In The Groove, Jazz and Beyond

June 27 part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Since I will not be broadcasting a show next week (holiday weekend), I will publish this show in two, hour long segments, this week and next. This week features Christian McBride's latest release, Kind of Brown. I also play something from Quincy Jones Back on the Block. Quincy was greatly responsible for the late MJ's sound, and I think you can hear some of that in the way he arranged Zawinal's fusion classic Birdland. Here is the link to download a free track, Rainbow Wheel, from the new Christian McBride album.

download Kind Of Brown from Amazon

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Sunday Reflections * Sean Jones * The Search Within
Theme For Kareem * Christian McBride & Inside Straight * Kind of Brown
Rainbow Wheel * Christian McBride & Inside Straight * Kind of Brown
Jazz Corner of the Word * Quincy Jones * Back on the Block
Birdland * Quincy Jones * Back on the Block
Alter Ego * Larry Willis * The Offering
The Call * Tom Harrell * Prana Dance
Ragabop * Prasanna * Be the Change
** End of Podcast Part 1 **
26-2 * John Coltrane * Coltrane's Sound
Common Mama * George Schuller's Circle Wide * Like Before, Somewhat After
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing? * Ed Palermo Big Band * Eddy Loves Frank
Bemsha Swing * Esbjorn Svensson Trio * Plays Monk
Evidence * Bobby Broom * Plays for Monk
Nutty * Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane * At Carnegie Hall
Monk Walks * Dapp Theory * Layers of Chance
Blue Skies * Robert Glasper Trio * Mood

Play Podcast
June 27 pt1
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 47 megs).

Songs For All Fathers

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:39:00 +0000

It's now a tradition to play Horace Silver's Song for My Father on this particular weekend of the year. This Father's day show has an opening set dedicated to my Dad and all others out there. Cannonball's One For Daddy-O is another great track befitting this theme. It has a rare appearance of Miles Davis as a backup band member. The set ends with a funky rendition of Silver's classic. Following the Father's Day set, we hear the new Gary Burton offering featuring Pat Metheny on guitar. Then the new generation of players like Sean Jones, Mike DiRubbo, and Lauren Sevian.

featured CD's

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Song For My Father * Horace Silver * Song For My Father
One For Daddy-O * Cannonball Adderley * Somethin' Else
Father * George Coleman * At Yoshi's
Fathers And Sons * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Song For My Father * Victor Wooten * Palmystery
Question And Answer * Gary Burton * Quartet Live!
Life Cycles * Sean Jones * The Search Within
Better Days * Mike DiRubbo Quartet * NY Accent: Live at the Kitano
Outline * Lauren Sevian * blueprint
** End of Podcast **
Brother Mister * Christian McBride & Inside Straight * Kind of Brown
Lulu's Back in Town * Bobby Broom * Plays for Monk
Washington Square Park * Anat Cohen * Notes from the Village
After the Rain * Anat Cohen * Notes from the Village
Equinox * Dwight West * Tribute to the Jazz Masters
Bemsha Swing * Bobby Broom * Plays for Monk

Play Podcast
For Fathers
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 66 megs).

From the Hart

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:51:00 +0000

From the Hart, meaning - From Hartford. The music in this podcast is inspired by a couple of the live performances that took place this week in the Hartford area. Jean Caze (trumpet), and Albert Rivera (tenor sax), both from New York City, had previously performed in our area, returned backed by local favorites Zachai and Luques Curtis (Insight) put on a wonderful show. Joel Frahm was in West Hartford for a master class for the benefit of a middle school jazz band, followed that up with a performance with a quartet of local musicians. Besides the local representation, we don't forget to play the masters in this podcast, and have two of the greatest of all time, Rollins and Trane.

Jean Caze from CD Baby

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
The New York Hartford Connection (Alt Take) * Albert Rivera * Re-Introduction
Aint Nuthin Wrong * Jean Caze * Miami Jazz Scene
Haitian Peace Song * Jean Caze * Miami Jazz Scene
Bolivia * Cedar Walton * Eastern Rebellion
Story In Three * Insight * A Genesis
The Dreamer * Joel Frahm * We Used To Dance
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes * John Coltrane * Coltrane's Sound
Strode Rode * Sonny Rollins * Saxophone Colossus
Love In Action * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Outline * Lauren Sevian * blueprint
** End of Podcast **
Rue de la Harpe * Mike DiRubbo Quintet * From The Inside Out
Then and Now * Steve Davis * Crossfire
You Can Fly * Brian McCree * Changes in the Wind
Cookie * Brian McCree * Changes in the Wind
Lets move to Cleveland * Ed Palmero Big Band * Eddy loves Frank

