Same Difference: 2 Jazz Fans, 1 Jazz Standard

Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" is the standard of choice on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they look at versions by Frank Sinatra, Duke & Louis Armstrong, Duke & Coleman Hawkins, Thelonius Monk, and new-to-us artist Mariel Bildsten.

The playful standard "Makin' Whoopie" gets under the sheets with us on this episode of Same Difference! We'll examine versions by Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Taylor Grisman Quartet, Dr. John and Ricki Lee Jones, and new-to-us artist Lyn Stanley.

You'll be on your feet jumpin' to the music for this episode of Same Difference, as AJ and Johnny discuss various versions of the Count Basie classic "Jumpin' At The Woodside". In addition to the Count, you'll hear versions by Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, and new-to-us band Down For The Count!

Originally from the musical "Oklahoma", it's the song "People Will Think We're In Love" on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they examine the evolution of this song, with versions by Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, The Hot Sardines, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and new-to-us artist Dick Weller.

Noted musicologist A. Scott Galloway joins AJ and Johnny for this episode of Same Difference to discuss various versions of the Jazz standard "All Of Me". You'll hear versions by Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Chaka Khan, Tony Bennett, and Little Steven... yes, THAT Little Steven! There's also a lot of reminiscing about the Playboy Jazz Festival, which would have been happening right...

It's the teasingly fun Jazz standard "Comes Love" under the microscope on this edition of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sidsel Storm, Joni Mitchell, The Hot Sardines, and new-to-us artists Scott Bradlee and Hailey Gill. 

Billie Holiday's lightly melancholic "Willow Weep For Me" is the song for this edition of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they examine versions by Jason Wanner, Tony Bennett, Steve Miller, the Taylor Grisman quartet, and new-to-us artist Katie Thiroux!

Noted Jazz historian (and our regularly referenced critic!) Scott Yanow joins us on this episode to discuss the Jelly Roll Morton Jazz standard "King Porter Stomp". You'll hear us dissect versions by Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, Gil Evans, and new-to-us-but-not-to-Scott artist Octobop. Join us for some fun, and an education from a real Jazz scholar!

It's an A-List lineup covering a top shelf Jazz classic, "I Get A Kick Out Of You" on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they discuss versions by Ethyl Merman, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, and new (to us) artist Eddie Brewer and The Manic Episodes!

The early days of Bebop are explored today, as we listen to various versions of the Dizzy Gillespie classic "A Night In Tunisia". You'll hear Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, "The Quintet", and new (to us) artist Doug Webb take their shots at this song that dances right on the line between Big Band and Bebop, and can go far in either direction!

It's Erroll Garner's "Misty" under the Same Difference microscope this time around, and it's a powerhouse of A-listers covering the song! AJ and Johnny dissect versions by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, Stan Getz, and new (to us) artist Fleur Seule. It's an all female vocal edition (Mr. Getz does the sole instrumental) of Same Difference!

In honor of the late great Chick Corea's passing, we're dissecting various versions of his classic Jazz standard "Windows" on this episode of Same Difference. You'll hear versions by the Brubeck & Widelock Duo, Bobby McFerrin, Flora Purim, Hubert Laws, Andy Fusco, and of course, Chick Corea. Join us for an hour of "nice" Jazz!

It's Lee Morgan's classic "The Sidewinder" under the dissection lights on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they examine versions by The Quincy Jones Orchestra, Claudio Roditi, James Brown (yes, THAT James Brown), Michel Camilo, and the Turtle Island String Quartet. It's one of those songs that, while you may not recognize the name, in all likelihood you've heard it before!

Venture deep into Johnny's side of the Venn Diagram as he and AJ look the Jazz standard "Giant Steps"! We'll examine versions by John Coltrane, Toots Thieleman, Arturo Sandoval, Lionel Hampton, Ernie Krivda, and Michel Petrucciani. Will AJ survive an hour of 12-tone Jazz? Tune in and find out!

It's the feel-good standard "Candy" under the microscope on this episode of Same Difference. Join us as we dissect versions by Nat King Cole, Big Maybelle, John Pizzarelli, Joe Williams, Dr. John, and New Artist Corner feature The Blue Moon Big Band (and DANG these guys are good!).

All aboard for the Night Train! On this episode of Same Difference, we take a listen to various versions of this classic, slinky Jazz standard, including such artists as Louis Prima, Oscar Peterson, and Sun Valley Jazz favorites The Side Street Strutters!

It's the Mel Torme penned holiday classic "The Christmas Song" on this episode of Same Difference. We've got versions from the likes of Spyro Gyra and Vince Guaraldi under the microscope, and a wonderful discussion about the holidays... well, ok, it's just us talking about Christmas and Jazz, but you get the idea!

We let our first Patreon supporter, Jeannine, pick this episode's song, and she picked a beauty; it's the Charlie Parker standard "Now's The Time" under the Same Difference microscope this week! Enjoy versions by Parker, Sonny Rollins, and new-to-us artist Marcus Printup, as well as others. See what happens when you join our Patreon site? YOU too can pick us a song!

It's the Dave Brubeck Quartet's groundbreaking standard "Take 5" under the microscope on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they dissect several versions of this legendary Jazz tune, including artists Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, and Tito Puente!

The elegant "Stella By Starlight" is under the microscope on this episode of Same Difference. Join AJ and Johnny as they explore versions of this Jazz standard from Miles Davis, George Benson, Oscar Peterson, and others. Who knew the original version had lyrics?

For our landmark 50th episode, we went with a true classic, "Hello Dolly"! Join AJ and Johnny as they discuss various versions of this show tune gone pop tune gone Jazz, including a swinging version with Frank Sinatra and the Count Basie orchestra, and of course, the legendary Satchmo version!

Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2020 Sun Valley Jazz Festival was forced to cancel this year, so we decided to do a special episode of Same Difference and take us all back to relive last year's fun! Join us for our VERY special interview with Terry Myers, leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, as we talk about Jazz, the Dorsey band, Sinatra, Sun Valley, and much much more!

Is the Jazz standard "When I Fall In Love" actually Jazz, or is it merely a Pop song done by Jazz artists? Join AJ and Johnny as they examine various versions of this Nat King Cole classic in an effort to answer this most challenging question!

Notable Jazz bassist Steve "Gar" Gargaro joins us to discuss various versions of the Miles Davis standard "All Blues" for this edition of Same Difference. Join AJ, Johnny and Gar as they examine various versions from artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Peter Frampton, and Los Angeles based fusion Jazz band Vague!