Discovering Jazz

Latest Episodes:

Episode 37, Bach, Jazz, Prison Reform and even Red Accordions. Guest: Al Baggs Jul 17, 2018

Show notes

The mathematical mind of Bach shares similarities with the mindset of great jazz composers and improvisers. Peterborough Saxophonist Al Baggs talks about this—and also talks about music as ‘sonic energy’. He then speculates (tongue in cheek I assume) how this could relate to prison reform and a potential research grant that could explore that possibility.

You’ll also hear music by The Swingle Singers, Modern Jazz Quartet, Oscar Peterson, Glenn Gould, Jethro Tull, Dimitri Naiditch, Italian Saxophone Quartet (playing some Piazzolla), and Tiempo Libre.

As for the red accordion? It’s in there somewhere.

Episode 36, What Makes it ‘Jazz’ Singing? Micah Barnes & Gene McDaniels Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

Micah Barnes, Toronto jazz singer and voice teacher, talks about what makes a vocal a jazz vocal. Also the late Gene McDaniels demonstrates singing ‘inside the changes’.

You’ll hear some of the singers who inspired Micah Barnes.

Also a non jazz singer with a jazz singer’s authenticity.

I also play a couple tracks from Micah Barnes “New York Stories” cd.

And finally, one example of an opera singer attempting to sing the blues. Right!

Episode 35. Vinyl records, Spring and Summer Finds Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

I start by featuring Lonnie Johnson—who played the first guitar solo ever on record, in 1927. And we hear him playing with a Toronto Dixieland band from 1965. Plus two very early recordings with his guitar.

I also talk about pianist McCoy Tyner, and play three tracks from a double album—–with guests Arthur Blythe, Bobby Hutcherson, and Freddie Hubbard.

I also play more Freddie Hubbard, Phil Woods, Count Basie, and the later vancouver Tenor saxophonist, Fraser McPherson.

And one tune that’s become almost a ‘standard’—called Star Eyes. It sounds like jazz—especially when you hear Phil Woods play his Charlie Parker inspired rendition. But it was written for a musical called I Dood It. And you’ll hear how it used to sound in a version by Helen O’Connell—before it got jazzed up. Barely recognizable!

Episode 34, Spring and Summer Finds (digital) Jun 14, 2018

Show notes

I’ve discovered some wonderful cd’s and individual downloads over the past spring and summer—-and I want to play you some of the highlights.

My favourite cd I’ve bought is by a 19 piece Toronto big band—Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School. And one that is really growing on me is a very unusual Phil Woods record from 2009 where he set the poems of Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne to music–with vocals by Vickey Doney and Bob Dorough. Another cd by one of the finest new jazz singers is Jazzmeia Horn’s Betty Carter influenced “A Social Call”—and she does a lovely version of the Jimmy Rowles composition, The Peacocks (A Timeless Place). Then there’s a wild pianist I first discovered in my university years—Andrew Hill. I just bought his first cd—one that many critics put in their ‘must own’ list. With Kenny Dorham, Eric Dolphy, Joe Henderson, Richard Davis, and Tony Williams. And I start the program with a track from an Ahmad Jamal digital release of two albums from 1969 and 1971.

I complement those great cd’s with a couple digital downloads sent to me by jazz afficionado and master bassist, Craig Paterson. One is by Herbie Hancock with Columbian singer Juanes. The other is a very recently discovered John Coltrane track. I end with another track Craig sent me by trumpeter Booker Little with Scott LaFaro, from 1960.

Last but not least—-in my quest to find a Canadian male jazz vocalists who I like—I try out Ori Dagan and something from his tribute to Nat King Cole. And with that favourite cd I mentioned at the beginning—-an expressive and smooth vocalist named Alex Samaras, from Toronto.

Episode 33: All About Downbeat Magazine, Part 2 Jun 03, 2018

Show notes

Mary Halvorson, Orquesta Akokan, Danfis Prieto, Lina Allemano’s Titanium Riot, Greg Spero (with an illustrarion of 17/16 metre), Elio Villafranca, Renee Rosnes, Francois Moutin & Kavita Shaw, and Fred Hersch. All talked about in either the May and June, 2018 issues of Downbeat. I also talk a bit about the Downbeat Critics Poll and play something from the very first “Album of the Year”—from 1965.

Episode 32, All About Downbeat Magazine Part 1 May 22, 2018

Show notes

Anybody who takes a major interest in jazz is probably familiar with Downbeat Magazine. I talk a little bit about its early days, then focus on the May, 2018 edition. I play some of the music referred to in this issue—at least the records that sound interesting to me. All part of the ‘discovery’ of jazz.

Who will you hear in today’s episode? It ranges from Duke Ellington to Canadian percussionist, Nick Fraser.

I also feature a piece of music played in one of the famous “Blindfold Tests”—–a part of Downbeat that I always associate with the late jazz critic, Leonard Feather. I talk about the time that I gave Leonard Feather a blindfold test. And one of the recordings that stumped him.

Other musical highlights? Saxophonist Tia Fuller, Cuban pianist Manuel Valera, Oscar Peterson with Singers Unlimited, and the Roberta Piket West Coast Trio.

Taking us seemingly away from jazz—but not really–are Karen Souza singing Every Breath You Take, Kurt Elling singing Paul Simon, and Charles Lloyd with vocalist Lucinda Williams interpreting Bob Dylan.

Don’t miss this action packed program.

As I finish reading the magazine, I’ll have more! Part 2 in a couple weeks.