Play Podcast
From the Hart
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 63 megs).

claim-my-podcast-in-podbean{scid-amF6emFuZGJleW9uZA==-ecid}

East meets West

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Indian-jazz Fusion is one of my favorite styles of jazz music. While classical Indian rhythms and scales have influenced jazz musicians for decades, this particular sound I give credit to John McLaughlin's Shakti project. Here we have several examples of Indian Fusion as represented by artists like Mynta, Fareed Haque, Prassana and others.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Mind Ecology * Shakti * Natural Elements
Papa's New Groove * Mynta * First Summer
The Chant * Fareed Haque + The Flat Earth Ensemble * Flat Planet
Uncensored * Prasanna * Be the Change
Ife (fast) * Various Artists * Miles From India
Sea Journey * Gary Burton * Quartet Live!
B and G (Midwestern Night's Dream) * Gary Burton * Quartet Live!
Higher Vibe * Kurt Elling * Man In The Air
In My Garage * e.s.t. Esbjorn Svensson Trio * Seven Days Of Falling
Flight of Mind * Harry Whitaker * Thoughts (Past and Present)
** End of Podcast **
On Impulse * Sonny Rollins * The Impulse Years
Equinox * John Coltrane * Coltrane's Sound
After The Rain * Eric Alexander * Summit Meeting
Common Mama * George Schuller's Circle Wide * like before, somewhat other
Play * Sinan Bakir Trio * Play

Play Podcast
East meets West
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 35 megs).

Tom Harrell feature plus requests

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 31 May 2009 11:21:00 +0000

We feature the Tom Harrell Quintet for the first set of tunes, with tracks from his new CD, Prana Dance. That is followed by a couple of tracks from fellow band members Wayne Escoffery and Danny Grissett CD's. I put out a call over the Facebook and Twitter for requests and got plenty of responses. Did my best to fulfill those. Check the sidebar of this website, and you'll find links to my social networking sites. Sign up and keep in touch. If you haven't already, subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and have the latest episode downloaded to your computer every week.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Prana * Tom Harrell * Prana Dance
Sequenza * Tom Harrell * Prana Dance
The Sake of It * Wayne Escoffery * Hopes and Dreams
Hopscotch * Danny Grissett * Encounters
Oleo * Tete Montoliu * The Music I Like To Play - Vol.2
Well, You Needn't * The Tete Montoliu Trio * Tete Montoliu Trio
Pass It On * Dave Holland * Pass It On
Black Nile * Wayne Shorter * Night Dreamer
SOS * Dapp Theory * Layers of Chance
If You Count It * Dapp Theory * Layers of Chance
Fables of Faubus * Charles Mingus * Mingus Ah Um
** End of Podcast **
Better Git It In Your Soul * Charles Mingus * Mingus Ah Um
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise * Larry Young/Woody Shaw/Joe Henderson/Elvin Jones * Unity
Time of the Season * Larry Goldings Trio * As One
Bleeker * Organissimo * Groovadelphia
The Outlaw * The Blue Note 7 * Mosaic

Play Podcast
Tom Harrell feature
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 65 megs).

Art Blakey Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers was one of the most influential bands in the evolution of jazz. He is often credited with pioneering the hard-bop movement, taking the be-bop form and placing greater emphasis on the rhythm, giving the music a hard driving swing. We saw a Blakey tribute band in concert last night in Hartford that was the impetus for this playlist. We follow that set with a World-Jazz set in honor of International Jazz Day, May 23.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
One By One * Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers * Ugetsu
Joshua * Mulgrew Miller * Live At Yoshi's Volume Two
A La Mode * Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers * Keystone 3
Along Came Betty * Art Farmer And Benny Golson Jazztet * Real Time
Uptown Afterburn * Benny Golson * New Time, New'Tet
Caravan * Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers * Caravan
The Panamanian Murga * Insight * A Genesis
Treme Terra * Acuri * Infancia
Kponnon Kpete * Lionel Loueke * Virgin Forest
Apti * Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition * Apti
** End of Podcast **
Maharaja * Tom Harrell * Prana Dance
Con Alma * Steve Davis * Crossfire
For Tom Harrell * Christene Jensen * Look Left
Orion's Belt * Rene Rosnes * Danish Radio Big Band
Swangalang * Bob Mintzers Big Band * Swing Out

Play Podcast
Art Blakey Tribute
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 64 megs).

