Discovering Jazz

Latest Episodes:

Episode 255: Favourites from LP Collection, Part 3 Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

This week I play tracks from:

=Bill Evans classic Sunday At the Village Vanguard. Two compositions by Scott Lafaro.

-Jane Bunnett’s first album, In Dew Time—the title referring to the presence of the great tenor saxophonist, Dewey Redman.

-Paul Winter Consort. The Icarus album. Ralph Towner’s Sunwheel.

-The amazing accordionist, Art Van Damme.

-a Wayne Shorter composition from Weather Reports “Heavy Weather”‘ album.

-Teresa Brewer with Shelly Manne.

-George Hall and his Taft Hotel Orchestra, and track from the album by Dolly Dawn (an under-rated singer) and Her Dawn Patrol Boys.

-Midnight Light album, Contemporary Music From The Yukon, by John Steins and Scott Sheerin

-Richie Cole and his Hollywood Madness abum

-Billy Storm singing up a storm with his rendition of God Bless The Child.

–

Episode 254: More From my LP Collection Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Modern Jazz Quartet, Julie London, Teddy Wilson, Erroll Garner, Nina Simone, Nellie Lutcher, Lalo Schifrin, Paul Horn, Gene Bertoncini w. Michael Moore, Jim McHarg w. Lonnie Johnson.

Those are records I dug from my storage locker: great albums I played for myself this week.. And I found at least one track from each I wanted to play for you!

I also share a personal story or two about each album, and the occasional tidbit about the artist(s) behind the record.

Will you like everything? Probably not…even though I do. It’s quite the variety of music that we call ‘jazz’.

Episode 253: From My LP Collection, Part 1 Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

I haven’t had much chance over the past few years to play many of the lp records I have stored in my storage locker. This series of episodes remedies some of that.
I’m listening to a few of them and digitalizing some favoured cuts so I can play them on this podcast.

This week’s episodes starts and ends with Sarah Vaughan and some amazing vocals with the backing of Count Basie’s Orchestra (minus the Count). Between those tracks you’ll hear Phil Woods, Lennie Tristano, Buddy DeFranco (playing a rare George Russell composition) and accordio-organ player, Tommy Gumina.. There’s also a bit of Oscar Peterson with Stephane Grappelli . And Toronto’s UZEB with guest Michael Brecker.

Then there are two great but rarely heard vocalists: Lee Wiley, and Gene (Eugene) McDaniels,

Last but not least an improvisation on Norwegian Wood, with the ‘W” turned upside down—-and entitled “Norwegian Mood”. That’s by guitarist Peter Walker.

Episode 252:Yardbird Suite, CKUA, and Jazz as a Thriving Art Form Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

More on the Edmonton Jazz scene, including a call out to CKUA radio. Also more on the thriving Yardbird Suite jazz club, including Marc Vasey’s story of how he discovered and secured their current venue.

Great music too! You’ll hear Rubim de Toledo, J.J. Johnson, Pepper Adams Quartet, Bill Frisell, Doug Organ, Audrey Ochoa, Sheila Jordan, and John Handy. These are all musicians who have played at The Yardbird Suite. And a touch of The Guess Who (who have, as far as I know, never played the Yardbird).

Episode 251: The Yardbird Suite Jazz Club, Part 1 Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

It’s located at the gateway to Northern Alberta, Canada—the city of Edmonton. And it’s been billed as Canada’s longest running volunteer-run jazz club, having first started in 1957.

This episode explores its history, and features recordings by some of the great artists who have played there.

Along with interviews with Marc Vasey, Todd Crawshaw, and Francis Remedios, you’ll hear some great clips from a documentary film that was made about this club. And a story about David Bowie and his trip to The Yardbird. And then there’s music by international stars like The Ted Heath Orchestra, guitarist Lenny Breau, Charles Tolliver, Courtney Pine, Daniel Karlsson Trio, and Marius Vandenbrink. You’ll also hear clips and music from Edmonton’s most famous saxophonist, P.J. Perry.

Episode 250: Albums Rated High on Today’s Jazz Charts Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

I really love listening to this podcast—even if I did put it together myself. I went through a few of the albums currently (as of Oct 12, 2023) on the Jazz Week Charts. Those charts reflect albums on the playlists of various jazz radio stations in North America. And I played a track from some of the albums that personally stood out for me.

One of the most outstanding ones, to my way of thinking, were Joshua Redman and Gabrille Cassava’s interpretation of By The Time I Get to Phoenix….with interesting updated lyrics to reflect cellphones rather than landline phones hanging on the wall. Such beautiful playing—and singing. That’s an album I plan to purchase.

Other hilights: Cuban/Toronto pianist Hilario Duran with Elizabeth Rodriguez doing amazing things to Cry Me A River—Cuban style! There are exciting tracks from two albums led by drummers: Richard Baratta and Brandon Sanders. Quite a bit of trumpet as well, thanks to Benny Benack II, Bria Skonberg, Eddie Henderson, and Terell Stafford (although actually the latter is playing flugelhorn). Then there’s a delightful tune by guitarist Diego Figueredo. Pianists Miki Yamanka and Harold Lopez Nussa round things out giving us a combination of gin and hope.

Special Archive, episode 161, The Voice of Carla Bley Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Having just heard the news of the passing of one of my favourite jazz musicians, pianist and composer Carla Bley, I thought I’d re-visit a past podcast from 2021.

Episode 249: Great recordings With Frequently Used Scales Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Last week I talked about modes used in jazz. Modes are really nothing more than a scale. This week I’ll talk about some other scales, and play tunes that illustrate that scale.

I talk about the bebop scale, diminished scale, various minor scales, the blues scale, and the whole tone scale. And play tunes by Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver with Bill Henderson, John Coltrane, Karen Plato, Sonny Rollins, John Stetch, David Baker,, Charlie Parker, and JJ Johnson.

Episode 248: I Don’t Particularly Like Modes A Lot Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

I usually try to avoid talking about jazz theory in this podcast. That’s partly because of it’s complexity, as well as my own limited knowledge. I do believe its possible to love a piece of jazz without understanding the theory behind it.

At the same time, if we have a sense of some of the different scales or ‘modes’ used, it can enhance our ability to make sense of it.

In this episode I talk briefly about the seven major key ‘modes’–the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixylidian, Aeolian, and Locrian. Then I play a jazz recording that utilizes each mode.

You’ll hear great recordings by John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Sarah Vaughan, Gil Evans, Woody Shaw, and the recently deceased Richard Davis with Junior Mance,.

Oh! And don’t take the title of this podcast too literally.. It’s a mnemonic that helps me to remember the modes.

Episode 247: Favourite Autumn Songs Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

“Tis Autumn! There have been some wonderful jazz, big band, broadway, and even ‘folk’ oriented tunes written about the Fall season. In this episode I play a version of ten of my favourites.

They range from Paul Bley to Frank Sinatra—and I even throw in something by early Joni Mitchell. You’ll also hear Woody Herman, Ahmad Jamal, Bob Dorough, Hartman & Coltrane, Jennifer Scott w. Peter Bernstein and Cory Weeds, and Dave McKenna & Buddy DeFranco,

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected