Discovering Jazz

Latest Episodes:

Episode 209: More Jazz Therapy. Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

A lot of focus on how *playing* jazz (as well as listening to it) helps us. It starts with a short clip from Victoria musician Brian Tate about improvising as ‘saying yes’….sort of like a going with the flow.

Lots of ‘flow’ in this episode. You’ll hear Wayne Shorter with some of the other greatest jazz musicians of all time. Then there’s Sonny Rollins, Michel Petrucciani, and Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross. I also play three great vocalists: June Christy, Angela Verbrugge (from Victoria), and Stacy Kent..

Also from Victoria is altop saxophonist Roy Styffe and a wonderful healing poem that he has very cleverly set to music—with the help of Kelby McNayr and Scott White.

Kenny Werner has written two great books about the interplay between our own empowerment and how we play (and listen to ) jazz. In this episode you actually hear him play thanks to a track from one of his earlier albums.

And last but not least, “Healing Power” by a trio of Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison, and Ted Nash.

Episode 208: Jazz Therapy, Tunes that Can Help Us Heal. Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

The therapy might be in the lyrics, the music, or the inspiration from the player’s journey.

I play recordings by Ben Webster, Nina Simone, Tony Kofi, Ruth Brown, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker.

From France, you’ll hear trumpeter and singer Jerome Etcheberry and his delightful rendition of Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue). And from England, a new discovery–Fiona Ross–as she tackles that therapeutic dilemma of wondering if I’m “good enough”.

There are also a couple tunes from some great jazz singers from Victoria, B.C. Lorraine Nygaard has put her sentiments into concrete action through delivering tokens of love during the height of COVID. And Edie Daponte does a beautiful rendition of Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away”.

And that’s just part 1. Next week I’ll post Part 2.

Episode 207: Jazz Holiday Season and Christmas 2022. Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Here I play recordings I like that have been made very recently Lots of great Christmas and Winter tunes (both known and unknown). Played and sung by some of the best modern recording artists.

My favourite? Ever hear Julie Christie’s “Hang Them On The Tree”. It’s something you can do with all the negativity and overwhelm in your life….to turn it into something positive, I play a version of the tune by June Bisantz and the John Burr Sextet.

Lots of music, not much talk.

Episode 206: Who Really Wrote It? Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

This episode features jazz tunes where there is some contention about who actually wrote it.

For example, I put the writer of Nature Boy, Eden Ahbez on trial. Did he plagiarize the melody of Nature Boy from Herman Yablonskoff? He did end up paying Yablonskoff 25,000 dollars. Did he have to? Or did he just do it because he wasn’t in the mood for a legal battle?

Much more clear was Jimmy Page stealing Jake Holmes “Dazed and Confused”. I play a terrific jazz interpretation of that tune that combines the Led Zeppelin and the Jake Holmes version.

I also spend a lot of time talking about some of the tunes that Miles Davis copyrighted under his own name, even though somebody else was the primary creator. But Miles Davis may have also had a tune *he* wrote credited to somebody else—and that tune is one of the most played tunes by jazz saxophonists at jazz jams.

And there’s more examples of tunes that originated from somewhere other than the person who is credited as the composer.

Episode 205: Jazz Musicians from Alberta Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Since I just moved from Victoria B.C. to Edmonton Alberta—-in the midst of the wind and snow—I thought it would be a good idea to explore the Alberta jazz scene.

I guarantee you’ll hear some great music in this episode! Some of them are jazz legends who came from Alberta, and others are local heroes. Some are up and coming.

Some famous jazz artists will also leave their mark in this episode. You’ll hear Jaco Pastorious, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jim Hall, Red Mirxhell, and Plas Johnson.

Alberta artists I play include Big Miller, P.J. Perry, Bob Tildsley, Joni Mitchell, Edmonton Jazz Ensemble w. Sean McAnaly, Joel Gray, Tommy Banks, Bobby Cairns, Jan Randall, Al Muirhead, Mike Rud, and Mallory Chipman.

