Discovering Jazz

Latest Episodes:

Episode 133, Best of 2020 Part 3 Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast starts off with a 1 1/2 minute ditty meant to describe 2020. And he recorded it in January of that year. How did Dan Rosenboom know what was coming?

I play a few tracks from albums that various critics think are the best of 2020, plus one that might be in somebody’s list for next year (maybe mine). That one is by Sue Maskaleris and her intriguing album called Love is The Key.

I also play a track from an historical album….a previously unreleased recording session from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, featuring Hank Mobley.

The other 2020 albums are by

-Aaron Diehl,

-Poncho Sanchez,

-Artemis,

-Montreal’s Jean-Pierre Zanella,

-John Beasley and his Monk’estra,

-Irreversible Entanglements,

-Sharel Cassity

-Gregoire Maret, Romain Collin, and Bill Frisell.

By going through various critics lists, I’m discovering that here really is interesting jazz still being produced!

Next week: a jazz preview to the Grammys.

Episode 132: Best of 2020 Part 2 Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Today I play a few tracks from records that Scott Yanow, Downbeat Magazine, CBC, Stereogum, and Bandcamp say are among 2020’s best.

The range of styles is pretty extreme! From the most basic New orleans style jazz to what youtube classifies as dance/electonic. The highlights for me are 12 minutes of a recently discovered Thelonious Monk concert and the title track from 81 year old Carla Bley’s latest: Life Goes On. And so it does!

Episode 131: Best of 2020 (According to Experts) Part 1 Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

Yes….you thought you’d escaped 2020. But despite it’s difficulties, you have to agree that some great recordings were made……maybe because musicians had time to stay home and create rather than do what they had to do to make a living. Because I don’t usually listen to that much new jazz, I decided to leave it to the experts and I went through a few ‘best of’ lists. It was overwhelming. Then I had to select albums and tracks that I felt like playing. I’m not sure what the criteria was….but I do like a variety.

On this first program of the series, you’ll hear Ambrose Akinmusire, Aaroh Diehl (his polar opposite musically), Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl, Laila Biali, Peter and Will Anderson Featuring (the late) Jimmy Cobb, Dr. John and the WDR Big Band, Joachim Mencel, and Roots Magic.

It’s a show where I really like everything I play on it. Honest!

Episode 130:Goodbye to Discovering Jazz 2020 Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

As we emerge into the dawn of 2021 we tearfully bid goodbye to 2020. (Just kidding). But I am presenting a summary of some of the past year’s podcasts, and playing a few favourite selections from them.

Archives: Christmas podcast from 2017. Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

I’m taking a break for a week…..and posting a program of jazz oriented Christmas and other winter holiday tunes from three years ago.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Ramadan, Diwali, Epiphany (or Three Kings Day), New Year, Las Posadas, Mardi Gras, Lori, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Chalica, or whatever holiday you want to celebrate. What is Chalica, you ask? Well, you’ll have to hear this podcast to find out. :),

-Larry

Episode 129: Christmas Jazz Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

Last week I had jazz for all the winter holidays. This week I focus on Christmas. You’ll hear traditional carols, songs written by jazz artisits that people like to play during this season, a couple old standards, and one brand new tune.

I play some Oscar Peterson Trio, Joe Pass, Vince Guaraldi, Vince Guaraldi’s drummer (Jerry Granelli), Jacob Collier, Tony Bennett & Bill Evans, Jen Hodge All Stars, Dexter Gordon, Carri Coltrane with Ted Brancato, and Wynton Marsalis & Ted Nash with the Jazz At The Lincoln Centre Orchestra.

Then I finish the podcast with a hopeful new tune written and sung by Vancouver’s Michelle Creber that takes us through the pandemic and toward a ‘new day’.

Episode 128: Holiday Jazz Part 1 Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

This is a podcast of music for the winter holidays: Christmas, New Year’s, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah (or Chanukkah), Las Posadas, Mardi Gras, Lohri, Diwalis, Epiphany, etc. Most of it is jazz or pretty close to jazz.

If you’re looking for familiar Christmas music by which to decorate your tree, this probably isn’t the podcast for you. But next week’s might be.

The highlight of the program? I think it’s saxophonist Samy Thiebault and his composition called ‘Diwali’. But there’s lots of other great music too…..some of it pretty high energy.

Episode 127, The Self-Taught Musician—myths and realities. Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

I explore some of the life and music of a few so-called ‘self-taught’ jazz musicians. None of them learned music in a ‘void’, any more than the formally trained musician is solely a product of the training.

As well as hearing music by these well-known artists, you’ll hear pianist Ron Drotos (keyboardimprov.com) talk about a specific technique he used to teach himself, as a youth, to play pieces that were way beyond his level.

Episode 126, More Random Selections from my Jazz Library Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Lots of music today and not too much talk.

From my online downloads you’ll hear Joe Henderson, Leslie Odom Jr., Wolff Clark Dorsey, and Gilson Perenzetta & Mauro Senise.

Canadian groups are Victoria’s Naden Band featuring Roy Styffe, Chelsea McBride & Her Socialist Night School, and Jane Bunnett & Maqueque.

Lastly, some random selections from my lp’s, where I play some Sarah Vaughan, Lenny Breau, and Earl Hines.

Episode 125: Random Selections from my ‘Jazz’ Library. Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Last week I explored some of the ‘edges’ of the jazz genre. This week I unintentionally do the same simply by going through tunes I’ve downloaded into my mediamonkey music list and put in the ‘jazz’ category. Some are definitely more ‘jazzy’ than others. But it turns out to be a great show. Possibly because I have good taste in what I put in my huge list of songs. Or maybe I just got lucky with my random selections,.

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