In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Lots of new releases included in this week's podcast including jazz masters McPherson, Metheny, Manne (remastered). Also notable are tracks from Dave Holland and Hampton Hawes. Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Charles McPherson ~ Come Rain or Come Shine ~ Reverence Mackenzie Leighton ~ Western Man ~ I Remember Dave Holland Quartet ~ Four Winds ~ Conference of the Birds Pat Metheny ~ MoonDial ~ MoonDial Pat Metheny Group ~ Airstream ~ American Garage Hampton Hawes Trio ~ Evening Trane ~ High In The Sky (Remastered) Shelly Manne and His Men ~ Step Lightly ~ Shelly Manne and His Men At the Black Hawk, Vol. 2

These are jazz covers of mostly soul tunes of the 60's-70's. The episode ends with a familiar jazz standard as played by Ahmad Jamal, and a great new big band arranger and drummer, Dan Pugach. Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Dr. Lonnie Smith ~ Trouble Man ~ Jungle Soul Billy Childs ~ Stoned Soul Picnic ~ Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro Luke Sellick & Andrew Renfroe ~ Ain't No Mountain High Enough ~ Single Hampton Hawes ~ The Look of Love ~ The Two Sides Of Kenny Garrett ~ I Say a Little Prayer ~ Pushing the World Away The Bad Plus ~ Long Distance Runaround ~ For All I Care (With Wendy Lewis) Joe Farrell ~ Too High ~ Penny Arcade Ahmad Jamal Trio ~ On Green Dolphin Street ~ Count 'Em 88 Dan Pugach ~ Discourse This! ~ Bianca

Today's show is all about jazz/rock fusion. We begin with 70's fusion from Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra. The latter half of the show is current music influenced by not only decades old jazz and fusion, but rock, beats and hip-hop. Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Chick Corea ~ Shadow of Lo ~ Where Have I Known You Before Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ One Word ~ Birds of Fire Freddie Hubbard ~ Red Clay ~ Red Clay Andrew Renfroe ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ Big Country EP Tina Raymond ~ The Emperor ~ Divinations Kneebody ~ The Trip ~ Chapters Mark Guiliana ~ under the influence ~ the sound of listening

Once again we mix the old with the new. Of particular interest is new music by Charles Lloyd and Linda Oh. On the classics there is Rollins, Cannonball, Mobley and Evans. We close out the set with a San Diego favorite John Opferkuch. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Eberhard Weber & The Gary Burton Quartet ~ B & G (Midwestern Nights Dream) ~ Passengers Linda May Han Oh ~ Phosphorus ~ The Glass Hours Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson ~ The Old Country ~ Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley Hank Mobley ~ Lookin' East ~ Reach Out! Charles Lloyd ~ Monk’s Dance ~ The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow Bill Evans ~ The Peacocks ~ You Must Believe In Spring John Opferkuch ~ Amerique ~ The Kennedy Files

This show features an eclectic mix, beginning with new releases followed by 70's fusion and concluding with classic 50's jazz. Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Mike DiRubbo ~ The Moment Before Sunrise ~ Inner Light Charles Lloyd ~ Booker’s Garden ~ Booker's Garden - Single Samara Joy ~ Round Midnight ~ Linger Awhile David Liebman ~ Within You Without You ~ Sweet Hands Return to Forever ~ Game Maker ~ Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy Eberhard Weber & The Gary Burton Quartet ~ B & G (Midwestern Nights Dream) ~ Passengers Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time

This episode begins with new music from guitarist Andrew Renfro and vibraphonist Joel Ross. We then work our way back to the 1950's with classic Brubeck, Wes and Trane. Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Andrew Renfroe ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ Big Country EP Joel Ross ~ nublues ~ nublues Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger ~ This Woman's Work ~ Force Majeure Samara Joy ~ Misty ~ Linger Awhile Shelly Manne and His Men ~ Our Delight ~ Shelly Manne & His Men At the Blackhawk, Vol. 1 The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ The Duke ~ Jazz: Red, Hot and Cool Wes Montgomery ~ Four On Six ~ The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery John Coltrane ~ Moment's Notice ~ Blue Train

Brand new music and familiar standards in this week's episode. New releases from Ulysses Owens, Nicole Zuraitis and Chris Potter, interspersed wth blasts from the past from trumpeter Jim Rotondi and Herbie Hancock. The show concludes with a fusion masterpiece with lush orchestrations by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Ulysses Owens Jr. ~ Bird Lives ~ A New Beat Jim Rotondi ~ Little B's Poem ~ Excursions Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles Nicole Zuraitis & Gilad Hekselman ~ Save it for a Rainy Day (single) Chris Potter ~ Dream of Home (single) Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Vision Is A Naked Sword ~ Apocalypse

This episode is dedicated to Bob Boss; a fine guitarist, teacher and friend. Bob wasn't well known outside of the San Diego area, but he was a mentor to many young jazz guitarists and an icon in the jazz community. He suddenly, unexpectedly passed away last week. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Bob Boss ~ Soul Eyes ~ 3 Trios + Ed Kornhauser ~ Praxis ~ The Short Years Peter Sprague & Leonard Patton ~ Can't Buy Me Love ~ Dream Walkin' Bobby Hutcherson ~ Little B's Poem ~ Components Paul Horn Quintet ~ Mr. Bond ~ Something Blue Wes Montgomery ~ Four On Six ~ Incredible Jazz Guitar Art Blakey ~ Nica's Dream ~ The Jazz Messengers

This episode begins with the original version of a great jazz standard, Freedom Jazz Dance by Eddie Harris. From there, we have recordings by two alto sax players that cut their chops at University of Hartford's fine Jackie McLean Institute for jazz; Mike DiRubbo and Sarah Hanahan. The podcast concludes with music from Chick Corea who passed on three years ago this month. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Eddie Harris ~ Freedom Jazz Dance ~ The In Sound Swiss Jazz Ambassadors ~ Ugetsu ~ Swiss Jazz Ambassadors feat. Sarah Hanahan Peter Martin ~ Groove Echo Chamber ~ Peter Martin & Generation S Mike DiRubbo ~ JK in NYC ~ Inner Light Joel Ross ~ equinox ~ nublues Chick Corea ~ Matrix ~ Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Chick Corea ~ Friends ~ Friends

This episode is a recap of the Grammys awarded to jazz artists in various categories. What strikes me in this playlist is the wide range of styles and cultural influences that have melded in today's modern jazz. There is funk, R&B, Indian, Latin, jazz and folk music represented here. Congrats to all these artists on their Grammy awards. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer ~ Tradewinds Bengali ~ As We Speak Shakti ~ Shrini’s Dream ~ This Moment Billy Childs ~ The End of Innocence ~ The Winds of Change Nicole Zuraitis ~ Reverie ~ How Love Begins Samara Joy ~ Tight ~ Tight - Single Meshell Ndegeocello ~ Burn Progression ~ The Omnichord Real Book Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo ~ En La Soledad ~ El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2 Tracy Chapman ~ Fast Car ~ Tracy Chapman Emma Rawicz ~ Rangwali ~ Chroma

A variety of music beginning with guitarists Wes Montgomery and Larry Coryell. That is followed by music from towns that I have resided in for most of my adult life, Hartford and San Diego. Also, the "Jazztodon" inspired track. We have new music from Vijay Iyer and Linda May Han Oh as well. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Wes Montgomery ~ Tequila ~ Tequila Larry Coryell ~ Bumpin' on Sunset ~ The Power Trio Gilbert Castellanos ~ Bilad as Sudan ~ Espérame En El Cielo Mike DiRubbo ~ Scrollin' and Trollin' ~ Inner Light Ken Peplowski & New York Trio ~ In the Middle of a Kiss ~ Stardust Vijay Iyer ~ Overjoyed ~ Compassion Linda May Han Oh ~ Phosphorus ~ The Glass Hours Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles

This episode features iconic tracks that changed the direction of jazz music. Trane takes up the soprano, and Miles invents fusion. Lots of great stuff in between. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album John Coltrane ~ My Favorite Things ~ My Favorite Things Sonny Rollins ~ Asiatic Raes ~ Newk's Time Eddie Henderson ~ Why Not? ~ Witness to History Joe Farrell ~ Time's Lie ~ Moon Germs Miles Davis ~ Spanish Key ~ Bitches Brew

This week's playlist is mostly based on albums that were posted on Jazztodon.com . We begin with artists that you likely have never heard of, then transition into some of the jazz greats like Getz, McLean and Cannonball. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Muriel Grossmann ~ Knowledge and Wisdom ~ Devotion Mitchum Yacoub ~ OB Joint ~ Living High in the Brass Empire Joe Gordon ~ A Song for Richard ~ Lookin' Good! Stan Getz ~ Times Lie ~ Captain Marvel Lyle Mays ~ Ascent ~ Lyle Mays Jackie McLean ~ You Don't Know What Love Is ~ Nature Boy Cannonball Adderley ~ One For Daddy-O ~ Somethin' Else

This episode starts with a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as this show will air on MLK Day weekend. Following are some great tracks, most notably from Tommy Flanagan and Jackie McLean. The show ends with two versions of Mercy Street from the original Gabriel recording followed by Hancocks great cover. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Herbie Hancock ~ I Have a Dream ~ The Prisoner Tommy Flanagan ~ Raincheck ~ Jazz Poet Joe Gordon ~ Terra Firma Irma ~ Lookin' Good! Christopher Hollyday ~ Everything Happens ~ Telepathy Jackie McLean ~ Nature Boy ~ Nature Boy Peter Gabriel ~ Mercy Street ~ So Herbie Hancock ~ Mercy Street ~ The New Standard