Archives, Episode 104: Some of My Own Jazz Roots. Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

My own jazz roots are very different from that of most jazz fans. I explored them in Episode 100, This episode is a further exploration.

Warning! The music isn’t all jazz. But they all have some connection with jazz…at least for me.

Many of these recordings and artists came to my attention thanks to two Edmonton, Alberta radio stations—CJCA (Top 93 station) and CKUA (alternative/educational) as well as the University of Alberta Student Radio Station (now called CJSR). They include Bill Evans, Don Shirley, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Andrew Hill, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, and The Viscounts).

You’ll also hear singer-pianist Buddy Greco, Amy Winehouse (singing with Tony Bennett), Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, The Memphis JugBand, finishing off with a great Bach..ian practicing lesson from Mike Rud.

As fo that featured photo. It’s from 1981, courtesy of jazz photographer, Patrick Hinely. That’s me and another volunteer at jazz city leading the Four Great Guitarists (from left to right—Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd) down Jasper Avenue in Edmonton to the jazz festival office. I’m the one carrying Charlie Byrd’s ovation guitar.

Archives, Episode 105: 6 Great Songs and their Stories Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Still in the midst of moving to Edmonton—one or two more ‘archives’, then some more new episodes.

But the good news is that the archived programs I’m posting are really good! This one includes six jazz tunes—or tunes often played by jazz artists. They are:

-East of the Sun (West of the Moon)

-Desifinado

-Airegin

-Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most

-Hey There

-There is No Greater Love.

One of them is played by the late great Lee Konitz, demonstrating a saxophone style that has been described as somebody “thinking out loud”.

And did you know that Dizzy Gillespie recorded Desifinado before Stan Getz?

Lots of interesting trivia about some of these tunes and about some of these performances.

Archives, Episode 102: About Birds and a Bit of ‘Bird’. Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Birds and bird calls have been quite the inspiration for a lot of jazz as well as classical compositions. You’ll hear a few of those inspired recordings plus the calls of some of the birds who inspired them. Also a bit of Bird—the nickname for Charlie Parker, who also wrote a lot of tunes inspired by birds.

Archives, Episode 101: Jazz Drumming, History, Development, and a Few Masters. Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

As I relocate my residence from Victoria to Edmonton, I need to take a few weeks off. So I have a few more episodes from the ‘archives’ before I start with some very interesting and entertaining new episodes.

This is Part 2 of Jazz Drumming, with Victoria drummer, composer, and educator Kelby McNayr. You’ll hear some of the ‘roots’ of today’s drumming. We talk about Art Blakey and why he’s so distinctive. Then move onto Jack Dejohnette and what makes him such an innovator.

I glommed onto Fred Hersch’s drummer—Eric McPherson. Then invited Kelby to talk about the relationship between drums and melody. Did you know that most great drummers are also pianists?

We end with a talk about jazz fusion, and Kelby’s tribute to the great Canadian drummer, Claude Ranger.

Episode 204: Tribute to Hermann’s Jazz Club and Victoria. Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

I’ve lived many places, but never came across a city with as many amazing musicians–especially jazz musicians—as I have here in Victoria, B.C.

Much of it is thanks to Hermann’s Jazz Club, which began 40 years ago. It started because Hermann Nieweler was convinced to book a jazz trio led by clarinetist/saxophonist Al Pease at his Inn. The purpose? To bring “a better class of people” to his lounge.

Al Pease is still around today, as is another original player at Hermann’s, Tom Vickery. You’ll hear a track by each of them.

Other Vancouver Island musicians and singers I play in this tribute to an amazing city and jazz club? Ashley Wey, John Lee, Pablo Cardenas, Leif Bradshaw, Fraser MacPherson, Angela Verbrugge, Lloyd Arntzen, Heather Ferguson, Joey Smith, Damian Graham, Jan Stirling, Miguelito Valdes, Kelby McNayr, Phill Dwyer, Daniel Lapp, Louise Rose, and Karel Roessingh.

I have to move from beautiful Victoria…..but will be continuing this podcast from my new home in Edmonton, Alberta.

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