In The Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Monterey Jazz comes to WHUS

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:52:25 -0500

We were honored to have Kenny Barron and Regina Carter, currently with the Monterey Jazz Festival Tour, come to the WHUS studios for a live interview. Kenny Barron, a true grand master of jazz piano, and the wonderfully talented Regina Carter speak about music and the jazz scene with me in between concerts held at University of Connecticut. We start out the show with an inspiring recording form John Coltrane and a Connecticut favorite and friend of the show, pianist Craig Hartley.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Love * John Coltrane * Meditations
The Old Country * Craig Hartley, Bob Simonelli, Eric Nebbia * The Old Country
For Someone I Love * Regina Carter * Motor City Memories
Images * Kenny Barron * Images
Voyage * Stan Getz * Soul Eyes
Reverie * Regina Carter * Paganini: After a Dream
Traveler * Kenny Barron * Traveler

First Hour Last Week

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:46:59 -0500

This is the first hour of last weeks radio broadcast. It’s an eclectic mix of different styles. Much of it pushes the boundries of traditional jazz music using different instrumentation and creative arrangements. We start out the show with Alice Coltrane’s harp, followed by modern electric guitar, tuba, voice, and electronics. It brings to mind how diverse, modern and creative the jazz experience is.
Featured album

Ptah The El Daoud from Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Blue Nile * Alice Coltrane * Ptah, the El Daoud
Continuance * Adam Rogers * Apparitions
Lingala * SFJazz Collective * Sfjazz Collective
My Son Ra * Arthur Blythe * Focus on amazon.com
Found It * Jason Palmer * Songbook
Principle * Greg Osby * Nine Levels
Married Life * Dave Douglas * Moonshine

Noah Preminger Live

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:25:57 -0500

I had the pleasure of hosting tenor sax artist and composer Noah Preminger for an interview at WHUS on Saturday evening. Noah is one of the young creative jazz artists based in New York City that is defining the future of jazz music. He spoke with us about his background and influences, his method of composition, and some of his current projects. We get to hear from his critically acclaimed album Dry Bridge Road, and some yet to be released recordings. Noah also plays for us live in the studio. We also take the opportunity to promote a couple of live performances coming up this week in Hartford and NYC.

Charlie Parker Tribute Revisited

ken@lasternet.com — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:24:49 -0500

No radio show this week, so I am republishing a podcast originally posted in August of 2008. This tribute was first aired on the anniversary of Bird’s 88th birthday, but its great to hear these tunes any time of the year. This great alto player is often considered the founder of Be-Bop music. Before Bird in the 1940's, Jazz was primarily big-band music, dance music that was perhaps the most popular genre of it's time. Bird featured a hard driving quartet and quintet format with an emphasis on improvisation, freeing the soloist to stretch out. As I listen to the 2 Bird originals on this set, each under 3 minutes, it amazes me how much music is packed into these tracks. The rest of the set features modern day jazz artists that have covered Bird's compositions as well as artists that have been influenced by his music. Actually, every great jazz artist that has played this idium since Bird, has taken some of his chops from Charlie Parker.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Now's the Time * Charlie Parker * Original Recordings of CP
Donna Lee * Charlie Parker * Bird/The Savoy Recording
Yardbird Suite * Dwight West * Tribute to the Masters
Dewey Square * Barbara Dennerlein * Tribute to Charlie
Ornithology * Barbara Dennerlein * Tribute to Charlie
This I Dig Of You * Greg Abate Quintet * Bop Lives
Bop Lives * Greg Abate Quintet * Bop Lives
Arriving Soon * Cannonball Adderley * Plus
Confirmation * Jackie McLean * 4, 5, And 6
Scrapple From The Apple * Keith Jarrett * Up For It
Time's Lie * Joe Farrell * Moon Germs

