Discovering Jazz

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Archives, Episode 53: The Jazz Solo, Part 2 Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Another really fascinating episode from 5 years ago. This time I explore some of the controversies around two jazz solos.

The first one is Tommy Flanagan’s solo on Coltrane’s Giant Steps. One jazz writer stated ““With Giant Steps Coltrane supplanted Cherokee as the litmus test for aspiring improvisers, packing so many harmonic substitutions into one progression that at first blush, consummate pianist Tommy Flanagan could barely eke his way through the changes”. So how bad was Flanagan’s solo? And was Coltrane’s solo so powerful that it could cause us to experience vertigo?

Then there’s the controversy around Cannonball Adderly’s solo in Miles (aka Milestones). Fred Hersch said it ‘shone’. And another writer said he ‘struggled’ because he tried to play it like bebop rather than like modal music. You be the judge.

Other solos featured are by Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Guido Basso, Ornette Coleman, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, and Charlie Christian.

Archives: Episode 52, The Jazz Solo Part 1 Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

You just finished listening to Parts 4, 5, and 6 of The Jazz Solo. Now, as I take a bit of a break, lets go back five years and hear Parts 1, 2, and 3.

The first episode was probably the best of the bunch. Why don’t we all say ‘so what’ to Miles Davis’s most highly renowned jazz solo? And the other great solos in that piece of work as well.

Then there’s Louis Armstrong’s and Johnny Dodd’s solos in Potato Head Blues.

I also play raved about solos by Paul Bley, Oliver Nelson, John Coltrane, and Israel Crosby.

Episode 271: Great Solos Part 6 Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

This is the last of my series designed to help me (and you) distinguish the difference between a ‘great’ jazz solo and a good one.

Lots of great music once again from Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock (with Freddie Hubbard), Dave Brubeck, Ellas Kapell (w. Manne Skafvenstedt), Jeff Johnston Trio, Coleman Hawkins, and Hank Mobley.

Episode 270 -Great Jazz Solos, Part 5 Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

What are some of the jazz solos that other musicians and jazz writers consider to be so great? And what makes them great?

This week I start with a solo by Charlie Parker—talking about what has been termed “the famous alto break”. Then I move onto John Coltrane—and playing that sounds like it’s either “all composed or all improvised”.

The episode ends with Jaco Pastorious and his bass and percussion recording of Donna Lee, followed by a Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins ‘cutting contest’, with Dizzy Gillespie also getting into the fray.

Other well-known solos you’ll hear are Cannonball Adderley playing I Can’t Get Started. Then there’s Chick Corea with a solo described as “a perfect example of motivic development and story telling”.

There are also a couple lesser known solos. From 1997 there is Toronto guitarist David Occhipinti along with David Restivo and Jim Vivian. And one of my favourites—Victoria’s Kelby McNayr with a soft, subtle but creative drum solo that sounds too understated to be a ‘solo’. But it is!

Episode 269, Great Jazz Solos, Part 4. Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Part 4, you ask? But where are Parts 1, 2, and 3. Answer: Way way back five years to Episodes 52 to 54.

The goal? To get a greater sense of the difference between a jazz solo that is considered *great* versus solos that are just ‘good’ (and sometimes not even that).

I reach out to ‘experts’ to get some opinions—and I play some of that music with those recommended solos.

This episode there are only seven tracks—and two of them are so long that I can’t play the whole thing. But enough to get a sense of the recommended solo and its context. No jazz solo really exists outside it’s context—which includes the ‘head’ (or main melody), the harmony, and the solo that other musicians play.

You’ll hear raved about solos by Paul Gonsalves, Frank Rosolino, Mike Murley, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Kevin Turcotte, and, of course, Louis Armstrong. There are other solos too—and some of them you might like even better than those ones the experts are talking about.

And in the next two weeks—two more episodes. Then I’ll go back into the archives and reprise the first three episodes.

Episode 268: Jazz Musicians (How They Live and) How They Died, Part 3 Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

The last of this fascinating three part series. I start by talking about and playing a great track by Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly–from newly discovered recordings released last year. And I finish with the great Rashaan Roland Kirk—focusing on his amazing resilience as he kept playing despite a debilitating stroke.

