘newbie’ into a fan.
This week you’ll hear a track from 8 albums. They are:
- Mingus Ah Um, where I also talk about why that’s such a clever title.
- Hank Mobley: Soul Station, with Wynton Kelly on piano
- John Coltrane: A Love Supreme. Do you find it ‘majestic and compelling’ or ‘interminable and pretentious’?
- Wayne Shorter: Speak No Evil. A composition from when he was thinking about misty landscapes and wild flowers.
- Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Ella & Louis Again.
- Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Moanin’
- The Crusaders: Chain Reaction
- Chick Corea & Return to Forever: (1st album)
The highlight of this week’s episode is the great pianist Bill Evans and his trio from the late 50’s. What is it about that trio and his playing that makes it stand out? I give a few hints….and you can hear it in the two tracks I play from that first trio album, Portrait in Jazz.
Other albums that jazz aficionados say will convince you that jazz is worth your time? I play a track from The Blues and The Abstract Truth by Oliver Nelson. Then, also on Bluenote records is Lee Morgan’s The Sidewinder album, and Coltrane’s Blue Train.
And there’s more! Like the great Sarah Vaughan singing with Clifford Brown. And the classic Getz/Gilberto album that introduced North America to Bossa Nova. I play one Canadian album with a bunch of all-stars from the late era Bennie Goodman orchestra, here led by vibes player Peter Appleyard. And the program ends with the ‘King of The Tenors’—Ben Webster
Part 2 of essential jazz albums for those of us still in the beginner ‘discovery’ process. Which, I suspect, most of us are—considering the wealth of amazing jazz recordings out there!
This week, I start off with a track from Dave Brubeck’s ‘Time Out’ album. And query whether The Beatles might have been listening to this album before writing one of their most famous songs.
You’ll also hear classic albums by Cannonball Adderley, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonious Monk.
And one website called ‘The 20 Best Jazz Albums for Beginners’ introduces us to a forerunner of rock ‘n roll (Louis Jordan), and the list ends with Seattle’s Aaron Parks. You’ll get a taste of each as you listen to this podcast.
What you’ll be hearing is tracks from great jazz albums. I’m continually being introduced to jazz, even though I’ve been doing this podcast for over five years. So, here I am again being a ‘newbie’ and listening to (or re-listening in some cases) to albums that jazz bloggers say are essential listening for beginners.
This week, you’ll hear tracks by Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (together), Clifford Brown & Max Roach, Count Basie, The Quintet (w. Charlie Chan aka Charlie Parker), and the recently departed Ahmad Jamal. And as a surprise (to me and probably to you)….Kurt Rosenwinkel.
All of these have been rated by at least somebody in the know as being classic jazz albums designed to initiate the previously uninitiated. But, really, it’s great listening for anybody and everybody!
Although most of my episodes of this podcast seem to have themes, sometimes I like the flexibility of not having any theme whatsoever.
This week I’m playing a few recordings that have come into my consciousness recently. Most are new discoveries and a few aren’t. Some are cd’s, one came originally from an lp, and the rest I’ve downloaded.
To welcome Spring, I’ve included two vocal versions of Clifford Brown’s Joy Spring….and I talk a bit about the two different sets of lyrics written. And the writer of the lyrics that have been most often recorded rarely gets the credit for them. Which led me on an internet chase to find out more about the lyricist, Jezra Kaye.
I also play two older recordings of standards…one by Thelonious Monk, the other Cannonball Adderley. Both are terrific!
A black Canadian jazz singer named Eleanor Collins was recently commemorated on a Canada Post stamp. Good luck trying to find any commercial recordings by her. But I found one. Listen to her sing I’ll Never Smile Again—a tune written by another Canadian (Ruth Lowe).
I end the program with another hard to find recording—the last record put out by the late great Eugene McDaniels, where he invites an English Horn to scat along with him.
Between all that are three newer recordings. Two of them feature the great Cuban pianist, David Virelles (whose name I try to pronounce correctly), including one where he plays on a cd by Toronto’s Roberto Occhipinti. Then there’s one that will be released in May–it’s by guitarist and banjoist, Brandon Seabrook.
It’s often really difficult for a podcaster, interviewer, or mc to know how to pronounce a particular jazz artist’s name. Sometimes the artist themselves might even ‘change’ the pronunciation to accommodate the more ‘common’ pronunciations.
I’ve done a lot of research on a few names. I’ve listened to interviews, concert videos (where they introduce themselves), and utilized other people’s research. In this episode and last weeks I give what I believe is the ‘correct’ pronunciation for a number of familiar and not so familiar jazz artists.
And I play great recordings by some of them. You’ll hear
-Sheila Jordan and Harvie Swartz
-Allison Au
-Bob Dorough
-Karrin Allyson
Trish Clowes
-Jimmy Giuffre
-Phineas Newborn Jr.
-Jan Garbarek and Palle Danielsson playing with Keith Jarrett
-Sinatra with Antonio Carlos Jobim
-Joe Zawinul and Jaco Pastorious as part of Weather Report.
And you’ll hear some proper pronunciations and mis-pronunciations.
This week’s and next week’s episode focuses on right and wrong ways to pronounce the names of certain jazz artists. I demonstrate lots of mis-pronunciations, then try to correct them.
And it gives me an excuse to play some great music, by the likes of Paul Motian,Delfaeo Marsalis, Jackie McLean, Gerry Beaudoin (w. Duke Robillard & J. Geils), Brian Auger & The Trinity, Laurindo Almeida with Charlie Byrd, and Sunna Gunnlaugs with Verneri Pohjola. Some of the great music is by Canadian artists: Doug Riley w. Claude Ranger, Caity Gyorgy, and Jane Bunnett & Maqueque.
Also, in case you fear you’re going to be ‘shamed’ for your mispronunciations, I talk a lot about my own embarrassing mispronunciation moments.
This is the last of my three part series on great new historical releases. I start off with a previously unreleased Miles Davis performance from the Montreal Jazz Festival, 1983. Then follow it with some Miles Davis alumni—Bill Evans and John Coltrane.
The Coltrane track is a previously unissued take of Moments Notice: but, strangely enough, with Coltrane’s solo edited out!
Also featured are Frank Kimbrough, Roy Hargrove & Mulgrew Miller, Joe Harriot, Oscar Peterson, and some free jazz from Masahikoo Togashi w. Don Cherry and Charlie Haden.
The recording quality of some of the live performances that have been recently unearthed, restored, and enhanced is incredible!
Two of the best are from The Charles Mingus Lost Album from Ronnie Scott’s, and Dave Brubeck Trio (sans Paul Desmond) Live from Vienna 1967.
Other new discoveries I feature in this episode are Chick Corea from the Montreaux Jazz Festival 1993 and Swedish pianist Esjborn Svennson’s recording just three weeks before he died in a scuba diving accident. Then there’s Ella Fitzgerald, At The Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook.
Rounding out this episode are some reissues. Three of them are from the 11 cd compilation from Black and White Records. I start this episode with Jack McVea and “Open the Door Richard”, followed by some very early Ernestine Anderson. And a highlight is a seven piece all-female instrumental group from 1945 called “The Hip Chicks”.
Another reissue isn’t really a reissue, because it’s a track that never made it onto the album. I’m referring to Gil Evans Orchestra “Out of The Cool”. Hear their version of Horace Silver’s Sister Sadie.
The episode ends with a Donald Byrd album that BlueNote never released after recording it in 1973. It’s called “Live Cookin’ With BlueNote at Montreaux.
New Discoveries and re-releases are represented in this three part series. Some have been recently ‘unearthed’…and new technology used to make the tapes sound so good! Others have been reissued and remastered.
For Part 1, you’ll hear
-a recording by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messsengers (with an excerpt from an interview by Wayne Shorter talking about how blown away he was by the way the group were received in Japan!).
-Sheila Jordan’s first album that was never released before; and Sheila Jordan couldn’t even remember recording it.
-Ahmad Jamal from the two volumes of newfound recordings from a Seattle club from the early 60’s.
-Elvin Jones preceded by a description of his drumming style by Victoria B.C. drummer and educator, Kelby McNayr.
-Speaking of Victoria, B.C., a re-release of an album by Victoria native, bassist Neil Swainson. He was able to land Woody Shaw and Joe Henderson to play with him on this hard to find album, one of the last recordings made by Woody Shaw.
-Tracks from an 11 cd set from 78′ rpm records originally recorded on Black and White records. Some Barney Bigard Sextet with Art Tatum, as well as a post-retirement Ivie Anderson record.
-Ornette Coleman before he became known for ‘free jazz’.
We lost a true jazz great March 2nd: composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. In this episode I play music from his earliest to his latest years, with a few clips from fans, other musicians, and one from Mr. Shorter himself.
For this episode I play some music from some modern big bands: You’lll hear The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with John Pizzarelli, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Kansas Smitty’s. One somewhat older big band too–Maynard Ferguson Orchestra from 1964. Closing off with something really weird from Marin Kuchen’s Angles.
I also talk about how, when jazz musicians play Brazilian music, they have to be vigilant to ensure the ‘bebop virus’ doesn’t get in there. Oscar Peterson’s Trio has some success in doing that in their two version’s of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s ‘Triste’. Both recorded live the same year, with different bassist and drummer—and are they ever different from each other!
Lots of great suggestions from the Jazz World facebook site for this topic. One person suggested I explore something called “Electro Swing”. So I did. You’ll hear at least part of Aron Chupa with Liss SIs Nora, Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP, and Dimie Cat.
And interesting episode with lots of variety.
What if Bebop never happened? And ‘swing’ evolved into something very different from the swing of the 30’s, 40’s, and even 50’s?
That’s the question I asked of jazz musicians and aficionados who frequent the JazzWorld site on facebook. And I received some great responses!
My favourite was a questioning of the question: “bit like if ancient ape-like creatures did not evolve into humans what might they have become that was more ape-like”
But I received some great ideas for this week’s and next week’s episodes.
I play recordings that demonstrate how big band music evolved from Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington—and all the way to Don Ellis. And throw in some 3rd Stream Music a la Sketches of Spain, Cuban music thanks to Roberto Fonseca, and some Gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt.
I also explore some of the evolution from Louis Jordan to hip-hop and pop-rock via Post Modern Jukebox and Victoria’s “Downtown Mischief”,
And we can’t forget The WDR Big Band (and their evolution), Woody Herman, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.
Bebop, Part 2, tells you more about what it is, why it happened, and why it ‘took over’ jazz—despite it never really catching on with the public.
I play older bebop recordings by Charlie Parker, Bob Dorough, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Theonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Paul Bley Trio. Also a newer recording from guitarist Pasquale Grasso with grammy award winning singer, Samara Joy.
Many original bebop tunes came from improvisations made up when playing some old ‘standards’. To illustrate this I play the famous “Donna Lee” as well as the tune from which it took it’s chord sequence: Indiana, here performed by Lester Young w. The Oscar Peterson Trio.
Bebop was the ‘modern jazz’ of the early to mid 1940’s. And it’s still considered ‘modern jazz’. It is a genre that has lasted! And developed….with most new recordings being described as ‘post bop’ or ‘hard bop’.
When many people claim to dislike jazz, they are often referring to the complex harmonies and rhythms of bebop.
But listening to this episode will help you understand and appreciate this art form.
I talk about Bebop and play some classic and later recordings. I also throw in a couple earlier ones that may have influenced that music, as well as a rap album that was influenced by bebop.
I’ve discovered a lot of great music over the past two months—thanks to those top 10 lists compiled by 97 reviewers and critics.
A handful of those albums would probably go on my own Top 10 list, were I to make one.
In this episode I play tracks from 9 great albums from the past year. Some are pretty obscure, and some aren’t.
This is the last episode of five programs on the best jazz albums of 2022, according to jazz reviewers and critics. Over the next few weeks you’ll hear some bebop and learn some of it’s history, as well as some great historical albums. And who knows what else in terms of both older and newer jazz.
I’ve tabulated the results of 97 reviewers and their top 10 albums lists for 2022. Here are the albums followed by the number of votes each one received.
- Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis (also Belladonna…not quite so often) 31
- Cecille McLorin Salvant: Ghost Songs 28
- Immanuel Wilkins: Seventh Hand 26
- Makaya McCraven: In these Times 23
- Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Mesmerism 15
- Charles Lloyd: trio of Trios–Chapel 15
- Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade: Long Gone 14
- Samara Joy: Linger While 14
- Nduduzo Makhatini: In the Spirit of Ntu
- Terri Lyne Carrington: New Standards Vol. 1 13
- Melissa Aldana: 12 Stars 10
- Binker & Moses: Feeding the Machine 9
- Keith Jarrett: Bordeaux Concert 9
- Joel Ross: Parable of The Poet 9
- William Parker: Universal Tonality 8
- Sun Ra Arkestra: Living Sky 8
- Jeff Parker: Mondays at the Enfield Tennis Academy 8
- The Comet is Coming: Hyper Dimensional…. 8
- Myra Melford: For The Love of Fire and Water 8
- Avishai Cohen Trio: Shifting Sands 8
- Charles Mingus: Lost Album from Ronnie Scogtt’s
- Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights 8
- Miles Davis Bootleg Series 8–That’s What Happened. 8
On this episode I play eight of the top 10 ranked albums, plus two Canadian albums that were mentioned on some ‘top 10’ lists. The Canadian albums are The Ostara Project, and Neil Swainson’s ‘Fire in the West’.
