Five more jazz standards today….with a few different versions of each and some interesting stories. Hilights? I’d give the #1 highlight to Mitchell Ruff Trio’s version of Gypsy in My Soul. What an under-rated group! Vancouver’s Karin Plato sings a nice version too. Then there’s that glorious contrast between that same time (which has the…Continue reading Episode 112: Tiger Rag,Invitation,I Didn’t Know What Time,How Insensitive,Gypsy in My Soul

This week I play a couple different versions of five different jazz standards. The five are: I Want To Be Happy, Embraceable You, Milestones, God Bless the Child, and Impressions. One of those tunes came about after another tune by the same name was recorded by the same artist. Guess which one. Then there was…Continue reading Episode 111: More Jazz Standards

It was Eldridge Cleaver who was best known for saying “You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem”. Jazz is music born of the African-American experience, and, in order to be part of the solutions, all of us who are involved in this music are…Continue reading Episode 110, Racism–Jazz as Part of the Solution.

This program features jazz artists who started playing their primary instrument relatively late in life. ‘Relatively’ might be anything later than early childhood (considering how many were child prodigies). Others started playing early but didn’t come into full bloom (whether in their careers or their skill) until later. Then there were a couple (Pat Martino,…Continue reading Episode 109: Late Bloomers

I find that with jazz, like any genre of music, there might be one to five percent of the music that truly resonates with me. With the posts that reach me through facebook or gmail, I end up having to listen to a lot of them in order to find that 1 to 5 %.…Continue reading Episode 108: Great Recordings Friends Recently Sent Me.

Six more compositions jazz players like to play and a few tidbits of information about each one. You’ll hear some of the famous Miles Davis composition, Solar, under the name “Sonny”—written and recorded on an acetate 8 years before Miles Davis claimed to have written it. This recording is NOT available anywhere on youtube. I…Continue reading Episode106:Caravan,Smile, Days of Wine & Roses, Solar,Speak Low,Stella by Starlight.

You’ll hear anywhere from one to three versions of each of these 6 jazz compositions. Two of those recordings are also a tribute to two jazz artists who recently died as a result of COVID19: Lee Konitz and Wallace Roney. The tunes are: East of the Sun (West of the Moon), There is No Greater…Continue reading Episode 105: Six Great Songs and their Stories

Today is an exploration of my own jazz roots, a continuation of episode 100 where I first introduced you to some tunes that influenced me to discover more about this interesting musical genre. Most of those ‘root’s are old ones. But I’m also growing new roots….as I keep ‘discovering’ new music. The newer jazz roots…Continue reading Episode 104: My Own Jazz Roots.

Starting with two drums and a fife providing the entertainment at New Orleans picnics and funerals, and finishing with Canadian drummer Claude Ranger. We talk about the development of the drum, and Kelby McNayr takes us through some of the components of the drum set. We also play music by Art Blakey and the Jazz…Continue reading Episode 101: More on Jazz Drumming (with Kelby McNayr)

The great and legendary jazz pianist, known for his recordings with John Coltrane and his original compositions, died March 6th of this year. He had one of the most powerful left hands in jazz–but he actually gained a reputation as a composer even before he made his first record. In this episode you’ll hear lots…Continue reading Episode 99, A Tribute to McCoy Tyner

This week I talk with amazing drummer, composer, and band leader, Kelby McNayr. Kelby has evolved into one of the most important ‘leaders’ in the Victoria jazz scene and is a first call drummer for virtually everybody! This episode features music that employs some of our greatest jazz drummers. Kelby introduces us to each drummer…Continue reading Episode 98, Jazz Drumming (with Kelby McNayr)

Welcome to a series of “Discovering Jazz” episodes about compositions that jazz musicians play that seem to have an interesting story. So what’s an example of an ‘interesting story’?. How about this one? Today when a new jazz musician to a band or jam session is being ‘tested’ for his or her chops, somebody will…Continue reading Episode 96, Songs with a Story Behind Them (Part 1)

February as Black History Month has its roots as early as 1915, thanks to being the birthdays of Frederick Douglass–an abolitionist, writer, and statesman who had escaped slavery, and president Abraham Lincoln. In Canada this year the theme is “Canadians of African Descent: Going Forward, Guided by the Past”. This week’s program pays a tribute…Continue reading Episode 95: Black History and Jazz