Another amazingly resilient musician who carried on despite physical difficulties was Michel Petrucciani.

Other musicians and singers I play this week are Chet Baker w. Paul Bley, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, Eric Dolphy w. a bunch of jazz superstars (including jazz drummer Tony Williams), drummer Karen Carpenter (really!), and Amy Winehouse.

And as a special treat, a Vancouver pianist who made no commercial recordings but was raved about by Oscar Peterson: Chris Gage.

Episode 267: How They Lived and How They Died, Part 2 Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Lots of old recordings today. From 1927 to 2023. But they’re all by great jazz artists who we wish had been around a lot longer than they were.

Some of them, like Lee Morgan, King Curtis, and James Reese Europe, and Evan Thomas (who never recorded) died violent deaths at the hands of others. Others, like Albert Ayler and Claude Ranger were very mysterious deaths or disappearances. Trumpeter Jimmy Noone died at home of a sudden heart attack at age 48.. Alcoholism or other addictions claimed Bix Beiderbecke, Jaimie Branch, and Billie Holiday. And the lifestyle of ‘life on the road’ led to the deaths of two Charlies, Christian & Parker.

But most important is the great music these artists made….and that’s what you’ll hear on this podcast.

Episode 266: Jazz Musicians: (How They Lived) How They Died. Part 1 Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

I’ve heard and read many stories of jazz artists who have left us due to drugs, violence, and sudden accidents. The next 3 episodes talks about some of them. But rather than just focusing on how they lived and how they inspired us! And most importantly, I play their music.

This first episodes starts off with later-life John Coltrane. You’ll also hear and hear about Eddie Jefferson, Nat King Cole, Chano Pozo, Jaco Pastorius, Wardell Gray, Lenny Breau, Emily Remler, Esjborn Svensson, Tommy Dorsey, Clifford Jordan, and Sarah Vaughan,

Episode 265: Some Recent Historical Releases Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

This last episode of my ‘best of 2023’ series takes you back in time to re-releases, remastered recordings, or newly discovered vintage recordings.
There are a lot of them…and many of them made the critics’ ‘best of’ lists.

I start with a never before released recording of Bill Evans Trio playing My Foolish Heart. And finish with a Nina Simone track from a 1966 Newport performance that had previously been stored in The Library of Congress.

In-between you’ll hear a newly discovered live track from Dave Brubeck Quartet recorded four months before the legendary Time Out album. And does it ever sound great!

Also some Ahmad Jamal, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, Don Thompson and Rob Piltch, and Charles Mingus.

Episode 264, Best of 2023 Part 7 Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

This week a few more 2023 albums noted by reviewers and critics.

You’ll hear a track from:

John Zorn: Homenaje A Remedios Var.o. This is just one of 14 releases that Zorn put out in 2023. Talk about prolific!
Noah Haidu: Standards. And I’m anticipating him putting out another ‘standards’ album in 2024.
Benny Benack IIi: trumpeter and singer’s 3rd album called “Third Time’s The Charm”.
Audrey Ochoa: Head of a Mouse. A fantastically talented Edmonton trombonist.
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society: Dynamic Maximum Tension.. The track is a tribute to Alan Turing and his role as ‘codebreaker’. What are the words and numbers the opening intro is tapping out?
Flying Pooka: The Ecstasy of Becoming. Another Canadian group—a Newfoundland duo of Florian Hoefner and Dani Oore.
Ellas Kapell: For All We Know. My favourite album of 2023. A very different rendition of Harry Warren and Al Dubin’s “How Could You?”
Ricki Lee Jones: Pieces of Treasure. She put out a ‘standards’ ep of sorts 40 years ago. Now a full album with great jazz backup.
Avishai Cohen & Abraham Rodriguez: Iroko. Features musicians from a number of different countries. Lots of Afro-Caribbean rhythms.
Ryuchi Sakamoto: An album this great soundtrack writer (Last Emperor, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence) as he was dying of cancer.
Johnathan Blake: Passage. Made a few reviewer’s best of 2023 lists. With David Virelles,Joel Ross,Immanuel Willkins, Dezron Douglas.

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