There have been a total of 480 albums that 97 reviewers placed on their top 10 lists. That’s a lot! Wish I could listen to them all.
But here’s a few I did listen to—at least in part—and want to play for you. This way you and I are making these ‘discoveries’ together. Although I suspect some of you are more familiar with many of them than I am.
Near the beginning you’ll hear two versions of the same tune–Eddie Harris’s Freedom Jazz Dance. They’re both played by the same drummer/leader (Florian Arbenz) recorded a few months apart, but with different instrument combinations. And very different arrangements. To me that epitomizes ‘jazz’.
Other artists are Ethan Iverson, Matthew Shipp Trio, Tom Skinner, Kate Baker & Vic Juris, Mali Obamsawin, Sun Ra Arkestra featuring 98 year old Marshall Allen, and Al Foster. As for historical releases—you must listen to this ‘discovery’ of a 1972 concert by Pepper Adams with The Tommy Banks Trio.
More great variety! And we call it ‘jazz’.
Just a quick addendum: Just prior to uploading this episode I noticed that the previous episode, Part 2, had over 700 hits. Usually within a week a typical episode gets about 400. So it’s encouraging to know that you are enjoying this series on the best albums of 2022. Thank you for your support! And if you feel motivated, a review and rating on the itunes podcast site would be so appreciated! -Larry
Part two of a five part series focusing on albums from 2022 that jazz reviewers and critics have put on their ‘top 10’ lists. This week you’ll hear two Canadian ensembles–one from Vancouver called the Cookers Quintet led by Bernie Senensky, and another led by Calgary trombonist Carsten Rubeling.
I also play two different artists who put out albums with the same title: British saxophonist Trish Clowes and American guitarist, Julian Lage.
Then there’s Ron Carter with Jon Batiste, Marta Sanchez, Str4ta, and the great reunion of Cuba’s Chuchu Valdez and Paquito D’Rivera.
I also include one classic album—a previously unreleased recordings of Miles Davis from his You’re Under Arrest sessions.
And the highlight? I think it’s Norwegian guitarist and composer Jussi Reijonen and his Kolme Toista (Three Seconds) album.
Such an amazing variety of music that goes under the ‘jazz’ rubric.
Beginning a five part series talking about and playing some of last year’s recordings about which jazz aficionados are raving.
I’m jotting down every record placed in any of the ‘top 10’ (or so) jazz albums of 2022 lists. Then putting a check mark everytime somebody chooses it. Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis albums seems to be everybody’s favourite,,,,at least so far.
In episode 4 I’ll give you a ‘countdown’ of the top choices. In the meantime, I’ll just play a track from each album that seems to resonate with me. Of course, with 433 different albums from 78 different reviewers, it’s often a matter of chance as to which ones I discover. Just like life, I guess.
Besides the a/m Ms. Halverson, you’ll hear in this first episode Brandon Coleman, Patricia Brennan (good vibes), Melissa Styliano w. Gene Bertoncini, Oscar Peterson (historical release), Charles Lloyd w. Bill Frisell, Abel Selaocoe (try pronouncing that name!), Redman-Mehldau-Mcbride-Blade, and Reuben James,
No particular theme for this last podcast of 2022. But here are a few new and a couple older recordings that I’ve discovered recently—and am enjoying.
In terms of newer recordings, You’ll hear Emmet Cohen, Billy Drummond and Freedom of Ideas, JD Allen, The Comet is Coming, Samara Joy w Pasquale Grosso, and the Alvin Queen Trio. From my new home of Edmonton, there’s Mallory Chipman and drummer Sandro Dominelli. (Lots of drummer led combos here).
Somewhat older recordings are by Richie Cole, and Havana’s Roberto Fonseca. The oldest one—but one I just purchased—is an LP from someone I’d never heard of before. Her name is Jean Turner and her singing is backed by the Stan Kenton Orchestra.
A lot of focus on how playing jazz (as well as listening to it) helps us. It starts with a short clip from Victoria musician Brian Tate about improvising as ‘saying yes’….sort of like a going with the flow.
Lots of ‘flow’ in this episode. You’ll hear Wayne Shorter with some of the other greatest jazz musicians of all time. Then there’s Sonny Rollins, Michel Petrucciani, and Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross. I also play three great vocalists: June Christy, Angela Verbrugge (from Victoria), and Stacy Kent..
Also from Victoria is altop saxophonist Roy Styffe and a wonderful healing poem that he has very cleverly set to music—with the help of Kelby McNayr and Scott White.
Kenny Werner has written two great books about the interplay between our own empowerment and how we play (and listen to ) jazz. In this episode you actually hear him play thanks to a track from one of his earlier albums.
And last but not least, “Healing Power” by a trio of Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison, and Ted Nash.
The therapy might be in the lyrics, the music, or the inspiration from the player’s journey.
I play recordings by Ben Webster, Nina Simone, Tony Kofi, Ruth Brown, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker.
From France, you’ll hear trumpeter and singer Jerome Etcheberry and his delightful rendition of Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue). And from England, a new discovery–Fiona Ross–as she tackles that therapeutic dilemma of wondering if I’m “good enough”.
There are also a couple tunes from some great jazz singers from Victoria, B.C. Lorraine Nygaard has put her sentiments into concrete action through delivering tokens of love during the height of COVID. And Edie Daponte does a beautiful rendition of Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away”.
And that’s just part 1. Next week I’ll post Part 2.
Here I play recordings I like that have been made very recently Lots of great Christmas and Winter tunes (both known and unknown). Played and sung by some of the best modern recording artists.
My favourite? Ever hear Julie Christie’s “Hang Them On The Tree”. It’s something you can do with all the negativity and overwhelm in your life….to turn it into something positive, I play a version of the tune by June Bisantz and the John Burr Sextet.
Lots of music, not much talk.
This episode features jazz tunes where there is some contention about who actually wrote it. For example, I put the writer of Nature Boy, Eden Ahbez on trial. Did he plagiarize the melody of Nature Boy from Herman Yablonskoff? He did end up paying Yablonskoff 25,000 dollars. Did he have to? Or did he just…Continue reading Episode 206: Who Really Wrote It?
Since I just moved from Victoria B.C. to Edmonton Alberta—-in the midst of the wind and snow—I thought it would be a good idea to explore the Alberta jazz scene. I guarantee you’ll hear some great music in this episode! Some of them are jazz legends who came from Alberta, and others are local heroes.…Continue reading Episode 205: Jazz Musicians from Alberta
My own jazz roots are very different from that of most jazz fans. I explored them in Episode 100, This episode is a further exploration. Warning! The music isn’t all jazz. But they all have some connection with jazz…at least for me. Many of these recordings and artists came to my attention thanks to two…Continue reading Archives, Episode 104: Some of My Own Jazz Roots.
Still in the midst of moving to Edmonton—one or two more ‘archives’, then some more new episodes. But the good news is that the archived programs I’m posting are really good! This one includes six jazz tunes—or tunes often played by jazz artists. They are: -East of the Sun (West of the Moon) -Desifinado -Airegin…Continue reading Archives, Episode 105: 6 Great Songs and their Stories
Birds and bird calls have been quite the inspiration for a lot of jazz as well as classical compositions. You’ll hear a few of those inspired recordings plus the calls of some of the birds who inspired them. Also a bit of Bird—the nickname for Charlie Parker, who also wrote a lot of tunes inspired…Continue reading Archives, Episode 102: About Birds and a Bit of ‘Bird’.
As I relocate my residence from Victoria to Edmonton, I need to take a few weeks off. So I have a few more episodes from the ‘archives’ before I start with some very interesting and entertaining new episodes. This is Part 2 of Jazz Drumming, with Victoria drummer, composer, and educator Kelby McNayr. You’ll hear…Continue reading Archives, Episode 101: Jazz Drumming, History, Development, and a Few Masters.
I’ve lived many places, but never came across a city with as many amazing musicians–especially jazz musicians—as I have here in Victoria, B.C. Much of it is thanks to Hermann’s Jazz Club, which began 40 years ago. It started because Hermann Nieweler was convinced to book a jazz trio led by clarinetist/saxophonist Al Pease at…Continue reading Episode 204: Tribute to Hermann’s Jazz Club and Victoria.
Hello! In this episode I’m playing a few favourite recordings—lp’s and cd’s mostly. They are mostly ones I purchased at used record stores and thrift stores, as well as online, this past summer. Here’s the ‘lineup’. P.J. Perry Quintet with Bob Tildsley. They Kept Bach’s Head Alive. A really fascinating way to start the podcast.…Continue reading Episode 203: Discoveries I Made This Past Summer
Playing a few selected recordings of artists who were highly rated on the latest Downbeat Critics poll. It starts with three tracks from the latest entry into the Jazz Hall of Fame. It finishes with the ‘best historical album’. Between you’ll hear someone who is both #1 jazz and #1 non-jazz artist (Quantum physics or…Continue reading Episode 202: 70th Annual Downbeat Critics Poll
More music from jazz musicians who I enoyed seeing and hearing live this past summer. I play four selections where pianist Sullivan Fortner is featured. The first one’s by Cecile McLorin-Salvant, the second from trumpeter Giveton Gelin, and the third is from an album under his own name. The fourth is a surprise—not an artist…Continue reading Episode 201: More Summer Concerts That Inspired Me
I’ve had a great summer for music, mostly thanks to the Victoria Jazz Festival. For this first episode of the new season, I’m playing recordings by some of those artists I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing and who most inspired me. Eight great selections are featured this week.
In this episode, Victoria B.C. jazz drummer, composer, and educator, Kelby McNayr talks about the role of percussion in jazz. His thesis that while drumming has changed, it hasn’t necessarily ‘evolved’ is an interesting one. He demonstrates it through recordings over many eras of jazz. We talk about Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Art Blakey, Philly…Continue reading Archives, Episode 98, Jazz Drumming (w. Kelby McNayr). Part 1
I love hearing interesting stories about the history of certain songs, including how they became popular. In this episode I explore five different songs that have been performed frequently by jazz artists. The first one, Scotch and Soda, nobody knows who really wrote it. The last one, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat came from an improvisation…Continue reading Archives:Episode 96, Scotch and Soda, Cherokee, All The Things You Are, Autumn Leaves, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
For this episode one of the highlights is a John Coltrane tune that has been described as a sort of ‘training wheels’ for Giant Steps. I also play recordings by Freddie Hubbard, Ornette Coleman, a Wes Montgomery tune by Christian McBride’s Big Band, and a J.J. Johnson tune recorded by Miles Davis. I play two…Continue reading Archives, Episode 94, Real Book Obscurities Part 4
This is part 3 of a 4 part series on some lesser played or heard tunes from the Real Book 6th Edition—a ‘bible’ for jazz students. This episode includes some obscure and some maybe not-so-obscure tunes from the point of view of the jazz player. You’ll hear some of the greatest jazz players and singers…Continue reading Archives, Episode 93: Real Book Obscurities
I had subscribed, from 1978 to 1983 to a series of 3-disk albums by Time Life Records called The Giants of Jazz”. A new one would be delivered to my door every month. They each contained a very detailed booklet including descriptions each recording on the six sides. I featured these albums on a series…Continue reading Archives, Episode 87: Time-Life Giants of Jazz, Part 5
A jazz bassist from Peterborough, Ontario, Craig Paterson talks about the music that ‘formed’ him, turning him into a jazz fan. He selected 10 albums, and in this episode he talks about five of them. And we play parts of them for you. At the same time Craig does a great job dissecting what it…Continue reading Episode 48: A Jazz Fan’s Formative Recordings
From the Archives, some 78rpm records from my collection. 78’s were popular from the turn of the century up into the late 1950’s. One unique thing about 78’s is that you could eat them. Technically at least! As well as some great music, you’ll hear Alex Campagnolo, a researcher in Sustainability Studies–a man who focuses…Continue reading Archives, Episode 43: Edible Records–78rpm’s.
Continuing with my summer re-runs of some of the best from past podcasts. Today, Part 4 of a series on Jazz and Politics. It’s mostly music—featuring a few long tracks, such as the whole Freedom Suite by Sonny Rollins. A lot of this music is about freedom and the struggle for equality: for blacks and…Continue reading Archives, Episode 41: Political Jazz
A few years ago I put together a series of four Discovering Jazz Podcasts on jazz musicians who played on pop recordings. For these archives, I’m posting Part 3, Episode 26. (You may want to also listen to Episodes 24, 25 and 27 if you like this one). You’ll hear guitarist Louis Shelton and his…Continue reading Archives: Episode 26, Jazzies Who Play Outside the Genre (Pt. 2).