Jackie McLean Birthday Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:48:00 +0000

This podcast pays tribute to the great alto sax player Jackie McLean on what would have been his 78th birthday on May 17. A protege of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, McLean had a wide ranging influence on the jazz idiom. To those of us in the Hartford Connecticut area, where Jackie made his home in his later years, his influence is even deeper. He is responsible for mentoring many young jazz artists in the area and has created this great jazz scene in our city. In addition to being the Jazz director at University of Hartford's Hartt school of music, he was the founder of the Artists Collective which fosters the Arts in many forms in the urban areas of Hartford.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Confirmation * Jackie McLean * New Wine In Old Bottles
Jackie's Ghost * Jackie McLean * Makin' The Changes
McLean's Scene * Jackie McLean * McLean's Scene
Cryptography * Jackie McLean * Fire And Love
Cousin Mary * Steve Davis * Crossfire
(Living In the-Dash) * Greg Abate * Evolution
Time's Lie * Joe Farrell * Moon Germs
Twi-Life * Marcus Strickland * Twi-Life
In Walked Bud * Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers * Keystone 3
** End of Podcast **
The Ring * Kenny Garrett * Sketches Of MD: Live At The Iridium
Sound Off * Michael Brecker * Time Is Of The Essence
Fast City * Joe Zawinul * Brown Street (with WDR Big Band)
In A Silent Way * Joe Zawinul * Brown Street (with WDR Big Band)
You and the Night and the Music * Tony Williams Trio * Young at Heart

Play Podcast
JMac Birthday Tribute
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 62 megs).

Star Trek and Beyond

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:58:00 +0000

Yes, I am jumping on the Star Trek bandwagon. Saw the movie opening night and loved it. I was inspired to create this playlist of Star Trek related tracks for the opening set. I particularly like this Larry Willis interpretation of the Theme from Star Trek with Willis' great piano chops and Eric Alexander's powerful horn. That is followed by Chick Corea and the RTF fusion classic Vulcan Worlds. Joe Diorio's 'Theme for Space Cadets' may not have been written for Star Fleet Academy students, but what the hell. From there the theme gets even less related, but its great jazz and that's all that matters. Check out the movie after you have dug these great jazz tracks.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Star Trek: the Next Generation * Soundtrack & Theme Orchestra * Sounds of Sci-Fi
Theme From Star Trek * Larry Willis * The Offering
Vulcan Worlds * Return To Forever * The Anthology
Blues for all Space Cadets * Joe Diorio Jazz Guitar *
Time and Space * Hiromi * Hiromi's Sonic Bloom: Time Control
Stella By Starlight * Booker Ervin * The Freedom Book (RVG Remaster)
Star Eyes * Cannonball Adderley * Plus
Pros Velhos Amigos * Acuri * Infancia
Post Bebop Republic * ESP * Times Up!
Focus * Joe Lovano Nonet * On this Day at the Vanguard
Bopliciy * Birth of Cool * Miles Davis
The Storm * Sean Jones * The Search Within
** End of Podcast **
Blues To Your Old Country * Mike DiRubbo Quintet * From The Inside Out
Luna Urbana * Enrico Rava * New York Days
Love For Sale * Walt Weiskopf * Anytown
Airegin * Benny Golson * New Time New Tet
On Green Dolphin Street * Sonny Rollins * The Impluse Years

Play Podcast
Star Trek
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 58 megs).

2 May 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:04:00 +0000

A hard-bop set of mostly new music, and some other stuff I've been listening to lately. I especially dig the two Monk tunes as covered by Branford Marsalis and Benny Golson.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album - Click on album title to download
The Outlaw * The Blue Note 7 * Mosaic
Family Extension * Albert Rivera * Re-Introduction
In Nelba's Eyes * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Line of Flight * Steve Davis * Outlook
Rhythm-A-Ning * Branford Marsalis Quartet * Metamorphosen
Epistrophy * Benny Golson * New Time, New 'Tet
Alone Together * Christian McBride * Alone Together With Hank Jones
Groovin' High * Charlie Parker * Groovin' High
My Little Brown Book * Joe Lovano Nonet * On this Day at the Vanguard
A Matterapat * Dr. Lonnie Smith * Rise Up!
** End of Podcast **
Hope St. * Tom Harrell * Sail Away
Motivation * George Colligan * Blood Pressure
Stevie * Duke Ellington & John Coltrane * Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
Summer's Spring * Sean Jones * The Search Within
Stop & Go * Sinan Bakir * On My Way
Necessity * Insight * A Genisis

Play Podcast
May 2 show
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 56 megs).