The last of this series of some of the best recordings of lesser known tunes found in the jazz student’s ‘bible’—The Real Book, 6th Edition. Here is what you’ll hear today: The Intrepid Fox by Freddie Hubbard Central Park West by John Coltrane I’m All Smiles by Lana Cantrell I’m All Smiles by George Cables…Continue reading Episode 94, Real Book Obscurities Part 4

The Real Book, 6th Edition, is commonly used by jazz musicians and students as a ‘guide’ for learning different well-known and not-so-well known jazz tunes. This current 4 part series focuses on the ‘not-so-well-known’. Another great guide, I’ve discovered, is a website put together by pianist/teacher Ron Drotos, called keyboardimprov.com, and his youtube videos called…Continue reading Episode 93, Real Book Obscurities Part 3

One of the best ways to ‘discover’ jazz is to try playing it—on whatever instrument (including voice) that you feel most comfortable. I’ve been trying that with my keyboard and The Real Book, Sixth Edition. When I come up to the pieces that start with ‘g’, there are some real challenges. So here I am…Continue reading Episode 92, Real Book Obscurities, The Notorious ‘g’s

The “Real Book”, Sixth Edition, is sort of like a ‘bible’ for beginning jazz students.  It consists of 400 jazz tunes, ranging from compositions written by jazz musicians to some of the great Broadway tunes that have become jazz standards.  It is the best selling jazz book of all time, and can be used by…Continue reading Episode 91, ‘Real Book’ Obscurities Part 1

I’ve taken some time to explore the 75 best albums of 2019 according to the British publication, Uncut, as well as their top 30 reissues and some top rated albums from the January 2020 issue. The purpose?  To see how much jazz one can find in some of the better quality music in the rock,…Continue reading Episode 90: Can You Call It Jazz? Top Rated albums w. Jazz Sensibilities

Today I’m playing a track from each of the seven albums that received a 5 star review in Downbeat Magazine in 2019.  As well, there is one album by a Canadian who The Ottawa Citizen jazz reviewer rated as not just the best Canadian jazz album of the year—but the best jazz album period!   Most…Continue reading Episode 89: Jazz ‘Masterpieces’ from 2019

Today you will learn a lot about absolute or ‘perfect’ pitch, and hear selections by jazz musicians who possess this faculty.  Also a demonstration from a child who has it, and some descriptions by musicians as to how it has been helpful as well as limiting.   As well, I’ll discuss how it differs from ‘relative’…Continue reading Episode 88: Absolute Pitch–what is it, who has it, and what’s it good for?

This is the last of the five part series on Time Life’s Giants of Jazz—28 three record sets with huge booklets featuring swing era musicians who helped define jazz. This week you’ll hear and hear about James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Johnny Hodges, Lester Young, Henry Red Allen, Red Norvo, and more Teddy Wilson. In…Continue reading Episode 87: Giants of Jazz Part 5,Johnny Hodges,Lester Young, Willie Eckstein

Something from the Archives.  One from my favourite series of the past year—The Jazz Solo, Part 3.  I give examples of solos that have been considered by ‘experts’ to be exceptionally amazing.  And one by a great jazz artist that is considered to be not at all up to par. You’ll hear  solos by Bill…Continue reading Archives: Episode 54, The Jazz Solo, Part 3.

This is Part 4 of my five part series on Time Life’s Giants of Jazz.  Today you’ll hear Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, Benny Carter, plus six tracks from one set called “The Guitarists”.   The latter includes six of the earliest jazz guitarists who pioneered the use of this instrument in dances and records.   You’ll hear…Continue reading Episode 86, Giants of Jazz w 6 guitarists,Benny Carter,Earl Hines, etc.

This is a program I put together two years ago…Episode 14—of holiday music.  Mostly Winter holidays: Christmas, Channukah, New Years, Chalica (you probably have no idea what that one is, eh?), one Spring holiday (Ramadan)—and quite a few just celebrating the joys of winter. Lots of music here, and not much talk.  You’ll hear Bill…Continue reading Archives: Jazz for the Holidays

I asked Victoria vocalist and studier of ‘swing’ style jazz, Angela Verbrugge,  to send me names of some great jazz vocalist that would likely be new to me.   She did.   Thank you! This program, as well as last week’s, has me playing music by those singers and talking to her about the singers and the…Continue reading Episode 85, More New Vocal Discoveries (with Angela Verbrugge)

Special guest, singer and songwriter Angela Verbrugge, has sent me (upon my request) some recordings from jazz singers I probably never heard of.   These recordings are the subject of this week’s and next week’s podcast. I make it an exchange by presenting one or two to her that she’s probably never heard of. This week…Continue reading Episode 84: Discovering New Jazz Vocalists w. Angela Verbrugge

Part 3 of Time-Life’s Giant’s of Jazz series, this time featuring Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Jelly Roll Morton, Jack Teagarden, Ben Webster, plus Canadian born orchestrator Gil Evans. You’ll also hear Dizzy Gillespie’s first recorded jazz solo.  And How Art Tatum, at age 16, changed the course of jazz using Coleman Hawkins as a vehicle. …Continue reading Episode 83: Giants of Jazz-Hawkins,Webster,Basie,Teagarden,etc.