Episode 31, Tribute to Bob Dorough May 07, 2018

Show notes

Songwriter, pianist, and singer, Bob Dorough, died April 23, 2018 at age 94. He had become one of my favourite jazz artists, leaving a legacy of great tunes and great records. He was the musical presence and songwriter for Schoolhouse Rock, doing such seditious acts as setting the multiplication table to music. This series of short children’s cartoon entertained and instructed ‘unsuspecting children’ from 1973-85, then for another 5 years in the 90’s.

He was also one of the only vocalists to have ever recorded with Miles Davis.

The program starts with one of the most ‘zen’ love songs ever written in jazz. I’ve Got Just About Everything. Its about seeking a relationship but letting go of attachment and craving.

And the program ends with him singing and playing, with brilliant bassist, Bill Takas a Duke Ellington, Harry James, and Johnny Hodges standard.

And in-between? You’ll hear a lot of Bob Dorough’s voice and piano—but also some Miles Davis, Mel Torme, Diana Krall, Spanky and Our Gang, Chad Mitchell, and Marlena Shaw. I’ll also talk about the ‘steps’ that were taken in my own discovery of the brilliance of this amazing artist.

Episode 30, A Potpourri of Discoveries. Apr 25, 2018

Show notes

Today’s podcast features eleven selections that I just felt like playing. Most of them are records, cd’s, or downloads that are pretty recent, the only exception being Hoagy Carmichael’s piano solo version of Stardust.

The other piano solo on this program is something by recently deceased free jazz pianist and composer, Cecil Taylor.

Two songs are played in two different versions. “Social Call” is a record from the mid 50’s from Betty Carter, and its also the title of a 2017 recording by Betty Carter reincarnated, Jazzmeia Horn. I play the title tune as sung by each of them. Both are truly great….and very different!

Then there is an instrumental version of Embraceable You illustrating Toronto trumpeter/flugelhornist Chase Sanborn’s claim that a musician can improvise best if he or she knows the lyrics to the song as well as the melody. I play one version by Chase Sanborn with pianist Mark Eisenman, and another by the late great vocalist, Gene McDaniels.

The opening tune I should have put on one of my jazz Beatles special, as it is still active pianist Roger Kellaway and his 1965 rendition of a Paul McCartney tune. Kellaway recently put together and toured a whole suite called “Many Moods of McCartney”.

Rounding off the program is a song and narration from Phil Woods Children’s Suite based on the poems of A.A. Milne, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Peter Appleyard with some of the best jazz musicians ever, and Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane.

For the rest of the Spring and Summer these podcasts will be programs created specifically for the podcast, rather than those broadcast first on Trent Radio in Peterborough.

Episode 29, International Jazz Day Peterborough-A Travel Guide Apr 17, 2018

Show notes

This is a ‘travel guide’ to Peterborough’s International Jazz Day weekend, April 28-29. Even if you’re not from Peterborough and know you won’t be there that weekend—no problem. Listen to this program anyway. You’ll hear some great music by great artists.

I take you first to one restaurant (Brio Gusto) where you can hear pianist Pete Woolidge and guitarist/composer Federico Pontani and enjoy an appetizer. I play a tune by the Sean Hully Jazz Group featuring (and written by) Federico called, ironically, Summer is Back. Then I take you to La Hacienda to hear Canada’s most famous bassist, Dave Young playing with piano master Steve Holt–and eat some great Mexican food. And I play a beautiful composition by Steve Holt (with trumpeter Kevin Turcotte) and follow it with Bass Blues by Dave Young and Oliver Jones. For dessert go to Curry Village and have an Indian sweet and hear Donna Collison and another amazing pianist, Biff Hannon. I play a Sonny Rollins composition with the Maynard Ferguson band featuring a terrific piano solo by Biff Hannon.

From 6:30 to 9:30 is Carrie Chesnutt playing and singing with Mike Graham and the legendary Dennis Pendrith. I play some excerpts from Carrie. As well as Mike Graham and the Funksters.

Then we move to Sunday. There will be a jazz combo workshop at Market Hall—free to participants and audience.

Make sure you have tickets for the feature performance Sunday night—-and get there early at 6:30 for cocktails and The PWB Band—3 teens who are truly the future of jazz.

Brandi Disterheft Quartet is the feature, starting at 7:30. Her quartet includes Vincent Herring on saxophone, and I play a 2004 track by him called Hopscotch. Also part of the quartet is pianist Alex Minasian and drummer Carmen Intorre.

The program ends with three tracks by Brandi Disterheft from he last two albums. She plays bass on all of them, and sings on two of them. Lovely voice, fine composer.

Episode 28, Classical VS Jazz and Its Cross Pollination Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

Special guest for this program is Al Baggs, a jazz saxophonist who is equally fascinated by ‘classical’ or what is often termed ‘serious’ music. With his gems of information and droll British humour, you’ll get an idea of how classical and jazz cross pollinates or fertilizes each other. Using a number of different musical selections, we illustrate the similarities and differences.

Al, although being mostly a jazz musician, has a real appreciation for ‘classical’ or ‘serious’ music of all kinds—and isn’t convinced that jazz necessarily falls into that category. Except for jazz drummers—and his comments about them lead me toward an appreciation I never really had before.

I can only air a bit of what was almost two hours of chat…..so if you find it interesting, I can present more on that topic. Your comments are always appreciated.

P.S. I recently (Feb 22/19)did a bit of a re-edit of this episode, correcting an embarrassing pronunciation of the name of the great Montreal drummer, Claude Ranger.

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