Rich Goldstein's new guitar

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:43:00 +0000

This week, we welcome guitarist Rich Goldstein into our WHUS studio for a live interview and performance. Rich plays in the classic hard bop style of Wes Montgomery. If you are in the Hartford area this week, I urge you to come down to Black Eyed Sally's, Thursday evening April 30 to see and hear Rich's annual tribute to Wes. If you can't make that, Rich will be back at Sally's on May 11 with pianist Andrew LaVerne for another great jazz jam. Here, Rich shows off his new Gibson L4 on a beautiful solo rendition of Polka Dots and Moonbeams. In addition we hear some cuts off of Rich's album Comin' From Montgomery, and other tunes keeping with tonight's theme. Rich's CD is currently in limited release. eMail Rich if you are interested in purchasing a copy at goldsteinguitar@yahoo.com (or just let him know you dig his playing)

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album

4 on 6 * Lee Ritenour * wes bound

Mr. Walker * Wes Montgomery * The Incredible Jazz Guitar of WM

Far Wes * Rich Goldstein * Comin' From Montgomery

You Go to My Head * Andy Laverne and John Ambercrombie

Polka Dots and Moonbeams * Rich Goldstein * performed live

Minor Tragedy * Rich Goldstein * Comin' From Wes

Autumn Leaves * Stanley Jordan * Stolen Moments

If I Should Lose You * Joe Diorio * Bonita

The Green Thumb * Rich Goldstein * Comin' From Montgomery

Blu Hindu * Fareed Haque * Flat Planet

Play Podcast
Rich Goldstein
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 60 megs).

18 Apr 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Here are some tunes I've been listening to lately. Most of these groups have been giggin' in and around town lately. No real theme for this show, just some groovin' good music.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album (Click album links below to view in Amazon Store)
Act of Disguise * Ken Fowser/Behn Gillece * Full View
Isabel The Liberator * Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band * Fire Dance
Trials * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
The Day You Said Goodbye * Steve Davis Quartet * Alone Together
Poem/The Sun and the Moon * Wynton Marsalis * He And She
Twisted Blues * Rich Goldstein * Comin' From Montgomery
Take Five * George Benson * Bad Benson
Ganga Groove * Mystery Feet * Upstream
** End of Podcast **
Anytown * Walt Weiskopf * Anytown
Count Dracula * Enrico Rava * New York Days
Rose Colored Glass * George Colligan * Blood Pressure
Equality * Dave Holland * Pass it On
If I Were a Bell * Michael Wolff * Joe's Strut
Tyrone * Dr. Lonnie Smith * Rise Up!

Trios

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:06:00 +0000

This show features jazz trios in many different combinations. One usually thinks of piano, bass and drums as your traditional jazz trio, and indeed much of this show is with that format. Beyond that are piano-less trios led by sax, guitar, organ-guitar-drum trios, and other formats represented here. Of particular interest is the unique sound of Rudresh Mahanthappa's new trio Indo-Pak coalition with alto sax, guitar and tabla. It is a very interesting fusion of jazz and mid-eastern sounds that works very well. I also want to draw attention to the George Colligan trio that performed last Friday at Firehouse12 in New Haven. George is an amazing talented composer and piano player as heard on two tracks in this podcast. Thanks George for the fine performance and CD.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album (Click on album links to view in iTunes.)
Ghostland * George Colligan * Runaway
Impressions * McCoy Tyner * Trident
My Foolish Heart * Bill Evans * At the Village Vanguard
Groovin' High * Charlie Parker * Groovin' High
Identity Theft * Joshua Redman * Compass
Dharma Days * Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard * Fly
Adana * Rudresh Mahanthappa * Apti
Softly as a Morning Sunrise * Joe Beck Trio * Just Friends
Sugar * Jake Langley * Diggin' In
Honesty * George Colligan Trio * Blood Pressure
It's All In the Game * Keith Jarrett Trio * The Out Of Towners