More from that great Time-Life series, The Giants of Jazz, with such fascinating information about each of the 28 early jazz giants.   This episode features Bix Beiderbecke,  Art Tatum, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, and—surprisingly—the unorthodox clarinet of Frank Teschemaker.  I also explore the mystery as to why Teschemacher was included as one of…Continue reading Episode 82, more Giants of Jazz w Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, etc.

This week I’m catching up on some cd’s that I recently acquired, many of which feature great piano playing.  One of them by Victoria pianist Tom Vickery includes a version of Manha de Carnaval (Black Orpheus), which inspired me to play a few versions of that great tune.   One of my favourites is by McCoy…Continue reading Episode 81, Mostly Piano, Manha de Carnaval, New Acquisitions.

Time-Life surveyed a number of jazz scholars and as a result put together 28 three-record album sets  dedicated to one jazz ‘giant’.  Each one includes a 30 to 40 something page booklet.  I subscribed to this series and would get one set each couple months in the late 1970’s to early 80’s. I’m now going…Continue reading Episode 80, Giants of Jazz-The Time Life Series Part 1

My 3-part series of programs on the jazz solo last year invoked a lot of positive response.   I already re-broadcast the first one on an earlier archives program, and now I’m going to present you with part 2.  This is for those of you who either missed it the first time, or want to hear…Continue reading Archives, Episode 53: The Jazz Solo (part 2)

It seems to be increasingly hard to find good second hand vinyl jazz albums at low prices through thrift stores or used record stores.  But I found some, and I finished listening to them.   I play at least one track from each.   They include albums by Shorty Rogers, Pat Martino, Peggy Lee, Jeremy Steig,…Continue reading Episode 79, 10 Used Lp’s I Just Bought

Since we’re in the midst of a federal election here in Canada, I thought I could revisit part 1 of my four-part series from last year on the role of jazz in promoting social and political activism. I address topics of civil rights, diplomacy during the cold war, the interconnectedness between motherhood, mother earth, and…Continue reading Archives, episode 38, Jazz and Politics, Part 1

Today I’m playing and talking about some jazz tracks that I recently discovered—some are new recordings, some are older.  And I’m letting them inspire me to create ideas for future podcasts. There appears to be quite the Peterborough-Victoria connection here, as I reflect on my wonderful years listening to (and occasionally playing) jazz in Peterborough,…Continue reading Episode 78, New Discoveries (2019)

Here is a rerun of the first of a 3 part series I recorded a few months ago on the jazz solo—trying to explore what makes a great one—-and why people ‘in the know’ consider them great. I also wonder how much of those solos are spontaneous and thought of in the moment, and how…Continue reading Archives: Episode 52, The Jazz Solo.

When you think of jazz the vision is of saxophones, trumpets, crazy drum solos, guitarists moving all over the fretboard, hot piano, funky or walking bass players, etc.  You don’t envision french horns. This episode will change all that! 🙂    Some really amazing playing with solos by the likes of Tom Varner, Vincent Chancey, Giovanni…Continue reading Episode 77, Jazz French Horn

According to Wikipedia, Jan Randall, a Canadian composer, pianist, and arranger, has made a career of composing soundtracks for films, theatre, radio, and television.  He combines playing by ear with his formal classical and jazz training.  He is now teaching an Introduction to Jazz course at the University of Victoria. For this week’s program, Jan…Continue reading Episode 76: An Introduction to Jazz (with Jan Randall)

This week, just a few jazz artists by whose name I put a check mark as I went through Downbeat Magazine’s 2019 Critics Poll. As a followup from last week’s podcast on internationally recognized Canadian jazz musicians, I play a track by Vancouver cellist Peggy Lee and one by B.C. violinist Jesse Zubot. I start…Continue reading Episode 75, More Musical Selections inspired by Critics Poll

Every year 150 or so critics rank what they consider to be the top jazz artists in 63 categories, and this is presented in the August issue of Downbeat magazine. Sometimes Canadian jazz musicians are represented.  This year I found 9 who I knew to have Canadian roots.  I’m sure there are more but I…Continue reading Episode 74, Canadian artists on Downbeat’s 67th Critic’s Poll.