This week, as part of my ‘summer re-runs’, I feature Beatles tunes that have been adapted to jazz. Most are exquisitely done; some maybe not so much. And not only that I interview John Lennon. Okay—not really! What it is is interesting clips from an interview I did with Michael Gagliano, who starred as John…Continue reading Archives: Episode 19, Jazz Beatles
A program from January of 2018. A lot of real jazz lovers express a rather loud indifference—bordering on contempt—for the role of ‘vocals’ in jazz. Comments like ‘cheesy lounge singers’, ‘they keep the instrumental soloists from truly stretching out’, they make jazz musicians into accompanists, etc. come up. Yet for many of us—-myself included—the vocalist…Continue reading Archives: Episode 17, Jazz Singers I Like
For my final podcast of the season (but don’t worry—I’ll be posting ones from the archives weekly), I play more artists performing at this year’s Victoria Jazz Fest, 2022. Lots of music this episode, and not much talk. You’ll hear (in order): Ghost Song–Cecile McLorin Salvant The Preacher–Taurey Butler Ranky Tanky–Ranky Tanky Chrome Beauty–Joy Lapps…Continue reading Episode 199, Even More Great Jazz Festival Performers!
Putting together these three episodes allows me to find the time to listen to a bit of every performer coming to the upcoming Victoria Jazz Fest, Jun 24th to July 3rd (2022). And what a stellar line-up! In terms of straight jazz—this episode includes The Brubeck Brothers (two of Dave Brubeck’s sons), Ashley Wey from…Continue reading Episode 198, Victoria Jazz Festival Performers Part 2
Jazz is best enjoyed live! Watching musicians interacting with each other on stage, as well as with their instrument can be quite exciting. Coming up is The Victoria Jazz Festival June 24th to July 3rd. My plan is to listen to recordings of all the performers….so I can decide which concerts to see (and hear).…Continue reading Episode 197: Jazz Festival Performers, Part 1
Jazz has continuously evolved as a result of freeing itself from constraints. According to Steve Haines, jazz bassist and director of the Miles Davis Jazz studies program at the university of North Carolina, jazz as taught in music institutions today is being ‘whitewashed and creativity is being strangled. He says “we need to be singing…Continue reading Episode 196: Freedom–An Essential Element of Jazz
Steve Haines, professor and interim director of the Miles Davis Jazz Studies program at University of North Carolina talks about what he sees as the most essential elements of jazz. And we play music to illustrate some of those elements. What are the essential elements? They include the expected ones—blues and swing. But just as…Continue reading Episode 195: Deep Roots, the Essential Elements of Jazz (with Steve Haines)
If somebody asks you if you like jazz, how can you answer? There are so many sub-genres of jazz around today: hard-bop, be-bop, swing, fusion, Bossa Nova or Latin, funk, free jazz, Cool jazz, Afro-Cuban, world jazz, smooth jazz, astral jazz, etc. etc. etc. Today’s episode explores a few of those. You’ll even hear a…Continue reading Episode 194, Sub-Genres of Jazz
Some of the music in this week’s episode is new, a lot of it’s old; they are from lp records, cd’s, and downloads that I’ve recently acquired. Or, in some cases, about to acquire. The lp tracks are by Marian McPartland, H.B. Barnum, and Woody Hermann & Four Others. The cd’s include Angela Verbrurgge, Joey…Continue reading Episode 193, More New Acquisitions and Discoveries for 2022
I’m always on the look out for music that inspires me. I may find it through going into thrift stores, perusing emails and facebook mesages from friends and Discovering Jazz listeners, and even by looking at current jazz releases. It might be vinyl record, a cd, a youtube video, or whatever. For this episode and…Continue reading Episode 192: Discoveries and Acquisitions So Far in 2022
Oscar Peterson is described by one of his former students, Victoria’s Louise Rose, as being “driven”…yet still “without ego”. And in the 1972 documentary about him called In the Key Of Oscar, he expressed mixed feelings about the driven-ness, some of which was influenced by a desire to meet his father’s high expectations. There is…Continue reading Episode 191: About Oscar Peterson, with Louise Rose.
Here in Victoria we are blessed with having a marvellous pianist, singer, and arranger teaching and giving delightful concerts. Her name is Louise Rose, and she studied composition and arranging with the great Duke Ellington. This week’s I present part of an interview with Louise about her experience with Duke, and what she learned from…Continue reading Episode 190: About Duke Ellington, with Louise Rose.
Part 1 was about its invention and the 9 different types of saxophones. Part 2 was it’s evolution in jazz as well as its use in classical, r’n’b, and rock ‘n roll. This episodes features more great jazz saxophonists, plus the instrument in modern classical and ‘art’ music. You’ll first hear how a tenor sax…Continue reading Episode 189: The Saxophone Part 3
This is Part 2 of my three part series on the saxophone. I take you through the early days of jazz, then talk about how Coleman Hawkins transformed the tenor sax from “mooing and rubbery belches” into a purveyor of musical art. I also touch on the use of the saxophone in classical music, and…Continue reading Episode 188, The Saxophone and it’s Evolution.
Beginning a 3 part series on the saxophone…it’s development and use in jazz and other forms of music. In this first episode I play recordings featuring each of the 9 saxophones–from the highest pitched sopranino to the lowest pitched sub contrabass. In-between you’ll hear lots of tenor, alto, baritone, and soprano sax played by the…Continue reading Episode 187, Nine Different Saxophones.
It’s mostly from my jazz section…but not all. Some you might call ‘world music’, some ‘gospel’, a bit of funk, and one ‘pop; vocalist. But it’s all pretty good, I think (except for maybe the last one). And lots of real jazz!
As I say in my introduction to the podcast, I do play lots of ‘jazz’ that is on the fringes of the genre. A lot of those can be found in my record collection. This week and next I’ve dipped into that collection and I’m spinning a few tunes. You’ll hear -DAWG music (some call…Continue reading Episode 185:More from my LP Collection.
I played some records by some great female instrumental jazz artists last week….and this week I have some more (plus a vocalist or two). I remember only a few years ago when people so often spoke about the dearth of women in the jazz world. And just within five years there numbers have blossomed. Just…Continue reading Episode 184: Amazing Women in Jazz
March 8 is International Women’s Day. It falls on a Tuesday–the same day I upload these podcasts. It turned out to be so easy to find great female jazz instrumentalists; much easier than when I did a similar podcast four years ago. And the instruments? There’s piano, guitar, Pedal Harp, Trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, bass,…Continue reading Episode 183: Women in Jazz (for International Women’s Day).
From solo bass to bass in a big band. From free jazz to Gypsy Jazz. And lots more. You’ll hear more bassists in this episode. They include Christian McBride, Victoria’s Joey Smith, Eberhard Weber, Stanley Clarke, Charlie Haden, Ron Carter, Brandi Disterheft, Dave Holland, Tiny Grimes, and two by George Duvivier.
For all you Jaco fans…two tracks from his Weather Report days. I play a track from another electric bassist you’ve probably never heard of…Bill Takas. Another lesser known bassist is Victoria B.C. born Neil Swainson….and here I play a track from the only album under his name, featuring Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw. As well,…Continue reading Episode 181, Jazz Bass Part 2
This episode is part 1 of a three part series on bass players in the world of jazz. I begin with the tuba—which, along with the bass saxophone, was the primary bass instrument in turn of the century New Orleans Jazz. They couldn’t use a string bass because you couldn’t hear it….as there were no…Continue reading Episode 180: Jazz Bass, Part 1
Twelve more recordings voted by jazz critics and radio stations as being the best of 2021. I start with Los Angeles pianist Cameron Graves and end with Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga. And between those selections are a variety of straight-ahead and ‘out there’ jazz. From New York, there’s drummer/percussionist Ches Smith and The We…Continue reading Episode 179: Best of 2021, Part 4 (last one).
From perusing a number of ‘best of’ lists, filled with choices of top albums of 2021 by jazz fans and critics, I present tracks from 9 more albums. Some of it is more ‘modern’ sounding–such as Wadada Leo Smith, Floating Points, Kurt Elling’s new album, BadBadNotGood, Patricia Brennan, and Kenny Garrett. Then there’s a few…Continue reading Episode 178: Best of 2021, Part 3
This week I play two versions of the tune that students and professional jazz players say is a ‘must learn’ if you’re going to any kind of a jazz jam. I also list other tunes that people from the Jazz World site mentioned when I asked them what tunes one must know. And you’ll hear…Continue reading Episode 177: Tunes for a Jazz Jam Session, Part 2
You’ve been invited to an informal jam session and you want to make sure you are familiar with the tunes likely to be played or ‘called out’. Which ones do you need to know? I asked this question on a facebook site (The Jazz World) populated by jazz musicians and students. The #1 thing they…Continue reading Episode 176: Tunes You Need to Know for a Jazz Jam Session, Part 1
Various websites and magazines put out their ‘best of’ lists for 2021. I chose the first six that came up on Google, and also looked at the summary of the albums most played by jazz radio stations (mostly American) for the year. I listened to a bit of everything, then chose a few that interested…Continue reading Episode 175: ‘Best of’ Lists for 2021, Part 2
When I searched for ‘the best jazz albums of 2021’ in mid December, I found six sites that listed or ranked their favourites. Some of them were compilations of different critics or fans responses; others I don’t know how they compiled them. But what I noticed is that all the lists were dramatically different from…Continue reading Episode 174, Best of 2021, Part 1
A great variety of interesting and excellent music that I’ve downloaded sometime between 2017 and now. Some of it is what we all know as ‘jazz’, including Karryn Allison, Bill Evans Trio, Kenny Washington, Kelly Eisenhour, Billy Childs, Cunliffe Patitucci & Colaiuta. There are also two great Victoria jazz artists, singer Angela Verbrugge and trumpeter…Continue reading Episode 173: Some more favourite Downloads
This week I play Christmas and winter holiday music by some of the greatest jazz players and singers of all time. You’ll hear Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughan, Arti Shaw, Toronto’s Robi Botos, Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Tony Bennett, and Earl Hines. One very unusual highlight is the legendary pianist…Continue reading Episode 172: Jazz Greats Celebrate Christmas
A jazz fan, Peter Waddell, who says he is not a musician. He once again selects some amazing records and talks about why these particular tracks give him joy. Lots of modern recordings and two historical gems. Since he has commended me for playing on these podcasts “global giants and local joys”, I present him…Continue reading Episode 171, More Selections By a Fan From Ulster
A reviewer wrote about my podcast: “Larry shares the findings of his ongoing journey with enthusiasm: …..innovators and perfectors from a century of creative expression; global giants and local joys’ the old and the new’ influences on and influences by; the easy and the challenging” Wow! I love that description. This Discovering Jazz fan lives…Continue reading Episode 170: A Fan from Ulster Selects Some Favourites.
After Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue took the jazz world by storm, jazz musicians and fans expressed much excitement about what has been termed ‘modal jazz’. This is a sub-genre that uses long passages of unchanging harmony based on different scales rather than a series of chords. In this podcast I talk about the history…Continue reading Episode 169: Modal Jazz
This episode was inspired by finding three jazz magazines in a Little Library outside of jazz singer Susannah Adam’s home in Victoria, B.C. There were a bunch of articles on jazz vocalists, including one where Luciana Souza chose some recordings with ‘wordless vocals’. Some amazing stuff by the likes of Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta, and…Continue reading Episode 168: Jazz vocals, with and without words.
Five songs and the stories behind them. I talk about and play different versions of Round Midnight (aka Round About Midnight), In a Mellow Tone (aka In a Mellotone), Night Train, My One and Only Love, and You Don’t Know What Love Is. And all five of these have interesting stories behind them.
Hey! This week’s episode of selected downloads are even better than last week’s. At least it felt that way as I was listening to this latest episode. I start it off with a gorgeous version of Autumn Leaves with Laila Biali and a host of some of Toronto’s best players. And I finish it off…Continue reading Episode 166: Favourite Downloads, Part 2
I’ ve already presented episodes playing some favourite lp’s, cd’s, and even some 78’s. Now its time for some downloads. Some are old recordings, some fairly new. I play Marlena Shaw, Chet Baker, Duke Ellington with Mingus and Roach, Roberto Fonseca and Faroumata Diawara, Melissa Aldana, Sting with Jo Lawry, The Brooks, Rowan Farintosh Quartet,…Continue reading Episode 165: Some Favourite Downloads
I’m picking out a few tunes from a few favourite cd’s. Lots of music, not too much talk for this episode. You’ll hear a few familiar favourites such as Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Dave McKenna and Buddy DeFranco, Stanley Clarke and Friends (with Billy Cobham and Najee), Bob Dorough. I also play…Continue reading Episode 164, More from my CD Collection
Part two features some more of the musicians rated in the 69th Annual Jazz Poll from Downbeat Magazine. This week I start out with Kris Davis (with Nels Cline), and follow it with the vocal-less Nels Cline Singers. You’ll also hear Freddy Cole, Laila Biali, Sinne Eeg, Aaron Diehl, and Charles Lloyd and The Marvels.…Continue reading Episode 163:More of the Musicians Jazz Critics Love.