Hot New Music

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:34:00 +0000

Lots of new jazz releases have hit the shelves at WHUS, and we will feature them here today. I especially like the Indian/Jazz Fusion on Fareed Haque's new album Flat Planet. Another guitarist Julian Lage has a very interesting new release with a unique sound.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album (Click on album links to view in iTunes)
The Return of Jitney Man * Branford Marsalis * Metamorphosen
Cultural Survival * David Sanchez * Cultural Survival
The Ambitious Violet * Sean Jones * The Ambitious Violet
Mission Statement * Jimy Greene * Mission Statement
Come Together * Dr. Lonnie Smith * Rise Up!
Pilgrimage * Dr. Lonnie Smith * Rise Up!
Motor Minder * Julian Lage * Sounding Point
Long Day, Short Night * Julian Lage * Sounding Point
Blu Hindu * Fareed Haque & Flat Earth Ensemble * Flat Planet
The Chant * Fareed Haque & Flat Earth Ensemble * Flat Planet
Paladin * Garaj Mahal * Blueberry Cave
** End of Podcast **
Elegant People * Richie Goods & Nuclear Fusion * Live at Zinc Bar
Grove's Groove * Benny Golson * new time new 'tet
The Tird You * Michael Wolff * Joes Strut
Fur Peace * Fareed Haque & Flat Earth Ensemble * Flat Planet

Joyous Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:36:00 +0000

This show begins with a celebration of Spring starting with one of my favorite standards that is sure to put you in a joyous mood, Joy Spring. We keep in the Spring theme and segue to our featured artist Jimmy Greene who performed Friday evening in New Haven's Firehouse12. Jimmy is becoming one of the premier tenor players on the scene today. We feature Jimmy Greene from 3 different albums including 2 from a soon to be released CD entitled Mission Statement. We also hear from Ralph Peterson's Fo'tet and much more.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album (Click on album links to view in iTunes)
Joy Spring * Freddie Hubbard * Best of Freddie Hubbard
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most * Jimmy Greene Sextet * Introducing Jimmy Greene
YeahYouRight! * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Fathers and Sons * Jimmy Greene * Mission Statement
Nelba's Victory * Jimmy Greene * Overcomers Suite
Turn It Over * Ralph Peterson * The Reclamation Project
Sudan and Darfur * Insight * A Genesis
Breakdown * Walt Weiskopf * Anytown
Bittersweet * Ken Fowser/Behn Gillece * Full View
Hope St. * Tom Harrell * Sail Away
** End of Podcast **
After the Rain * Eric Alexander * Summit Meeting
Golden Earings * The Drummonds * Pas De Trois
Haunted Heart * The Drummonds * Pas De Trois
Transitions * Alexis Baro * From the Other Side
In the Stratosphere * Greg Abate/Allen Barns * Birds of a Feather

Post Radiothon Show

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:07:00 +0000

Radiothon is over and its back to just playing some great jazz music. Thanks to all that supported this program and WHUS. I will give more formal thanks on next weeks show. I had been away for this Saturday's broadcast and this is a show I did as a fill-in on March 11. I carefully edited out any mention of Radiothon as I have grown tired of pleading for donations. No real theme here, though as I listen, most of this program features guitar and bass as leaders.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Caribe * Rich Goldstein * Comin' from Montgomery
Road Song * Mike Moreno * Between the Lines
Forward and Back * Mike Moreno * Between the Lines
Mana (bonus track) * Janek Gwizdala * Live at 55Bar
Feediop * Avashai Cohen * As Is
Bleeker * Organissimo * Groovadelphia
Ethel * Ron Ried's Sunsteel *
Freedom Song * Bob Mintzer Big Band * Swing Out

Radiothon 2009 - Continued

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:20:00 +0000

This is the official WHUS Radiothon week. I really appreciate the great support shown by our podcast listeners last week. We received pledges from all over the world. However, the station has a long way to go to meet its fund raising goal, and showing your support lets WHUS know that you appreciate jazz programing and this podcast. We have a special gift for our supporters. It is a CD called Private Tracks that is a compilation of rare jazz tracks that is unavailable or difficult to obtain anywhere else. Go to my Radiothon Page for information on the CD and how you can pledge your support.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Hot House * Ernie Watts Quartet * To the Point
Swing Out * Bob Mintzer Big Band * Swing out
Yahoo * Yellowjackets w/Mike Stern * Lifecycle
Falken's Maze * Yellowjackets w/Mike Stern * Lifecycle
Fried Pies * Rich Goldstein * Comin' From Montgomery
Smash * Avashi Cohen * As Is
Bright Side * Steve Davis * Meant to Be
Captain Jon * Ingrid Jensen * At Sea
** End of Podcast **
Angelina * Steve Davis * Meant to Be
Imagine/Peace Peace * Craig Hartley * Remixes the Beatles
You the Night and the Music * Greg Abate * Live in Monterey
Story in Three * Insight * A Genesis

Radiothon 09 - Support Jazz programming

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:28:00 +0000

This show is a reprise of one of my favorite shows from July 2008. It is also a plea to support WHUS, this podcast and Jazz radio programming. WHUS FM is the broadcast home of In The Groove, Jazz and Beyond. Without this great, listener supported radio station, this show and Podcast would not be possible. I am asking our listeners to please show your support for this station, this Podcast and Jazz programming by making a donation. This year I am offering as a gift for your donation a special album called Private Tracks that is made of tracks that have been sent to the station by some great jazz artists that are often featured on In The Groove (e.g. Greg Abate, Mike DiRubbo, Lauren Sevian, Bob Reynolds and more). These are tracks that are not available commercially and are difficult if not impossible to find except on this special offer. Come to the RADIOTHON PAGE for more information on how you can support this program and get the Private Tracks album.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
San Fransico River * Flora * Perpetual Emotion
Parana * Airto * Fingers
Yump * Kenny Werner * Beat Degeneration
Guru * Kenny Werner * Beat Degeneration
Smash * Avashai Cohen * As Is, Live at Bluenote
Just Friends * Joe Beck * Just Friends
Autumn Leaves * Johnny Griffin * Return of Griffin
Speak Low * Booker Ervin * That's It

New CD's

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Usually, the playlists from my show are mostly programmed on my laptop before I go on-air. This night, I forgot my power-supply and my battery was spent, so I had to wing it. Fortunately, there are a lot of new releases that hit the jazz shelf at WHUS. Many of the tracks I had not previewed prior to airing, but was pleasantly surprised by these hot new tunes. For something completely different for In The Groove, dig the new Bad Plus CD with covers of Nirvana's Kirk Cobain, and the Bee Gees.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Airegin * Benny Golson * new time, new 'tet
Lithium * The Bad Plus * For All I Care
How Deep is Your Love * The Bad Plus * For All I Care
Round Reuben * Joshua Redman * Compass
I Gotch U * Ali Jackson * Wheelz Keep Rollin'
Freedom Jazz Dance * Vinnie Cutro & NYC Soundscape * Sakura
The Birdfeeder * Greg Abate/Allan Barnes * Birds of a Feather
Peace * Carolyn Hartsfield * Flow Like the River
Piano Warrior * Steve Blanco Trio * Piano Warrior
Scrapple from the Apple * Keith Jarrett Trio * Yesterdays
Round Midnight * Vinnie Cutro & NYC Soundscape * Sakura
** End of Podcast **
Funky Swing * Mark O'Connor Hot Swing Trio * Live in NY
Spiritual * Ali Jackson * Wheelz Keep Rollin'
Freddie Freeloader (false start) * Miles Davis * Kind of Blue, Legacy Edition
Freddie Freeloader * Miles Davis * Kind of Blue, Legacy Edition
Uptown Afterburner * Benny Golson * new time, new 'tet
My Sweet Potato Pie * Organissimo * Groovadelphia

Mellow and Meditative

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:08:00 +0000

My playlists are often a reflection of my emotional state state of mind, and this is certainly one of those shows. This set is mellow and meditative, yet intense with emotion and heartfelt playing as should be the case when any great artist creates in his or her art-form. In this case, we hear some great jazz compositions and a few beautiful ballads. Of note is Branford Marsalis' cover of the Coltrane classic A Love Supreme and Pharoah Sanders' Body and Soul. The show concludes with the fine piano of Bill Evans on Miles' Blue and Green, and Keith Jarret's cover of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
A Love Supreme: Acknowledgment * Branford Marsalis Quartet * Footsteps of Our Fathers
A Day To Mourn * Booker Ervin * The Freedom Book
We Used to Dance * Joel Frahm * We Used To Dance
Insight (from my mother) * Cindy Blackman * Music for the New Millennium
Body and Soul * Pharoah Sanders * Crescent with Love
Mahjong * Wayne Shorter * Juju
Blue in Green * Miles Davis * Kind of Blue
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes * Keith Jarrett * Yesterdays