Worldly Guitar

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:23:28 -0500

This weeks program features guitarists from around the world. We start tonight's show with some rockin' guitar work from Mike Stern's new album Big Neighborhood. A great title that highlights that through music and the Internet, the world has become one big neighborhood. The second track I play from this album features Richard Bona whose vocals give the tune an African vibe. We hear from Belgium's Django, who perhaps brought the guitar to jazz music in the first place. We also get to hear the mid-eastern influence in guitar jazz from the Rudresh's Indo-Pak Coalition and Rez Abassi, and Faroud Haak. Other guitarists present on this podcast are Ben Monder and Adam Rogers.
Featured Album

Big Neighborhood on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Check One * Mike Stern * Big Neighborhood
Reach * Mike Stern * Big Neighborhood
The Chant * Fareed Haque + The Flat Earth Ensemble * Flat Planet
Topsy * Django Reinhardt * The Best of Django Reinhardt
Palika Market * Rudresh Mahanthappa * Apti
Echolalia * Ben Monder * Oceana
Sax of a Kind * Noah Preminger * Dry Bridge Road
Continuance * Adam Rogers * Apparitions
El Cigarrito * Claudia Acuna * En Este Momento
The Jupiter Line * Seamus Blake * Live in Italy

More from '09

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:55:23 -0500

We continue last weeks retrospective of 2009 releases. Even after 2 shows dedicated to last years music, I still have a stack of music that I did not have the time to get to. I guess you can say that it was a prolific year for new music. Despite reports that jazz is dead, it is indeed thriving with new music and new artists. Check out young talented players like Jimmy Greene, Mike DiRubbo and Lauren Sevian. They are represented here as well as more established artists like Joe Lovano, Steve Davis and Joshua Redman. We end the show with some old time masters too, in Benny Golson and Mingus.

featured album

Mission Statement on amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Hitchikers Guide * Joshua Redman * Compass
Powerhouse * Joe Lovano * Folk Art
Love in Action * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Nelsonian * Mike DiRubbo * Repercussion
Not So Softly * Lauren Sevian * Blueprint
Padero Y Pagode * Migues Zenon * Esta Plena
Life Cycle * Sean Jones * The Search Within
Line of Flight * Steve Davis * Outlook
Grove's Groove * Benny Golson * New Time New Tet
Mood Indigo * Charles Mingus * Ah Um

Spirit 2009

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:40:29 -0500

Tonight's show begins by paying homage to the holiday weekend with Coltrane's Spiritual. From there, I will play some of my favorite releases from 2009 as a retrospective. There were many great albums released, and I found myself not being able to get to them all. I will most likely continue to play these recent CDs in my next broadcast. I try to highlight some of the recordings that were nominated for Grammy Awards, though the grammy organization truly disrespects jazz artists in favor of popular trendy music. I guess America's only original art form doesn't fit with the glitz, glamour and money of popular music. In any case, here on In The Groove, I'll feature some of today's best jazz including some lesser known artists you will probably hear only on our show. Special mention to Miguel Zenon, Robert Glasper, John Funkhauser, Rob Garcia for outstanding CD's that are represented here.
Featured CD

Esta Plena from Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Spiritual * John Coltrane * Afro Blue Impressions
Villa Palmeras * Miguel Zenon * Esta Plena
Solutions * Curtis Brothers Quartet * Blood Spirit Land Water Freedom
Downtime * Robert Glasper * Double-Booked
Emancipation * John Funkhauser Trio * time
Vortex * Rob Garcia 4 * Perennial
Tanktified * Stefon Harris & Blackout * Urbanus
In A Silent Way * Joe Zawinul * 75

Happy Holiday 2009

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:44:48 -0500

This years pre-holiday show is designed to warm you up on a cold snowy winter eve and get you in the holiday vibe. We just play a short set of Christmas classics from Chris Potter and Marian McPartland. Those tracks are preceeded by a be-bop set featuring Greg Abate, Kent Hewitt and friends and are followed by a set of new modern jazz featuring the likes of Steve Slaigle, Rob Garcia 4 and Ingrid Jensen. Enjoy!
Featured album