The results of Downbeat’s 69th Annual Critics Poll inspired me to discover and listen to a few artists. And to re-listen to a few others. You’ll hear some of what I discovered on this episode. I start with some new members placed into the ‘hall of fame. This year it was Kenny Barron. And the…Continue reading Episode 162: Critics Poll from 2021, Part 1
Carla Bley, at the age of 85, was just voted onto Downbeat Magazine’s Hall of Fame. There is an article in the August 2021 issue where she talks about having found her ‘voice’—a voice that has endured through all the twists and turns. In this episode we explore that voice, playing recordings from 1957 to…Continue reading Episode 161, Discovering Carla Bley
This week I go to my cd collection and pick out a few with which I was familiar at one time, and give them another spin. The recordings span the years 1955 all the way to 2021. Included are three Canadian cd’s. One is by Dave McMurdo out of Toronto. The second is vibraphonist Peter…Continue reading EPISODE 160: From My CD Collection
To start off the 2021-2022 season of Discovering Jazz, I thought I’d play some familiar (and a few not so familiar) tunes from my lp collection. I play a few ‘regulars’ whose music has appeared on this program over the years: Don Shirley, Vince Guaraldi, Sounds Orchestral (Johnny Pearson), Fraser MacPherson, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett…Continue reading Episode 159: From my LP Collection
This is an episode that is near and dear to my heart. Absolute Pitch (sometimes inaccurately called ‘perfect’ pitch) is something I had, then lost. And its something that people who don’t have it can never understand. When you have it, it seems as ‘normal’ as being able to identify the colour of your socks….and…Continue reading Archives, Episode 88: Absolute or Perfect Pitch
You go to a jazz jam session with students or amateurs. One of the most common musical guides that almost every player uses is The Real Book, 6th Edition, Volume 1. The original Real Book was put together in the mid 1970’s by some Berklee College of Music music students in Boston, partly as a…Continue reading Archives (2020), Episode 91: Real Book Obscurities
This is an episode I posted November, 2019…..before my guest, Angela Verbrugge, won the listener’s poll in Jazz Times magazine for favourite female vocalist. Angela sent me (upon my request) some recordings from jazz singers I probably never heard of. These recordings are the subject of this week’s and next week’s podcast. I make it…Continue reading From the archives: Episode 84, Discovering New Jazz Vocalists (w. Angela Verbrugge).
One of my favourite Discovering Jazz podcasts. I used to play French Horn and tried to play blues on it. Even used it in a rock-blues group, with questionable success. But there is quite the tradition of truly great jazz french hornists, and I’ve discovered a few of them. I play some of them on…Continue reading Archives, Episode 77: Jazz French Horn
According to Wikipedia, Jan Randall, a Canadian composer, pianist, and arranger, has made a career of composing soundtracks for films, theatre, radio, and television. He combines playing by ear with his formal classical and jazz training. And he teaches jazz appreciation courses through UVic and is a faculty member of the Victoria Conservatory of Music.…Continue reading Archives, Episode 76, Introduction to Jazz with Jan Randall.
Shortly before I moved from Peterborough, Ontario to Victoria, B.C., I spoke with Peterborough jazz guitarist, Mike Graham. I asked him for his thoughts on the future of jazz. He had lots of interesting things to say….and on this episode I play part of that interview. What is the future of jazz? Will everything change…Continue reading Archives from 2019:Episode 63,Future of Jazz Part 1
While many of those jazz tunes jazz artists like to play are from films or Broadway, many are written by jazz musicians. For this episode, from 2019, I feature seven tunes that have become ‘standards’. Two of them were written for films, and the other five specifically to be played by jazz ensembles. I play…Continue reading Archives,Episode 59 from 2019:Lesser Known Jazz Standards.
This is a program originally aired on Trent Radio and placed on my podcast site in November, 2017. Inspired by a jazz instruction blog & podcast , LearnJazzStandards.com, hosted by guitarist Brent Vaarstra, and his post called “92 Modern Jazz Albums You Need to Listen To”. ‘Modern’ was defined as being anything after the year…Continue reading Archives, Episode 9: Newer Jazz Albums Recommended
I’ve truly learned a lot since I started putting together these podcasts four years ago. That’s why the program is “Discovering Jazz”. I keep discovering new things about jazz and about jazz compositions. That being said, a lot of my earlier programs are still pretty good. While Episodes 1 and 2 seem to have a…Continue reading Archives: Episode 3, From Sept 2017
Some great music here! I’ve listened to a track or two from each of the albums nominated in the jazz and world music categories for this year’s Junos. I’m playing something from the winner in four categories, plus a handful of jazz nominees. This is the last podcast of the season as I take a…Continue reading Episode 158: Contemporary Canadian Jazz–the 2021 Juno’s.
Last week I spoke about how Miles Davis could be considered to be the most predominant jazz ‘bellwether’. This was related to his role in contributing to particular tunes becoming ‘standards’, even influencing how other musicians played them. This week I advance that ‘thesis’ even further. I show how changes he made to a Dave…Continue reading Episode 157: Bellwethers in Jazz, Part 2
This was inspired by a book by my favourite science fiction writer: Connie Willis, called “Bellwether”. In a flock of sheep, there is one sheep that, for some unexplained reason, influences all the others in terms of when and where they move. That sheep is referred to as a bellwether. The bellwether isn’t necessarily the…Continue reading Episode 156, Miles Davis as Bellwether
This episode was inspired by somebody, when I played and sang “How Deep Is The Ocean?” asking me if I was playing ‘jazz chords’. So this episode tries to discover, using the same Socratic method as in the lyrics to that tune, what exactly is a ‘jazz chord’. I play some great music, as usual.…Continue reading Episode 155: Jazz Chords–what are they?
This week I dig into my record collection again and pull out a few favourites. You’ll hear tracks from: -Toronto’s Archie Alleyne with the Frank Wright Quartet, -Lalo Schifrin, -Zoot Sims w. Jimmy Rowles, -Shelly Manne, -Lenny Breau, -Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd, -Milt Bernhart Brass Ensemble, Julie London, Eddie Jefferson, Serge Chaloff, and Skywalk…Continue reading Episode 154:More Familiar Favourites From My LP Collection.
This week I went through my jazz lp’s and selected a few familiar favourites. Well, at least familiar to me. I play some Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bobby Hutcherson w. Eugene McDaniels, Shorty Rogers, Mose Allison, Buddy Emmons w. Lenny Breau, Big Miller, Nina Simone, David Amram, Charles Lloyd, and Tete Montoliu.
This week I play blues, gospel, jazz, and world music employing instruments you don’t usually hear that often in that context. You’ll hear two bagpipes, and six tubas (but all on the same tune). I also play some recordings featuring a kora, accordion, tar, chromatic harmonica, bassoon, a sarrusophone, and ukulele. Then I end off…Continue reading Episode 152: Unusual Instruments in Jazz Part 2
This is the first of a couple programs where I play jazz recordings that feature instruments not commonly associated with jazz. This time round you’ll hear some harp, steel guitar, five string banjo, pipa, Euphonium, Steel Pan, and French Horn. And did you know that there was an album released in 2017 of Thelonious Monk…Continue reading Episode 151: Unusual Instruments in Jazz
Five more great songs with interesting stories behind them. And I play different versions of each one, ranging from Nat King Cole to Sam Gendal. And in-between, you’ll hear Wayne Shorter, Xavier Thollard, Teresa Doyle & Doug Riley, Antonio Adolfo, Sonny Rollins, Randy Weston, Jack Teagarden, Victoria’s own Maureen Washington, Duke Ellington, and Gene McDaniels.…Continue reading Episode 150:LushLife,AnaMaria, St.Thomas,St.James Infirmary,Sentimental Mood.
Once again I’m talking about some timeless great melodies and lyrics and some of the ways they get reinterpreted by jazz artists. I start with some great (and one not-so-great) recordings of Skylark, written by Hoagy Carmichae and Johnny Mercer, for a musical that never happened. And the melody was based on a Bix Beiderbecke…Continue reading Episode 149:Skylark,Someday My Prince Will Come, Liza, Central Park West
As I go down the JazzWeek chart, I find I’m enjoying what I’m listening to more and more. But I’ve always tended to love the ‘hits’ at the bottom end of the charts more than the top end. Even as a kid listening to the pop Top 93 on a local radio station. This week…Continue reading Discovering Jazz -148- What’s New in 2021 Part 3
More music from recordings released this year, as I pick and choose from a few records that interest me. One of my favourites is through a new label called Le Coq records, and it features Bill Cunlifee, John Patitucci, and Vinnie Colaiuta. That same label also has one simply called “Presents the Jazz All Stars”,…Continue reading Episode 147: What’s New in 2021, Part 2
For this episode and the next two, I’m exploring current jazz. Using the JazzWeek Charts, I’m picking out a few newer releases that appeal to me, and playing a track from each of them. This week, you’ll hear Santi Diabro, Greg Murphy, Dr. Lonnie Smith (with Iggy Pop),Lorne Lofsky, Brandi Disterheft with George Coleman, Joe…Continue reading Episode 146: What’s New in 2021
This is the last episode of a tune within a tune. And I thank jazz fans from the JazzWord site for many of these ideas for bits of songs that jazz musicians put into their solos. The quotes you’ll hear include Donna Lee, Pavane (Morton Gould), Slow Boat to China, Laura, Them There Eyes, How…Continue reading Episode 145: A Tune Within A Tune (Jazz Quotes), Part 3,
This podcast, as well as playing some great jazz recordings with ‘quotes’ of other tunes coming from various soloists, explores the purpose of these quotes. It’s not just jazz musicians who put quotes into their songs. There is a bird (yes…a real bird…one that flies) who does a variety of quotes, and you’ll hear that…Continue reading Episode 144, A Tune Within a Tune, Part 2 (Jazz Quotes)
I found one well-known tune played in the midst of five different jazz recordings. And I’m sure it’s present in a lot more. Guess what the tune is? In this episode I play all five of them. Then there is Mary Had A Little Lamb, which I found in two different jazz solos. You’ll also…Continue reading Episode 143, A Tune Inside a Tune: Quotes in Jazz Solos
The first 20 minutes of this week’s podcast is dedicated to the piano styles of Nat King Cole and Oscar Peterson. I explore similarities and differences, plus a ‘story’ that is told about why one stopped singing and the other stopped playing piano. The podcast ends with McCoy Tyner and something called ‘quartal voicings’. In…Continue reading Episode 142: More Jazz Piano, How To Tell One Pianist From Another.
One way of understanding what any modern (or ancient) jazz pianist is doing is to know the ‘roots’ of what they are playing. Even the wildest jazz is influenced by what came before. So this episode, to get more clarity about different piano styles, I’m exploring some history. From ragtime up to free-jazz. I’ll take…Continue reading Episode 141: Jazz Piano: A History
I was always amazed by those Blindfold Tests in Downbeat Magazine where Leonard Feather would challenge various jazz musicians by playing certain pieces of music—and have them guess who was playing. Musicians would rate the selection and talk about why. What amazed me was how they so often knew who was playing—even if they had…Continue reading Episode 140: Jazz Piano:How to Tell One Pianist from Another.
Why the waffling between five or six songs? Well, it has to do with a new song that was created out of a saxophone solo used in I’m In The Mood for Love. Is Moody Mood For Love a new tune or a variation of an old one? And those interpretations of I’m In The…Continue reading Episode 139: Five (maybe six) More Songs With Interesting Stories.
This episode focuses on five great songs. I’ll play two or three different versions of each one. You’ll hear some stories about either the song or the performance of it, You’ll hear Tony Bennett (twice—once with Buddy Rich), Renee Rosnes w Dave Young, Bobby Wellins, Sergio Armaroli & Billy Lester, Duke Ellington (twice), Wynona Carr,…Continue reading Episode 138:I Wanna Be Around,I’ll Remember April,Solitude,Billie’s Bounce,I’m All Smiles
This past week we lost a musical giant: one of the most eclectic pianists ever. Chick Corea. There have been many well deserved tributes online. This one will focus more on some of his great compositions. Most of them are played by Chick Corea himself, but I also include a great Canadian vocalist and another…Continue reading Discovering Jazz -137- Tribute to Chick Corea and his Compositions
Have you ever noticed that sometimes meals taste even better the next day when they become ‘leftovers’? Here on what is actually Part 6 of my Best of 2020 Series According To Experts, I’m mostly playing selections that have been ‘left over’ because I couldn’t fit them in during the first 5 podcasts. Three of…Continue reading Episode 136: Best of 2020, Part 6
In this episode I play a few tracks from some of the Canadian albums selected by some ‘best of’ lists. You’ll hear some great music from artists whose origins span the length of the country—from Victoria to Nova Scotia! Artists featured include John Stetch, Mike Rud, Patrick Boyle, Emie R. Roussel Trio, Laila Biali, The…Continue reading Episode 135: Best Canadian Jazz Albums of 2020
Added Note: The grammy’s were slated for Jan 31st but I was just advised that they have been put back to March 14 due to an added spike in COVID cases in Los Angeles. I’ve never been much for award shows—and rarely watch them. I probably won’t watch the Grammy’s either. But I did look…Continue reading Discovering Jazz -134- Jazz at The Grammy’s.