** End of Podcast **
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue - Special

Fusion Fill-in

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:04:00 +0000

My regular show this week was preempted for sports, so I have a posted a broadcast from a December fill-in I did for DJ Slammin' Sammy on WHUS FM. We start with a cookin funky track from Boston based Akashic Record. We continue on with a wide range of electric Jazz-Rock fusion that shows the breadth of this genre. Perhaps the most outrageous track is from Miles from India. From the website; A Cross-Cultural Celebration of the Music of Miles Davis by India's Foremost Musicians Collaborating with the Legendary Musicians Who Comprised the Various Miles Davis Bands Over the Years. An interesting CD which I don't know that I enjoy in its entirety, but sure has some very interesting moments and a great cast of musicians.
Correction: In the Podcast I state that Alex Skolnick was in the metal band Transformation. Actually, Transformation is the name of the album. His metal band is Testament.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Jammin' Time * Akashik Record * New Days Ahead
Electric Eyes * Alex Skolnick * Transformation
Dach's Reduction * Jon Larson * Strange News from Mars
Shadow of Lo * Return to Forever * Return to the 7th Galaxy
Game * Stanley Clarke * The Toys of Men
Miles Runs the Voodoo Down * Various * Miles from India
Double Nickel * Yellow Jackets feat. Mike Stern * Lifestyle
Old Wise Tale * Mike Moreno * Between the Lines

Some New Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Some great new music has come my way recently that I am featuring on tonight's abbreviated show. I really dig Steve Davis's new album Outlook. Listen to bassist Dezron Douglas solid walkin' bass lines. Also, a great track from Tenor Sax player Seamus Blake is included from his latest effort. We saw Seamus at a recent gig in New York City recently, and this cat not only can play, but his compositions are outstanding. His album Live in Italy is very much recommended.

Note: Soulive will be appearing at The Warehouse, 45 Bartholomew Ave, Hartford CT on Thursday, Feb 12 at 8:00 PM. They are a great funky jammin' Hammond B3 trio. I feature one of their tracks at the end of this weeks podcast. It will be a GREAT show. Check it out.

A photo from Seamus Blake's recent gig at Smalls (l to r Lage Lund, Matt Clohesy, Seamus Blake).

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Line of Flight * Steve Davis * Outlook
Lovely Day * Steve Davis * Outlook
What is this thing? * Vinnie Cutro and NYC Soundscape * Sakura
Fear of Roaming * Seamus Blake * Live in Italy
Stella by Starlight * Keith Jarrett * Yesterdays
Rudy's Way * Soulive * Turn it out

Master and Proteges

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Jazz is a generational art form. It is like an extended family. This was very evident to me at a recent performance in Hartford by the young talented musicians that make up the Albert Rivera Quintet. In the Hartford area, we are fortunate to have some very accomplished jazz artists that have made their mark on the jazz scene. The Grandfather of them all was Jackie McLean, who adopted our community and brought jazz to the area in a profound way that has touched the lives of many. J-Mac has passed on, and the baton has been picked up by another generation of greats like Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Jimmy Greene. They in turn have been the Masters that have mentored our young lions of jazz such as Albert Rivera, Zachai and Luques Curtis who performed that evening. Among the audience were some jazz students, some of which we see performing at recitals or jam sessions, proteges that were learning from the new jazz professionals on stage. So it has been passed down from Masters to Proteges and the Proteges will become Masters to a new generation of Proteges.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Ain't it Just Like the Night * Albert Rivera * Re-Introduction
The New York Hartford Connection (alt. Take) * Albert Rivera * Re-Introduction
The Panamanian Murga * Insight * A Genesis
Sudan and Darfur * Insight * A Genesis
David Undaunted * Jimmy Greene * The Overcomer's Suite
McLean's Scene * Jackie McLean * McLean's Scene
United * Steve Davis Quartet * Alone Together
The Way You Look Tonight * Deep Blue Organ Trio * Goin' To Town
** End of Podcast **
Frame for the Blues * Jimmy McGriff and Hank Crawford * Blues Groove
A Bit of Basie * Art Pepper * Smack Up
Caravan * Art Pepper * Friday Night at Village Vanguard
Struttin' * Keith Jarrett Trio * Yesterday's

