Same Difference: 2 Jazz Fans, 1 Jazz Standard

Since AJ was visiting Johnny for the 2025 Sun Valley Jazz Festival, we thought we'd take advantage of being in the same room and record an update for all of you Same Difference fans. For this episode, we've combined two loosely related episodes from our old Patreon library, and added some new commentary to aid in the continuity. It felt good to do it again; we hope you enjoy it!

It's been a wonderful 6-year run, but it's time to call it a day. So, for this final episode of Same Difference, we go back to the beginnings of Jazz with "Tiger Rag". Join AJ and Johnny one last time, as they listen to and discuss versions of this Jazz standard by The Original Dixieland Jass Band, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Aleman, The Whiteway Jazz Band, and new-to-us artist Annie a...

How does someone take a solid Broadway musical number and turn it into a Jazz tune? Well, on this episode of Same Difference we hear some interesting results, when "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" goes under the microscope. Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by Rex Harrison, Tony Bennett and Count Basie, Chris Botti and Dean Martin, Chet Baker, Stan Getz and Cal Tjader, a...

It's the second part of our 2-part look at trumpet players, and our friend and professional Jazz trumpeter, Mike Sailors, is back with us for the deep dive. In this part two, join us as the three of us listen to and discuss music by Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, and our guest Mike Sailors, who has a new album coming out in August.

Rather than discuss a single Jazz standard, this episode of Same Difference is all about the trumpet, and we've invited our friend and professional Jazz trumpeter, Mike Sailors, to join the fun. In fact, we had so much fun recording this, we've broken it into 2 full shows! In this part one, join us as the three of us listen to and discuss music by Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Kenny Dorham.

Count Basie and Harry "Sweets" Edison are in the songwriting seat with "Jive At Five" on this episode of Same Difference! Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by the Count Basie Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry and Mike Vax, Martin Taylor and Stephane Grappelli, Joe Newman, and new-to-us artist The Shirt Tail Stompers.

We all get to learn about the Jazz standard "Blue Bossa" together, as neither AJ nor Johnny had any versions of this song in their library, yet it was recommended on good authority to check it out, so we did! We'll listen to versions by Joe Henderson, Art Farmer and Phil Woods, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, George Benson, and new-to-us artist Mimi Fox.

Time to revisit "At Last", and joining us to do so is the incredibly talented Jazz singer, Melonie Collins! Yes, join the three of us as we listen to and discuss versions by Glen Miller, Etta James, Diane Schuur and BB King, Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, Phoebe Snow, and of course Melonie Collins with the Side Street Strutters!

So is it "Oysters" or "Ersters"? In this episode of Same Difference, Johnny and AJ address this and many other linguistic questions posed in the song "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off". Along the way, you'll hear versions of this Jazz standard by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Billie Holiday, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick Jr., and new-to-us artist The Jazz Sisters.

After covering "Doxy" in the last episode, we decided to follow it up with the song that supposedly was the original version, "Jada". AJ and Johnny listen to and discuss versions of this Jazz standard by The Original New Orleans Jazz Band, Louis Prima, Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton, Sidney Bechet, The Side Street Strutters, and new-to-us artist Adam Swanson.

Ready for some good, fun straight ahead Jazz? AJ and Johnny take a look at the Sonny Rollins Jazz standard "Doxy"! You'll hear versions by Miles Davis with Sonny, Dexter Gordon, Red Mitchell, Branford Marsalis, Mike Jones, and new-to-us artist David Finck.

Wanna know how jazzy a show tune can get? Join AJ and Johnny as they answer that question while reviewing "Surrey With The Fringe On Top"! We'll discuss versions by Blossom Dearie, Mel Torme, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and TWO new-to-us artists: Angela De Niro, and Joe Farnsworth.

Start the new year off on the right foot! Our friends Mike and Russ from The Adult Music Podcast join us on this episode of Same Difference to review the Jazz standard "You Don't Know What Love Is"! Tune in as FOUR Jazz fans listen to and discuss versions by Dinah Washington, Miles Davis, George Benson, Eric Dolphy, Sinne Eeg, and the John Hicks Trio.

It's our annual Christmas episode, and this year it's the Jazz standard "Nature Boy". Join AJ and Johnny as they try to figure out why this is considered a Christmas song by so many Jazz artists, including Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr., John Coltrane, Jason Wanner, new-to-us artist Laura Auer, and a super special surprise artist you won't wanna miss!

Is it a genuine compliment, an end-of-the-night lament, or simply a pick up line? AJ and Johnny will try to solve this question when "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" goes under the Same Difference microscope. Join us as we listen to and discuss versions by Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra and June Hutton, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Jim Hall and Paul Desmond, and new-to-us artist Danny Jonokuchi and...

"Sway" is under the Same Difference microscope this episode, but is it really Jazz? Join AJ and Johnny as they try to answer that question, with versions by Nelson Pinedo, Dean Martin, Cab Calloway and Scatman Crothers, Julie London, Diana Krall, and new-to-us (well, new to AJ anyway) artist Sal Valentinetti.

It's our annual "we're recording in the same room because AJ is in town for the Sun Valley Jazz Festival" episode! This time it's the Jazz/Blues standard "Aint Nobody's Business". Join us as we listen to and discuss versions by Bessie Smith, BB King, Billie Holiday, Wynton Marsalis with Willie Nelson, The Hot Sardines, and new-to-us artist The Rumblestrutters.

Spelled several different ways, and performed several different ways, it's the lighthearted "SWonderful" on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Diana Krall, Rod Stewart (yes, THAT Rod Stewart), the Shaymus Hanlin Quartet, and new-to-us artist Nicole Magolie.

With the often recorded Jazz standard "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", AJ establishes a new ranking level on this episode! You'll hear us discuss versions by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, The Side Street Strutters, Ella Fitzgerald, and new-to-us artist Giacomo Gates. Come find out what the next level is  beyond "Obsidian"!

It's the delightful "Stars Fell On Alabama" under the Same Difference microscope this episode! Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions of this sometimes forgotten Jazz standard by Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick Jr., Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane, new-to-us artist the Boilermaker Jazz Band, and a special (and unplanned) tribute to the late J...

Time to revisit an old favorite! We originally covered "Fly Me To The Moon" way back on episode 2, but we were still finding our rhythm to the show then AND fine tuning our technical aspects. So, we thought we'd take a fresh look at this true Jazz standard. You'll hear versions by Frank Sinatra with Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Sinatra with Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Montclair Women's Big Band, Diana...

A listener-suggested show! Well, ok, one of our loyal listeners suggested a new-to-us artist, and this was one of her best known covers, so here we go with "Moon River" on this edition of Same Difference! Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by Henry Mancini, the Vince Guiraldi trio, Jon Batiste, Dr. John, Boots Randolph, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, and new-to-us artist...

The song "Jeepers Creepers" seems like such a novelty song, but we're gonna dive in and see if there's some decent Jazz behind its comedic surface. Join us as we listen to versions by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Tony Bennett, Oscar Aleman, Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton, and new-to-us artist Swingadelic.

The gorgeous Frank Sinatra ballad "One For My Baby" is featured on this episode of Same Difference, but is it always done as a ballad? Tune in and you'll find out, with versions by Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett and John Mayer, Ella Fitzgerald, and new-to-us artist The Antonella Santoro 5tet.

For this episode of Same Difference, we take another deep dive into a Jazz artist that we feel does not get the recognition she deserves. Ever heard of Mary Lou Williams? Yeah, probably not. We barely had, but as you will hear, Mary Lou Williams quietly directed the course of Jazz music during much of the 20th century. You'll hear music and interviews from this tragically overlooked artist, and yo...