This week’s podcast starts off with a 1 1/2 minute ditty meant to describe 2020. And he recorded it in January of that year. How did Dan Rosenboom know what was coming? I play a few tracks from albums that various critics think are the best of 2020, plus one that might be in somebody’s…Continue reading Episode 133, Best of 2020 Part 3
Today I play a few tracks from records that Scott Yanow, Downbeat Magazine, CBC, Stereogum, and Bandcamp say are among 2020’s best. The range of styles is pretty extreme! From the most basic New orleans style jazz to what youtube classifies as dance/electonic. The highlights for me are 12 minutes of a recently discovered Thelonious…Continue reading Episode 132: Best of 2020 Part 2
Yes….you thought you’d escaped 2020. But despite it’s difficulties, you have to agree that some great recordings were made……maybe because musicians had time to stay home and create rather than do what they had to do to make a living. Because I don’t usually listen to that much new jazz, I decided to leave it…Continue reading Episode 131: Best of 2020 (According to Experts) Part 1
As we emerge into the dawn of 2021 we tearfully bid goodbye to 2020. (Just kidding). But I am presenting a summary of some of the past year’s podcasts, and playing a few favourite selections from them.
I’m taking a break for a week…..and posting a program of jazz oriented Christmas and other winter holiday tunes from three years ago. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Ramadan, Diwali, Epiphany (or Three Kings Day), New Year, Las Posadas, Mardi Gras, Lori, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Chalica, or whatever holiday you want…Continue reading Archives: Christmas podcast from 2017.
Last week I had jazz for all the winter holidays. This week I focus on Christmas. You’ll hear traditional carols, songs written by jazz artisits that people like to play during this season, a couple old standards, and one brand new tune. I play some Oscar Peterson Trio, Joe Pass, Vince Guaraldi, Vince Guaraldi’s drummer…Continue reading Episode 129: Christmas Jazz
This is a podcast of music for the winter holidays: Christmas, New Year’s, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah (or Chanukkah), Las Posadas, Mardi Gras, Lohri, Diwalis, Epiphany, etc. Most of it is jazz or pretty close to jazz. If you’re looking for familiar Christmas music by which to decorate your tree, this probably isn’t the podcast…Continue reading Episode 128: Holiday Jazz Part 1
I explore some of the life and music of a few so-called ‘self-taught’ jazz musicians. None of them learned music in a ‘void’, any more than the formally trained musician is solely a product of the training. As well as hearing music by these well-known artists, you’ll hear pianist Ron Drotos (keyboardimprov.com) talk about a…Continue reading Episode 127, The Self-Taught Musician—myths and realities.
Lots of music today and not too much talk. From my online downloads you’ll hear Joe Henderson, Leslie Odom Jr., Wolff Clark Dorsey, and Gilson Perenzetta & Mauro Senise. Canadian groups are Victoria’s Naden Band featuring Roy Styffe, Chelsea McBride & Her Socialist Night School, and Jane Bunnett & Maqueque. Lastly, some random selections from…Continue reading Episode 126, More Random Selections from my Jazz Library
Last week I explored some of the ‘edges’ of the jazz genre. This week I unintentionally do the same simply by going through tunes I’ve downloaded into my mediamonkey music list and put in the ‘jazz’ category. Some are definitely more ‘jazzy’ than others. But it turns out to be a great show. Possibly because…Continue reading Episode 125: Random Selections from my ‘Jazz’ Library.
Louis Armstrong once said that if you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know. But I wonder what he thought about some of the music that was categorized as ‘jazz’ today, or some of the artists headlining recent jazz festivals. For any category to be meaningful we have to have some idea as…Continue reading Episode 124:When Does it Stop Being Jazz?
I play selections from 9 of the top 10 albums on the October 26 JazzWeek chart, and talk a bit about them. Some great stuff!
This is the third episode where I play some top album’s on the current jazz charts as compiled by JazzWeek. I start out with Chick Corea playing Chopin, and describe how Chopin may have been a ‘forerunner’ of modern jazz. Other great artist’s from whose albums I play a track are The Jeff Hamilton Trio,…Continue reading Episode 122: Today’s Jazz, Just Below the ‘Top 10’
I’ve always loved charts. As a kid I’d wake up every Saturday morning and listen and write out CJCA Edmonton’s Top 93. So I’m delighted to be exploring the current Jazz Charts—-even if it is for albums rather than singles. This is through Jazz Week….and they are, I believe, charts from U.S. radio stations. But…Continue reading Episode 121: Jazz Today, More From Jazz Radio
Most of the jazz I play on this podcast tends to be the tried and true over the years. I’m changing that for the next four episodes and exploring the current jazz charts. These are albums on the playlists of U.S. jazz radio stations as listed through JazzWeek on their weekly top 100. For this…Continue reading Episode 120: Jazz Today–As Played on Jazz radio.
I found a list of the most recorded tunes, thanks to a website called Second Hand Songs. They’re almost all songs that jazz musicians like to play. In this podcast I examine the top 15 (not counting Christmas songs) and play you a version of 10 of them. You’ll hear recordings by: Sergio Mendes &…Continue reading Episode 119: The World’s Most Popular Jazz Tunes
At a record store in Nanaimo B.C. called Fascinating Rhythm I bought about 19 78rpm records. I’ll play 13 of them for you that are jazz, r’nb’ or gospel. The jazz records I play are by Coleman Hawkins, Woody Herman, Nellie Lutcher, Hazel Scott, Johnny Hodges, and Slam Stewart. And a jazz blues by Louis…Continue reading Episode 118: Thirteen 78rpm records I just bought!
For much of the summer there have been no live in-person music due to Covid. A lot of artists started posting concerts online, and this week I play some recordings of these concerts. While the performers have generously made these recordings available to anyone, it’s important to help musicians sustain their art. So I encourage…Continue reading Episode 117, Free Online Concerts During the Pandemic
Jelly Roll Morton claimed he invented jazz. Most other people claim he didn’t. But unlike some public figures who brag a lot, so many of the things he claimed he could do he actually did! And there’s no doubt that he did create a style of jazz, and was the first to combine so many…Continue reading Episode 116: Jelly Roll Morton and his Compositions
On this latest episode I play more records (78rpm’s and lp’s) and cd’s that I bought (or in one case picked up off the street) as I travelled around Vancouver Island. The jazz you’ll hear is by Benny Goodman, Lee Ritenour, Manhattan Transfer, Hazel Scott, Skywalk (a B.C. fusion band), Duke Ellington, Ron Davis &…Continue reading Episode 115, More music from my ‘vacation’.
I stayed home mostly. But I did travel a bit up island and bought some records (including some 78rpm jazz records) and cd’s. On this episode, to introduce you to September and the new season, I’ll play some of the best ones for you. The Lp’s are by Billy Taylor and Steve Khan. The cd…Continue reading Episode 114 : What I Did On My Vacation, Part 1
Most of the time my the new episodes of my podcasts generate 300-400 hits. Not viral……but I’m happy with that. But there was one that never made it over 100 hits for some reason. It’s episode 33, part 2 of my programs talking about Downbeat jazz magazine and featuring music talked about in the May…Continue reading Archives, Episode 33, More About Downbeat Magazine
On this program I play most of the entire Blue Train album of 1957 by John Coltrane. Why? well, most of those tunes are so often called out in jazz jams, and John Coltrane is certainly a jazz ‘legend’. As well as the fact that this is considered to be one of Coltrane’s most ‘accessible’…Continue reading Archives: Episode 62, Blue Train and Coltrane
Since Toronto singer Micah Barnes has been doing a ‘virtual tour’ of his new album, I thought this would be a good time to re-post a podcast of an interview I did with him in 2017—-where he talked about some of his favourite jazz singers. The topic was ‘what makes a vocal a jazz vocal.…Continue reading Archives: Episode 36, What Makes it Jazz Singing, w. Micah Barnes
Dipping really early into the archives—an episode from three years ago, where jazz saxophonist, guitarist, and singer, Sean Hully, from Peterborough, Ontario talked about how he learned to play and appreciate jazz. We’ll also take you through a bit of jazz history. You’ll hear music by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Susie Arioli, Weather…Continue reading Archives: Episode 12, Learning Jazz
Hi folks! I accidentally posted the wrong episode….and I repeated Episode 56 rather than 57. Sorry about that. But I’ve corrected it. So give a listen to Episode 57—from the archives. A great show! One more from the archives on Cuban jazz—-and this might be the best of the lot! You’ll hear how Castro’s disdain…Continue reading Archives: Episode 57, Cuban Jazz Part 3
Another summer re-run of some of my best Discovering Jazz Programs. I think the whole 4 part series on Cuban Jazz is well worth listening to, with lots of information and great music. Part 2 includes Geraldo Rubalcaba with Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, early diva Rita Montaner, David Amram, and many others. You’ll learn more…Continue reading Archives: Episode 56, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Part 2
This is a ‘re-run’ of one of my favourite and in terms of the information presented, probably one of my most ‘dense’ episodes. Afro-Cuban Jazz, while the musicians were exported from Havana, actually began in New York. I’ll introduce you to some of the ‘founders’—-Mario Bauza, Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie, flautist Alberto Soccoras, Nilo Menendez,…Continue reading Archives: Episode 55, Cuban Jazz–a History.
I just saw the list of jazz artists involved in this year’s Juno Awards for the best Canadian jazz albums of 2019, including the list of winners. I listened to some of each nominated record—and decided to play a track from some of them that resonated with me. Some of them weren’t even in the…Continue reading Episode 113, Canada’s Best: 2020 Juno Award Winners and Nominees.
I moved from Peterborough, Ontario to Victoria B.C. on May 1st, 2019, and was able to become a volunteer for the TD Victoria International Jazz Festival. If COVID19 hadn’t stopped it in its tracks, I would have been involved in this year’s festival as well. And the festival would have just ended this past weekend.…Continue reading Archives, episode 69, Victoria Jazz Fest 2019
Five more jazz standards today….with a few different versions of each and some interesting stories. Hilights? I’d give the #1 highlight to Mitchell Ruff Trio’s version of Gypsy in My Soul. What an under-rated group! Vancouver’s Karin Plato sings a nice version too. Then there’s that glorious contrast between that same time (which has the…Continue reading Episode 112: Tiger Rag,Invitation,I Didn’t Know What Time,How Insensitive,Gypsy in My Soul
This week I play a couple different versions of five different jazz standards. The five are: I Want To Be Happy, Embraceable You, Milestones, God Bless the Child, and Impressions. One of those tunes came about after another tune by the same name was recorded by the same artist. Guess which one. Then there was…Continue reading Episode 111: More Jazz Standards
It was Eldridge Cleaver who was best known for saying “You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem”. Jazz is music born of the African-American experience, and, in order to be part of the solutions, all of us who are involved in this music are…Continue reading Episode 110, Racism–Jazz as Part of the Solution.
This program features jazz artists who started playing their primary instrument relatively late in life. ‘Relatively’ might be anything later than early childhood (considering how many were child prodigies). Others started playing early but didn’t come into full bloom (whether in their careers or their skill) until later. Then there were a couple (Pat Martino,…Continue reading Episode 109: Late Bloomers
I find that with jazz, like any genre of music, there might be one to five percent of the music that truly resonates with me. With the posts that reach me through facebook or gmail, I end up having to listen to a lot of them in order to find that 1 to 5 %.…Continue reading Episode 108: Great Recordings Friends Recently Sent Me.
I’ll tell you the stories—-and you can figure out which tune I’m talking about. Or, better yet, listen to the podcast and find out :). #1: The primary writer was a member of the National Association for The Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was put in jail for refusing to enlist in the U.S.…Continue reading Episode 107, Six More Great Songs (and their stories).
Six more compositions jazz players like to play and a few tidbits of information about each one. You’ll hear some of the famous Miles Davis composition, Solar, under the name “Sonny”—written and recorded on an acetate 8 years before Miles Davis claimed to have written it. This recording is NOT available anywhere on youtube. I…Continue reading Episode106:Caravan,Smile, Days of Wine & Roses, Solar,Speak Low,Stella by Starlight.
You’ll hear anywhere from one to three versions of each of these 6 jazz compositions. Two of those recordings are also a tribute to two jazz artists who recently died as a result of COVID19: Lee Konitz and Wallace Roney. The tunes are: East of the Sun (West of the Moon), There is No Greater…Continue reading Episode 105: Six Great Songs and their Stories
Today is an exploration of my own jazz roots, a continuation of episode 100 where I first introduced you to some tunes that influenced me to discover more about this interesting musical genre. Most of those ‘root’s are old ones. But I’m also growing new roots….as I keep ‘discovering’ new music. The newer jazz roots…Continue reading Episode 104: My Own Jazz Roots.
Even during the most trying times we deserve to have a bit of fun. This week we’ll make the best of a bad situation and hear some music that relates to what we are going through. I play recordings by the late Bucky Pizzarelli, as well as Karin Plato, Noel Acchote, Warren Vache Sr. &…Continue reading Episode 103: Songs for Covid19.
A lot of jazz and classical music has been inspired by the singing of birds. Including a few Charlie ‘Yardbird’ Parker tunes. Today’s episode includes music of the veery thrush, a song thrush, a loon, and a northern mockingbird. And how they inspired Jeff Silverbush and Victoria pianist Karel Rossingh. Also I play recordings by…Continue reading Episode 102: All About Birds and a bit of ‘Bird’.