Birds of a Feather on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Be-Bop * Greg Abate * Birds of a Feather
Bride of Frankenstien * Greg Abate * Monsters of the Night
How High the Moon/Ornithology * Giacomo Gates * Centerpiece
Ornithology * Ocar Peterson * The Paris Concert
Wild is the Wind * Kent Hewitt * Time on my Hands
Without a Song * Carolyn Hartsfield * Flow Like the River
O Come All Ye Faithful * Chris Potter * A Concord Jazz Christmas
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman * Marian McPartland * A Concord Jazz Christmas
O, Lady Be Good * Ella Fitzgerald * 75th Anniversary Celebration
New New York * Steve Slagle * New New York
Cyberganic * Rob Garcia 4 * Perennial
Night Has a Thousand Eyes * Ingrid Jensen/Project O * Now as Then

An edgier show

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:23:12 -0500

This show ventures into an edgier ground than the usual In The Groove. We will highlight some of the original innovators of the genre like Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy and Cecil Taylor. We will hear some established players that have stretched the boundries of jazz such as Joe Lovano and Mario Pavone. Newer jazz artists on the scene such as Rez Abbazi and Noah Preminger are using this freedom in their compositions and improvisations and are breaking new ground in their music establishing their own voice and style.
Featured Album

Dry Bridge Road from Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Four Winds * Dave Holland Quartet * Conference of the Birds
Chronology * Ornette Coleman * The Shape of Jazz to Come
17 West * Eric Dolphy * Out There
Why Me Why Them * Rez Abbazi * Things to Come
A Dream * Noah Preminger * Dry Bridge Road
Today is OK * Noah Preminger * Dry Bridge Road
Tweeter's Little Adventures * Thomas Chapin * Night Bird Song
Blue Rex * Mario Pavone Quintet * Orange
Things Ain't What They Used to Be * Cecil Taylor * New York City R&B
Etterno * Joe Lovano * Folk Art

Latin Jazz Experience

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:33:29 -0500

This show is a Latin-Jazz special featuring pianist and band leader David Gonzalez of the Latin Jazz Experience. He is here in our studio to kick-off the release of his new CD Dreams, and a gig this week in Hartford. We start off the show with jazz greats Ray Baretto, Jerry Gonzalez, and Willi Bobo.
Featured Album

buy Dreams from David Gonzalez website

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Mags * Ray Baretto * Time Was-Time Is
Earth Dance * Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band * Calle 54
Spanish Grease * Willi Bobo * Uno Dos Tres

On the Strip * Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers * Groovin' High
Dance * David Gonzalez and the Latin Jazz Experience * Dreams
Obsession * David Gonzalez and the Latin Jazz Experience * Dreams
BRB * David Gonzalez and the Latin Jazz Experience * Dreams
Things Change * David Gonzalez and the Latin Jazz Experience * Dreams
Bouncin' with Bud * Curtis Brothers * Blood Spirit Land Water Freedom

Thanksgiving 2009

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:40:54 -0500

This is my post Thanksgiving show. We'll run through a set that is inspired by my favorite holiday. Food, Family and giving thanks for the all of the wonderful things in our life, and jazz music is one of those for sure. Also in this podcast is a surprising enchanted vocal arrangement of Spain by Manhattan Transfer from a new release entitled the Chick Corea Songbook.
Featured Album

The Chick Corea Songbook on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Double Jeaopardy * Joshua Redman Electric Band * Momentum
Stuffy Turkey * Arthur Blyth * Focus
Home Bass * Rob Duguay * Pulo-Du-Guay-To
Big Fat Hen * Wynton Marsalis * the magic hour
Soul Food * Cyrus Chestnut * Soul Food
Give Thanks * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Prayer #2 (Thanksgiving) * Miguel Zenon * Looking Forward
Family Extension * Albert Rivera * Re-Introduction
Alkalinity * Curtis Brothers * Blood * Spirit * Land * Water * Freedom
If I Were a Bell * Dana Lauren * Stairway to the Stars
Prelude * Manhattan Transfer * Chick Corea Songbook
Spain * Manhattan Transfer * Chick Corea Songbook
Maya's Waltz * Wayne Escoffery * Uptown

