Discovering Jazz

Latest Episodes:

Episode 27, Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 4 Apr 03, 2018

Show notes

You’ll hear a couple of the jazz musicians recruited to play on Van Morrison’s classic “Astral Weeks” album. And a jazz saxophonist who played with both Carole King and The Doors. Zoot Sims and Teddy Wilson back Phoebe Snow. Branford Marsalis with Sting. Just a touch of Miles. A Warkworth resident who has won a Juno for his jazz piano—and also put out an ‘adult contemporary’ cd. And last, but not least, a jazz guitarist who became a member of Wilco.

Episode 26: Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 3 Mar 27, 2018

Show notes

This week’s podcast starts with a guitarist who played on a couple Monkees hits. I include a nice ‘smooth jazz’ recording by him. Also some ‘smooth jazz’ from Chet Baker (followed by his soloing on an Elvis Costello track) and Steely Dan.

But that’s not all there is. A recording by Wayne Shorter that received a grammy nomination for best sax solo is also featured, and I don’t think anybody would accuse this as being ‘smooth’. Another jazz musician who played with Steely Dan is drummer Steve Gadd, and you’ll hear something from a recording from 2015—that also features organist Larry Goldings.

Bruce Cockburn put out a jazz oriented album in 2003, and part of the jazz influence comes thanks to Canadian pianist, Andy Milne. You’ll hear him do improvisations on a very familiar Bob Marley tune…..and I challenge you to recognize it.

I’d really like to hear from any of you who listen to the program….either through the comments section on Peterborough Independent Podcasters, itunes, or email (larry@windsong.bc.ca).

Episode 25, Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 2 Mar 20, 2018

Show notes

What do Herman’s Hermits and ‘Mahavishnu’ John McLauglin have in common? Listen and find out.

This program introduces you to more jazz artists who have played on pop/rock, singer-songwriter, and even classical recordings.

Some of the jazz artists featured today are Charles Mingus, John McLauglin, Wynton Marsalis, and Jaco Pastorius. And a couple tracks from Joni Mitchell as well employing the services of some of those artists. Ending off with The Beatles. Why? Again….you have to listen to find out.

Episode 24, Jazzies Who Play Outside the Genre Part 1 Mar 13, 2018

Show notes

This is part 1 a series of three, maybe four, programs featuring contributions made by jazz artists to non-jazz recordings—-mostly in the pop and rock genres.

It may be a jazz musicians only success in becoming a ‘rock and roll star’. Although ‘star’ doesn’t fit because their contribution rarely gets mentioned.

The program starts with The Byrds and So You want to be A Rock and Roll Star, with “the father of South African Jazz”, Hugh Masekela—who played trumpet in that original 1967 recording. A major part of the program features the late great alto sax player, Phil Woods playing one of my favourite jazz compositions, Stolen Moments, then featuring his cameos on two well known pop recordings.

I play some Miles Davis—-but not because he would ever ‘stoop ‘ to doing studio work. I play Freddie Freeloader from the best selling album of all time because the tune’s pianist–Wynton Kelly—along with the rest of the rhythm section, put out a ‘pop’ instrumental that received a bit of radio play in 1963.

Who else? You’ll learn how jazz pianist Neil Cowley became for a little while ‘the most listened to pianist on the planet’. And a Vancouver drummer, Tom Foster, played on a folk/singer-songwriter album. You’ll hear a track from that plus some more recent work he’s done with jazz pianist George McFetridge.

Episode 23: A Preview to Peterborough’s International Jazz Day weekend, 2018 Mar 06, 2018

Show notes

New York comes to Peterborough April 29, when Brandi Disterheft (originally from Vancouver) and her quartet perform for International Jazz Day. This week’s Discovering Jazz program features her plus the three accomplished New York musicians she is bringing with her.

You’ll hear pianist Alex Minasian, in this track accompanying Mark Murphy.
Drummer Carmen Intorre does a spectacular job keeping guitarist Pat Martino in the groove as he performs Seven Come Eleven.
Saxophonist Vincent Herring, who has played with the likes of Art Blakey, Cedar Walton, Jack Dejohnette, Freddie Hubbard, Carla Bley, Dizzie Gillespie, and Phil Woods here duets with trumpeter Nat Adderley.
Then there is Brandi Disterheft herself—a bassist Oscar Peterson compared to Ray Brown and critics have cited her Charles Mingus influence. And she’s quite the songwriter and singer. And I’m told puts on a great show. I play a total of four tracks from two of her albums.

Also on this program I go back in time celebrating musicians who played at the three previous International Jazz Day celebrations in Peterborough.

I also do a call out to Herbie Hancock, playing one of his best known compositions. Hancock, in his role of Unesco’s Goodwill ambassador, suggested the idea of an international jazz day “to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all four corners of the globe”. (that’s hard to do on a globe…..where are the corners?)

Since many local jazz musicians will also be involved playing in various restaurants the evening before, I found a track by an L.A. group called Auracle, which features the amazing electric keyboard of now Peterborough resident, Biff Hannon.

Episode 22, Women in Jazz Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

To help celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 here is a program on Women in Jazz. Yes…there are a lot of great female vocalists. The most heralded jazz singers are women: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Sheila Jordan, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, and so many others. But you may not be familiar with some of the great female instrumentalists. Hopefully this episode will change that.

Who are some of them? I could mention ones I’m familiar with such as Lil Harden (Armstrong), Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Brandi Disterheft, Chelsea McBride, Regina Carter, Melba Liston, Jane Bunnett, Melissa Aldana, Carla Bley, Deirdre Cartwright, Esperanza Spalding, Diana Krall, Jennifer Scott, Yissy Garcia, Patricia Barber, Hiromi, Yusa. Then there are ones I can’t recall right now. And many more with whom I’m not yet familiar…..and hopefully will someday hear.

Only some of them I can play on a one hour program. I hope you enjoy the ones I selected.

Episode 21, Gillespie, Jamal, McGriff, and Chelsea McBride Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

The feature this week is a 1972 jam session–18 1/2 minutes long– of Dizzy Gillespie’s Night in Tunisia, featuring Dizzy, Stan Getz, Mary Lou Williams, Percy Heath, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson and others. Then you’ll hear two Ahmad Jamal tracks, with a 60 year gap between them. Jimmy McGriff performs a tune that a fine Vancouver jazz saxophonist (Tom Keenlyside) said was one of the most perfectly constructed jazz tunes ever written. And another highlight—Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School, a modern big band from Toronto. I also play Bob Dorough interpreting Randy Newman, and a lovely Wayne Shorter track played by Johnny O’Neal, Dave Young, and Terry Clarke.

Episode 20, Jazz Beatles Part 2 Feb 14, 2018

Show notes

More interesting jazz arrangements of Beatles compositions. It begins with some very early jazz-fusion, and ends with some later jazz fusion. Inbetween…..two Latin jazz renditions of Yesterday, two tracks that feature the trumpet of Lee Morgan, and a simply gorgeous version of Across The Universe by some prominent Toronto musicians. And don`t miss Kevin Turcotte`s trumpet solo. You`ll also hear a duet of Eleanor Rigby with Chick Corea`s piano and Gary Burton`s vibes, and some Bill Frisell and his tribute to John Lennon

Episode 19, Jazz Beatles Part 1 Feb 06, 2018

Show notes

Were The Beatles jazz artists? Of course not! But then neither were The Gershwins, or Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, etc. who wrote those great tunes that have become ‘jazz standards’.

Jazz musicians have quite enjoyed adapting many of those Beatles songs to jazz….re-harmonizing them, changing rhythms, or adding new textures. In this program I play some of those adaptation. You’ll hear Chick Corea and Horomi, Shawn & The Wolf, Jaco Pastorious, Kim Dunn, Interactivo, Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Django Bates, and Larry Coryell.

And as a special treat you’ll get to hear some of my interview with John Lennon.

Alright! You just caught me in a lie. Its not really John Lennon, but a tribute artist who recreates him—a star from the British touring cast of Let it Be: A Celebration of the Music of The Beatles. This man, Michael Gagliano, is a true Beatles enthusiast!

If you like The Beatles and you like jazz……you really don’t want to miss this podcast.

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