Starting with two drums and a fife providing the entertainment at New Orleans picnics and funerals, and finishing with Canadian drummer Claude Ranger. We talk about the development of the drum, and Kelby McNayr takes us through some of the components of the drum set. We also play music by Art Blakey and the Jazz…Continue reading Episode 101: More on Jazz Drumming (with Kelby McNayr)
With a party! But maintaining distancing. I’m exploring my own jazz roots which I’m pretty sure are pretty different from how most jazz aficionados discovered jazz. It wasn’t the great works of Charlie Parker or Miles Davis that did it for me. Rather it was a lot of ‘b’ sides of 45’s, hits and non-hits…Continue reading Episode 100: Celebrating my 100th Episode
The great and legendary jazz pianist, known for his recordings with John Coltrane and his original compositions, died March 6th of this year. He had one of the most powerful left hands in jazz–but he actually gained a reputation as a composer even before he made his first record. In this episode you’ll hear lots…Continue reading Episode 99, A Tribute to McCoy Tyner
This week I talk with amazing drummer, composer, and band leader, Kelby McNayr. Kelby has evolved into one of the most important ‘leaders’ in the Victoria jazz scene and is a first call drummer for virtually everybody! This episode features music that employs some of our greatest jazz drummers. Kelby introduces us to each drummer…Continue reading Episode 98, Jazz Drumming (with Kelby McNayr)
Investigating a ‘story’ about a song can take a lot of time and effort. I do that as I track the interconnection among three Duke Ellington compositions. And the jury is still out. You’ll also hear three great Cole Porter songs, interpreted by Django Reinhardt, Tony Bennett with Art Blakey, Sarah Vaughan, and Makoto Ozone.…Continue reading Episode 97, Songs with an Interesting Story Behind Them, Part 2
Welcome to a series of “Discovering Jazz” episodes about compositions that jazz musicians play that seem to have an interesting story. So what’s an example of an ‘interesting story’?. How about this one? Today when a new jazz musician to a band or jam session is being ‘tested’ for his or her chops, somebody will…Continue reading Episode 96, Songs with a Story Behind Them (Part 1)
February as Black History Month has its roots as early as 1915, thanks to being the birthdays of Frederick Douglass–an abolitionist, writer, and statesman who had escaped slavery, and president Abraham Lincoln. In Canada this year the theme is “Canadians of African Descent: Going Forward, Guided by the Past”. This week’s program pays a tribute…Continue reading Episode 95: Black History and Jazz
The last of this series of some of the best recordings of lesser known tunes found in the jazz student’s ‘bible’—The Real Book, 6th Edition. Here is what you’ll hear today: The Intrepid Fox by Freddie Hubbard Central Park West by John Coltrane I’m All Smiles by Lana Cantrell I’m All Smiles by George Cables…Continue reading Episode 94, Real Book Obscurities Part 4
The Real Book, 6th Edition, is commonly used by jazz musicians and students as a ‘guide’ for learning different well-known and not-so-well known jazz tunes. This current 4 part series focuses on the ‘not-so-well-known’. Another great guide, I’ve discovered, is a website put together by pianist/teacher Ron Drotos, called keyboardimprov.com, and his youtube videos called…Continue reading Episode 93, Real Book Obscurities Part 3
One of the best ways to ‘discover’ jazz is to try playing it—on whatever instrument (including voice) that you feel most comfortable. I’ve been trying that with my keyboard and The Real Book, Sixth Edition. When I come up to the pieces that start with ‘g’, there are some real challenges. So here I am…Continue reading Episode 92, Real Book Obscurities, The Notorious ‘g’s
The “Real Book”, Sixth Edition, is sort of like a ‘bible’ for beginning jazz students. It consists of 400 jazz tunes, ranging from compositions written by jazz musicians to some of the great Broadway tunes that have become jazz standards. It is the best selling jazz book of all time, and can be used by…Continue reading Episode 91, ‘Real Book’ Obscurities Part 1
I’ve taken some time to explore the 75 best albums of 2019 according to the British publication, Uncut, as well as their top 30 reissues and some top rated albums from the January 2020 issue. The purpose? To see how much jazz one can find in some of the better quality music in the rock,…Continue reading Episode 90: Can You Call It Jazz? Top Rated albums w. Jazz Sensibilities
Today I’m playing a track from each of the seven albums that received a 5 star review in Downbeat Magazine in 2019. As well, there is one album by a Canadian who The Ottawa Citizen jazz reviewer rated as not just the best Canadian jazz album of the year—but the best jazz album period! Most…Continue reading Episode 89: Jazz ‘Masterpieces’ from 2019
Today you will learn a lot about absolute or ‘perfect’ pitch, and hear selections by jazz musicians who possess this faculty. Also a demonstration from a child who has it, and some descriptions by musicians as to how it has been helpful as well as limiting. As well, I’ll discuss how it differs from ‘relative’…Continue reading Episode 88: Absolute Pitch–what is it, who has it, and what’s it good for?
This is the last of the five part series on Time Life’s Giants of Jazz—28 three record sets with huge booklets featuring swing era musicians who helped define jazz. This week you’ll hear and hear about James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Johnny Hodges, Lester Young, Henry Red Allen, Red Norvo, and more Teddy Wilson. In…Continue reading Episode 87: Giants of Jazz Part 5,Johnny Hodges,Lester Young, Willie Eckstein
Something from the Archives. One from my favourite series of the past year—The Jazz Solo, Part 3. I give examples of solos that have been considered by ‘experts’ to be exceptionally amazing. And one by a great jazz artist that is considered to be not at all up to par. You’ll hear solos by Bill…Continue reading Archives: Episode 54, The Jazz Solo, Part 3.
This is Part 4 of my five part series on Time Life’s Giants of Jazz. Today you’ll hear Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, Benny Carter, plus six tracks from one set called “The Guitarists”. The latter includes six of the earliest jazz guitarists who pioneered the use of this instrument in dances and records. You’ll hear…Continue reading Episode 86, Giants of Jazz w 6 guitarists,Benny Carter,Earl Hines, etc.
This is a program I put together two years ago…Episode 14—of holiday music. Mostly Winter holidays: Christmas, Channukah, New Years, Chalica (you probably have no idea what that one is, eh?), one Spring holiday (Ramadan)—and quite a few just celebrating the joys of winter. Lots of music here, and not much talk. You’ll hear Bill…Continue reading Archives: Jazz for the Holidays
I asked Victoria vocalist and studier of ‘swing’ style jazz, Angela Verbrugge, to send me names of some great jazz vocalist that would likely be new to me. She did. Thank you! This program, as well as last week’s, has me playing music by those singers and talking to her about the singers and the…Continue reading Episode 85, More New Vocal Discoveries (with Angela Verbrugge)
Special guest, singer and songwriter Angela Verbrugge, has sent me (upon my request) some recordings from jazz singers I probably never heard of. These recordings are the subject of this week’s and next week’s podcast. I make it an exchange by presenting one or two to her that she’s probably never heard of. This week…Continue reading Episode 84: Discovering New Jazz Vocalists w. Angela Verbrugge
Part 3 of Time-Life’s Giant’s of Jazz series, this time featuring Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Jelly Roll Morton, Jack Teagarden, Ben Webster, plus Canadian born orchestrator Gil Evans. You’ll also hear Dizzy Gillespie’s first recorded jazz solo. And How Art Tatum, at age 16, changed the course of jazz using Coleman Hawkins as a vehicle. …Continue reading Episode 83: Giants of Jazz-Hawkins,Webster,Basie,Teagarden,etc.
More from that great Time-Life series, The Giants of Jazz, with such fascinating information about each of the 28 early jazz giants. This episode features Bix Beiderbecke, Art Tatum, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, and—surprisingly—the unorthodox clarinet of Frank Teschemaker. I also explore the mystery as to why Teschemacher was included as one of…Continue reading Episode 82, more Giants of Jazz w Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, etc.
This week I’m catching up on some cd’s that I recently acquired, many of which feature great piano playing. One of them by Victoria pianist Tom Vickery includes a version of Manha de Carnaval (Black Orpheus), which inspired me to play a few versions of that great tune. One of my favourites is by McCoy…Continue reading Episode 81, Mostly Piano, Manha de Carnaval, New Acquisitions.
Time-Life surveyed a number of jazz scholars and as a result put together 28 three-record album sets dedicated to one jazz ‘giant’. Each one includes a 30 to 40 something page booklet. I subscribed to this series and would get one set each couple months in the late 1970’s to early 80’s. I’m now going…Continue reading Episode 80, Giants of Jazz-The Time Life Series Part 1
My 3-part series of programs on the jazz solo last year invoked a lot of positive response. I already re-broadcast the first one on an earlier archives program, and now I’m going to present you with part 2. This is for those of you who either missed it the first time, or want to hear…Continue reading Archives, Episode 53: The Jazz Solo (part 2)
It seems to be increasingly hard to find good second hand vinyl jazz albums at low prices through thrift stores or used record stores. But I found some, and I finished listening to them. I play at least one track from each. They include albums by Shorty Rogers, Pat Martino, Peggy Lee, Jeremy Steig,…Continue reading Episode 79, 10 Used Lp’s I Just Bought
Since we’re in the midst of a federal election here in Canada, I thought I could revisit part 1 of my four-part series from last year on the role of jazz in promoting social and political activism. I address topics of civil rights, diplomacy during the cold war, the interconnectedness between motherhood, mother earth, and…Continue reading Archives, episode 38, Jazz and Politics, Part 1
Today I’m playing and talking about some jazz tracks that I recently discovered—some are new recordings, some are older. And I’m letting them inspire me to create ideas for future podcasts. There appears to be quite the Peterborough-Victoria connection here, as I reflect on my wonderful years listening to (and occasionally playing) jazz in Peterborough,…Continue reading Episode 78, New Discoveries (2019)
Here is a rerun of the first of a 3 part series I recorded a few months ago on the jazz solo—trying to explore what makes a great one—-and why people ‘in the know’ consider them great. I also wonder how much of those solos are spontaneous and thought of in the moment, and how…Continue reading Archives: Episode 52, The Jazz Solo.
When you think of jazz the vision is of saxophones, trumpets, crazy drum solos, guitarists moving all over the fretboard, hot piano, funky or walking bass players, etc. You don’t envision french horns. This episode will change all that! 🙂 Some really amazing playing with solos by the likes of Tom Varner, Vincent Chancey, Giovanni…Continue reading Episode 77, Jazz French Horn
According to Wikipedia, Jan Randall, a Canadian composer, pianist, and arranger, has made a career of composing soundtracks for films, theatre, radio, and television. He combines playing by ear with his formal classical and jazz training. He is now teaching an Introduction to Jazz course at the University of Victoria. For this week’s program, Jan…Continue reading Episode 76: An Introduction to Jazz (with Jan Randall)
This week, just a few jazz artists by whose name I put a check mark as I went through Downbeat Magazine’s 2019 Critics Poll. As a followup from last week’s podcast on internationally recognized Canadian jazz musicians, I play a track by Vancouver cellist Peggy Lee and one by B.C. violinist Jesse Zubot. I start…Continue reading Episode 75, More Musical Selections inspired by Critics Poll
Every year 150 or so critics rank what they consider to be the top jazz artists in 63 categories, and this is presented in the August issue of Downbeat magazine. Sometimes Canadian jazz musicians are represented. This year I found 9 who I knew to have Canadian roots. I’m sure there are more but I…Continue reading Episode 74, Canadian artists on Downbeat’s 67th Critic’s Poll.
Here is another favourite episode of mine that I thought would be more popular than it was. Originally posted last November, this is all about new melodies that were written over chord sequences of another tune, and then became famous. Did you know, for example that 46 jazz tunes are listed in wikipedia as using…Continue reading Archives: Episode 46, Stolen Chord Sequences (Jazz Contrafacts)
The Downbeat Jazz Critics poll, published in the magazine’s August issue, summarizes the assessments of some top jazz critics as to the ‘best’ in various categories. One of those categories is the Jazz Album of the Year. This year’s picks truly stretch the boundaries of ‘what is jazz’. I play a track from six of…Continue reading Episode 73, Best Jazz Albums of the Year
This episode, recorded the Spring of 2018, features a discussion with Toronto voice coach and singer, Micah Barnes. Micah was a rock and soul singer who made the transition to jazz, and he talks about the differences. I ask the question “what makes it jazz” in terms of vocals………..and he does a great job in…Continue reading Archives: Episode 36, Jazz Singing, With Micah Barnes and Gene McDaniels.
A very knowledgeable jazz bassist from Peterborough named Craig Paterson sends regular emails of great jazz recordings, and on this program I play a few of them. It helps me discover new and old music………and I’ll share some of those discoveries with you in this program. I also like to go back to some ‘original’…Continue reading Episode 72, Discoveries
Continuing with re-issuing some programs from my archives every 2nd week, here is one on the great Bob Dorough who left us over a year ago. Here is a quote from one of my reviews on the itunes site (Canadian): “I knew that I’d be hooked when I saw and heard your tribute to Bob…Continue reading Archives: Episode 31, A Tribute to Bob Dorough
This is actually Part 3 of a series looking at the cross fertilization of jazz and classical (aka ‘serious’) music, featuring Al Baggs—a Peterborough saxophonist and lover of jazz and classical music. This episode explores how each or those two genres can be enhanced by knowledge of the other, as well as at least one…Continue reading Episode 71, Classical and Jazz, the relationship.