Obama Inauguration Special

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:08:00 +0000

This show is my tribute to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. I have edited excerpts of Obama's historic inaugural speech with Sonny Rollins' landmark recording "Freedom Suite". Recorded in 1958 this was Rollins' musical protest of the state of race relations during the height of our segregation era. Fifty years later, we have elected an African American to the highest office in the land, in what is possibly the beginning of the final chapter in the history of the civil rights movement in America. I have juxtaposed Rollins' expression of anger and despair of racial inequality in 1958, with Obama's message of hope and unity as a tribute to the truly historic election and inauguration of our new President. The podcast continues with some other tracks, written in the spirit of freedom and hope that work well with the theme of the show.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
Obama Freedom Suite
Freedom Suite * Sonny Rollins * Freedom Suite
mixed with Obama Inaurguaral Address
Freedom Jazz Dance * Dr. Lonnie Smith * Jungle Soul
Anthem of Hope * Jimmy Greene * Overcomer's Suite
This I Dig of You * David Fathead Newman * Song for the New Man
Georgia on my Mind * David Fathead Newman * I Remember Brother Ray

My Way of Saying It * Albert Rivera * Re-Introduction

Play Podcast
Obama Freedom Suite (aac format)
To download file, ctrl-click (Mac); right click (Win)- (approx. 41 megs).

More 2008 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:29:00 +0000

We continue from last weeks show with our 2008 in review featuring the highlights of my year in jazz. We saw some great performances in Hartford and New York City, and there were some fine jazz releases. One of those was from Jimmy Greene on Nu Jazz Records. This record label, is a new concept in jazz music distribution, one that represents the future of the recording industry, in my opinion. This is a fine, fine album that I would highly recommend for you to purchase for your jazz library. Check out my article on Nu Jazz records at JazzNotes SDP. View the video below, and see more video and information at Nu Jazz's website.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
In the Stratosphere * Greg Abate * Live in Monterey
The Children and the Warlock * Harry Whitaker * Thoughts (Past and Present)
Manhattan Nocturn * Charles McPerson * Manhattan Nocturn
Nelba's Victory * Jimmy Greene * The Overcomer's Suite
The Truth Shall Set You Free * Insight * A Genesis
Fireblossom * New York Electric Piano * King Mystery
Mana * Janek Gwizdala * Live at 55Bar
Gianormous * Stanley Maxwell * Don't Wake the Baby
Pump it up! * Tineke Postma * For the Rhythm
Blues for a Dutch Nephew * Tom Parker * Introspection
** End Podcast **
Up Jumped Spring * George Coleman * At Yoshi's
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most * Joel Frahm * We Used to Dance
Lazy Snake * Dave Holland Sextet * Pass it On
New View * Albert Rivera * re-Introdcution

Review of 2008 in music

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Laster) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:02:00 +0000

These tracks were chosen from some of our favorite releases in 2008. Many are also a reminder of some of the great musical performances we had a chance to experience this past year. Claire and I took many trips to NYC, as well as catching some great jazz acts at local venues. Some of the highlights for us were Monday night jazz jams at Black Eyed Sally's, Hartford International Jazz Festival, Porkpie Hat Series, and Firehouse 12. The JVC Jazz Festival at Newport was a big highlight and is represented on this podcast. This is not a best of 2008, but more of a review of our year in music. I hope that listeners to In The Groove are in some way able to experience the great joys that jazz music has brought to our lives, through this Podcast and the YouTube videos, links and information on my website.

We took this video of Mike Stern at one of his infamous Monday night gigs at 55bar in the West Village in NYC, September 2008. We saw him again at the Iridium near Times Square last weekend playing with Kenny Garret (as), and Dennis Chambers (dr). Mike and Kenny are featured in this podcast.

Playlist
Track * Artist * Album
NY Hartford Connections * Albert Rivera * Re-introduction
Wilkes BBQ * Bobby Watson * From The Heart
Blessings * Empirical * Empirical
The Ring * Kenny Garrett * Sketches of MD
Dreams Go * The Yellowjackets feat. Mike Stern * Lifecycle
Pleades * Mystery Feet * Upstream
True * Lauren Sevian * Blueprint
Ulysses in Motion * Miguel Zenon * Awake
A Change is Gonna Come * Anat Cohen * Notes From the Village
Do Nothing till you hear from me * Houston Person * The Art and Soul of Houston Person
** End of Podcast **
Steppin' With the Lord * Harry Whitaker * Thoughts (Past and Present)
Yardbird Suite * Dwight West * Tribute to the Jazz Masters
You the Night and the Music * Greg Abate * Live in Monterey
Song of Delilah * James Carter * Present Tense
Omni * Brian Blade Fellowship * Season of Changes
The Lesson * Victor Wooten * Palmystery
Afterglow * aaron parks * Invisible Cinema