In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond (Ken Laster)

The opening track was chosen specifically for 420 Day! The rest of the tracks make for a fine 420 celebration for jazz fans as well. Hope you are Groovin' High. Some classics to bookend this show in the first and last tracks, but mostly new music is sandwiched in between. 

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Cannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson ~ Groovin' High ~ Things Are Getting Better Ulysses Owens Jr. ~ Better Days ~ A New Beat Veronica Swift ~ Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me ~ Veronica Swift Joel Frahm ~ Just One of Those Things  ~ I'm Old Fashioned Mackenzie Leighton ~ November ~ I Remember Dan Pugach ~ Schleppin' ~ Bianca Gary Burton & Chick Corea ~ Crystal Silence ~ Crystal Silence Hank Mobley ~ Up Over and Out ~ Reach Out!

Featured new music from Kenny Barron, Lori Bell, Dan Pugach. Classic jazz from Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean and James Moody. Lastly, we say farewell to David Sanborn.

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Christopher Hollyday ~ Dialogue ~ Dialogue Jackie McLean ~ What Is This Thing Called Love? ~ Nature Boy Kenny Barron ~ Innocence ~ Beyond This Place Lori Bell Quartet ~ Black Narcissus ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Joe Henderson ~ In 'n Out ~ In 'n Out  James Moody ~ I'm in the Mood for Love ~ Moody's Mood for Love Dan Pugach ~ Travel  ~ Bianca David Sanborn ~ Full House ~ Upfront

Lots of new releases included in this week's podcast including jazz masters McPherson, Metheny, Manne (remastered). Also notable are tracks from Dave Holland and Hampton Hawes.

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Charles McPherson ~ Come Rain or Come Shine ~ Reverence Mackenzie Leighton ~ Western Man ~ I Remember Dave Holland Quartet ~ Four Winds ~ Conference of the Birds Pat Metheny ~ MoonDial ~ MoonDial Pat Metheny Group ~ Airstream ~ American Garage Hampton Hawes Trio ~ Evening Trane ~ High In The Sky (Remastered) Shelly Manne and His Men ~ Step Lightly ~ Shelly Manne and His Men At the Black Hawk, Vol. 2

There is an paradox in this week's playlist. We start the episode with new music from hard-bop masters Charles McPherson and Conrad Herwig, and finish with Weather Report and Electric Miles. New music from Gilbert Castellanos and Tim Garland in-between.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Conrad Herwig ~ Fly with the Wind ~ The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner Charles McPherson ~ Ode to Barry ~ Reverence Gilbert Castellanos ~ New Delhi ~ Espérame En El Cielo Tim Garland ~ No Horizon ~ Moment Of Departure Weather Report ~ A Remark You Made ~ 8:30 (Live) Wayne Shorter ~ Ana Maria ~ Native Dancer Miles Davis ~ Paraphernalia ~ Miles In the Sky

Several notable releases from jazz artists with Hartford roots are represented at the top of this episode. We present Karen Frisk (v), Jonathan Barber (dr), and Sarah Hanahan (as). We finish this show with some heavy 70's fusion with an extended four part Concerto for Jazz/Rock from Stanley Clarke.

Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Karen Frisk ~ Street of Dreams ~ Still A Dreamer Jonathan Barber ~ Can't Call It ~ In Motion Sarah Hanahan ~ We Bop! ~ Among Giants Kenny Burrell ~ Isabella ~ Soulero Howard McGhee ~ Demon Chase ~ Maggie's Back In Town!  Charles McPherson ~ Surge ~ Reverence Gilbert Castellanos ~ Home is Africa ~ Espérame En El Cielo Stanley Clarke ~ Concerto for Jazz/Rock Orchestra, Pt. 1-4 ~ Journey to Love

This episode features all new music from jazz legends and newcomers alike. Of special note is the latest releases from Jeremy Pelt and Charles McPherson, and Lori Bell (paying tribute to Joe Henderson). Once again, we feature a set of San Diego artists.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Jeremy Pelt ~ Basquiat ~ Tomorrow's Another Day Remy Le Boeuf ~ New Beginnings ~ Heartland Radio Dan Pugach ~ Dreams ~ Bianca Peter Martin ~ Abstract Courage ~ Peter Martin & Generation S Mackenzie Leighton ~ The Obfuscator ~ I Remember Lori Bell Quartet ~ Shade of Jade ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Charles McPherson ~ Blues for Lonnie in Three ~ Reverence Joel Frahm ~ I Didn't Know What Time It Was ~ I'm Old Fashioned

These are jazz covers of mostly soul tunes of the 60's-70's. The episode ends with a familiar jazz standard as played by Ahmad Jamal, and a great new big band arranger and drummer, Dan Pugach. 