Here is another favourite episode of mine that I thought would be more popular than it was.  Originally posted last November, this is all about new melodies that were written over chord sequences of another tune, and then became famous. Did you know, for example that 46 jazz tunes are listed in wikipedia as using…Continue reading Archives: Episode 46, Stolen Chord Sequences (Jazz Contrafacts)

The Downbeat Jazz Critics poll, published in the magazine’s August issue, summarizes the assessments of some top jazz critics as to the ‘best’ in various categories.  One of those categories is the Jazz Album of the Year. This year’s picks truly stretch the boundaries of ‘what is jazz’. I play a track from six of…Continue reading Episode 73, Best Jazz Albums of the Year

This episode, recorded the Spring of 2018,  features a discussion with Toronto voice coach and singer, Micah Barnes. Micah was a rock and soul singer who made the transition to jazz, and he talks about the differences.  I ask the question “what makes it jazz” in terms of vocals………..and he does a great job in…Continue reading Archives: Episode 36, Jazz Singing, With Micah Barnes and Gene McDaniels.

A very knowledgeable jazz bassist from Peterborough named Craig Paterson sends regular emails of great jazz recordings, and on this program I play a few of them.   It helps me discover new and old music………and I’ll share some of those discoveries with you in this program. I also like to go back to some ‘original’…Continue reading Episode 72, Discoveries

Continuing with re-issuing some programs from my archives every 2nd week, here is one on the great Bob Dorough who left us over a year ago. Here is a quote from one of my reviews on the itunes site (Canadian):  “I knew that I’d be hooked when I saw and heard your tribute to Bob…Continue reading Archives: Episode 31, A Tribute to Bob Dorough

This is actually Part 3 of a series looking at the cross fertilization of jazz and classical (aka ‘serious’)  music, featuring Al Baggs—a  Peterborough saxophonist and lover of jazz and classical music. This episode explores how each or those two genres can be enhanced by knowledge of the other, as well as at least one…Continue reading Episode 71, Classical and Jazz, the relationship.

Another ‘archive’ program this week; for the summer I’ll have some of the best programs from the past two years of “Discovering Jazz” every 2nd week. This week is one of the two episodes of Beatles music transformed into jazz.  Many of these are relatively modern recordings, such as the version of You’ve Got to…Continue reading Archives: Episode 20, Jazz Beatles (Part 2)

It’s Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis, first released in 1959.  It still sells more per year than any current jazz recordings.   Why?  And why do critics also rate it as one of the best albums of all time?  I quote a few critics and musicologists, play 4 of the 5 tracks, a couple other…Continue reading Episode 70, Miles Davis and The Most Popular Jazz Record of All Time

Last year I recorded a 4-part series on Jazz and Politics.  Here is Part 3—probably my favourite of the four.  It explores a few different political issues relevant to jazz music, and I play lots of great music. If you consider ‘politics’ to be about power and influence, then Jazz was political right from the…Continue reading Archives, Episode 40: Jazz and Politics

This is the last of three series of programs on the upcoming Victoria International Jazz fest (Jun 21-30).  I play music by some of the great jazz artists coming as well as interview the founder and artistic director, Darryl Mar.  If you’re thinking of taking in some of the festival, these programs are a great…Continue reading Episode 69, Victoria Jazz Festival part 3

This program starts off with the performer I’m most looking forward to seeing and hearing at this year’s Victoria Jazz festival, March 21-30—Pianist/singer, Patricia Barber.  An interesting rendition of a Beatles tune. You’ll also hear a couple emerging artists:  child prodigy Joey Alexander, and multi-instrumentalist from Victoria, John Lee. Festival organizer and founder, Darryl Mar,…Continue reading Episode 68: Victoria Jazz Festival, Part 2

This is the first episode since my move from Peterborough to Victoria—and as an introduction to the jazz world in Victoria, I’m putting together, over the next three weeks,  three one hour programs about the upcoming 36th edition of the Victoria Jazz Festival.  I play music by some of the artists (international, national  and local),…Continue reading Episode 67, Victoria Jazz Festival, Part 1

As I settle in my new residence in Victoria, B.C., before I begin recording some brand new programs (probably next week), here is another one from the archives—-keeping my Peterborough, Ontario Connection. This was the first program featuring Al Baggs—a classical and jazz music buff and raconteur who also plays a mean baritone sax, as…Continue reading Archives: Episode 28, Classical VS Jazz and its Cross-Pollination (from April, 2018)

Continuing with programs from the Archives until I once again begin recording episodes. Here I talk about the 85 year old Jazz magazine that is still going strong, Downbeat.  You’ll hear a bit about its history, the first ‘review’ published, and their famous “Blindfold Test”.   I also share an anecdote about how I personally gave…Continue reading Archives: Episode 32, All About Downbeat Magazine (May, 2018)

One of my favourite series of programs was the four episodes from last year that involved jazz musicians who have played a part in making music that isn’t jazz.  Sometimes they were studio musicians, or put a special ‘flair’ into a pop hit.  a way for jazz musicians to be rock and roll stars. Except…Continue reading Archives: Episode 27, Jazz Musicians Making their Mark Outside of Jazz

While I’m settling in to my new home in Victoria (and apartment hunting), I’ll re-post some episodes from the archives.  This week, keeping some Peterborough connections, it’s resident ethnomusicologist/bassist and all round genius from Trent University, Michael Morse, talking about one of his most significant jazz influences—-Thelonious Monk.  He has a lot of interesting Monk…Continue reading Archives: Michael Morse on Thelonious Monk. (Episode #8, Oct 2017)

The home base of Discovering Jazz is moving from Peterborough, Ontario to Victoria, B.C. Today…..due to doing a lot of preparation for our move, I’m just going to relax and listen to some great music. Of course it’s hard to keep myself from talking about the tunes I play…..but I’ll try keep it brief.. So…Continue reading Episode 66: Lots of Music, Not Much Talk.

Herbie Hancock, jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador apparently came up with the idea of having April 30 as a day to highlight jazz and its roll of uniting people all over the world.   But there was an earlier inspiration—a unifier during the height of the cold war: Louis Armstrong. I start this program…Continue reading Episode 65, International Jazz Day

What will jazz look like in the future?  Will it be the same as today?   Will it have some similarities to yesterday?   Will ‘hip-hop’, dance, free jazz, weirdo electronic music, etc. be incorporated?   Or will life (and jazz) be simple again? We also talk about the pluses and minuses of formal training in jazz, as…Continue reading Episode 64, The Future of Jazz, Part 2

What is the future of jazz?   Will everything change when the Miles Davis generation dies out?  Who will replace them? In this program, I discuss with Peterborough guitarist, Mike Graham, what jazz might look like in the future—-as well as what it won’t be.  Of course, to predict the future, we need to know the…Continue reading Episode 63: The Future of Jazz (part 1) w. guitarist Mike Graham

If you are an amateur or professional jazz musician taking part in a jazz jam, or someone who enjoys listening to those jams, at some point someone will call out tunes like “Moment’s Notice”, or “Lazy Bird”.   And, for sure, you’ll hear someone suggest they play “Blue Train”.   One thing all those tunes have in…Continue reading Episode 62, Blue Train by Coltrane

In a documentary called “Brownie Speaks”, all about trumpeter Clifford Brown, one unidentified jazz personality states “I can’t say that Miles was intimidated by Cliff, but Miles wouldn’t play when Cliff was there”. Clifford Brown was known for his fat smooth tone and a unique melodic genius with a warm round sound, consistent across the…Continue reading Episode 61, Clifford Brown and Joy Spring

So many jazz tunes have been written about the seasons—and Spring is a big one!  We might even get one this year. This week’s program is nice and mellow….just to ease use gently into the new season.  Even if spring will be a little late this year.   Doesn’t that remind you of a song? You’ll…Continue reading Episode 60: Jazz Spring

Some of these ‘standards’ are written by jazz artists.   Others are from popular music written by film and Broadway composers. I’m finding them as I go through The Just Real Jazz Book and the infamous “The Real Book 6th edition”.  These are also called ‘fake books’ as they have only the chords and the melody.  …Continue reading Episode 59: Lesser Known Jazz Standards Part 1

This is the last episode of the Cuban Jazz series.  And I’ve decided to feature a Juno award winning Cuban-Canadian group of women. I play music from both their albums, as well as spotlight some of the individual musicians in the group—including Yissy Garcia, Melvis Santa, Danae Alano, and, of course, Jane Bunnett herself.   I…Continue reading Episode 58: More Cuban Jazz–Jane Bunnett & Maqueque

Some great Cuban jazz!   And a few interesting tidbits of information. You’ll hear music by David Amram (with Thad Jones, Pepper Adams, and others), Ray Barretto, Jane Bunnet, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Juan De Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars,Rita Montaner, Ibrahim Ferrer, Interactivo, and Gonzalo Rubulcaba with Ron Carter and Alex Acuna. As for the ‘tidbits’? …Continue reading Episode 56, Cuban Jazz Part 2

In celebration of the coming of Maqueque—a group of five Cuban women plus flautist/soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett–coming to Peterborough in April, I’m starting a three part series on Afro-Cuban Jazz. Today’s episode tracks its ‘modern’ history, from the 1920’s in New York.  Yup!  That was the birthplace of Afro-Cuban Jazz, not Havana or New Orleans.…Continue reading Episode 55: Afro-Cuban Jazz, A History

So many great jazz solos….wish I could play them all!  I’m still trying to figure out what makes a *great* jazz solo, compared to one that isn’t so great.  Listening to some of these is giving me some ‘intuitive’ sense—-but probably couldn’t give you a list of all the criteria.  Sometimes it’s just some mysterious…Continue reading Episode 54: The Jazz Solo, Part 3

In this episode you’ll hear more of the solos that jazz musicians and writers say are ‘essential solos’. You’ll also hear words and phrases like ‘architectonics’, ‘vertiginous’, ‘eking’, ‘narrative structure’, ‘directional energy’, ‘wrong side of the beat’.  I don’t know what most of them mean, either, but real jazz aficionados seem to. You’ll hear -John…Continue reading Episode 53, The Jazz Solo, Part 2

The ‘improvised’ solo is the heart of jazz. This series of programs looks at what have been termed ‘essential solos’, using an article from Jazz Times magazine, where jazz writers and musicians described the solos that have been their favourites over the years.  These are solos that they have been playing or humming to themselves…Continue reading Episode 52, The Jazz Solo (Part 1)

Recorded live from the studios of Trent Radio in Peterborough, Ontario, this is an assortment of tracks from jazz albums I blindly selected from the station’s extensive jazz library of vinyl. It includes some of the ‘usual suspects’—Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington & Ray Brown, and Keith Jarrett.   You’ll also hear the very first…Continue reading Episode 51: Random Records from Trent Radio Jazz Library

I play a track from eight different jazz albums—seven of them from 2018. They include five recordings that Downbeat Magazine, in their January 2019 issue, claim are the “Masterpiece Albums of 2018”.   They may or may not coincide with your tastes (or mine).   But part of the ‘discovery’ process is to hear out the ‘experts’—–and…Continue reading Episode 50, Masterpieces from 2018

Hello.   I’m taking a break from Discovering Jazz programs for a few weeks—but I’ll see you in 2019. If you want something to tide you over until the next program, give my last year’s holiday special a listen.  It was Episode 14. You’ll hear music for Christmas, for non-specified winter holidays, New years, Ramadan, Hannukah…Continue reading Archives….Christmas, Winter, and Holiday Jazz

Part 2 of the formative recordings of jazz musician, fan, and organizer, Craig Paterson.   You’ll hear some Miles, some Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Liberation Music Orchestra, and Phil Dwyer.  Great music! And some great stories—-especially Craig’s description of a piano workshop led by Keith Jarrett that he attended.  And his delightful description of…Continue reading Episode 49, Craig Paterson’s Formative Recordings, Part 2

Jazz bassist and concert organizer Craig Paterson talks about some of the albums that formed his excitement about jazz.   Craig also tells some great stories about those albums and the concerts those albums spawned. And I play a recommended track from each album.

Contrafact refers to a new melody written over the chord sequence of an older tune.  And there are a lot of very popular jazz tunes that have done just that! In this program I play a few of them. You’ll find out what old tune has had the most jazz tunes stealing its chord sequence.  …Continue reading Episode 47, Jazz Contrafacts

Today was a day to catch up on some of my listening and play a few records, cd’s, and downloads that I came across over the last couple weeks.  Then I learned about the death of one of my favourite trumpeter/fluegelhornists, Roy Hargrove.  He was only 49. I start the program with him playing a…Continue reading Episode 46, Music I Listened to Over the Past Week: Roy Hargrove, The Brooks, Myriad3, and More

The focus on today’s episode is the relationship between improvisation and spontaneity in life.  It all involves a willingness to say *yes*.   I start with a statement from Vancouver jazz writer, drummer, and choral director, Brian Tate, where he compares it to Theatre Sports. And also feature interviews with Paul L. Clark and James Seaborn, …Continue reading Episode 45, Jazz, Improvisation, and Saying “Yes”.