The Masters - Part 3

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:10:35 -0500

This is the final installment of a 3 part series celebrating the Jazz Masters. It was a pleasure to feature greats like Miles, Trane, Ornette, J-Mac, Pepper, Henderson and Blakey for this show. These are Jazz music's Hall of Famers, in my opinion. If you missed any of the previous segments, you just need to scroll down on my web page for the other two shows.
Featured Album

Miles Smiles on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Mode for Joe * Joe Henderson * Mode for Joe
26-2 * John Coltrane * Coltrane Sound
Lonely Woman * Ornette Coleman * Shape of Jazz to Come
Appointment in Ghana * Jackie McLean * New Wine in Old Bottles
Foot Prints * Miles Davis * Miles Smiles
A Bit of Basie * Art Pepper * Smack Up
One by One * Art Blakey * Ugetsu

11.14.09

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:06:35 -0500

A mix of some great music spanning many styles of jazz. Highlights include Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, and Thomas Chapin. Thomas Chapin was a great jazz artist born in Manchester Connecticut. We used to listen to him play at local clubs in the early 80's. He always played with passion and fire. His career was cut short at the prime of his life from leukemia. At the time Chapin was at the top of his creative genius. This podcast contains two tracks and a video below that show Chapin's artistry and incredible chops.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Cross Bronx * Wayne Escoffery * Uptown
Poem/The Rasor Rim * Wynton Marsalis * He and She
Minuano * Kurt Elling * Man In The Air
Minuano * Pat Metheny * Still Life (Talking)
Night Bird Song * Thomas Chapin * Sky Piece
Kura Kura * Thmas Chapin * You Don't Know Me
Rites of Passage * Jackie McLean * Fire and Love
Realities of Chromaticism * Rez Abassi * Things To Come

The Masters - Part 2

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:10:33 -0500

This podcast is part 2 of a 3 hour radio special I did recently on the Masters of Jazz. This one features Sonny, Miles, Wes, Cannonball, Rashaan and more. Part 3 will show up next time my regular broadcast is pre-empted for sports programing, which happens frequently during this time of year. So, keep downloading these podcasts.
Featured Album

Download The Bridge from Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Without a Song * Sonny Rollins * The Bridge
Four * Miles Davis * Broadcast Sessions
Midnight Special * Jimmy Smith * Fourmost
4 on 6 * Wes Montgomery * Round Midnight
One for Daddy * Cannonball Adderley * Somethin' Else
Bright Moments * Rahsaan Roland Kirk * Compliments of the Mysterious Phantom
Ornithology * Oscar Peterson * The Paris Concert
Israel * Bill Evans * Explorations

A Ghostly Podcast

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:23:13 -0500

We get into the Halloween spirit with this scary collection of jazz tunes. Voodoo, Black Magic, Zombies, Ghosts and more for this weeks selection of tunes. For an entire CD of music inspired by ghosts and goblins, I would recommend Greg Abate's Monsters of the Night. One of the tunes closes out this weeks podcast, but Greg brews up an entire CD of hard driving compositions inspired by the Halloween theme.
Featured Album

Monsters In The Night at Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Miles Runs the Voodoo Down * Miles Davis * Bitches Brew
Bitches Brew * Christian McBride * Live at Tonic
Black Magic Woman * Santana * The Essential Santana
Zombie Woof * Frank Zappa * Overnight Sensation
The Magic Hour * Wynton Marsalis * The Magic Hour
Black Market * Joe Zawinul w/WDR Big Band * Brown Street
Ghost * Joshua Redman * Compass
Night Dreamer * Wayne Shorter * Night Dreamer
Transylvnia * Greg Abate * Monsters in the Night

The Masters - Part 1

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:36:20 -0400

This podcast is part 1 of a 3 hour special I did recently on the Masters of Jazz. This one features John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon. Part 2 and 3 will show up in future weeks (but not consecutive), during those times when my regular broadcast is pre-empted for sports programing, which happens frequently during this time of year. So, keep downloading these podcasts to catch the balance of this series.
Featured Album

Speak No Evil available from Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Moments Notice * John Coltrane * Blue Trane
Deluge * Wayne Shorter * Juju
Speak No Evil * Wayne Shorter * Speak No Evil
Red Clay * Freddie Hubbard * Red Clay
Ko Ko * Charlie Parker * The Charlie Parker Story
Society Red * Dexter Gordon * Doin' Alright

Afternoon Fill-In

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:56:07 -0400

With my regular Saturday evening show pre-empted for sports, I dig out an afternoon fill-in I did back in March of this year. It is an eclectic mix of fusion, bop, Indian and classic rock. Hope you enjoy the variety of this mix.

Featured Album

As Is... Live at Blue Note

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Sweet and Nasty * Joshua Redman * Elastic Band
You the Night and the Music * The Drummonds * Paz De Trois
Haunted Heart * The Drummonds * Paz De Trois
Blues in the Day * Walt Weiskopf * Anytown
Song for Isaiah * Jimmy Greene * The Overcomers Suite
Caravan * Avashai Cohen * As Is...Live at Blue Note
Apti * Rudresh Mahanthapa Indo-Pac Coalition * Apti
Up from the Skies * Jimi Hendrix Experience * Axis Bold as Love

Heard in Hartford

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:43:49 -0400

Jazz fans in the Hartford area are very fortunate to have access to great live music in such abundance. Lately we have our friend Andres Chapparo to thank for producing many of the concerts here. He has brought us the Pork Pie Hat Jazz series with shows every couple of weeks through the Fall and early Winter. Friday we saw the Avery Sharpe Trio, and in following weeks we will be presented with Ralph Peterson, Antonio Hart and more. Also of note are local jazz heroes Steve Davis and the Luques and Zaccai Curtis who continue to perform for us here in Hartford despite having a busy career traveling around the world playing jazz with their own ensembles and playing with some of the greats of the genre. All of the aformentioned jazz artists are represented here in this jazz podcast.
Featured Album

buy from Truth Revolution records

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
From the Inside Out * Steve Davis * Crossfire
Yuba Citrico * Curtis Brothers Quartet * Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, Freedom
Solutions * Curtis Brothers Quartet * Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, Freedom
Palace of the Seven Jewels * Avery Sharpe Trio * Autumn Moonlight
Take Your Time, But Hurry Up! * Avery Sharpe Trio * Autumn Moonlight
Keep It Simple * Ralph Peterson * The Reclamation Project
Imagination * Antonio Hart * All We Need
Loose Bloose * Bill Evans * Loose Blues
Blues In Concentric Circles * Chris Potter * Concentric Circles
Minor March * Stefon Harris & Blackout * Urbanus

The Envelope

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:59:31 -0400

Back in July, I had the pleasure of filling in for Joel Krut's great show Pushing the Envelope on WHUS. This podcast is a recording of a segment of that broadcast. I play tracks from the Legacy Series honoring the 50th anniversary of some classic LP's from 1959 including Mingus Ah Um and Brubeck's Time Out.

