Discovering Jazz

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Episode 203: Discoveries I Made This Past Summer Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

Hello! In this episode I’m playing a few favourite recordings—lp’s and cd’s mostly. They are mostly ones I purchased at used record stores and thrift stores, as well as online, this past summer.

Here’s the ‘lineup’.

P.J. Perry Quintet with Bob Tildsley. They Kept Bach’s Head Alive. A really fascinating way to start the podcast.
Andre Previn, who many don’t think of when they think of jazz. From a 1960 album called “Give My Records to Broadway”.
The Crusaders, featuring the funk bass of Marcus Miller. A Joe Sample composition.
One of my favourite Victoria artists, Wes Carroll. From his latest cd.
David Kikoski and Eric Alexander teaming up for a rollicking version of John Coltrane’s “Lazy Bird”. Nothing Lazy about that one!
More from the Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio. And the bass player whose name I can’t pronounce is Þorgrimur Jónsson.
Christof Lauer and Jens Thomas reinterpret Sting’s “Every Breath You Take”.
The fastest version I think I’ve heard of I’ve Got Rhythm. The George Coleman Quintet.
Emmett Cohen and the Future Stride album.

Episode 202: 70th Annual Downbeat Critics Poll Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Playing a few selected recordings of artists who were highly rated on the latest Downbeat Critics poll. It starts with three tracks from the latest entry into the Jazz Hall of Fame. It finishes with the ‘best historical album’.

Between you’ll hear someone who is both #1 jazz and #1 non-jazz artist (Quantum physics or a parallel universe maybe?).

Then there’s the winner of the Jazz Album of the Year category.

And a Canadian jazz pianist who ‘graduated’ from the rising star list. She is now #1 on the rankings for jazz pianist of the year.

Then there’s the Rising Star Large Ensemble Category won by Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band.

The group Artemis, as well as being highly rated in the Jazz Group category also features women who are rated high in other categories—such as tenor saxophone, trumpet, piano, and clarinet.

And speaking of clarinet….there’s that jazz clarinetist who ranks way above the others.

Some great music, as usual, in this episode.

Episode 201: More Summer Concerts That Inspired Me Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

More music from jazz musicians who I enoyed seeing and hearing live this past summer.

I play four selections where pianist Sullivan Fortner is featured. The first one’s by Cecile McLorin-Salvant, the second from trumpeter Giveton Gelin, and the third is from an album under his own name. The fourth is a surprise—not an artist that you would normally think would be featuring Fortner’s piano.

You’ll also hear a fourteen minute composition by a young drummer named Aaron Blewett. Aaron was interviewed in one of my very first Discovering Jazz programs. At that time he was still in high-school and contemplating further studies in jazz.

One of the ‘draws’ for this past year’s Victoria Jazz Fest was Gregory Porter, I play an old standard that demonstrates the amazing beauty of his voice.

You’ll also hear Edmonton trombonist Audrey Ochoa. I finish this episode with more from my two favourite performers from the summer: saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs.,

You heard those last two in last week’s episode. That episode (#200) also included pianist Micah Thomas, drummer Kelby McNayr, Malike Tirolean, and guitarist Dan Wilson.

Episode 200: Musicians I Saw in Concert This Summer. Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

I’ve had a great summer for music, mostly thanks to the Victoria Jazz Festival. For this first episode of the new season, I’m playing recordings by some of those artists I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing and who most inspired me.

Eight great selections are featured this week.

Archives, Episode 98, Jazz Drumming (w. Kelby McNayr). Part 1 Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Victoria B.C. jazz drummer, composer, and educator, Kelby McNayr talks about the role of percussion in jazz. His thesis that while drumming has changed, it hasn’t necessarily ‘evolved’ is an interesting one. He demonstrates it through recordings over many eras of jazz.

We talk about Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Art Blakey, Philly Jo Jones, Elvin Jones, Vernell Fournier, and Ed Thigpen. You’ll hear lots of great ensemble work where the drums play such an important role.

Archives:Episode 96, Scotch and Soda, Cherokee, All The Things You Are, Autumn Leaves, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

I love hearing interesting stories about the history of certain songs, including how they became popular. In this episode I explore five different songs that have been performed frequently by jazz artists.

The first one, Scotch and Soda, nobody knows who really wrote it. The last one, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat came from an improvisation sparked by grief. And all the other musicians had to learn it by ear.

And guess who gets the royalties everytime someone plays Autumn Leaves?

What was the ‘test piece’ for jazz musicians in the 1940’s and 50’s?

Lots of interesting information and great music.

Archives, Episode 94, Real Book Obscurities Part 4 Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

For this episode one of the highlights is a John Coltrane tune that has been described as a sort of ‘training wheels’ for Giant Steps.

I also play recordings by Freddie Hubbard, Ornette Coleman, a Wes Montgomery tune by Christian McBride’s Big Band, and a J.J. Johnson tune recorded by Miles Davis.

I play two Canadian tracks: a version of Chick Corea’s Crystal Silence by Teresa Doyle and Doug Riley, and Hilario Duran and friends with Billy Strayhorn’s UMMG.

And perhaps my favourite of all….a haunting tune from the film The Yearling with a version by George Cables and a vocal version by Lana Cantrell.

Archives, Episode 93: Real Book Obscurities Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

This is part 3 of a 4 part series on some lesser played or heard tunes from the Real Book 6th Edition—a ‘bible’ for jazz students.

This episode includes some obscure and some maybe not-so-obscure tunes from the point of view of the jazz player. You’ll hear some of the greatest jazz players and singers performing standards such as All of You, If You Never Come To Me, and Chega de Saudade (No More Blues). And some players’ favourites such as Wayne Shorter’s Deluge, and another of his classic compositions called Dolores (which he plays with Miles Davis). Also you’ll hear Herb Ellis and Detour Ahead, Mingus’ with Ecclusiastics, and Kenny Burrell’s Chitlins Con Carne. And the most obscure piece is probably Steve Swallow’s “Arise Her Eyes”.

I also play a clip of Ron Drotos talking about Wayne Shorter.

Archives, Episode 87: Time-Life Giants of Jazz, Part 5 Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

I had subscribed, from 1978 to 1983 to a series of 3-disk albums by Time Life Records called The Giants of Jazz”. A new one would be delivered to my door every month. They each contained a very detailed booklet including descriptions each recording on the six sides.

I featured these albums on a series of 5 podcasts late in 2019. For this year’s summer reruns I’m playing the last one—Part 5.

It features three recordings by the great saxophonist, Johnny Hodges…and talks about how he got the nick name ‘rabbit’. I also play recordings by Red Norvo, Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, Teddy Wilson, Henry Red Allen, and Lester Young. And I talk about each of them.

On each episode I depart from the Giants of Jazz series and play something by a Canadian jazz ‘giant’. For this week’s episode it was William Eckstein—a ragtime and jazz pianist/composer who was one of the first Canadians to play live on Radio (1919) as well as to make records on the burgeoning Canadian record industry. In fact, I start the program with him. Somebody I suspect most of you have never heard of.

Archives, Episode 48: A Jazz Fan’s Formative Recordings Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

A jazz bassist from Peterborough, Ontario, Craig Paterson talks about the music that ‘formed’ him, turning him into a jazz fan. He selected 10 albums, and in this episode he talks about five of them. And we play parts of them for you.

At the same time Craig does a great job dissecting what it is about those recordings that made them so interesting to him.

I also asked him to select a Canadian album that excites him—and he chose an album with a band fronted by saxophonist P.J. Perry.

If you like what you are hearing and want to hear the rest of his selections, go to Episode 49 and give a listen!

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