Includes two great but obscure Canadian jazz artists.

Today, I play a few jazz 78rpm records from my collection.  78’s were popular from the turn of the century up into the late 1950’s. One unique thing about 78’s is that you could eat them.   Technically at least!  As well as some great music, you’ll hear Alex Campagnolo, a researcher in Sustainability Studies–a man…Continue reading Episode 43: Jazz on 78rpm

Lots of discoveries over the summer.  Some of them records, some cd’s, and a lot of them being music posted by friends and friends of friends. And one discovery begats another….such as when Peterborough bassist  Craig Paterson posted something by the great singer Cecile McLorin Salvant—-and it led me to discover her pianist and his…Continue reading Episode 42, Beginning the 2018-2019 season.

The first part of this episode addresses the inroads female jazz artists have made over the years, as I start with a track by the amazing trio of Geri Allen, Teri Lyne Carrington, and Esperanza Spalding,  followed by something from the new album by Molly Johnson. Then I play another Canadian: Vancouver born composer and…Continue reading Episode 41, Jazz and Politics, Part 4

Jazz has always been political in some form.  Right from its earliest beginnings, this African American music was taken over by the dominant American middle class ‘white’ culture with no credit going to the black originators.  That’s political—since politics is about power differentials.  Most of the money was made by white people taking over the…Continue reading Episode 40, Jazz and Politics Part 3

Oppression and Liberation—-Jazz and Politics.

This is the beginning of a series illustrating the connection between jazz and social or political activism. On today’s episode I play and talk about the following:  Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom, which has been embraced by people around the world as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement.  I also talk briefly about Peterson’s…Continue reading Episode 38, Jazz and Politics Part 1

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…Continue reading Episode 36, What Makes it ‘Jazz’ Singing? Micah Barnes & Gene McDaniels

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…Continue reading Episode 35. Vinyl records, Spring and Summer Finds

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…Continue reading Episode 34, Spring and Summer Finds (digital)

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…Continue reading Episode 32, All About Downbeat Magazine Part 1

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…Continue reading Episode 31, Tribute to Bob Dorough

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…Continue reading Episode 30, A Potpourri of Discoveries.

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,…Continue reading Episode 28, Classical VS Jazz and Its Cross Pollination

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…Continue reading Episode 27, Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 4

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…Continue reading Episode 25, Jazzies who Play Outside the Genre, Part 2

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…Continue reading Episode 24, Jazzies Who Play Outside the Genre Part 1

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…Continue reading Episode 23: A Preview to Peterborough’s International Jazz Day weekend, 2018

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…Continue reading Episode 21, Gillespie, Jamal, McGriff, and Chelsea McBride

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…Continue reading Episode 20, Jazz Beatles Part 2

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…Continue reading Episode 19, Jazz Beatles Part 1

Great vocals can actually be some of the purest forms of jazz….despite what some jazz snobs might think.  We all have some kind of *voice*…..and how we use it is a form of ‘improvisation’.  Vocals can also serve as a translator of what the composer and the instrumental soloists want to communicate. For this program…Continue reading Episode 18, Vocalists I Like, Part 2

Many real ‘jazzies’ express a rather loud ‘indifference’ to the jazz ‘singer’.  “Cheesy lounge singer”, “not needed”, “waters down the music”, “reduces the musician to role of ‘accompanist’: those are some of the comments I hear.  Yet I love great jazz vocals…..and relish the creativity that many great players have in playing *with* the singer.…Continue reading Episode 17, Jazz Vocalists I Like, Part 1

I was asked to make a playlist of jazz songs for a non-jazz event—a ‘cabaret’ put on by Peterborough Podcasters, where podcasters are hilighted and their great work presented.  So the challenge is to both challenge and appease….some familiar tunes, but also interesting enough to command some attention from this intelligent and creative group of…Continue reading Episode 16: Making a jazz mix cd

Happy New Year to all of you!  I appreciate knowing there are some listeners out there in podcast land.  Comments, feedback, or questions is always welcome. I’m still making lots of ‘discoveries’ about jazz…..enjoying the fact that we all learn together. This week’s program includes a few selections from albums and jazz artists who sparked…Continue reading Episode 15, First program of 2018