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Dr. Lonnie Smith ~ Trouble Man ~ Jungle Soul Billy Childs ~ Stoned Soul Picnic ~ Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro Luke Sellick & Andrew Renfroe ~ Ain't No Mountain High Enough ~ Single Hampton Hawes ~ The Look of Love ~ The Two Sides Of Kenny Garrett ~ I Say a Little Prayer ~ Pushing the World Away The Bad Plus ~ Long Distance Runaround ~ For All I Care (With Wendy Lewis) Joe Farrell ~ Too High ~ Penny Arcade Ahmad Jamal Trio ~ On Green Dolphin Street ~ Count 'Em 88 Dan Pugach ~ Discourse This! ~ Bianca

The show starts with straight ahead jazz standards followed by 70's fusion and on to modern day sounds of new artists. We end with a Getz-Corea duet.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Joel Frahm ~ I'm Old Fashioned ~ I'm Old Fashioned Gilbert Castellanos ~ La Puerta ~ Espérame En El Cielo Joe Farrell ~ The Jazz Crunch ~ Sonic Text Les McCann ~ Poo Pye McGoochie (And His Friends) ~ Invitation to Openness Andrew Renfroe ~ Alps ~ Run in the Storm Nduduzo Makhathini ~ Libations: KwaKhangelamankengana ~ uNomkhubulwane Stan Getz ~ Crystal Silence ~ Captain Marvel

A playlist inadvertently populated with San Diego artists like Matt Hall, Lori Bell, Christopher Hollyday and Steph Johnson. Also of note is a debut recording by Sarah Hanahan, and Pulitzer Prize recipient Tyshawn Sorey.

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Matt Hall ~ Biscuits & Gravy ~ I Hope to My Never Sarah Hanahan ~ We Bop! ~ Among Giants Jackie McLean ~ Climax ~ Jacknife Lori Bell Quartet ~ Serenity ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Steph Johnson ~ Lazy Afternoon ~ So in Love Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne & Ray Brown ~ Crisis ~ Poll Winners Three! Christopher Hollyday ~ Minor Pulsation ~ Dialogue Tyshawn Sorey ~ Reincarnation Blues ~ Continuing

For this week's episode, we go back 60's hard bop format for most of the show. From Rollins to Trane, we groove to this era's hard hitting jazz. I did throw in a couple of modern pieces from Eddie Henderson and Billy Childs, that reflect on the hard-bop period.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sonny Rollins ~ Alone Together ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders Hank Mobley ~ Up Over And Out ~ Reach Out! Eddie Henderson ~ Totem Pole ~ Witness to History Billy Childs ~ The Starry Night ~ Rebirth Jackie McLean ~ Climax ~ Jacknife John Coltrane ~ Bahia ~ Bahia John Coltrane ~ Something I Dreamed Last Night ~ Bahia

Once again we mix the old with the new. Of particular interest is new music by Charles Lloyd and Linda Oh. On the classics there is Rollins, Cannonball, Mobley and Evans. We close out the set with a San Diego favorite John Opferkuch.

Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Eberhard Weber & The Gary Burton Quartet ~ B & G (Midwestern Nights Dream) ~ Passengers Linda May Han Oh ~ Phosphorus ~ The Glass Hours Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson ~ The Old Country ~ Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley Hank Mobley ~ Lookin' East ~ Reach Out! Charles Lloyd ~ Monk’s Dance ~ The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow Bill Evans ~ The Peacocks ~ You Must Believe In Spring John Opferkuch ~ Amerique ~ The Kennedy Files

After the opening track, we feature the music of Greg Abate and Kenny Barron, both as leaders, and a collaboration between the two. Other great music covers classic jazz, hard bop and fusion.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Wayne Shorter ~ Angola (Alternate Take) ~ The Soothsayer Greg Abate & Paul Del Nero Quartet ~ Clare's Ostinado ~ Reunion - Live at WICN Greg Abate ~ Sunshower ~ Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron Kenny Barron ~ Tragic Magic ~ Beyond This Place Sonny Rollins ~ Asiatic Raes ~ Newk's Time Pat Metheny Group ~ The Epic ~ American Garage Herbie Hancock ~ Actual Proof ~ Thrust

This show features an eclectic mix, beginning with new releases followed by 70's fusion and concluding with classic 50's jazz.  

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Mike DiRubbo ~ The Moment Before Sunrise ~ Inner Light Charles Lloyd ~ Booker’s Garden ~ Booker's Garden - Single Samara Joy ~ Round Midnight ~ Linger Awhile David Liebman ~ Within You Without You ~ Sweet Hands Return to Forever ~ Game Maker ~ Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy Eberhard Weber & The Gary Burton Quartet ~ B & G (Midwestern Nights Dream) ~ Passengers Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time

Today's show is all about jazz/rock fusion. We begin with 70's fusion from Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra. The latter half of the show is current music influenced by not only decades old jazz and fusion, but rock, beats and hip-hop.