Featured Album

Ah Um 50th Anniversary (Legacy Edition) on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Boogie Stop Shuffle * Charles Mingus * Mingus Ah Um
Da Drums * George Shuller's Circle Wide * Like Before, Somewhat After
Regytian Strut * Eddie Palermo Big Band * Eddie Loves Frank
Big Bahngra * Fareed Haque and Flat Earth Ensemble * Flat Planet
The Ring * Kenny Garret * Sketches of MD
Solar * Stanley Clarke Trio * Jazz in the Garden
Under the Bridge * Stanley Clarke Trio * Jazz in the Garden
Thank You, Come Again * Enrico Rava * New York Days
Blue Rhondo ala Turk * Dave Brubeck Quartet * Time Out

Pork Pie Hat

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:15:05 -0400

This podcast celebrates tenor sax great Pres, Pork Pie Hat, Lester Young. This year is the Centenial of the Pres' birth. Lester Young was one of the influential jazz artists of the 1940's and 50's. He played with Count Basie and Billy Holiday and many others. His mellow full tone on tenor is featured on this podcast. Pork Pie Hat is also the name of a jazz series of live concerts going on now in the Hartford area. We feature some of the artists performing in that series on this show.

Pres and Teddy on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
All of Me * Lester Young * Pres and Teddy
Almost Like Being in Love * Lester Young * Tea for Two
Goodbye Porkpie Hat * Kevin Mohogany * Another Time Another Place
Matrix * Ignacio Berroa * Codes
Bolivia * Cedar Walton * Eastern Rebellion
Turn it Over * Ralph Peterson * The Reclamation Project
Auditory Illusion * Antonio Hart * All We Need
The Children and the Warlock * Harry Whitaker * Thoughts (Past and Present)
The Temple of the Olympic Zeus * Eric Alexander * Temple of Olympic Zeus
Necessity * Insight * A Genesis

Autumnal Equinox

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:37:16 -0400

This podcast celebrates autumn's equinox (September 22) in jazz music. At the same time, we are honoring what would have been John Coltrane's 83rd birthday (September 23). What better way to achieve both, then by playing Coltrane's classic Equinox. We'll follow this by Steve Kuhn's rendition of Autumn Leaves. The show continues on with a variety of jazz music by some of the jazz masters as well as some newcomers to the scene.
Featured album

Download 'Coltrane's Sound' from Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Equinox * John Coltrane * Coltrane's Sound
Autumn Leaves * Steve Kuhn * Love Walked In
I Love Music * Ahmad Jamal * The Awakening
IIT * Rudresh Mahanthappa Indo-Pac Coalition * Apti
ESP * Al Foster Quartet * Love, Peace and Jazz
Woody and You * Ignacio Berroa * Codes
Blackbelt Bebop * Sean Lyons * Roar of Lyons
Time Off * Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers * Ugetsu
Cantaloupe Island * Herbie Hancock * Empyrian Islands

Dave Holland Speaks to ITG

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:26:04 -0400

Prior to his performance at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival in Lennox, MA, I had the opportunity to interview jazz bassist Dave Holland. We spoke about the beginning of his career in jazz, working with Miles, his thoughts on jazz composition and bass playing. The interview, about 20 minutes long is embedded in this podcast along with some of Holland's great music created with a variety of ensembles. The YouTube below is a 6 minute video segment of the interview. Please listen to the podcast for the entire interview.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
See-Saw * Dave Holland Quartet * Conference of the Birds
50 * The Monterey Quartet * The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007
Dave Holland Interview (includes clips from Dave's albums Pass it On, Overture with Big Band, and Miles Davis' Bitches Brew)
Mr. B (Bonus Track) * Dave Holland * Pass It On
Pum-Pum * Eli Degibri * Emotionally Available
Matrix * Ignaccio Berroa * Codes
Gemini * Cannonball Adderley * In New York

