Discovering Jazz

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Episode 184: Amazing Women in Jazz Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

I played some records by some great female instrumental jazz artists last week….and this week I have some more (plus a vocalist or two).

I remember only a few years ago when people so often spoke about the dearth of women in the jazz world. And just within five years there numbers have blossomed. Just look at the critics and jazz fans polls in the various jazz magazines.

One highlight of this week’s episode is a Vancouver based singer who was recently honoured by Canada Post by having her picture on a new stamp. Her name is Eleanor Collins, and she never put out a commercial recording. With one exception! A single track on an album by a Vancouver B.C. based jazz combo honouring compositions by Canadian women.

Another highlight is the great Alice Coltrane—before she became Alice Coltrane.

Actually they are all highlights. You’ll hear Toronto saxophonist Allison Au, pianists Renee Rosnes, Marian McPartland, Helen Sung, and Geri Allen. There’s a jazz cellist named Tomeika Reid who plays on a recording with award winning guitarist Mary Halvorson. Trumpeter Bria Skonberg does a great combination of Duke Ellington and Paul McCartney.

Then there is pianist/arranger/writer/orchestrator Toshiko Akiyoshi. And have you heard Esperanza Spaulding’s new album? You’ll hear a track here.

Episode 183: Women in Jazz (for International Women’s Day). Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

March 8 is International Women’s Day. It falls on a Tuesday–the same day I upload these podcasts. It turned out to be so easy to find great female jazz instrumentalists; much easier than when I did a similar podcast four years ago.

And the instruments? There’s piano, guitar, Pedal Harp, Trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, bass, drums, orchestra arranger, and alto sax. And, of course, some vocals.

Some are very familiar names, some of them I’ve heard and heard of for the first time. Some of the performers are from the early days of jazz. Some are brand new. Many are in-between. And one of them collaborates with David Bowie.

Episode 182, All About the Bass, Part 3. Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

From solo bass to bass in a big band. From free jazz to Gypsy Jazz. And lots more.

You’ll hear more bassists in this episode. They include Christian McBride, Victoria’s Joey Smith, Eberhard Weber, Stanley Clarke, Charlie Haden, Ron Carter, Brandi Disterheft, Dave Holland, Tiny Grimes, and two by George Duvivier.

Episode 181, Jazz Bass Part 2 Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

For all you Jaco fans…two tracks from his Weather Report days.

I play a track from another electric bassist you’ve probably never heard of…Bill Takas.

Another lesser known bassist is Victoria B.C. born Neil Swainson….and here I play a track from the only album under his name, featuring Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw.

As well, I play some Chares Mingus and talk about his influences. Also, Paul Chambers and his bass bowing. And the Sam Jones Big Band (where you also hear some soloing from pianist Fred Hersch early in his career).

There’s an interesting educational piece too, where another Victoria B.C. bassist, Louis Rudner, talks about how he will sometimes use a ‘template’ for a bass solo as used by master bassist Oscar Pettiford. I follow that with Oscar Pettiford demonstrating exactly what Louis is talking about. And you’ll hear some great bass work with Louis backing up Vancouver singer Maya Ray.

Episode 180: Jazz Bass, Part 1 Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

This episode is part 1 of a three part series on bass players in the world of jazz. I begin with the tuba—which, along with the bass saxophone, was the primary bass instrument in turn of the century New Orleans Jazz.

They couldn’t use a string bass because you couldn’t hear it….as there were no microphones. But there was an exception! I play a recording by a group led by a string bassist who had been playing it as early as 1900.

You’ll also hear Walter Page, Toronto’s Steve Wallace, Norman Bates, a bit of Ron Carter, Ray Brown, and Percy Heath.

I talk about (and play) two of the greatest innovators of jazz bass, Jimmy Blanton and Scott Lafaro, both who died in their mid 20’s. But there influence was incredible.