This last program of 2017 includes lots of Christmas and winter holiday music. Some great renditions of familiar and not so familiar tunes.  Also one for Ramadan, Hannukah, and Chalica (tune in to find out what the latter holiday is). You’ll hear: Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Miles Davis with Bob Dorough, Ella Fitzgerald, John Eidsvoog,…Continue reading Episode 14, Jazz for the Holidays

Today’s program starts with B.B. King and Kenny Burrell playing together…..along with organist Jimmy Smith and a host of other great musicians. Then Emilie-Claire Barlow rhythmically transforms a Donovan tune into …what’s the time signature anyway?  More vocals from Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Roberta Flack, and Bob Dorough.  You just *have* to hear…Continue reading Episode 13, Autumn Acquisitions Part 3

An illustration of how some people learn and learn about jazz.  We hear the perspective of Peterborough jazz saxophonist, Sean Hully.  Sean tracks the development of jazz, from King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker.   He then moves on to how the playing of Wayne Shorter, Hank Mobley, and Joe Henderson inspired…Continue reading Episode 12, Learning Jazz…with Sean Hully

Today….from a live feed from Trent Radio in Peterborough….I play some 2nd hand jazz lp’s I bought at a pawn shop recently just to see which ones I’ll put in with my collection and which ones I’ll give away.  I’ll try out some Pat Martino, Mel Torme, Gene Roland w. Jimmy Knepper (great trombone!), George…Continue reading Episode 10, Autumn Acquisitions, Part 1

There is a great jazz instruction blog and podcast called LearnJazzStandards.com, hosted by a guitarist named Brent Vaarstra.  One of his posts was called “92 Modern Jazz Albums You Need to Listen To”, with ‘modern’ being anything after the year 2000.  I went through the first few, and also found (elsewhere) a couple Canadian jazz…Continue reading Episode 9, Newer Jazz Albums

Special guest for this episode is jazz bassist and ethnomusicologist, Michael Morse, talking about the great pianist and composer, Thelonious Monk, in honour of the 100th year of his birth.  He addresses why people who don’t think he’s a great pianist are wrong.   And explains the intricacies of some of his compositions in a way…Continue reading Episode 8, All About Thelonious Monk (with Michael Morse)

We celebrate youth, and Peterborough’s youth jazz group, LMJC, because it is youth taking up the art of jazz who are going to keep it as a living and growing thing.  And also because they are good musicians.  We’ll hear jazz (and one classical piece that influenced the group).  A couple Bill Evans recordings (one…Continue reading Episode 7, LMJC – Inspiring our Youth, Part 2

This episode and the next one are about keeping alive this form of music that we love.  Its about youth.  I interview five of them from a Peterborough group of mostly high school age, asking them what sparked their interest in jazz.  Then I play some of those *sparks* on the program.  The goal is…Continue reading Episode 6: Youth Discover Jazz, LMJC Group, Part 1

Jarret Prescott talks more about Keith Jarret, and we play music associated with him…..including the last time he played electric piano, before he decided to carry on an anti-electric music crusade. We’ll hear him with bassist Charlie Haden…..and you can compare his version of Goodbye with Diana Krall’s…. using the same bassist. Ending off with the full Paris Concert 1988, which Jarret describes as Keith’s masterpiece–one of the “outer regions of jazz”: the “distillation of walking through Paris in 1988, November”, “taking things from the composers he knows in the area and makes a sentence out of them”.

The first of two programs where Peterborough  composer of works for the Piano-forté, Jarret Prescott, takes us on a journey exploring the works of pianist Keith Jarrett.   I start out with a composition that Jarret says “sums up what I like to say about Jarrett being a conduit between Eastern and Western musical traditions, and…Continue reading Episode 4, Jarret on Jarrett Part 1

Starting with an amazing Toronto pianist…..one who is as fine a composer as he is an instrumentalist.  Then an explanation as to why Frank Sinatra is considered so great (at least sometimes).  You’ll also hear an obscure Swedish jazz singer name Lindha Svantesson (Delicious), some Bill Evans and Jim Hall, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz…Continue reading Episode 3, September 25, 2017

This program starts out with Peterborough bassist, Wesley Collett-Taylor, and a recent project where he and some Toronto musicians recorded some of his own compositions, based on stories and poems.  This particular selection is inspired by a poem by W.H. Auden. Also on the program you`ll hear two versions of Blue Skies–one by the underrated…Continue reading Episode 2, Sept 15, 2017

This episode won the award for Best Musical Program in Canada, from submissions from community and campus stations across Canada at the National Campus and Community Conference, 2017.