Summer Jazz Part 2

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:09:23 -0400

Labor day weekend marks the end of the summer and this podcast is second half of last weeks summer recap show. It was a great summer for catching live jazz music. Dig these tunes by Seamus Blake and the norwegian organ trio Solid led by guitarist Bjorn Solli. We saw these cats playing at Smalls Jazz Cafe in NYC. Jason Palmer is represented on two tracks in this playlist. A fine trumpet player and composer, he plays every weekend at Wally's Cafe and Jazz club in Boston. The first of these tracks also features Ravi Coltrane on sax. We saw Jason accompany Ravi's quartet this summer at the Zinc Bar in New York city this summer. Locally we heard pianist Nando Michelin and alto sax great Mike DiRubbo playing in jazz ensembles at here in Hartford and they laid us on to their latest CD's to share with you on this podcast.
featured album

Songbook on Amazon.com

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Way Out Willy * Seamus Blake * Way Out Willy
Normy * Solid * Happy Accidents
Paula * Nando Michelin * Reencontro
The Shadowboxer * Jason Palmer * Songbook
Will there ever be employment for the Exonerated People * Jason Palmer * Songbook
Deja vu * Mike Dirubbo * Repercussion

Summer Jazz

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:03:00 -0400

Summer is the season of jazz. There are great festivals all over the country, outdoor concerts, and warm summer nights at hip jazz clubs. Its a great time to hang in NYC and go club hopping till the early morning hours. This summer was particularly fine for seeing great live music. Of course, Newport was the highlight, but we saw some great music here at the Monday night Jazz series in the park, at Black Eyed Sally's and in NYC. Next weekend is the Tanglewood Jazz festival in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. This radio show highlights some of the great artists who performed this summer in Southern New England.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Round Rueben * Joshua Redman * Compass
Powerhouse * Joe Lovano * Folk Art
Song for Judi * Joe Lovano * Folk Art
The Face of It * Wayne Escoffery * Hopes and Dreams
Love in Action * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Guapo * Michele Rosewoman * The In Side Out
Love For Sale * Jaleel Shaw * Optimism
You Hit the Spot * Dana Lauren * Stairway to the Stars
Equality * Dave Holland Sextet * Pass it On

Mostly Piano

ken@lasternet.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:34:35 -0400

This podcast showcases some great pianists. Among those featured are Robert Glasper, with a new CD to be released this week, and Joey Calderazzo, who we were very impressed with at the Newport Jazz Festival two weeks ago. Also in the mix are two smokin' tracks by the incomparable McCoy Tyner. The two recordings are from the 1970's, when Tyner was at the top of his game.
featured album

Double Booked, available from Amazon Aug 25.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
No Worries * Rober Glasper * Double-Booked
All Matter * Rober Glasper * Double-Booked
The Oracle * Joey Calderazzo * Joey Calderazzo
The Blossom Of Parting * Branford Marsalis * Metamorphosen
Fly With The Wind * McCoy Tyner * Fly With The Wind
Song For My Lady * McCoy Tyner * Song For My Lady
Everybody Wants To Rule The World * The Bad Plus * Prog
Rose Colored Glass * George Colligan * Blood Pressure
El Cigarrito * Claudia Acuna * En Este Momento

Newport Jazz Fest Review

ken@lasternet.com — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:41:24 -0400

show, a written review of the event, photo gallery, and a Post Festival review podcast. They are all presented here for your viewing, reading and listening pleasure. I also included a link to NPR's excellent coverage of the event that includes recorded performances that you can download as a podcast or listen to as streaming audio. Enjoy!

- To read the entire review (long), click through to my Blog.

- Click here to view my Newport Jazz Fest photo gallery (you can upload your pics into this gallery).

- Click here for NPR's coverage including recorded performances.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Caravan * Hiromi * Beyond Standards
IIT * Rudresh Mahanthappa Indo-Pak Trio * Apti
Identity Theft * Joshua Redman * Compass
Hope * Branford Marsalis Quartet * Braggtown
Season of Changes * Brian Blade and the Fellowship * Season of Changes
Folk Art * Joe Lovano * Folk Art
Comfortably Numb * The Bad Plus * For All I Care
Five Fingers * Jeff Palmer (w/Rashied Ali) * Island Universe