And somewhere in there you hear a bit of vocalese from Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, conjuring up the spirit of Paul Chambers, Charles Mingus, Percy Heath, Ray Brown, and Oscar Pettiford.

But it all starts with the tuba—and Chink Martin even gets a little solo.

Episode 179: Best of 2021, Part 4 (last one). Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Twelve more recordings voted by jazz critics and radio stations as being the best of 2021. I start with Los Angeles pianist Cameron Graves and end with Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga. And between those selections are a variety of straight-ahead and ‘out there’ jazz.

From New York, there’s drummer/percussionist Ches Smith and The We All Break.

I play a few great collaborations, such as clarinetist Ben Goldberg with guitarist Mary Halvorson. Then there’s Whiterock B.C. native Amanda Tosoff collaborating with Laila Biali and Alex Samaras. And don’t forget Portuguese vocalist Sara Serpa getting together with Nigerian writer Emmanuel Iduma. Then there’s the great bassist Esperenza Spalding NOT playing bass and trombonist Corey King NOT playing trombone.

Others from ‘best of’ or jazz charts lists include Nelson Riveros, Emma Jean Thackray, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Renee Rosnes.

Only one album is reprised from Part 1 of this series. That’s Veronica Swift’s ‘This Bitter Earth’. From the album I play a delightful Dave Frishberg composition about the only news you can really trust these days (at least according to Frishberg).

Episode 178: Best of 2021, Part 3 Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

From perusing a number of ‘best of’ lists, filled with choices of top albums of 2021 by jazz fans and critics, I present tracks from 9 more albums. Some of it is more ‘modern’ sounding–such as Wadada Leo Smith, Floating Points, Kurt Elling’s new album, BadBadNotGood, Patricia Brennan, and Kenny Garrett. Then there’s a few more ‘traditional’ sounding jazz albums by Antonio Adolfo, Brandi Disterherft, and Vincent Herring. But it’s all high quality music.

Episode 177: Tunes for a Jazz Jam Session, Part 2 Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

This week I play two versions of the tune that students and professional jazz players say is a ‘must learn’ if you’re going to any kind of a jazz jam. I also list other tunes that people from the Jazz World site mentioned when I asked them what tunes one *must* know.

And you’ll hear great recordings of some of these tunes by the likes of Miles Davis, Joe Henderson and Kenny Dorham, Oliver Jones, Charlie Parker, Pat Coil, Gene McDaniels, Wynton Kelly, and Emilie Claire-Barlow, And for me, the highlight of this week’s episode is a gorgeous version of Body and Soul as interpreted by Pat Martino and Gil Goldstein.

Episode 176: Tunes You Need to Know for a Jazz Jam Session, Part 1 Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

You’ve been invited to an informal jam session and you want to make sure you are familiar with the tunes likely to be played or ‘called out’. Which ones do you need to know? I asked this question on a facebook site (The Jazz World) populated by jazz musicians and students.

The #1 thing they said you need to know are what is called ‘rhythm changes’. Just as important are the three different kinds of blues progressions.

They also chose a number of different tunes that are ‘must learns’.

On this episode I play great recordings of tunes with those needed changes and/or progressions, and some of the songs suggested.

For instance, I play a classic version of The Flintstones Theme by some of the world’s finest jazz players. How does that fit into this topic? Listen to find out.

Episode 175: ‘Best of’ Lists for 2021, Part 2 Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Various websites and magazines put out their ‘best of’ lists for 2021. I chose the first six that came up on Google, and also looked at the summary of the albums most played by jazz radio stations (mostly American) for the year. I listened to a bit of everything, then chose a few that interested me. And I’m presenting tracks from those albums in this 4-part series.

This week you’ll hear the Chick Corea Akoustic Band, Allan Harris, George Cables, The Baylor Project, James Brandon Lewis, Julian Lage, Gerry Gibbs, Nala Sinephro (playing a pedal harp), Artemis, Bell Orchestre (from Montreal), and Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes.

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