Discovering Jazz

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 t

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

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

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,

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&#8217

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

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 so

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

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

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&#

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 h

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.  Bra

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)

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 j

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’.  

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

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 Jord

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

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 sim

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 enjoy

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

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

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….so

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 tha

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: