Discovering Jazz

Latest Episodes:

Episode 219: More Bopless Jazz and Big Band/Swing Evolution. (Part 2) Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

For this episode I play some music from some modern big bands: You’ll hear The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with John Pizzarelli, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Kansas Smitty’s. One somewhat older big band too–Maynard Ferguson Orchestra from 1964. Closing off with something really weird from Martin Kuchen’s Angles.

I also talk about how, when jazz musicians play Brazilian music, they have to be vigilant to ensure the ‘bebop virus’ doesn’t get in there. Oscar Peterson’s Trio has some success in doing that in their two version’s of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s ‘Triste’. Both recorded live the same year, with different bassist and drummer—and are they ever different from each other!

Lots of great suggestions from the Jazz World facebook site for this topic. One person suggested I explore something called “Electro Swing”. So I did. You’ll hear at least part of Aron Chupa with Little Sis Nora, Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP, and Dimie Cat.

And interesting episode with lots of variety.

Episode 218:Evolution of Swing, or Bopless Jazz. Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

What if Bebop never happened? And ‘swing’ evolved into something very different from the swing of the 30’s, 40’s, and even 50’s?

That’s the question I asked of jazz musicians and aficionados who frequent the JazzWorld site on facebook. And I received some great responses!

My favourite was a questioning of the question: “bit like if ancient ape-like creatures did not evolve into humans what might they have become that was more ape-like”

But I received some great ideas for this week’s and next week’s episodes.

I play recordings that demonstrate how big band music evolved from Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington—and all the way to Don Ellis. And throw in some 3rd Stream Music a la Sketches of Spain, Cuban music thanks to Roberto Fonseca, and some Gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt.

I also explore some of the evolution from Louis Jordan to hip-hop and pop-rock via Post Modern Jukebox and Victoria’s “Downtown Mischief”,

And we can’t forget The WDR Big Band (and their evolution), Woody Herman, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.

Episode 217: More Bebop! Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Bebop, Part 2, tells you more about what it is, why it happened, and why it ‘took over’ jazz—despite it never really catching on with the public.

I play older bebop recordings by Charlie Parker, Bob Dorough, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Theonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Paul Bley Trio. Also a newer recording from guitarist Pasquale Grasso with grammy award winning singer, Samara Joy.

Many original bebop tunes came from improvisations made up when playing some old ‘standards’. To illustrate this I play the famous “Donna Lee” as well as the tune from which it took it’s chord sequence: Indiana, here performed by Lester Young w. The Oscar Peterson Trio.

Episode 216: Bebop–What Is It, Who Created it, and Why Did It Happen? Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Bebop was the ‘modern jazz’ of the early to mid 1940’s. And it’s still considered ‘modern jazz’. It is a genre that has lasted! And developed….with most new recordings being described as ‘post bop’ or ‘hard bop’.

When many people claim to dislike jazz, they are often referring to the complex harmonies and rhythms of bebop.

But listening to this episode will help you understand and appreciate this art form.

I talk about Bebop and play some classic and later recordings. I also throw in a couple earlier ones that may have influenced that music, as well as a rap album that was influenced by bebop.

Episode 215: My Own Favourites from 2022. Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

I’ve discovered a lot of great music over the past two months—thanks to those top 10 lists compiled by 97 reviewers and critics.

A handful of those albums would probably go on my own Top 10 list, were I to make one.

In this episode I play tracks from 9 great albums from the past year. Some are pretty obscure, and some aren’t.

This is the last episode of five programs on the best jazz albums of 2022, according to jazz reviewers and critics. Over the next few weeks you’ll hear some bebop and learn some of it’s history, as well as some great historical albums. And who knows what else in terms of both older and newer jazz.

Episode 214, Countdown: Top 10 Albums of 2022 (According to ‘experts’). Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

I’ve tabulated the results of 97 reviewers and their top 10 albums lists for 2022. Here are the albums followed by the number of votes each one received.

Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis (also Belladonna…not quite so often) 31
Cecille McLorin Salvant: Ghost Songs 28
Immanuel Wilkins: Seventh Hand 26
Makaya McCraven: In these Times 23
Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Mesmerism 15
Charles Lloyd: trio of Trios–Chapel 15
Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade: Long Gone 14
Samara Joy: Linger While 14
Nduduzo Makhatini: In the Spirit of Ntu 13
Terri Lyne Carrington: New Standards Vol. 1 13
Melissa Aldana: 12 Stars 10
Binker & Moses: Feeding the Machine 9
Keith Jarrett: Bordeaux Concert 9
Joel Ross: Parable of The Poet 9
William Parker: Universal Tonality 8
Sun Ra Arkestra: Living Sky 8
Jeff Parker: Mondays at the Enfield Tennis Academy 8
The Comet is Coming: Hyper Dimensional…. 8
Myra Melford: For The Love of Fire and Water 8
Avishai Cohen Trio: Shifting Sands 8
Charles Mingus: Lost Album from Ronnie Scott’s 8
Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights 8
Miles Davis Bootleg Series 8–That’s What Happened. 8

On this episode I play a track from eight of the top 10 ranked albums, plus two Canadian albums that were mentioned on some ‘top 10’ lists. The Canadian albums are The Ostara Project, and Neil Swainson’s ‘Fire in the West’.

Episode 213, Critics Choice for Best of 2022 Part 3 Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

There have been a total of 480 albums that 97 reviewers placed on their top 10 lists. That’s a lot! Wish I could listen to them all.

But here’s a few I did listen to—at least in part—and want to play for you. This way you and I are making these ‘discoveries’ together. Although I suspect some of you are more familiar with many of them than I am.

Near the beginning you’ll hear two versions of the same tune–Eddie Harris’s Freedom Jazz Dance. They’re both played by the same drummer/leader (Florian Arbenz) recorded a few months apart, but with different instrument combinations. And very different arrangements. To me that epitomizes ‘jazz’.

Other artists are Ethan Iverson, Matthew Shipp Trio, Tom Skinner, Kate Baker & Vic Juris, Mali Obamsawin, Sun Ra Arkestra featuring 98 year old Marshall Allen, and Al Foster. As for historical releases—you must listen to this ‘discovery’ of a 1972 concert by Pepper Adams with The Tommy Banks Trio.

More great variety! And we call it ‘jazz’.

Just a quick addendum: Just prior to uploading this episode I noticed that the previous episode, Part 2, had over 700 hits. Usually within a week a typical episode gets about 400. So it’s encouraging to know that you are enjoying this series on the best albums of 2022. Thank you for your support! And if you feel motivated, a review and rating on the itunes podcast site would be so appreciated! -Larry

Episode 212: Critics Choice Lists for 2022, Part 2 Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Part two of a five part series focusing on albums from 2022 that jazz reviewers and critics have put on their ‘top 10’ lists. This week you’ll hear two Canadian ensembles–one from Vancouver called the Cookers Quintet led by Bernie Senensky, and another led by Calgary trombonist Carsten Rubeling.

I also play two different artists who put out albums with the same title: British saxophonist Trish Clowes and American guitarist, Julian Lage.

Then there’s Ron Carter with Jon Batiste, Marta Sanchez, Str4ta, and the great reunion of Cuba’s Chuchu Valdez and Paquito D’Rivera.

I also include one classic album—a previously unreleased recordings of Miles Davis from his You’re Under Arrest sessions.

And the highlight? I think it’s Finnish guitarist and composer Jussi Reijonen and his Kolme Toista (Three Seconds) album.

Such an amazing variety of music that goes under the ‘jazz’ rubric.

Episode 211: Critics Choices for 2022, Part 1 Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Beginning a five part series talking about and playing some of last year’s recordings about which jazz aficionados are *raving*.

I’m jotting down every record placed in any of the ‘top 10’ (or so) jazz albums of 2022 lists. Then putting a check mark everytime somebody chooses it. Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis albums seems to be everybody’s favourite,,,,at least so far.

In episode 4 I’ll give you a ‘countdown’ of the top choices. In the meantime, I’ll just play a track from each album that seems to resonate with me. Of course, with 433 different albums from 78 different reviewers, it’s often a matter of chance as to which ones I discover. Just like life, I guess.

Besides the a/m Ms. Halverson, you’ll hear in this first episode Brandon Coleman, Patricia Brennan (good vibes), Melissa Styliano w. Gene Bertoncini, Oscar Peterson (historical release), Charles Lloyd w. Bill Frisell, Abel Selaocoe (try pronouncing that name!), Redman-Mehldau-Mcbride-Blade, and Reuben James,

Episode 210: Exploring Some Interesting Sounding Recordings Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

No particular theme for this last podcast of 2022. But here are a few new and a couple older recordings that I’ve discovered recently—and am enjoying.

In terms of newer recordings, You’ll hear Emmet Cohen, Billy Drummond and Freedom of Ideas, JD Allen, The Comet is Coming, Samara Joy w Pasquale Grosso, and the Alvin Queen Trio. From my new home of Edmonton, there’s Mallory Chipman and drummer Sandro Dominelli. (Lots of drummer led combos here).

Somewhat older recordings are by Richie Cole, and Havana’s Roberto Fonseca. The oldest one—but one I just purchased—is an LP from someone I’d never heard of before. Her name is Jean Turner and her singing is backed by the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

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