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Chick Corea ~ Shadow of Lo ~ Where Have I Known You Before Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ One Word ~ Birds of Fire Freddie Hubbard ~ Red Clay ~ Red Clay Andrew Renfroe ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ Big Country EP Tina Raymond ~ The Emperor ~ Divinations Kneebody ~ The Trip ~ Chapters Mark Guiliana ~ under the influence ~ the sound of listening

This episode has new releases from Sarah Hanahan (debut recording), Chris Potter,  Adam O'Farrill and Steph Richards. Also featured are tracks from Gilbert Castellanos, Wayne Shorter, John Ambercrombie and more.

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Gilbert Castellanos ~ Big P ~ Espérame En El Cielo Sarah Hanahan ~ Stardust ~ Among Giants Chris Potter ~ Cloud Message ~ Eagle's Point John Abercrombie Quartet ~ Arcade ~ Arcade Adam O'Farrill ~ Truth Ray II ~ Truth Ray II - Single Steph Richards ~ Moutons ~ Power Vibe Weather Report ~ Elegant People ~ Black Market Wayne Shorter ~ Moto Grosso Feio ~ Moto Grosso Feio

This episode begins with a wonderful harpist Brandee Younger carrying on the legacy of Alice Coltrane and others bringing the sound of harp to modern jazz. This is followed by new music and concludes with three of the greatest saxophone players that have graced this art form.

Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger ~ The Creator Has a Master Plan ~ Force Majeure Brandee Younger ~ Moving Target ~ Brand New Life Brandee Younger ~ Blue Nile ~ Soul Awakening Jonathan Barber ~ The City That Sits On A Hill ~ In Motion Tim Garland ~ Trails ~ Moment Of Departure Kenny Barron ~ We See ~ Beyond This Place Chris Potter ~ Indigo Ildikó ~ Eagle's Point Wayne Shorter ~ Orbits ~ Without a Net Joe Henderson ~ Power to the People ~ Power to the People 

This episode begins with classic hard-bop from Mobley and McGee, followed by a wonderful new album from vocalist Karen Frisk. Then West Coast artists Wofford, Bell and Renfroe before finishing with a fusion set from Weather Report and Metheny.

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Hank Mobley ~ No Room for Squares ~ No Room for Squares Howard McGhee ~ Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise ~ Maggie's Back In Town! Karen Frisk ~ Sack Full Of Dreams ~ Still A Dreamer Mike Wofford ~ Cole Porter ~ Synergy Lori Bell Quartet ~ Shade of Jade ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Luke Sellick & Andrew Renfroe ~ Jolene ~ Small Vacation Weather Report ~ Cucumber Slumber ~ Mysterious Traveller Pat Metheny Group ~ To the End of the World ~ We Live Here

Back to more straight-ahead jazz this week from the 60's to the present. A brand new single from an upcoming album by Emmet Cohen starts the show followed by classic Brubeck, Chris Potter, Cannonball and more.

Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Emmet Cohen ~ Emmet’s Blues ~ Emmet's Blues - Single The Dave Brubeck Quartet ~ It's a Raggy Waltz ~ Time Further Out Chris Potter ~ Horizon Dance ~ Eagle's Point  Cannonball Adderley Quintet ~ Lisa ~ The Quintet Plus Charles McPherson ~ Old Folks ~ Reverence Mackenzie Leighton ~ Pm/Am ~ I Remember Lori Bell Quartet ~ Serenity ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Joe Henderson ~ Power To The People ~ Power To The People

A few musical references from last week's Democratic Convention was the inspiration for this episode. VP Kamala Harris invoked the names of Aretha, Miles and Coltrane, and an appearance by Stevie Wonder are relived in this show.

Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Aretha Franklin ~ A Change Is Gonna Come ~ I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You Miles Davis Quintet ~ Solar ~ Walkin' John Coltrane ~ Giant Steps ~ Giant Steps Stevie Wonder ~ Higher Ground ~ Innervisions Herbie Hancock ~ You've Got It Bad Girl ~ The New Standard SFJAZZ Collective ~ Creepin' ~ Music of Stevie Wonder and New Compositions Jacob Collier ~ Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing ~ Single George Duke ~ Capricorn ~ Faces In Reflection Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention ~ Inca Roads ~ One Size Fits All

A wide range of music is presented here including some new releases.  There is a set from some of San Diego's finest jazz musicians. There is also a flashback pop hit from the jazzy BS&T.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sarah Hanahan ~ NATO ~ Among Giants Charles McPherson ~ Come Rain or Come Shine ~ Reverence Mike Wofford & Holly Hofmann ~ Karita ~ Turn Signal Holly Hofmann ~ Farmer's Trust ~ Low Life Mackenzie Leighton ~ November ~ I Remember Tim Garland ~ Trails ~ Moment Of Departure Blood, Sweat & Tears ~ God Bless the Child ~ Blood, Sweat & Tears Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum

This episode features some of the fine jazz music coming out of Hartford Connecticut. It begins with new releases from Sarah Hanahan, Jonathan Barber and Andrew Renfroe. Later in the podcast we play a beautiful ballad from Jimmy Greene, also an alumni of U of H, and mentored by Jackie McLean. 