Another ‘archive’ program this week; for the summer I’ll have some of the best programs from the past two years of “Discovering Jazz” every 2nd week. This week is one of the two episodes of Beatles music transformed into jazz. Many of these are relatively modern recordings, such as the version of You’ve Got to…Continue reading Archives: Episode 20, Jazz Beatles (Part 2)
It’s Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis, first released in 1959. It still sells more per year than any current jazz recordings. Why? And why do critics also rate it as one of the best albums of all time? I quote a few critics and musicologists, play 4 of the 5 tracks, a couple other…Continue reading Episode 70, Miles Davis and The Most Popular Jazz Record of All Time
Last year I recorded a 4-part series on Jazz and Politics. Here is Part 3—probably my favourite of the four. It explores a few different political issues relevant to jazz music, and I play lots of great music. If you consider ‘politics’ to be about power and influence, then Jazz was political right from the…Continue reading Archives, Episode 40: Jazz and Politics
This is the last of three series of programs on the upcoming Victoria International Jazz fest (Jun 21-30). I play music by some of the great jazz artists coming as well as interview the founder and artistic director, Darryl Mar. If you’re thinking of taking in some of the festival, these programs are a great…Continue reading Episode 69, Victoria Jazz Festival part 3
This program starts off with the performer I’m most looking forward to seeing and hearing at this year’s Victoria Jazz festival, March 21-30—Pianist/singer, Patricia Barber. An interesting rendition of a Beatles tune. You’ll also hear a couple emerging artists: child prodigy Joey Alexander, and multi-instrumentalist from Victoria, John Lee. Festival organizer and founder, Darryl Mar,…Continue reading Episode 68: Victoria Jazz Festival, Part 2
This is the first episode since my move from Peterborough to Victoria—and as an introduction to the jazz world in Victoria, I’m putting together, over the next three weeks, three one hour programs about the upcoming 36th edition of the Victoria Jazz Festival. I play music by some of the artists (international, national and local),…Continue reading Episode 67, Victoria Jazz Festival, Part 1
As I settle in my new residence in Victoria, B.C., before I begin recording some brand new programs (probably next week), here is another one from the archives—-keeping my Peterborough, Ontario Connection. This was the first program featuring Al Baggs—a classical and jazz music buff and raconteur who also plays a mean baritone sax, as…Continue reading Archives: Episode 28, Classical VS Jazz and its Cross-Pollination (from April, 2018)
Continuing with programs from the Archives until I once again begin recording episodes. Here I talk about the 85 year old Jazz magazine that is still going strong, Downbeat. You’ll hear a bit about its history, the first ‘review’ published, and their famous “Blindfold Test”. I also share an anecdote about how I personally gave…Continue reading Archives: Episode 32, All About Downbeat Magazine (May, 2018)
One of my favourite series of programs was the four episodes from last year that involved jazz musicians who have played a part in making music that isn’t jazz. Sometimes they were studio musicians, or put a special ‘flair’ into a pop hit. a way for jazz musicians to be rock and roll stars. Except…Continue reading Archives: Episode 27, Jazz Musicians Making their Mark Outside of Jazz
While I’m settling in to my new home in Victoria (and apartment hunting), I’ll re-post some episodes from the archives. This week, keeping some Peterborough connections, it’s resident ethnomusicologist/bassist and all round genius from Trent University, Michael Morse, talking about one of his most significant jazz influences—-Thelonious Monk. He has a lot of interesting Monk…Continue reading Archives: Michael Morse on Thelonious Monk. (Episode #8, Oct 2017)
The home base of Discovering Jazz is moving from Peterborough, Ontario to Victoria, B.C. Today…..due to doing a lot of preparation for our move, I’m just going to relax and listen to some great music. Of course it’s hard to keep myself from talking about the tunes I play…..but I’ll try keep it brief.. So…Continue reading Episode 66: Lots of Music, Not Much Talk.
Herbie Hancock, jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador apparently came up with the idea of having April 30 as a day to highlight jazz and its roll of uniting people all over the world. But there was an earlier inspiration—a unifier during the height of the cold war: Louis Armstrong. I start this program…Continue reading Episode 65, International Jazz Day
What will jazz look like in the future? Will it be the same as today? Will it have some similarities to yesterday? Will ‘hip-hop’, dance, free jazz, weirdo electronic music, etc. be incorporated? Or will life (and jazz) be simple again? We also talk about the pluses and minuses of formal training in jazz, as…Continue reading Episode 64, The Future of Jazz, Part 2
What is the future of jazz? Will everything change when the Miles Davis generation dies out? Who will replace them? In this program, I discuss with Peterborough guitarist, Mike Graham, what jazz might look like in the future—-as well as what it won’t be. Of course, to predict the future, we need to know the…Continue reading Episode 63: The Future of Jazz (part 1) w. guitarist Mike Graham
If you are an amateur or professional jazz musician taking part in a jazz jam, or someone who enjoys listening to those jams, at some point someone will call out tunes like “Moment’s Notice”, or “Lazy Bird”. And, for sure, you’ll hear someone suggest they play “Blue Train”. One thing all those tunes have in…Continue reading Episode 62, Blue Train by Coltrane
In a documentary called “Brownie Speaks”, all about trumpeter Clifford Brown, one unidentified jazz personality states “I can’t say that Miles was intimidated by Cliff, but Miles wouldn’t play when Cliff was there”. Clifford Brown was known for his fat smooth tone and a unique melodic genius with a warm round sound, consistent across the…Continue reading Episode 61, Clifford Brown and Joy Spring
So many jazz tunes have been written about the seasons—and Spring is a big one! We might even get one this year. This week’s program is nice and mellow….just to ease use gently into the new season. Even if spring will be a little late this year. Doesn’t that remind you of a song? You’ll…Continue reading Episode 60: Jazz Spring
Some of these ‘standards’ are written by jazz artists. Others are from popular music written by film and Broadway composers. I’m finding them as I go through The Just Real Jazz Book and the infamous “The Real Book 6th edition”. These are also called ‘fake books’ as they have only the chords and the melody. …Continue reading Episode 59: Lesser Known Jazz Standards Part 1
This is the last episode of the Cuban Jazz series. And I’ve decided to feature a Juno award winning Cuban-Canadian group of women. I play music from both their albums, as well as spotlight some of the individual musicians in the group—including Yissy Garcia, Melvis Santa, Danae Alano, and, of course, Jane Bunnett herself. I…Continue reading Episode 58: More Cuban Jazz–Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
This week’s episode starts by talking about how resilient Cuban jazz musicians were able to forge a brand new style of music. It was their way of making the best out of being told they weren’t allowed to play the music of “imperialist America”. It evolved into Iraquere, and formed the basis of what people…Continue reading Episode 57, Cuban Jazz Part 3
Some great Cuban jazz! And a few interesting tidbits of information. You’ll hear music by David Amram (with Thad Jones, Pepper Adams, and others), Ray Barretto, Jane Bunnet, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Juan De Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars,Rita Montaner, Ibrahim Ferrer, Interactivo, and Gonzalo Rubulcaba with Ron Carter and Alex Acuna. As for the ‘tidbits’? …Continue reading Episode 56, Cuban Jazz Part 2
In celebration of the coming of Maqueque—a group of five Cuban women plus flautist/soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett–coming to Peterborough in April, I’m starting a three part series on Afro-Cuban Jazz. Today’s episode tracks its ‘modern’ history, from the 1920’s in New York. Yup! That was the birthplace of Afro-Cuban Jazz, not Havana or New Orleans.…Continue reading Episode 55: Afro-Cuban Jazz, A History
So many great jazz solos….wish I could play them all! I’m still trying to figure out what makes a great jazz solo, compared to one that isn’t so great. Listening to some of these is giving me some ‘intuitive’ sense—-but probably couldn’t give you a list of all the criteria. Sometimes it’s just some mysterious…Continue reading Episode 54: The Jazz Solo, Part 3
In this episode you’ll hear more of the solos that jazz musicians and writers say are ‘essential solos’. You’ll also hear words and phrases like ‘architectonics’, ‘vertiginous’, ‘eking’, ‘narrative structure’, ‘directional energy’, ‘wrong side of the beat’. I don’t know what most of them mean, either, but real jazz aficionados seem to. You’ll hear -John…Continue reading Episode 53, The Jazz Solo, Part 2
The ‘improvised’ solo is the heart of jazz. This series of programs looks at what have been termed ‘essential solos’, using an article from Jazz Times magazine, where jazz writers and musicians described the solos that have been their favourites over the years. These are solos that they have been playing or humming to themselves…Continue reading Episode 52, The Jazz Solo (Part 1)
Recorded live from the studios of Trent Radio in Peterborough, Ontario, this is an assortment of tracks from jazz albums I blindly selected from the station’s extensive jazz library of vinyl. It includes some of the ‘usual suspects’—Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington & Ray Brown, and Keith Jarrett. You’ll also hear the very first…Continue reading Episode 51: Random Records from Trent Radio Jazz Library
I play a track from eight different jazz albums—seven of them from 2018. They include five recordings that Downbeat Magazine, in their January 2019 issue, claim are the “Masterpiece Albums of 2018”. They may or may not coincide with your tastes (or mine). But part of the ‘discovery’ process is to hear out the ‘experts’—–and…Continue reading Episode 50, Masterpieces from 2018
Hello. I’m taking a break from Discovering Jazz programs for a few weeks—but I’ll see you in 2019. If you want something to tide you over until the next program, give my last year’s holiday special a listen. It was Episode 14. You’ll hear music for Christmas, for non-specified winter holidays, New years, Ramadan, Hannukah…Continue reading Archives….Christmas, Winter, and Holiday Jazz
Part 2 of the formative recordings of jazz musician, fan, and organizer, Craig Paterson. You’ll hear some Miles, some Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Liberation Music Orchestra, and Phil Dwyer. Great music! And some great stories—-especially Craig’s description of a piano workshop led by Keith Jarrett that he attended. And his delightful description of…Continue reading Episode 49, Craig Paterson’s Formative Recordings, Part 2
Jazz bassist and concert organizer Craig Paterson talks about some of the albums that formed his excitement about jazz. Craig also tells some great stories about those albums and the concerts those albums spawned. And I play a recommended track from each album.
Contrafact refers to a new melody written over the chord sequence of an older tune. And there are a lot of very popular jazz tunes that have done just that! In this program I play a few of them. You’ll find out what old tune has had the most jazz tunes stealing its chord sequence. …Continue reading Episode 47, Jazz Contrafacts
Today was a day to catch up on some of my listening and play a few records, cd’s, and downloads that I came across over the last couple weeks. Then I learned about the death of one of my favourite trumpeter/fluegelhornists, Roy Hargrove. He was only 49. I start the program with him playing a…Continue reading Episode 46, Music I Listened to Over the Past Week: Roy Hargrove, The Brooks, Myriad3, and More
The focus on today’s episode is the relationship between improvisation and spontaneity in life. It all involves a willingness to say yes. I start with a statement from Vancouver jazz writer, drummer, and choral director, Brian Tate, where he compares it to Theatre Sports. And also feature interviews with Paul L. Clark and James Seaborn, …Continue reading Episode 45, Jazz, Improvisation, and Saying “Yes”.
Today, I play a few jazz 78rpm records from my collection. 78’s were popular from the turn of the century up into the late 1950’s. One unique thing about 78’s is that you could eat them. Technically at least! As well as some great music, you’ll hear Alex Campagnolo, a researcher in Sustainability Studies–a man…Continue reading Episode 43: Jazz on 78rpm
Lots of discoveries over the summer. Some of them records, some cd’s, and a lot of them being music posted by friends and friends of friends. And one discovery begats another….such as when Peterborough bassist Craig Paterson posted something by the great singer Cecile McLorin Salvant—-and it led me to discover her pianist and his…Continue reading Episode 42, Beginning the 2018-2019 season.
The first part of this episode addresses the inroads female jazz artists have made over the years, as I start with a track by the amazing trio of Geri Allen, Teri Lyne Carrington, and Esperanza Spalding, followed by something from the new album by Molly Johnson. Then I play another Canadian: Vancouver born composer and…Continue reading Episode 41, Jazz and Politics, Part 4
Jazz has always been political in some form. Right from its earliest beginnings, this African American music was taken over by the dominant American middle class ‘white’ culture with no credit going to the black originators. That’s political—since politics is about power differentials. Most of the money was made by white people taking over the…Continue reading Episode 40, Jazz and Politics Part 3
This is the beginning of a series illustrating the connection between jazz and social or political activism. On today’s episode I play and talk about the following: Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom, which has been embraced by people around the world as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. I also talk briefly about Peterson’s…Continue reading Episode 38, Jazz and Politics Part 1
The mathematical mind of Bach shares similarities with the mindset of great jazz composers and improvisers. Peterborough Saxophonist Al Baggs talks about this—and also talks about music as ‘sonic energy’. He then speculates (tongue in cheek I assume) how this could relate to prison reform and a potential research grant that could explore that possibility.…Continue reading Episode 37, Bach, Jazz, Prison Reform and even Red Accordions. Guest: Al Baggs
Micah Barnes, Toronto jazz singer and voice teacher, talks about what makes a vocal a jazz vocal. Also the late Gene McDaniels demonstrates singing ‘inside the changes’. You’ll hear some of the singers who inspired Micah Barnes. Also a non jazz singer with a jazz singer’s authenticity. I also play a couple tracks from Micah…Continue reading Episode 36, What Makes it ‘Jazz’ Singing? Micah Barnes & Gene McDaniels
I start by featuring Lonnie Johnson—who played the first guitar solo ever on record, in 1927. And we hear him playing with a Toronto Dixieland band from 1965. Plus two very early recordings with his guitar. I also talk about pianist McCoy Tyner, and play three tracks from a double album—–with guests Arthur Blythe, Bobby…Continue reading Episode 35. Vinyl records, Spring and Summer Finds
I’ve discovered some wonderful cd’s and individual downloads over the past spring and summer—-and I want to play you some of the highlights. My favourite cd I’ve bought is by a 19 piece Toronto big band—Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School. And one that is really growing on me is a very unusual Phil Woods record…Continue reading Episode 34, Spring and Summer Finds (digital)
Mary Halvorson, Orquesta Akokan, Danfis Prieto, Lina Allemano’s Titanium Riot, Greg Spero (with an illustrarion of 17/16 metre), Elio Villafranca, Renee Rosnes, Francois Moutin & Kavita Shaw, and Fred Hersch. All talked about in either the May and June, 2018 issues of Downbeat. I also talk a bit about the Downbeat Critics Poll and play…Continue reading Episode 33: All About Downbeat Magazine, Part 2
Anybody who takes a major interest in jazz is probably familiar with Downbeat Magazine. I talk a little bit about its early days, then focus on the May, 2018 edition. I play some of the music referred to in this issue—at least the records that sound interesting to me. All part of the ‘discovery’ of…Continue reading Episode 32, All About Downbeat Magazine Part 1
Songwriter, pianist, and singer, Bob Dorough, died April 23, 2018 at age 94. He had become one of my favourite jazz artists, leaving a legacy of great tunes and great records. He was the musical presence and songwriter for Schoolhouse Rock, doing such seditious acts as setting the multiplication table to music. This series of…Continue reading Episode 31, Tribute to Bob Dorough
Today’s podcast features eleven selections that I just felt like playing. Most of them are records, cd’s, or downloads that are pretty recent, the only exception being Hoagy Carmichael’s piano solo version of Stardust. The other piano solo on this program is something by recently deceased free jazz pianist and composer, Cecil Taylor. Two songs…Continue reading Episode 30, A Potpourri of Discoveries.
This is a ‘travel guide’ to Peterborough’s International Jazz Day weekend, April 28-29. Even if you’re not from Peterborough and know you won’t be there that weekend—no problem. Listen to this program anyway. You’ll hear some great music by great artists. I take you first to one restaurant (Brio Gusto) where you can hear pianist…Continue reading Episode 29, International Jazz Day Peterborough-A Travel Guide
Special guest for this program is Al Baggs, a jazz saxophonist who is equally fascinated by ‘classical’ or what is often termed ‘serious’ music. With his gems of information and droll British humour, you’ll get an idea of how classical and jazz cross pollinates or fertilizes each other. Using a number of different musical selections,…Continue reading Episode 28, Classical VS Jazz and Its Cross Pollination
You’ll hear a couple of the jazz musicians recruited to play on Van Morrison’s classic “Astral Weeks” album. And a jazz saxophonist who played with both Carole King and The Doors. Zoot Sims and Teddy Wilson back Phoebe Snow. Branford Marsalis with Sting. Just a touch of Miles. A Warkworth resident who has won a…Continue reading Episode 27, Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 4
This week’s podcast starts with a guitarist who played on a couple Monkees hits. I include a nice ‘smooth jazz’ recording by him. Also some ‘smooth jazz’ from Chet Baker (followed by his soloing on an Elvis Costello track) and Steely Dan. But that’s not all there is. A recording by Wayne Shorter that received…Continue reading Episode 26: Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 3
What do Herman’s Hermits and ‘Mahavishnu’ John McLauglin have in common? Listen and find out. This program introduces you to more jazz artists who have played on pop/rock, singer-songwriter, and even classical recordings. Some of the jazz artists featured today are Charles Mingus, John McLauglin, Wynton Marsalis, and Jaco Pastorius. And a couple tracks from…Continue reading Episode 25, Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 2
This is part 1 a series of three, maybe four, programs featuring contributions made by jazz artists to non-jazz recordings—-mostly in the pop and rock genres. It may be a jazz musicians only success in becoming a ‘rock and roll star’. Although ‘star’ doesn’t fit because their contribution rarely gets mentioned. The program starts with…Continue reading Episode 24, Jazzies Who Play Outside the Genre Part 1
New York comes to Peterborough April 29, when Brandi Disterheft (originally from Vancouver) and her quartet perform for International Jazz Day. This week’s Discovering Jazz program features her plus the three accomplished New York musicians she is bringing with her. You’ll hear pianist Alex Minasian, in this track accompanying Mark Murphy. Drummer Carmen Intorre does…Continue reading Episode 23: A Preview to Peterborough’s International Jazz Day weekend, 2018
To help celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 here is a program on Women in Jazz. Yes…there are a lot of great female vocalists. The most heralded jazz singers are women: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Sheila Jordan, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, and so many others. But you may not be…Continue reading Episode 22, Women in Jazz
The feature this week is a 1972 jam session–18 1/2 minutes long– of Dizzy Gillespie’s Night in Tunisia, featuring Dizzy, Stan Getz, Mary Lou Williams, Percy Heath, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson and others. Then you’ll hear two Ahmad Jamal tracks, with a 60 year gap between them. Jimmy McGriff performs a tune that a fine…Continue reading Episode 21, Gillespie, Jamal, McGriff, and McBride
More interesting jazz arrangements of Beatles compositions. It begins with some very early jazz-fusion, and ends with some later jazz fusion. Inbetween…..two Latin jazz renditions of Yesterday, two tracks that feature the trumpet of Lee Morgan, and a simply gorgeous version of Across The Universe by some prominent Toronto musicians. And dont miss Kevin Turcottes…Continue reading Episode 20, Jazz Beatles Part 2
Were The Beatles jazz artists? Of course not! But then neither were The Gershwins, or Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, etc. who wrote those great tunes that have become ‘jazz standards’. Jazz musicians have quite enjoyed adapting many of those Beatles songs to jazz….re-harmonizing them, changing rhythms, or adding new textures. In this…Continue reading Episode 19, Jazz Beatles Part 1
Great vocals can actually be some of the purest forms of jazz….despite what some jazz snobs might think. We all have some kind of voice…..and how we use it is a form of ‘improvisation’. Vocals can also serve as a translator of what the composer and the instrumental soloists want to communicate. For this program…Continue reading Episode 18, Vocalists I Like, Part 2
Many real ‘jazzies’ express a rather loud ‘indifference’ to the jazz ‘singer’. “Cheesy lounge singer”, “not needed”, “waters down the music”, “reduces the musician to role of ‘accompanist’: those are some of the comments I hear. Yet I love great jazz vocals…..and relish the creativity that many great players have in playing with the singer.…Continue reading Episode 17, Jazz Vocalists I Like, Part 1
I was asked to make a playlist of jazz songs for a non-jazz event—a ‘cabaret’ put on by Peterborough Podcasters, where podcasters are hilighted and their great work presented. So the challenge is to both challenge and appease….some familiar tunes, but also interesting enough to command some attention from this intelligent and creative group of…Continue reading Episode 16: Making a jazz mix cd
Happy New Year to all of you! I appreciate knowing there are some listeners out there in podcast land. Comments, feedback, or questions is always welcome. I’m still making lots of ‘discoveries’ about jazz…..enjoying the fact that we all learn together. This week’s program includes a few selections from albums and jazz artists who sparked…Continue reading Episode 15, First program of 2018
This last program of 2017 includes lots of Christmas and winter holiday music. Some great renditions of familiar and not so familiar tunes. Also one for Ramadan, Hannukah, and Chalica (tune in to find out what the latter holiday is). You’ll hear: Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Miles Davis with Bob Dorough, Ella Fitzgerald, John Eidsvoog,…Continue reading Episode 14, Jazz for the Holidays
Today’s program starts with B.B. King and Kenny Burrell playing together…..along with organist Jimmy Smith and a host of other great musicians. Then Emilie-Claire Barlow rhythmically transforms a Donovan tune into …what’s the time signature anyway? More vocals from Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Roberta Flack, and Bob Dorough. You just have to hear…Continue reading Episode 13, Autumn Acquisitions Part 3
An illustration of how some people learn and learn about jazz. We hear the perspective of Peterborough jazz saxophonist, Sean Hully. Sean tracks the development of jazz, from King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker. He then moves on to how the playing of Wayne Shorter, Hank Mobley, and Joe Henderson inspired…Continue reading Episode 12, Learning Jazz…with Sean Hully
Live from Trent Radio Studios (92.7 fm in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada), more 2nd hand vinyl records I bought this fall. You’ll hear some great vibes from a 1962 British film about jazz, Mel Torme with Janis Ian, an incredible trumpet blowout with Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie, the first black singer to sing regularly with…Continue reading Episode 11, Autumn Acquisitions (vinyl records) Part 2
Today….from a live feed from Trent Radio in Peterborough….I play some 2nd hand jazz lp’s I bought at a pawn shop recently just to see which ones I’ll put in with my collection and which ones I’ll give away. I’ll try out some Pat Martino, Mel Torme, Gene Roland w. Jimmy Knepper (great trombone!), George…Continue reading Episode 10, Autumn Acquisitions, Part 1
There is a great jazz instruction blog and podcast called LearnJazzStandards.com, hosted by a guitarist named Brent Vaarstra. One of his posts was called “92 Modern Jazz Albums You Need to Listen To”, with ‘modern’ being anything after the year 2000. I went through the first few, and also found (elsewhere) a couple Canadian jazz…Continue reading Episode 9, Newer Jazz Albums
Special guest for this episode is jazz bassist and ethnomusicologist, Michael Morse, talking about the great pianist and composer, Thelonious Monk, in honour of the 100th year of his birth. He addresses why people who don’t think he’s a great pianist are wrong. And explains the intricacies of some of his compositions in a way…Continue reading Episode 8, All About Thelonious Monk (with Michael Morse)
We celebrate youth, and Peterborough’s youth jazz group, LMJC, because it is youth taking up the art of jazz who are going to keep it as a living and growing thing. And also because they are good musicians. We’ll hear jazz (and one classical piece that influenced the group). A couple Bill Evans recordings (one…Continue reading Episode 7, LMJC – Inspiring our Youth, Part 2
This episode and the next one are about keeping alive this form of music that we love. Its about youth. I interview five of them from a Peterborough group of mostly high school age, asking them what sparked their interest in jazz. Then I play some of those sparks on the program. The goal is…Continue reading Episode 6: Youth Discover Jazz, LMJC Group, Part 1
Jarret Prescott talks more about Keith Jarret, and we play music associated with him.....including the last time he played electric piano, before he decided to carry on an anti-electric music crusade. We'll hear him with bassist Charlie Haden.....and you can compare his version of Goodbye with Diana Krall's.... using the same bassist. Ending off with the full Paris Concert 1988, which Jarret describes as Keith's masterpiece--one of the "outer regions of jazz": the "distillation of walking through Paris in 1988, November", "taking things from the composers he knows in the area and makes a sentence out of them".
The first of two programs where Peterborough composer of works for the Piano-forté, Jarret Prescott, takes us on a journey exploring the works of pianist Keith Jarrett. I start out with a composition that Jarret says “sums up what I like to say about Jarrett being a conduit between Eastern and Western musical traditions, and…Continue reading Episode 4, Jarret on Jarrett Part 1
Starting with an amazing Toronto pianist…..one who is as fine a composer as he is an instrumentalist. Then an explanation as to why Frank Sinatra is considered so great (at least sometimes). You’ll also hear an obscure Swedish jazz singer name Lindha Svantesson (Delicious), some Bill Evans and Jim Hall, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz…Continue reading Episode 3, September 25, 2017
This program starts out with Peterborough bassist, Wesley Collett-Taylor, and a recent project where he and some Toronto musicians recorded some of his own compositions, based on stories and poems. This particular selection is inspired by a poem by W.H. Auden. Also on the program you`ll hear two versions of Blue Skies–one by the underrated…Continue reading Episode 2, Sept 15, 2017
I’m Larry the Radio Guy, and this is an introduction program to the Discovering Jazz podcast. Last year this program, as aired on CFFF Trent Radio, 92.7 on your dial, received an award at the National Campus and Community Radio Conference for Best in Music Shows……..for all of Canada. Judge’s comments included “What a great…Continue reading Episode 1, Introduction to 2017-2018 Season.
This episode won the award for Best Musical Program in Canada, from submissions from community and campus stations across Canada at the National Campus and Community Conference, 2017.