Discovering Jazz

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, a

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

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 Adol

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, fo

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 To

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 labe

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, D

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

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 (

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 i

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 pl

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 s

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 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

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

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, b

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 ‘

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 fe

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 probabl

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

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 danc

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

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,

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 som