We start this show (first of 2024) with a tribute to Les McCann. New music from Mike DiRubbo and fellow Hartford cat Matt Dwonszyk. Another Matt, Matt Hall brings us to the close with SFJazz Collective. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Les McCann & Eddie Harris ~ Cold Duck Time ~ Swiss Movement Les McCann ~ Poo Pye McGoochie (And His Friends) ~ Invitation to Openness Roberta Flack ~ Compared to What ~ First Take Mike DiRubbo ~ The Muse ~ Inner Light Matt Dwonszyk ~ Afro Blue ~ A Year and a Day Matt Hall ~ No Going Back ~ I Hope to My Never SFJAZZ Collective ~ Smokey ~ New Works & Classics Reimagined

Wishing you all a jazzy Happy New Year as we begin this episode with an aptly titled tune from Joshua Redman. As I look at this playlist, it is dominated by great guitarists including Bernstein, Scofield, McLaughlin and newcomer Andrew Renfroe... and more Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Joshua Redman ~ New Year ~ Still Dreaming Mike DiRubbo ~ Inner Light ~ Inner Light Andrew Renfroe ~ SPRINGS ~ Single John Scofield ~ Mr. Tambourine Man ~ Uncle John's Band John McLaughlin ~ Peace One ~ My Goals Beyond Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum Todd Sickafoose ~ Prospects ~ Bear Proof Hampton Hawes ~ Morning ~ On Contemporary: Hampton Hawes

This holiday episode of In The Groove begins with a few Christmas classics. Then we continue with some of my favorite 2023 releases, including ones from San Diego. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Chris Potter ~ O Come All Ye Faithful ~ A Concord Jazz Christmas Marian McPartland ~ God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen ~ A Concord Jazz Christmas Samara Joy ~ The Christmas Song ~ A Joyful Holiday Darcy James Argue's Secret Society ~ Ferromagnetic ~ Dynamic Maximum Tension Andrew Renfroe ~ FLUFFY ~ (Single) Gilbert Castellanos ~ Home is Africa ~ Espérame En El Cielo David Borgo ~ Aqaba ~ Pathika David Whitman ~ Ode To Joe (feat. Bob Sheppard) ~ Ode To Joe Peter Sprague ~ Wise One ~ Wise One: Peter Sprague Plays Coltrane

Continuing from last week's episode, we review some of my favorite releases from 2023. Besides long time favorites like Chris Potter and Billy Childs, there are newcomers on the scene producing great music. Tina Raymond, Miki Yamanaka, Lakecia Benjamin and Isaiah Thompson are represented here. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Chris Potter ~ Got the Keys to the Kingdom ~ Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard Tina Raymond ~ The Emperor ~ Divinations Billy Childs ~ Master of the Game ~ The Winds of Change Miki Yamanaka & Mark Turner ~ Shades Of Rainbow ~ Shades of Rainbow Lakecia Benjamin ~ Trane ~ Phoenix Isaiah J. Thompson ~ The Soul Messenger (feat. Julian Lee, Philip Norris & Tj Reddick) ~ The Power of the Spirit

With so much music being released, it is nearly impossible to come up with a "Best Of" list for 2023. So here are some of my favorite recordings and other picks from Jazztodon.com. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album ARTEMIS ~ Lights Away from Home ~ In Real Time Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band ~ Look to the Hills ~ Kings Highway Eddie Henderson ~ Freedom Jazz Dance ~ Witness to History Todd Sickafoose ~ Boom Bust Startup Ruin ~ Bear Proof Jaimie Branch ~ Aurora Rising ~ Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) Jaimie Branch ~ Borealis Dancing ~ Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) Shakti ~ Mohanam ~ This Moment Wayne Escoffery ~ Shuffle ~ Like Minds SFJAZZ Collective ~ The Plains (Live) ~ New Works & Classics Reimagined

The bulk of this podcast episode is picks from Jazztodon.com. A jazz centric social media service that I post to exclusively. You can learn more about that through this episode while listening to some great tunes. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Michel Pérez ~ Falling In Love With Love ~ Toujours John Coltrane Quartet ~ Wise One ~ Crescent John Zorn ~ Piopio ~ O'o Soft Machine ~ Other Doors ~ Other Doors The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ These Foolish Things ~ Live from the Northwest, 1959 Joe Farrell ~ The Jazz Crunch ~ Sonic Text Weather Report ~ Boogie Woogie Waltz ~ Sweetnighter