Playlist Artist ~ Track ~ Album Sarah Hanahan ~ Welcome ~ Among Giants Jonathan Barber ~ Radar (feat. Vision Ahead) ~ Single Luke Sellick & Andrew Renfroe ~ Ain't No Mountain High Enough ~ Aberdeen Blues Kenny Burrell ~ Isabella ~ Soulero Miles Davis ~ Joshua ~ Seven Steps To Heaven Kenny Garrett ~ Chucho's Mambo ~ Pushing the World Away Jimmy Greene ~ Love In Action ~ Mission Statement Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band ~ Kings Highway ~ Kings Highway

We begin with a tribute to Jim Rotondi, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. The music that follows is a good representation of the modern jazz being made from young players on the jazz scene.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Jim Rotondi ~ Pure Imagination ~ Dark Blue Christopher Hollyday ~ One of Another Kind ~ Telepathy Sarah Hanahan ~ Resonance ~ Among Giants Chris Potter ~ Dream of Home (feat. Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci & Brian Blade) ~ Eagle's Point (feat. Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci & Brian Blade) Immanuel Wilkins ~ Fugitive Ritual, Selah ~ The 7th Hand Joshua White ~ Scarlet Tanager ~ 13 Short Stories (feat. Josh Johnson, Dean Hulett & Jonathan Pinson) Tina Raymond ~ Eight of Wands ~ Divinations Kenny Barron ~ Sunset (feat. Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Johnathan Blake, Immanuel Wilkins & Steve Nelson) ~ Beyond This Place

This episode begins with a set, taken from the news video of VP Kamala Harris showing off her vinyl purchases after visiting a DC record store. Following that, we have a bass player set featuring a couple of San Diego based artists. The show ends with a tribute to Alice Coltrane and a symphonic piece from Tim Garland.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong ~ It Ain't Necessarily So ~ Porgy and Bess Charles Mingus ~ The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers ~ Let My Children Hear Music Roy Ayers Ubiquity ~ Everybody Loves the Sunshine ~ Everybody Loves the Sunshine Rob Thorsen Quartet ~ Let's Fall In Love ~ Evolution Mackenzie Leighton ~ Summer Strollin' ~ I Remember John Patitucci ~ We See ~ Trio Ravi Coltrane ~ For Turiya ~ Blending Times Tim Garland ~ The Forever Seed Part V - Praise ~ Moment Of Departure

This episode begins with two talented flautists from the Southern California, Holly Hofmann and Lori Bell. Also featured here are some great West Coasts pianists, Bill Cunliffe and John Hicks. Alto sax player Sarah Hanahan has released her debut album Among Giants, with a featured track here.

Playlist  Artist ~ Name ~ Album Holly Hofmann ~ Soul-Leo ~ Low Life Lori Bell Quartet ~ Shade of Jade ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson John Patitucci, Vinnie Colaiuta & Bill Cunliffe ~ Ana Maria ~ Trio Sarah Hanahan ~ On the Trail ~ Among Giants John Hicks Quartet ~ Naima's Love Song ~ Naima's Love Song John Hicks Trio ~ Airegin ~ I'll Give You Something to Remember Me by... Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band ~ Season Of Changes ~ Season Of Changes

San Diego's jazz scene takes center stage in this episode! We'll be featuring brand new releases from a jazz legend, saxophonist Charles McPherson and rising star bassist MacKenzie Leighton. We'll also have music from other San Diego favorites Christopher Hollyday and Matt Hall. The show kicks off and wraps up with fantastic vocalese singers LH&R and saxophonists Frahm, Woods, and Farrell.

Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Lambert, Hendricks & Ross ~ Everybody's Boppin' ~ The Hottest New Group In Jazz Joel Frahm ~ Yesterdays ~ I'm Old Fashioned Charles McPherson ~ Ode to Barry ~ Reverence Christopher Hollyday ~ Dialogue ~ Dialogue Mackenzie Leighton ~ Pm/Am ~ I Remember Matt Hall ~ Spearhead ~ I Hope to My Never Phil Woods ~ Airegin ~ Musique du bois Joe Farrell ~ Sound Down ~ Outback